Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 205: Double Merriments

Chapter 205: Double Merriments

When the grand doors to the main hall swung open, Ivan walked in with a nervous Samantha following alongside him, and her fingers squeezed against Ivan’s own for some assurance. Her eyes traveled amongst the guests who were having a good time mingling with other folks from the neighboring Kingdom, but upon sighting Ivan who made his way in, a deep silence ensued, and the music playing in the background could be heard faintly.

Abdiel’s eyes held a hint of relief to see Ivan was finally back, but what drew most of his attention was his fingers which were interlaced with that of the human girl. Agathe no longer smiled at the sight, and her face turned ashen when she locked gaze with Samantha.

She noticed, the earlier fear she had instilled in the human was no longer there; her green eyes were presently staring directly into her own before diverting elsewhere, as if nothing had happened between them. Agathe couldn’t help but feel subconsciously alert at the girl’s boast of confidence.

Ivan approached his uncle and Aunt, and Abdiel gave his shoulder an encouraging pat. "Good to see you back home again, I knew you had accomplished your goal when the guards returned with those village councils, and I can’t be more proud. Keep up the good work my boy."

"Thank you Uncle." He appreciated his uncle before glancing at Lady Agathe, something sinister flashed in his dark pupils, but it vanished instantly as he offered her a slight smile.

"We’re all happy to see you have returned." Agathe said to him as she lifted a hand to cup his cheeks tenderly. "Tonight we’re celebrating the victory of those who successfully made it to the third round of the event. As King, they will need your blessings before moving on to the next round. Come with me."

She tried to take Ivan away with her, but when she saw that his grip on Samantha’s hand hadn’t loosened, she bottled in her frustration and offered a considerate smile to Samantha who met her crimson eyes.

"Dear, this is something that a King must do without any form of companion. Can you wait behind and allow him to attend to the successors? That reminds me, your brother Maurice is amongst the contestants moving on to the third round. From the way I see it, he is likely to win the event since luck is bound to your family’s name." Agathe’s voice sounded innocently genuine, too honest to be considered deceiving, and if Samantha didn’t know better by now, she would have fallen face first to her sweet manipulation.

"If Maurice succeeded then as his older sister, I should have every right to bless him." Samantha wisely retorted, "if I’m not allowed to go with him then why is the situation different for you? I have no intention to be rude, His Majesty will not incur any interruptions on my path if I go with him, however, I must see my brother." Samantha had no intention to push the matter, and she noticed the contempt in Agathe’s irises. The vampiress was unable to drag the matter further since Samantha was more than right.

"Come with me." Casting a side glance at Samantha, Ivan’s hold on her hand was firm, and he led her through the clusters of guests who cleared the path for him till he came to a stop at the podium. His cup-bearer moved forward to hand him a goblet of fresh wine that was the color of blood, and when he stood at the podium, it only meant he was about to address everyone, earning him their attention as all eyes were now fixed on him.

Helena stepped forth and whispered something to Ivan before returning to the guests to stand beside Lucinda.

"It pleases me to see the support that has been bestowed upon the clash of valor event," Ivan began, his voice audibly clear within the silence of the hall. "As we take this progress to the third round, I hope the event will remain untainted, and every contestant will stay true to the rules. Will the contestants moving to the third round present themselves before the podium."

At his command, about six young men stepped forward to present themselves, their faces filled with a mixture of pride and awe as they straightened their posture before the King. A smile tugged at the corner of Samantha’s lips when she saw Maurice make his way through the crowd to stand with the rest of the contestants. He flashed her a secretive smile, but when Samantha noticed the little bandage that was subtly hidden under the fall of his dirty-blonde hair on his forehead, the smile on her lips faded a bit.

"As the event goes, I am proud to say that I admire your strength and determination. That is what has brought you to the third round of the event. As you stand here, you stand here as winners, and in my hand is a token of my blessing to all six of you... do not be frightened, it is not blood as I have considered the humans as well."

Maurice heaved a breath of relief, including two other humans who were part of the contestants, but automatically, he could feel the hairs on his skin stand when Bryn sent him a glare from where he stood. Maurice immediately averted his gaze, and he could almost see Bryn’s plan coming to place since they had both made it to the third round.

"As you drink this special wine, you will feel it course through your veins, binding you forever to this moment, and to each other. Together, you shall a carve a legend that will resonate through time. Who is willing to go first?"

The young men exchanged glances, a mixture of excitement and trepidation dancing in their eyes, and in the end, Bryn was the first to step forward. Receiving the goblet from King Ivan himself, that felt like an achievement to Bryn, and when he brought the goblet to his lips, he took a simultaneous sip. As the wine passed his lips, Bryn’s body was magically enveloped in a radiant glow, mesmerizing everyone, including the guests, and when he stopped drinking, his eyes widened a newfound strength surged within him, and he felt... healed!

"Feeling better?" Ivan questioned Bryn who bowed his head respectfully, and as if tempted to experience the glow themselves, the remaining five where no longer hesitant as each stepped forward to take a sip from the drink. Maurice was the last to take, and when his body radiated, the wound on his forehead magically healed, the sores he felt were gone, and he could feel his strength mysteriously return.

When he met Ivan’s gaze, a knowing smile curved the vampire King’s lips, but he was quick to avert his gaze as he handed the cup back to the cup-bearer.

"Before we continue on this celebration, I have another announcement to make." Ivan said to the crowd, and their attention was immediately piqued for the second time. All eyes were fixed on Ivan who stretched his hand to Samantha, and murmuring whispers of surprise resonated within the crowd when Samantha accepted his hand, stepping forward to stand beside him.

"Tonight, we are going to have double the celebration because in less than four weeks, I, Ivan Chevalier will be marrying this lovely woman, and she will become the Queen of GreenHollow."

Although this moment had been anticipated for by everyone, collective gasps could still be heard, and the awe was palpable as murmurings began. Some expressed their disdain, like princess Ivy who had walked out, and some of the guests were still in disbelief as a King has never once married a low-life girl, talk more of a Courtesan.

Agathe’s demeanor turned sour, and she could no longer keep her smile at the unforseen news. Was this the reason behind her sudden aplomb?

"She is going to be the Queen, so I demand that every respect shall be given to her." Ivan let them know with his head held high, "Any ill words spoken about my Queen could be considered as one trying to court death. Let’s not get our hands stained, today is a day of merriment." He smiled, but his tone hinted at a warning that conveyed he wouldn’t hesitate to spill blood if anyone tests him.

"Congratulations King Ivan!" Lucinda stepped forward with a smile that meant her approval, "I was starting to wonder if we’ll ever get this announcement and here you are."

"Congratulations King Ivan!"

"Congratulations! Such a lucky girl."

"Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!"

The crowds began to pass on their happiest congratulations, and Samantha looked at Ivan, shockingly surprised he said less than four weeks! Was it possible to get married within just four weeks?! From what she knew, marriages take months of preparation and he says four weeks?!

"Ivan," Samantha whispered his name, and he looked at her, "four weeks?"

"Should I schedule it to tomorrow?"

"That.. that wasn’t what I meant." Samantha could not stop herself from blushing despite trying to sound serious, "is it possible to get everything done in four weeks? I thought marriages took more than that?"

"Not quite my love, but I don’t have that patience." He answered, turning his attention to the beautiful woman who made him feel alive again. "I wanted to say tomorrow but I suspected it’d freak you out, so I went for less than four weeks, and you’re still freaked out. Be grateful I saved you from a heart attack."

Albert, who had suspected this announcement couldn’t hold back his own smile, and he was sure the maids quarters would flip when they learn about this. Not to mention but they have a wedding to prepare for now! When was the last time a wedding was even held in the Palace?

Maurice, who had listened to the announcement was drinking a glass of juice, but at the mention of marriage to his sister, he sprayed the juice in his mouth at a fellow contestant who had been conversing with him.

"Blood of Odin! You ruined my shirt!" He complained, but Maurice was still shockingly dazed to hear about this. He glanced at the podium to see his sister smiling at Ivan’s words, and the disbelief in his eyes was yet to vanish. He should be angry about this, but he was not.

"Come, let’s leave." Holding her wrist, Ivan took Samantha away since he has fulfilled his duty for the night. Samantha had barely gotten a word out when Ivan took her away from the jubilating hallway to the silence of the foyer.

"Where are we going?" Samantha asked in between her smile as he seemed eager to take her somewhere. It was unnatural to see Ivan in such a pleasing mood, and he has been like this since the moment she accepted his proposal.

"The night is beautiful, let’s explore it." There was hint of mischief in his tone as they passed the vestibule and stepped out of the Palace, looking no different than two happy couple who were ready to enjoy the night with each other’s presence.