Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 244: Losing Patience

Chapter 244: Losing Patience

In the depths of her slumber, Samantha stirred on the bed, her body subconsciously turning to her right to seek warmth where it is available on the big, cold mattress, her dainty hands reaching for her blanket and pulling it properly over her body. Her face, which had been weighed with fatigue from yesterday’s hassle, eased as a sign that she had slept well, but before she could drift deeper into her sweet slumber, a sudden, peculiar sensation washed over her.

Choosing to ignore it as she already agreed with her mind that it meant nothing, she mysteriously felt the rising heat of something– of someone; it was an unnatural, searing cold, like a fire that burned without warmth, and it mysteriously enveloped her in a blanketed embrace, subtly entrapping her. Sensing the physical presence of whatever produced this heat, her eyes fluttered open, and she was met with the light of day, whilst it seeped in through the transparent cloud-white curtains.

As if timed, she heard a knock on the door, and the abrupt sound had forced her body to push themselves up into a sitting position. Fully awake, with her green eyes wide and alert, she scanned the entire premises within her chamber, but there was no one there. The tiny hairs on her skin were standing at attention, and she knew, without a doubt that she sensed someone in her chamber... and that heat... was that someone’s body heat???

*Knock! Knock! Knock!*

The sound on her door nearly sent her jumping out of her skin, and to her relief, she heard the butler speak from outside.

"Is Milady awake?"

"Y– yes, I... just... need a... moment." With her mind still in the process of rebooting, Samantha’s response was garbled, as if she was struggling to form them into a sentence, and that made her run a frustrating finger into her hair.

"The Queen requests you join her at the dinner table for breakfast." Gareth let her know, and it dawned on Samantha for the second time that morning that it was already daytime. She looked out the window to see the sun was fully out... it made her wonder for how long she truly slept? Convinced she had merely imagined the sensation due to her deep sleep, Samantha got a hold of herself as she answered.

"I will be there in a few minutes."

"I shall let the Queen know." Gareth affirmed it, and his receding footsteps was a testament to his exit from her door. It felt strange hearing people speak as though she was someone of great significance to them– she was, but comparing it to her life before and her life presently, there have been a lot of changes and many switches in plans.

"Dear Lord."

Palming her face with her hands, Samantha ran both her fingers into the soft, wavy locks of her hair, the sun rays making them sparkle under its shimmering glory. Refusing to let her mind dwell on her absurd imagination, she got out of bed and went to gaze at her morning self in the ornate, gilded mirror, her reflection staring right back at her.

The tiredness lingering in her eyebrows were gone, and her facial looks, which were spotless, appeared natural. Her panda eyes were not as bad as they’d look on any normal day, and she had Lucy to thank for concerning her improvement. Her skin was becoming flawless, and the only marks left were the ones she mercilessly got from Claire. With time, she hoped that the scars on her back would heal too.

Gazing at her reflection, her mind suddenly pictured Ivan in front of her. His handsome face displaying in her imagination only made a blush creep up her cheek, and she unknowingly had a dreamy look on her face– the kind a girl would have when she fantasizes about fictional men.

She wondered if Ivan was awake as well? It was quite ironic thinking this way since he always gets out of bed before her. He would have finished his morning training by now, and he would have had his bath. The entire room would have been occupied with the scent of lavender and bergamot, and just thinking about it, she could almost smell it from here.

Was she going to have to stay like this without seeing him? Without communicating with him at least?

Can she write a letter? That won’t be the same as seeing him, would it?

Suddenly, another knock on the door gained Samantha’s attention. When she heard a female voice speak from outside, she gave them permission to come in.

"Greetings! The Queen has sent us to help you get ready for the day." One of the brunette haired servants politely said to Samantha, whose eyes widened dramatically. Her eyebrows creased slightly, depicting her bemusement, and the second servant who had her hair tied in a simple bun, said,

"After breakfast the next ceremony commences. We’ll make you look splendid for the day!"

"O– oh." Samantha tried to not to show her unwillingness as this was another thing she’d have to get used to. "Okay then. What do I need to do?"

—-

In the dimly-lit chamber within the Chevalier Palace, Ivan was meticulously dressed and prepared to begin his ceremonial pre-wedding ritual. He sat in a grand, ornate armchair, his expression as foul as the sulphuric pit of hell. His crimson eyes, usually sharp and commanding, were clouded with irritation, and his midnight, black hair framed his pale, chiseled face– the inky tresses reflecting no light.

The room was filled with the scent of incense and the distant echoes of dripping water. The first ritual had been put into motion, and the second was to receive ancestral blessing as he was the crowned Prince, and child to the late King Muzan. However, the vampire wasn’t interested in being a part of these pre-wedding procedures... he only wanted his little lamb, but right now, he’s restricted from seeing her until the D- day.

"I hate this." He sighed out loud.

Alistair and Tobias, equally striking with their ethereal beauty, entered the room to inform Ivan that they had to leave now, but upon sighting the vampire, they couldn’t help but steal amused glances in his direction.

Despite his irritable disposition, Lord Ivan’s handsomeness was undeniable.

Alistair approached the sulking Vampire, a sly grin curving his blood-red lips as he said, "you wear that scowl so well. Tsk! I should piss you off more often in the future."

"Indeed, it’s quite an art to look this magnificent while in a bad mood. If I had feelings, I’d be jealous." Tobias chimed in, and Alistair simply massaged Ivan’s shoulder before giving him a brotherly pat

Ivan on the other hand grumbled in response, the sulky lines on his handsome face deepening. The two brothers knew the reason behind the cloud of storm that hovered above his head, and it was just the first day. Within this week, those clouds will be raining thunder and lightning if he doesn’t see his woman. Ivan was never the type who shared close relationships with women, so seeing him behave like this was rare for the brothers.

"This is the first day, six more days to go and you two will be together, joined by... what do they call it again?" Alistair inquired from his brother who snapped his fingers.

"Holy matrimony."

"Holy? This corrupt man won’t do justice to that name. Look for another word." Alistair shook his head, and Ivan rolled his eyes as he ignored his cousin’s tantrums. If only they knew how less he cared about their gibberish comments, the only thing his mind could think of was his little lamb, if she was fine, if everyone is treating her the way they should....he doesn’t have a problem with letting her stay there, but not being able to see her??

It’s only the first day and he’s already like this.

"Hey." He said, gaining the attention of both his cousins, "I’ll need your help with something important."

"Why do I get the feeling I’m gonna hate what you’re going to ask of me?" Tobias hummed, but Ivan pretended not to hear it.

"Aunt Lucinda has kept her security tight so I won’t sneak into her kingdom. I need you two to keep those guards busy while I visit my little lamb. I’m going to see her, and you two must help me.