Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 32: Seize The Human!

Chapter 32: Seize The Human!

*Thank you everyone for your support, More thanks to Ariana_Sawyer and Beauty_San for the Golden Tickets! <33*

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The central part of the palace was where the Chambers of the Queen Mother privately occupied. This part of the quarters was off-limits to all servants, except for the Chamberlain and the high servants of the Palace who usually come around to maintain the decency of the place. Her families were also excluded, while the rest needed to seek approval from the Queen Mother before stepping into her quarters.

Entering the gallery room by the right, Grandmother Abrielle’s displeased expression was one Ivan already saw coming as he stepped inside the spacious space, the gallery room was brightly-lit with chandelier light.

Abdiel stood beside his Mother as he rested against the walls filled with priceless paintings, arms crossed, and his reaction to the current atmosphere was indifferent.

"You asked for me." Ivan stood in front of his grandmother, pretending to be unaware of her reasons for calling him over to her gallery, but Grandmother Abrielle knew her grandson a little too much to fall for his outrageous antics.

"Who is that girl? And don’t ask me who cause I am speaking about the one you brought with you. Where did she come from?" Grandmother Abrielle asked her grandson whose eyes kept fleeting to his uncle, and then he said. "She’s my pet."

"That is a human, Ivan, not a pet." She corrected, but Ivan raised an inquiring brow like she was missing the whole point.

"I found her, bought her, owned her, she’s patently my pet."

"Urgh! Forget it, servant, slave, pet, she is still not of royalty. Do I need to remind you of the rules of our palace? Young Man?" Her expression turned sour, "having any form of relationship with a servant will not make her your wife, but your concubine. Your actions tonight will send the wrong message to our guests, and I have a feeling you exploited this behavior to escape choosing a bride, or am I wrong?"

"I asked Ivy to marry me." Ivan plainly retorted, unfazed by his grandmother’s glowering gaze. "I have no wish to ruin the reputation of any maiden by turning them to my concubine. My marriage proposal with Ivy is based majorly on politics, so do not worry." There was a deeper meaning to his statement that left Grandmother Abrielle feeling slightly discomfited, but she immediately composed herself, acting clueless.

"I see, so you chose Princess Ivy?" His grandmother’s gaze turned suspicious, "is she to your liking?"

"No." He truthfully answered, "but as I said before, this is politics, Mother. The witches from the East are drawing closer, and my marriage with Ivy will only increase the power between both our kingdoms. However, the dangers in this Palace is not something an amateur can handle. Princess Ivy is more than familiar with the troubles we’re facing here, that is why I chose her."

"And what was her response?"

"She needs time to think about it." And Ivan hoped she would use the eternities of her life to think it through, or possibly enough, reject his proposal.

"Well, that reduces my uncertainty a bit." Grandmother Abrielle finally calmed, feeling content. "Princess Ivy suits you, I believe she won’t refuse your proposal. Your older brothers will be returning from the conquering kingdoms anytime soon, I want you married before their arrival"

"Grandmother!" Ivan’s gaze visibly darkened.

"Do not argue this one with me, my decision is final." Making her voice heard, she walked out of the gallery, ignoring her Grandson’s glare that could bore a hole into her back.

Abdiel, who only observed the conversation happening between the most stubborn people he had met in this world finally said. "I understand why she’s doing this, and she has your best interest at heart." He looked at Ivan, "her choice might not be the best way to go about it, but I believe you should give it a try and see."

"I don’t care." Ivan clipped sharply, "so fucking what if they’re coming, It’s been many years and I understand her worries, but I won’t let her pressure me because of her own fears." Shaking his head in disapproval, Ivan stormed out of the room, leaving the speechless Abdiel behind.

One of the Ministers who quietly waited outside, followed the Queen Mother as she stepped out of the gallery. "Queen Mother, forgive me for this but aren’t you being a little hard on Lord Ivan?"

"I have to, else he won’t listen." Grandmother Abrielle answered with not a hint of regret in her tone. "You know why I’m doing this, considering my nightmares, and now the return of his older brothers, you know what life is like for Ivan when they are around. If he’s crowned King before they make their arrival, they won’t be able to damage him like they once did."

She raised a finger, "I want to be alone, you can leave."

"As you wish, Queen Mother." The privy minister turned to take his leave, and Grandmother Abrielle was left to take her quiet stroll in her quarters. Knowing there was no one around, Grandmother Abrielle brought out her white handkerchief and coughed into it, her once composed demeanor turned pale and weary when she looked at the blood-stain on her handkerchief.

The next day when the morning sun casted its yellowish glow against the dark Palace, Lucy, who was surprised to find Samantha around, couldn’t resist hurrying over to where the golden-blonde-haired lady stood.

"You’re alive! And you still have your head! But what are you doing with a bucket?" Lucy exclaimed in relief, looking genuinely happy to see she was fine, and Samantha smiled before nodding her head.

"Lord Ivan sent me to fetch water from the third floor all the way to the ground floor." Sometimes, Samantha couldn’t understand that Vampire Lord, he takes care of her only to torture her even more, and he calls her his blood servant, but hasn’t taken a drop of her blood..... yet.

"Did you decide to finally stay?" Lucy eagerly asked Samantha as they went up the stairs together, and Samantha, who wasn’t sure what she had decided to do yet could only nod with a thin smile gracing her lips.

"That is a good choice!" Lucy commented, "You should be lucky it wasn’t prince Tobias, or Alistair, or the princess. They do not tolerate mistakes at all."

"Prince Tobias?" Hearing the name, Samantha recalled the Vampire Lord she ran into in the garden. Judging from his Royal embodiments, he must be Tobias.

"Lucy, can I ask you something?"

"Please don’t ask me about another wall."

"No, not that." Samantha shook her head, "do you know the story of what exactly happened to the late King?"

"Who doesn’t?" Lucy candidly complained, "I wasn’t even here when it happened, but hearing the story still gives me the chills. It’s no wonder the royal Chevalier family don’t trust humans anymore, since the story states that a human the King once trusted murdered him in the secret room, that’s why I’m quite surprised Lord Ivan brought a human into the Palace."

"Does that mean you aren’t human?" Samantha’s eyes widened in awe, and Lucy chuckled softly at her innocent reaction

"Half human, half white mage. This is not my kingdom, I was brought here sixteen years ago as a token to EmptyHollow when they dominated my land."

Lucy let out a weak sigh, "but anyways, the culprit of the King was later found and brought to the Palace for execution." She shrugged, "I feel more sad for the children who have no hand in this. Unfortunately, a punishment for treason requires all families to face the execution."

Lucy continued to speak, unaware that the girl she was feeling sorry for was the one walking beside her.

"Did.... Did they kill him?" Samantha found the courage to ask, and her heart turned heavy when Lucy nodded her head. Her grip on the bucket tightened when she asked in a much lower voice.

"Lord Ivan killed him, right?"

"Lord Ivan?" Lucy shook her head, looking startled. "A lot of people seem to have the wrong impression that Lord Ivan killed him, but he did not. The truth is, he tried to save the man from getting executed. I guess he wasn’t entirely sure about his decision, but the head of the privy Council was furious when he got notified that the culprit was found, he killed the man on the spot."

Samantha was awestruck to the point she nearly dropped her bucket. Lord Ivan didn’t kill her Father???

"Who is the head of the privy Council?"

"You must know him by now, sir Abdiel. Younger brother to the late King." Lucy whispered his name. "I heard when he made it to the cottage, he found the two children were gone, so he couldn’t kill them."

The more Lucy revealed to her, the more Samantha’s mind raced, and her lashes fluttered frantically. Did Lord Ivan tell her to run because he knew his uncle would come for them?? As unbelievable as it may sound, did he try to save them that night??

"How... how do you know this?"

"Well, being a Chamberlain has its own advantage, and not that I intentionally eavesdrop on conversation that doesn’t concern me." She smiled sheepishly, but her smile freezed when Princess Claire suddenly stood at the top of the stairs, her crimson eyes locked on the two servants.

"P... princess?" Lucy immediately lowered her head, and she did the same thing to the dazed Samantha who almost dared to look at the face of the princess.

"Are you Samantha?" The icy tone of her voice made Samantha shudder noticeably, and she quickly responded.

"Yes, princess."

"Guards! Seize this human!" Came her unexpected order that drained the colors from Samantha’s face.

Before she knew it, two guards showed up, pointing their swords at her face.