Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 46: Missing Servants

Chapter 46: Missing Servants

Herbert’s atypical silence seemed to have created a cloud of suspicion as everyone at the table exchanged stupefied glances. Herbert was well known to be the most loyal guard who would not answer to anyone unless Lord Ivan approves of it.

Notwithstanding the several questions raised at him, Herbert remained mute like a mime.

In defiance to his quiescence, the once happy table was now filled with a distrustful silence - everyone except for Tobias who contentedly munched down on his juicy meat, rather fascinated by the unexpected show that would begin.

"Herbert, I need you to gather all the servants and bring them here. When I say all, I mean every last one of them. Leave none behind." Ivan’s direct orders sounded remarkably calm as he waved Herbert off to go get them. His judicious reaction to the noun plight made Samantha marvel at how well he handled the situation, despite being the victim.

But how did the golden goblet get poisoned??

When the little murmurings began to grow, one of the Courtier’s steadily rose to his feet and offered a deep bow to Lord Ivan. "My Lord, if I may speak, I believe it was your servant who brought the golden goblet forth." The Courtier named Albert candidly spoke, pointing an accusatory finger at Samantha who briefly met his glare.

"Why not interrogate him first while we wait for the others to arrive?"

Following his pointed finger, Samantha felt she had walked into her own personal hell when all eyes shifted to her. Another intense silence ensued in the forest, so silent that they could hear the clanking sound of Tobias’s knife and fork on his plate as he continued to enjoy his meal.

The green-eyed Samantha gulped softly at her own nervousness, and she avoided their judgemental stares. She was the one who was assigned to bring the golden goblet since it was her responsibility to serve it to Lord Ivan, but even if she had the intention of killing him, feeding him poison wasn’t the first option that would outrightly pop up in her mind. Poison! Of all things?!!

Stealing glances at the vampire Lord who pondered silently with his lips pursed, his impassive expression hardly flinched, and then he said. "You are right, he will be interrogated, just like everyone else."

Hearing this, Samantha’s pupils grew wider in shock at his order, but she could not refute his command. Out of everyone here, he was the only one who knew she had no hand in this, why would he interrogate her???

How and why is she suddenly dragged into this?? If Lord Ivan would trust her truthful answers or not, she couldn’t decide what her fate would be since she had made several attempts in the past to kill him with a knife, and even a dagger. She had been out of her senses during that time, and her situation then made it extremely difficult for her to think reasonably, but currently, she would think twice about spilling the blood of a royal.

"What is your name?" It was Abdiel’s turn to question the servant as he unhurriedly approached where she stood. Before Samantha could come up with a quick name, he abruptly raised his palm, stopping her from uttering a word whilst she kept her gaze fixed to the ground.

"It was your duty to receive the golden goblet, and the drink was poisoned. You do not seem to realize the tight spot you’re presently in. Your life depends solely on your answer, and I ask; who gave you the golden goblet?" Abdiel’s voice was unusually calm. His aura apart from that of Ivan’s was cold as the winter air, and it frighteningly intimidated her, so much that she could barely get a word out.

Albert, whose lips secretly slanted into a smirk, watched as the servant shuddered in the presence of Abdiel. Undoubtedly, Abdiel was indeed ruthless to those who had tried to harm his nephew, and he had succeeded in making that servant a culprit to Abdiel’s torment.

"I asked you a question!"

Before Samantha could gather enough courage to speak, Herbert’s presence interrupted everyone as he brought along with him the nine subordinates who were in charge of the cooking and drinks. Ivan’s gaze flitted to Herbert who stepped back, and the Vampire Lord rose from his seat.

The servants who were unaware of the reasons why they were being called without warning, quivered under the insensitive gaze of Ivan. Stopping in front of them, he beckoned Samantha over, saving her from the glares of Abdiel, and she bowed her head in excuse before making her way to Ivan’s side.

"Look at the faces of these servants." Placing one arm around Samantha’s shoulder, he pulled her close, whilst pointing at the terrified servants lined in front of him. "I need you to take a good look at their faces, and then, tell me who gave you the golden goblet."

Stepping back from Samantha who wished the ground beneath her feet would open and swallow her up, the frightened human slowly looked at the faces of the servants. She still remembered the face of the male servant who gave her the golden goblet to bring for Lord Ivan, but after thorough checking, to Samantha’s amazement, he wasn’t among the servants lined up.

"What happened? Hmm?" Noticing her eyes beam with silent trepidation, Ivan placed an arm on her shoulder so she could stop trembling. The shock-stricken Samantha lowered her head before Ivan and shook it despondently.

"Two.... Two servants are missing, My Lord." She whispered, barely loud enough for others to hear, but Ivan’s sensitive ears were able to grasp her phrase.

"Two servants are missing?" His eyebrow questionably arched, "that doesn’t sound possible, does it? I brought ten of you, these are nine, and you’re the tenth person, so how are there two servants missing?"

"Like imposters?" Nichole thoughtfully added, and another round of murmuring spread across the table.

Samantha could feel a sweat roll down her back, and her mind alarmingly raced. If she can’t identify the servant who gave her the golden goblet, as per the rules, she would be the one to receive whatever punishment that the main culprit would face.

"My Lord---"

"Isn’t this wonderful?" Albert’s voice rang out clearly, and he simply glared. "Lying to a Courtier that you lost your voice is already an offense. Offense number two, you received the golden goblet, laced it with poison and tried to harm the future King, else, why is it difficult to identify the one who gave you the golden goblet?"

"I- I can swear on my life that I have no hand in this." It took a while for Samantha to understand Albert’s main plan here. "I wouldn’t harm the King." Aggrieved by the injustice, she pointed a finger at Albert, "he’s the one responsible! I saw him handing out a small sack containing gold to a servant, and that servant isn’t here."

"How dare you!" Albert’s eyes flared, forcing Samantha to swallow the rest of her statement as the tension rose. "A common servant as yourself, accusing a Courtier of something so abominable! I see you no longer wish to live?! Is that it?!"

"Lord Ivan, I’m telling the truth." Samantha turned to Ivan who’s eyes carried no empathy. "I didn’t do it, why would I... want to... poison you?!" Samantha’s voice nearly cracked as she tried to control her voice.

"I’m innocent!"

"If you cannot produce the servants who handed you the drink, then it means you’re the culprit." The Grand Master of the hunt also rose to his feet, "if you can’t provide evidence to your accusations, then you shall receive the punishment for putting blames on a Courtier, where are the guards?!!"

Ivan’s hardened gaze drifted to the Grand Master of the hunt who immediately sealed his lips.

"I’m not dead yet." Ivan reminded the Grand Master of the hunt, snapping out of his deep pondering. "I’m still here and alive, why not leave the judgments for me to make?"

"Forgive me, your Highness. I didn’t mean to speak out of tone."

Returning his attention to Samantha whose eyes were already turning moist, he said. "I believe you."

"What?"

"Huh??"

Several exclamations were made when Ivan readily believed the words of a servant.

"Lord Ivan." Abdiel addressed him formally, "how can you believe the words of a mere servant who has no proof?"

"He doesn’t have proof." Ivan agreed, "but I do."