Bride To His Darkness
Chapter 61: Court Of Celestial Valor

Chapter 61: Court Of Celestial Valor

"Secret? Frankly speaking, I’ve always known Lord Ivan had a softer side, does this ’secret’ have something to do with why he’s like this?" Perplexed by Claire’s incomprehensible statement, Ivy questioned her concerning the secret they were all hiding, but not too much to her surprise, Claire simply swatted it away and returned her agitated gaze to the lonely dark sky, not having the miniscule strength in her heart to visit the past where the horrors undoubtedly began.

"There’s no need for you to intrude," she had used that as an excuse to drop Ivy’s interference, "it happened long ago, I see no valid reason bringing up the past when it shouldn’t matter to the present."

"You don’t have to tell me if that is the case, but please be aware of the fact that the past simply doesn’t run from the present either. If need be, the past will most definitely come back to haunt the present. Not all past deeds can go buried till it is rectified."

Slowly rising from the bed, Ivy lowered her head and smiled faintly. "I will be leaving tomorrow, the burial rites have been performed successfully, so I must return to my Kingdom and oversee a few things."

"I shall see you off tomorrow. Have a good night." Claire also lowered her head in the form of a courtesy, and after bidding one another goodnight, Ivy quietly left the room.

The next day at the Royal Chevalier Palace, Samantha had woken up early to find Lord Ivan’s bed empty of his presence as usual.

Why does he have a bed if he never makes time to use it? Thought Samantha as she pushed her body up into a sitting position. Normally he would either be absent, or she would find him slouching on the chaise lounge that was placed in the corner of the room, sipping his usual blood wine in a regal pose.

Yawning while stretching her arms out, Samantha looked beside the empty space on her bed to find whiskers asleep. The cute cat was curled up like a white fluffy ball underneath her blanket, its snow white tail wrapped around its furry body.

"Whiskers?"

A subtle frown graced her delicate demeanor as a vague memory of what happened yesterday flooded her brain, and her pupils automatically tensed.

The lit-up sconces that once provided an eerie illumination in the orb room had mysteriously extinguished itself last night, leaving her enveloped in pitch blackness. The panic that threatened to consume her soul had her reaching her trembling hands out to touch or hold on to something, anything at all, and she was so frightened that the air in her lungs ceased for a millisecond.

"What... what happened to the lights?"

Amidst the darkness that enshrouded her every being, she felt someone grab her outstretched hand, and out of impulse, she clutched onto the person’s hand and felt him pull her forward, so close that she could feel the heat emanating from his body.

Amidst the darkness, she saw a pair of eyes glowing with intense crimson hue.

"Lord.... Lord Ivan?" She had managed to call his name under her shaky breath, but the Vampire Lord calmly leaned forward, his tall regal figure cloaked in shadows. His crimson eyes seemed to pierce through the darkness, unblinking, fixed solely on her. It was as if the very essence of her being was laid bare before him, and she felt vulnerable, exposed.

"Shhhhhh." He hushed her up.

Every rustle of fabric, every soft movement of air amplified the tension in the room, and that’s when she noticed it. His eyes! They seemed to burn with a different energy, and terrifyingly, they didn’t share similarities to the eyes of a Vampire but a....

D...Demon?

She gasped when Ivan clasped her lips with his palm, and if he hadn’t done that, she would have screamed till the Palace roof came down. With her eyes widened, she felt as though she was at the precipice of an incredible revelation, but the uncertainty gnawed at her.

What if he hurts her?

Samantha’s heart pounded loudly in her chest, and she braced herself for the unknown when he leaned close enough she felt his breath on the skin of her neck. Her heart and mind were entangled in a precarious dance between terror and curiosity, but she barely knew what happened next since embarrassedly passed out there and there.

"Did he..?!!"

Returning to reality, Samantha’s hand flew to the nape of her neck, and her eyes widened in apprehension. Rising from the bed, Samantha skittered towards the mirror and had to take a quick look at her neck. To her relief, there was no bite mark there, but if he didn’t bite her, what did he do to her???

In truth, a part of her wasn’t ready to figure that out yet.

"Breathe Samantha, find your breath, you’re fine, you’re absolutely fine, he didn’t bite you, he wouldn’t force you into doing anything." She consoled herself and tried to wipe away the dark thoughts creeping into her brain.

Giving herself a mental shake, Samantha quickly picked up her maiden dress and went to take a bath. She changed into a simple Celadon-colored dress and stepped out of the room. She had found Lucy making her way to the Kitchen and out of undying curiosity, asked about the whereabouts of Lord Ivan.

"It’s dawn, at dawn the Princes hold their morning training at the court of Celestial Valor. Training is a habit for Lord Ivan, you can find him there."

"Ahh.. I see." She answered awkwardly whilst scratching the back of her ear. Samantha found it quite ironic since being his servant meant she should be aware of his whereabouts at all times. But here she is, asking Lucy who already knows the to-do list of Lord Ivan.

"I was on my way to steal some breakfast from the kitchen. I need to gather my strength before I resume work, you should come with me." Lucy hinted with a wink, and as if in response to her request, she could hear Samantha’s stomach cry out for food as it made a slight rumbling sound.

"Well I can’t refuse after that, can I?" Samantha laughed awkwardly, feeling a tiny tinge of embarrassment within her soul, and Lucy just smiled.

"You can’t, those babies have spoken." Hooking her arm around Samantha’s, the two female servants made their way to the Kitchen, engaging in another round of conversation.

"Did you hear the news? Prince Nichole’s carriage was burnt to ashes yesterday evening."

"Oh no!" Samantha feigned shock.

After dealing with their appetites and grabbing some vitamins to go with it, Lucy led Samantha past the grand marble structures, where the Vampire princes honed their combat skills every morning.

The sun had not risen yet, casting a serene bluish hue over the surrounding.

"This is the Court of Celestial Valor?" Amazed, Samantha inquired with interest, and Lucy nodded once. "The court of Celestial Valor had been built separately, away from the main Palace, but it links mostly to the royal soldiers quarters since they make use of it everyday. Don’t go too close!"

Lucy had grabbed hold of Samantha’s wrist when the young woman was about to enter the place. "Servants aren’t allowed here unless we’re needed. We’ll watch from here." She whispered, pulling Samantha behind her so they could peek through the column where they hid.

By this time, they could hear the lethal clashing of swords, followed by the enthralling spectacle of Lord Ivan who had moved back to the clearing where Samantha could see him without stress, and her eyes widened when he effortlessly missed a strike that had been acuminated by Tobias’ sword.

Royal soldiers who got up that morning to train with them stood around the arena, watching with interest. Samantha had even caught a glimpse of Herbert who was leading another group of royal soldiers in a chorographical stance, but they all stopped upon seeing the two Princes about to engage in another round of battle.

In the center of the opened Celestial Valor where a circle was formed, Ivan and Tobias stood face to face as they prepared themselves for the third round of their battle that morning. Their bodies dripped with sweat, their white tunics seamlessly clung to their skin, further outlining their sculpted muscles, and Lucy’s eyes were already making heart shapes at the sight.

"The whole royal Chevalier family is a pack filled with good genes. Don’t you agree?" She purred, and Samantha reflexively rolled her eyes.

In the corner stood Alistair who had returned his sword to its position and was now watching the battle with interest. Just like Ivan and Tobias, he was presently drenched in his own sweat

"Isn’t this exciting? Ivan seemed to be more pumped than last time." Commented Alistair as he had given up on the duo and was taking a break. The silver chains around his arms rattled with each slight movement he made, and he gestured to the soldier beside him before walking past and taking his seat on a vacant bench.

Meanwhile, Ivan and Tobias exchanged silent words as their crimson eyes were locked in an intense gaze. They brandished their slender, yet lethal swords, ornately adorned with ancient runes and crafted from a dark metal that seemed to only absorb light.

The air around them crackled with an electric energy, their vampiric abilities now simmering beneath the surface.

"Are you sure you’re not tired?" Asked Tobias as he perfectly wielded his sword. "I won’t go easy on you."

"We never go easy on the battlefield, I expect nothing less." Retorted Ivan, and an impressive smirk graced Tobias’s lips.

Samantha had never witnessed a training like this in her entire life before, and her eyes held anticipation when Tobias took the first step.

The Vampire’s movement was swift and elegant, like a shadow gliding across the moonlit courtyard, and with a blur of motion, he lunged forward, his sword flashing with deadly intent. The air around him seems to distort as he invokes his vampiric speed, wanting to catch his cousin off-guard.

Ivan, not to be outdone, meets the attack with astonishing grace and preternatural reflexes. He weaves an intricate pattern with his sword, effortlessly parrying Tobias’s strike, and the fierce clashing continues. Everyone had fallen to a hush, and as Samantha watched in awe, she noticed a faint trail of silver mist escaping Tobias’ blade with each deflection—a manifestation of his vampiric powers enhancing the sword’s potency.

"You’re doing well brother." Tobias praised with a genuine but inexpressible reaction on his face. "I learnt a new trick before our trip to the hunting ground, should I show you? I mean, can you handle it?"

"Is that an insult to my face?"

"Forgive my manners." He smirked.

The duel suddenly intensifies, their movements almost too swift for the human eye to follow. To Samantha’s greatest shock, Tobias mysteriously conjures shadows to obscure his movements, becoming a specter of darkness, whilst striking from seemingly impossible angles.

Ivan’s eyes widened slightly as he missed the lethal approach, and in a blaze of crimson radiance, he launched a counterattack with unparalleled force, pushing Tobias back. He finally understood why Tobias had asked if he could handle it. "When did you–?"

"I took my training seriously." He shrugged, but before the duel could continue, two guards suddenly rushed in and bowed their heads in front of the Princes.

"My Lord, we report with some news."

"Did you find the servant?" Ivan asked as he had paused in his training, and the two guards exchanged hesitant looks before nodding their heads in unison.

"Yes, My Lord, but...there’s a big problem."

"Speak."

"We found the servant roaming a nearby village, she confessed that someone made her elope from the Palace, but she never got the chance to say the name as she was shot dead with an arrow."

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