Kissing Hellfire: Marry Me, Evil Lord
Chapter 174: Unexpected Present

Chapter 174: Unexpected Present

While Alec was busy checking what he had missed during the days he was absent in the castle, Lauren was on the balcony having tea alone while waiting for Darius to arrive. Vincent had left shortly after he pissed off Alec back in the office. Though before he left, he looked serious when he told Lauren that she shouldn’t hesitate to ask for his help if she needed any kind of assistance, which made her conclude that Vincent somehow knew that something was wrong with her.

"Your Majesty, I apologize if I took time to arrive. Another group of deranged humans attacked the north district. A lot of people were wounded. I helped fight the deranged humans and only left when Julian and Edith arrived."

The moment Lauren heard the news from Darius, the tea almost spilled onto her hand. She put the teacup down, her hands trembling a little. The heat of anger rose to her chest. She was mad and worried. They were utterly clueless about the enemy’s next move. All they could do was try to subdue their forces and lessen the damage as much as possible.

"Does the king already know about this?"

"Yes, a missive was sent to the castle right after the situation was pacified."

Lauren nodded. She didn’t have to be personally involved with it, even if her heart ached for the people who sacrificed their lives for a worthless rebellion. The least she could do was help herself with her condition so Alec wouldn’t think too much about it and focus on the kingdom’s problems.

"I need a stronger kind of pacifier, Darius. My illness has gotten worse. The last one I used didn’t last for three days."

"But that was the strongest pacifier Mr. Philips has made, Your Majesty."

Mr. Philips was a skilled healer mage from the northern county side of Evardin who had been supplying Lauren with pacifiers for months. Darius had gone to different healer mages but only Mr. Philips was able to create a strong pacifier that could subdue her illness. It also helped that the old man never pried about where Darius used them, so her condition remained unknown to him.

"I am sure it is possible to make something stronger than that. I need to stop my illness from surging, Darius. The rebels are attacking and I cannot distract Alec with my condition."

Darius stared at Lauren sternly. Although it wasn’t showing on his face, she knew he was bothered by her condition, not because of the master-servant contract that would kill him once she died, but because they somehow developed a familial connection in those two years of working together.

"I guess it’s about time you tell Julian about this. He deserves to know," Darius said silently without a change in his expression.

"If you are worried that he might detest you because it was the black mages who killed his family, I don’t think that would be the case. Julian sees you as a sister and he is willing to stand by your side his whole life. I doubt if that would change."

Deep down, Lauren was aware of that. She knew whether it was Julian, Ethan, or Vivian, none of them would look at her differently once they discovered the truth. Not even Julian whose family was killed by black mages. He knew he wasn’t evil by nature and would side with her no matter what happened because he had treated her like family.

But what she was worried about was putting them in trouble because of her. It was enough that Alec was doing all he could to find her a cure, just like how he cooperated with Amber in taking confidential materials from the Supreme House. Lauren knew that the more people involved, the more dangerous it would be, and she didn’t want to have her friends risk their lives for her.

"I will go to the north to meet Mr. Philips. I have sent more men to find Jasper Owens, and I received a missive earlier this morning that they got a strong lead this time. While I’m away, I suggest you do not leave the castle, Your Majesty. Please take care," said Darius.

When Darius left, Lauren went to the king’s office to speak with Alec about what happened in the north district. She found out he just went to a court meeting, and just as she was about to head to the courtroom to see what was being discussed in the court, a servant told her that there was something delivered for her.

Lauren went down the hall to see what it was. The servant gave her a ribboned box, which she found odd. Who would give her a present so randomly? It wasn’t her birthday, nor was there any special occasion recently.

She brought the box to her room so she could open it without the servants around when she noticed it had a spell on it similar to the spells used in secret missives, which meant it could only be opened by the person to whom it was sent.

Lauren’s brows furrowed when she saw a pair of shoes inside the box, which she didn’t expect. If it was truly a harmless gift from someone, why was it necessary to place a spell on it?

When she saw a piece of paper beside the shoes, it was only then she realized why the sender had cast a spell on the box. Because a message was inside.

As she read the words written on the piece of scented paper, Lauren felt her heart leap.

’Dear Lauren, I assume your illness is at its most crucial stage right now. If you wish to live longer, I can give you that choice. That is, of course, if you do whatever I say. Meet me at the place where these shoes came from. And no, I am not asking you to meet me. That is a demand and you have to obey, unless you want Miss Vivian’s soul to be fed to black mages. Make sure not to tell anyone. I will know. This is from your beloved admirer, by the way.’