NIGHTS OF HALLOW
Chapter 160: Words of Caution

Chapter 160: Words of Caution

Perdita’s face was quick to flush as a pink hue appeared on her cheeks. She tried hard to bite back the blush threatening to spill from her lips which she woefully failed to do.

"Ahh," Sthena dramatically exclaimed. He brought his hand to his face as if to shield himself from the invisible brightness coming from Perdita. He remarked, "You emit so much brightness, My Lady, that I feel as though it would consume me whole."

The small blush on Perdita’s cheeks as she turned more embarrassed than she was already because of the way Sthena was behaving towards her widened, and not to add, in the presence of Emily.

Emily on the other hand dared not raise her head to see what was happening. If it was possible, she would have stopped her ears from listening to the conversation between the King and her new Mistress.

"Seems like someone woke up on the right side of the bed today," Perdita remarked in an attempt to evade Sthena’s cheekiness.

However, to Perdita’s dismay, Sthena nodded his head in acknowledgment of what she said. He cheekily responded with, "Not seem, My dear Lady, it is a fact that I awoke on the right side of the bed today. Who wouldn’t be?" He asked no one in particular and went on to answer his question.

"When I would be greeted with such a beautiful sight as you are." Heat was quick to return to Perdita’s cheeks as she muttered in a low shy voice,

"Stop it, Sthena." Just as she finished speaking, her heart and her mind seemed to work together at the same time. Her heart skipped a beat when her mind brought back the memory of the night before when Sthena had kissed her cheek.

"Remembered something?" Sthena very much aware of what he was doing and what could have caused Perdita’s heartbeat to sing music in his ears tilted his head in question, his lips pulling up into a sly smile.

Deciding not to make things more awkward for Perdita, Sthena said, "Come on, green eyes, breakfast awaits us."

"You look absolutely mesmerizing in that dress. It compliments you so well." Sthena didn’t fail to compliment the Lady just as they were about to enter through the dining room’s doors which had been opened by the guards stationed outside.

Perdita momentarily stopped walking when Sthena said this. She was genuinely surprised at the sincerity with which Sthena complimented her. In response, she said, "Thank you," Before stepping inside the dining room.

The pureblooded royalty vampires in the room all witnessed this exchange as they stood in respect to the king stepping inside. Their red eyes were all glued on the Lady behind the King.

Perdita left everyone looking agape at the beauty she radiated like the sun itself. Lady Rosamonda was the first to compose herself as she bowed to greet His Majesty with a scowl on her face which was caused because of Perdita.

Others followed suit and bowed in greeting, "Greetings, Your Majesty on this beautiful morning," Their position made it look as if they were also bowing at Perdita. This feeling left a bitter taste in Lady Rosamonda’s lips.

She had thought that Perdita wouldn’t dare come out of her room after what happened to her brother, and also because of the coming of the Church members to the castle to investigate what happened in the castle to which Sthena had outsmarted her once more at the way he dismissed the church members. But here was the green-eyed Lady, shining in all splendour to her disappointment.

Without sparing a word to the others, Sthena sat down and at the same time, he pulled the seat beside him for Perdita to sit.

The dining room today was quiet as no one spoke a word to each other. Everyone was left glancing at Perdita once in a while, especially Prince Regan who couldn’t get his eyes off of her.

Before long, breakfast ended and the maids were quick to clear the table and simultaneously, everyone stood after the king and left the dining room.

Perdita almost as if she was following Sthena stopped him with a nudge on his arm. She was still uncomfortable calling the King by his name in front of everyone after learning that he was the King.

"Hmm?" Sthena stopped and turned to the Lady. "Anything bothering you?" He asked and saw Perdita shake her head to a no and then a yes. It made him chuckle at the way her head bubbled like a lizard.

"Umm," She began hesitantly, "I don’t know if you would permit me to visit Mr. Perkin and his wife. I have a few questions to ask them." Her voice turned low only for Sthena to hear.

"Want to visit the lost Old Prince and Princess?" Sthena questioned with a tilt of his head, and at the same time, Lady Rosamonda came to stand beside them.

Lady Rosamonda stared between Perdita and the King, wondering who the Old Prince and Princess they were talking about were. She bowed in greeting to the King, "Your Majesty," She strengthened her back and asked, "May I have a word with you?"

"You may not," Sthena promptly replied with a smile. Without sparing her a glance, he took Perdita’s hand in his and began to walk away leaving the woman fuming in rage.

She called after him in a voice only they could hear, "I just wanted to leave a word of caution for you both, especially this woman."

This got Sthena to halt in his steps but for another reason. "Call her this woman with such disrespect again and you will see yourself out of this castle. It shall be, Lady Perdita, to you and everyone else. Am I understood, dear Step Mother Rosamonda?"

The seriousness and the tone at which he warned Lady Rosamonda surprised both she and Perdita. Her lips moved without a word leaving her lips as her hands clenched by her side. She knew quite well that the King would do as he had threatened.

Lady Rosamonda stared at Perdita, wishing in her heart to rip the Lady apart, but she couldn’t. She could only swallow her pride and apologize to the king, "My deepest apologies, Your Majesty."

"Not to me, apologize to her," Sthena sternly stated.

Lady Rosamonda gritted her teeth in anger. She turned to Perdita and apologized, "My apologies, Lady Perdita."

Sthena didn’t wait for her to finish before he turned once again and resumed walking. He heard Lady Rosamonda say as she had followed them.

"Bringing witches to the castle can be a big problem you might face once discovered by the church."

Perdita’s shoulders stiffened at the mention of witches. Does Lady Rosamonda know that she and Marco are witches?

"Worried about me, Step Mother?" Sthena questioned while he turned his head to look at the woman behind him. He continued, "You should worry no more and be worried as to how your days in this castle are numbered. I think that should give you more headaches than turning yourself into a castle parrot. Though I like pets too as they are easy to twist and turn for my amusement."

"Away with you, Step Mother, and stop trying so hard to be our escort. When we need one, I’d be kind of enough to let you know."

At the last words of Sthena, Lady Rosamonda halted in her steps and stopped following the duo at the front. Her red eyes narrowed at their departing figure as a wicked thought slipped into her brain which made to swiftly turn on her heels ready to plot her wicked thoughts.