The Devil's Warrior Queen
Chapter 86: [Bonus - ] Courting

Chapter 86: [Bonus Chapter] Courting

The ladies ate their breakfast comprising of pancakes, freshly baked bread, tea etc amidst their conversation.

"It’s good to know you fancy the vampire lord, he’s likeable after all and courteous too, but it’s still disbelieving, I’d never imagine you with a night creature." Malika said with a smile as she shook her head softly.

"I’d never imagine it too, but sometimes life just takes an unanticipated turn, you never know what to expect." Rama said dryly as she sipped on the hot tea, soothing her mild headache as she did.

"For all its worth, I can confidently say I told you so." Malika said with a sing song voice as she pouted her lips at Rama, making her somewhat silly.

"What?"

"That not all vampires were monsters and luckily, you were able to find the good in one." Malika remarked.

"Tsk." Rama breathed out with rolling eyes.

"He conceals it, doesn’t mean he’s good. Overall he’s rather charming and open minded, but still, he’s born of darkness even though he’s different." Rama said.

"Overall, you like him and he likes you, all that matters is that he genuinely cares for you." Malika chipped in.

"He likes me romantically, I don’t. Rather, I feel stiff, hopefully in time I’ll be better." Rama muttered nonchalantly as she spread some jam on a slice of bread.

"Hmph, you don’t have to force yourself to like him romantically, I hope your feelings grow for him genuinely." Malika said hopefully, while Rama hummed dryly.

"Whether it grows or not, I’ll be happier with him than I’ll ever be in the castle." Rama breathed out.

"That’s obvious." Malika said, earning a chuckle from them both that resounded in the dining hall.

"What about you?" Rama queried suddenly, making Malika whip her clueless face to meet hers.

"What about me?" Malika asked.

"Is there anyone on your mind?" Rama queried with a mischievous smirk.

Malika’s face turned pink as she blushed, her lashes fluttering in perplexity at Rama’s unexpected remark.

"N-No not really, why did you ask?" She stuttered.

The only person on her mind was Zamiel, even though she had made a resolution to forget him and move on towards a fresh start, every second made her yearn to see him, his sinful touch had imprinted an imbellible memory in her mind.

"How is...what’s his name again? The young man that showed you to your chamber, was he good? I caught him staring at you with a smile yesterday." Rama remarked.

"Oh, Andy. He showed me around the manor yesterday, there’s a garden inside. It’s a chamber filled with beautiful flowers and there’s a library, but I don’t know how to read, so he said he’ll teach me." Malika narrated with a chirpy tone.

"Do you like him already?" Rama queried.

She’d always thought Malika would have loved to possess a typical family, where she, her doting husband and children would live in a pretty cottage, as Malika enjoyed the simplicity of life.

But now, the innocent girl was being allured to the dark charms of a vampire, where only a single touch had ignited a flame within her, a desire to explore within the boundaries of simplicity and her comfort zone.

"Like who? Andy?" She repeated with squinted eyes. She craned her head to the side, peering above her shoulders in a quick glance to make certain they were the only ones in the dining hall.

"Of course, who else? From your description he seems pleasant, of course I’m not telling you to settle down with him or anything, it was just a tease." Rama said with a soft chuckle, while Malika gavee out a nervous one.

"Oh, right. He’s alright, but I’m not sure I’m ready yet for that." Or perhaps, for him.

Andy was a good person, she could see herself having a future and her dream life with him, but all she could see now was herself in the arms of Zamiel depicted in the witch’s orb.

She was well aware of the dangers, walking down the dark paths of being with a night creature, yet she couldn’t withstand the temptation coming to her in an irresistible form.

"You’re at the age of marriage and last I remembered, you wanted a simple man and a simple life in a pretty cottage, but there’s no rush, take your time and get to know him better." Rama said.

She was right, she wanted all that, but not anymore. She wanted something dangerous, something forbidden and irresistible.

On the other hand, she could live without Zamiel, have a peaceful simple life with a simple man, but she would live in regret.

She wasn’t ready to live in regret for a simple life, while yearning for him, rather she resorted to taking her chances and see where fate would lead her, the only problem was Rama’s rejection.

"Yes, but what if I don’t like him after all? Besides, I don’t think I want a simple life anymore, I want something different. I’m always in my comfort zone, I want to explore beyond that and life’s too short to settle for just the ordinary." Malika blabbed away, while Rama shot her a skeptical eye with one lifted brow.

"Who are you?" Rama emphasized with an amused smile, as she shook her head softly in a trance like state.

"I guess the war changed my perspective of life. I don’t want luxurious or extravagant, just something exciting." Malika remarked.

"Do you know what you want?" Rama queried as she rested her chin lazily on her palm.

"Just not simple anymore." Malika said with shrugged shoulders.

"Right." Rama breathed out.

"Do you want to go see the garden inside?" Malika said excitedly, her amber eyes lighting up like the sun.

"Whatever you want." Rama said with a sigh, as the girl locked arms with her, tugging her along as she led her to the garden, while skipping excitedly down the halls. Rama giggled at her childlike behaviour as they proceeded.

In the heart of the opulent Gothic mansion lay a chamber, its entrance framed by intricate stone archways.

Within the chamber, a captivating garden unfolds, adorned with an enchanting array of red, white, and black roses.

Each bloom, meticulously tended to, exuded an otherworldly allure, casting a spell of mystique upon all who caught sight of them.

Sunnlight filtered through stained glass windows, casting a soft, ethereal glow upon the petals, as if the very air was imbued with magic.

Amidst the rich foliage, the roses stand as living jewels, a testament to the timelessness of beauty.

"Isn’t it just wonderful?!" Malika exclaimed as if it was her first time on seeing the garden.

"It’s full of beautiful roses and nothing else, he must like roses." Rama muttered to herself as she inhaled the sweet fragrance of roses swirling in the air.

"Check! What else does he like?" Malika teased.

"I think he likes gold, anyone could see that." Rama said thoughtfully as she touched the roses, feeling the rich texture beneath her fingertips.

"You’ve always been observant, that’s a good trait in a wife, within a few days, you’ll know all his likes and dislikes, I can’t wait for you to get married, I’ve always been waiting for it and then, the babies." Malika blabbed with a wide grin.

’Demon babies’ Ramaa thought inwardly.

"It’s a bit too early to start planning for a marriage, don’t you think?" Rama said.

"He’s already courting you, obviously the next step is marriage." Malika said in a small bubbly voice in between giggles. Rama merely shook her head, averting her attention back to the roses.

"I hope we do get married." Rama muttered under her breath, low enough to evade the ears of Malika.

Whatever hope she retained, flew out the window after she got the devil’s message. She should have known Draco was not one to give up, especially after claiming her as his possession, inwardly she hoped he would be bored out with her and finally get rid of his toy.

The door suddenly shot open. The girls whipped their head toward the direction to meet the crimson gaze of lord Damien as he walked in with the elegance of a predator, while a charming smile slowly made way to his lips.

They both curtsied as he walked in, approaching them till he halted a few steps away, but close enough for his ominous presence to cram the air around them.

"I hope you both had a pleasant night?" He spoke, making the girls lift their head, but Malika’s gaze rested on the floor while Rama looked at him.

"Yes, my lord." They both replied in unison.

Damien averted his gaze to Malika, before saying.

"I’m sorry to interrupt, but can I have a moment with lady Rama?"

Malika tensed as she nodded in affirmation. "Of course, my lord." She half ran out of the garden with rushed footsteps, making Rama slightly worried that the poor girl might trip and fall, but luckily she didn’t.

Silence hanged in the air after Malika’s departure before Damien spoke.

"How was your night?" He queried.

"It was fine, how was yours?" She asked politely.

"Cold." He replied in a clipped tone, as he eyed her.

"You’ve become more docile after my confession, I prefer raging Rama or fierce Rama." He added in.

"Hahaha, so funny." She said dryly with a blank countenance.

"I’m never going to be docile or submitting, I’m only being nice." Rama stated out with rolling eyes.

"You make me want to lose control and just devour you whole." Damien said in a low, dark voice, but then a charming smile played on his lips immediately, making it seem like only an hallucination.