The Vampire King's Possession
Chapter 375. Not Even A Little

Chapter 375: 375. Not Even A Little

375

"That’s still not enough reason to barge into my study," Jael said, expressing just how displeased he was.

"I apologize, but since you wouldn’t join us for the last meal, I decided to bring it to you,’ Louis grinned.

"Your interruption isn’t appreciated."

"What else can I do? You refuse to leave your study." Louis turned his gaze to the door. "You can go, Danag. I’ll take it from here."

Danag bowed and fled down the way they just came, but not before noting Jael’s glare.

"Whatever is this about?" Jael asked as he turned his gaze to Louis. "I don’t have time for it."

"You don’t have time to eat? That sounds suicidal to me."

Jael glared at him. "You can place it on the table and leave."

"I don’t think you’d eat it, so I’ll just place it here and wait until you finish it."

Jael didn’t reply and bent his head to the letter on the table. Louis took a step forward, tray still in his hand. He stood directly before Jael, staring at the letter he seemed to be reading.

"It’s funny you’re here. Erick tells me you haven’t replied to the Lords in a full month so, I know you are not getting any work done."

No response; Jael didn’t even flinch. He kept his gaze down and refused to engage Louis.

"You’ve been so rude and obnoxious that Lord Levaton and his daughter had to leave. They are one of your biggest allies. Whatever this is, snap out of it. It has gone on for far too long."

"Are you done here?" Jael asked, annoyed. His eyes fluttered upwards as he stared daggers at Louis.

"If you don’t talk about it, there is no way to fix it," Louis played the tray on the table directly over the letter.

"Louis!"

"I get it," he said, sitting on the chair across from Jael. "It is hard to admit you’re wrong; it’s even harder to admit you need help, but I assure you this is about the wrongest way to fix it."

Jael held Louis’ gaze for a second but didn’t say a word. He looked down at the table, taking in the tray’s contents.

"Are you even listening to me?" Louis asked.

"The more you bug me, the less patience I have left."

"I know how it seems, to be honest, but I’m really only here to help."

"I don’t care what you’re here for. I don’t need it."

"It wouldn’t kill you to ask for help or say what you truly mean and how you truly feel. It doesn’t show weakness. Communication solves the situation faster. I know you think if you stress your body, your mind would forget the pain, hurt, or whatever you’re going through, but it doesn’t work that way."

"That’s enough blabbering from you, Louis."

Louis smirked, "I am hitting too close to home, aren’t I?"

"What exactly do you want?" Jael asked in annoyance.

"To help, really."

"I find it absurd, you know, that you’re willing to come back after all this time simply because of that. It’s a flimsy reason and a bit pissed that you’d come back for this."

"You know, if you had ever replied to any of my letters, I might have come back sooner. Not once did you reply, not once. I stopped, and you didn’t even bother to reply. What if something had happened to me? You’re one to hold a grudge when you aren’t a saint."

"I told you not to go, and I ask about you from Kieran all the time."

"That’s a lie, not what I heard. Kieran is the one who tells you about me. Apparently, leaving was something you could never forgive."

"You didn’t have to leave."

"And you’re about to let the same thing repeat itself. You’re the reason I never returned, you know. I was waiting for you to call me back, but I guess my presence wasn’t so important."

"Not important? I told you not to leave."

"Yeah, I heard you the first three times. However, it was something I wanted to do. I won’t just not leave because it doesn’t suit your plans. Things don’t always have to go your way."

"Then why are you back? I didn’t call you here."

Louis groaned and palmed his face. "Get some food in your system. Hopefully, it will help you think straight."

"You should leave."

"I will come back tomorrow night, and maybe this time, you will be willing to listen and let me make amends."

"Don’t bother, you should leave tomorrow. It would be better for you."

"I’ll do as I like. I think we have discovered that you aren’t the only stubborn one. I intend to have my way, even if that kills me. Brace yourself!"

Louis did not wait for Jael to reply before he left the study. Without any hesitation in his steps, he made his way to his quarters.

**************

Mauve got off the horse, jumping to the ground fluidly. Her boots made a soft sound as they hit the floor.

Clapping raised her head, "That was perfect," Galath said as he walked toward her and grabbed the reins of her horse.

"You think?" She asked with a sheepish smile.

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"I wouldn’t know Galath," she responded, still smiling.

The string that had tied her hair had loosened at some point during the ride. She flipped her hair to the side, trying to get hair out of her face.

Mauve was enjoying riding better than she thought she would, and she could tell she was significantly better. All she needed was more practice, and she would be good to go.

Compared to almost falling off the horse several times to galloping, she had to pat herself on the back.

"Well, I haven’t lied to you," he replied and closed the gap between them.

Mauve frowned, but Galath showed her a closed palm. She looked up at him, the space between them so small that the distance was his closed palm.

"What is it?" She asked, fighting the urge to take a step back, but considering he had had his hands on her waist multiple times to help her on the horse, it was hard not to make this awkward if she moved.

He opened his palm, and the string was curled up in it. He beamed at her, looking very proud. She smiled, unable to help it.

"Oh my, you found it."

"Yep, I saw it fly out of your hair and was able to pick it from the spot it fell in, though it took a while. If it were the same color as the grass, I probably would have never found it.

"Thank you," she said, taking the string from his palm and using the opportunity to take a step back.

The string wasn’t so important, she was sure. There were many others she could use. However, it was nice to see him go out of his way to find something that could easily be replaced.

Galath wasn’t inappropriate in any way, but sometimes, when he got a little excited, he tended not to understand personal space.

At the same time, she realized he only did that to her, which was enough indication that he liked her, amongst other things.

However, with the time they spent together in the past month, Mauve was sure she didn’t feel anything for him. Not even a little. She simply thought of him as a good friend.

"Would you like me to help you tie it?" He asked eagerly.

Mauve shook her head. "Thank you. I shouldn’t trouble you with such triviality... "

"I don’t mind," he responded.

"It would be a waste of your effort. Maria will undo it as soon as I get inside." There was no reason to be adamant, but she didn’t want to give off the wrong idea.

"I suppose that is all for today," Galath said, changing the subject.

"Yeah," she replied. "We should take the horse to the stable."

"Yeah, I will get a servant to do that," he replied, stroking the horse. She leaned into him, and Mauve smiled. Galath was really good with horses.

Mauve got to her room and found Maria waiting for hers. "Princess," she said as Mauve walked into the room. "We don’t have much time left."

"I know, I know."

"I wanted to get you, but I figured you were busy."

"I was," she replied. Her bath water was already set up, and it was apparent it had been here for a while.

"The water is cold already, and it has been here for a while. Would you like me to warm it up, though I don’t know how long that would take?"

"No, it’s fine," she whispered. "Help me out of these clothes."

"Of course, princess."

It wasn’t like it was a special occasion; there was no crime if she was a little late, but it was better safe than sorry.