Chapter 252: Love...?
Draven was at a standstill. "Love...?"
"Yes." Santino nodded.
"That is very much not possible." Draven sighed, resting his arms behind his back. "I am not a man whom one could bring herself to love. I do not even know what love is, and neither can I reciprocate it."
"Are you sure about that?" Santino inquired.
Draven gave a nod. "Yes. It has been a hundred-plus years of my life, and never for once did I feel this way. Surely it is not now that I would. A precious human like her could not possibly love a man like . She wouldn’t."
"Then ask," Santino suggested.
"Lives are short, mories are forever, young master. It wouldn’t hurt to find out for yourself. So mistakes can be avoided if one truly tries. There are certain things in life one cannot afford to lose, and you mustn’t lose what you have now, young master, even if you have to let go of it sooner or later."
Draven’s expression darkened. He was dissatisfied. "You speak of nonsense, Santino. I am not worthy of love—not her’s at the very least. I would only ruin her life more than I already have." He proceeded to walk away.
"Why have you beco so cold towards ?" Santino asked. This caused Draven to co to a halt.
"Do you hate ?" Santino turned to look at him.
Draven replied, "No."
"Then do you perhaps bear a grudge?" Santino further probed.
Draven was honest. "I do."
"Why?" Santino asked. "You just do not think—"
"What you did to
was unforgivable, and I cannot forgive you for it. You lied to ! If you hadn’t been dishonest about my mother’s state of living, perhaps I could have saved her, but you lied." Draven glared at him
"I had to, young master." Santino’s tone was pessimistic. "It was what your mother wanted."
"Your dishonesty cannot be excused, and I am not able to bring myself to forgive you. At least not yet." Draven disagreed.
Santino pinched between his brows. "That is why you are so cold towards , regardless of the fact that I have been with you your whole life. It’s been a hundred years now, and your heart has not moved even one bit. Let
ask you, Why did you choose
as your butler when you could have chosen soone else?"
"You know we are connected by blood, and I cannot serve anyone else apart from you. You made a blood pact with , even though you hate . I cannot understand."
Draven answered him coldly, "I do not hate you; I rather have a grudge. You are my butler because I’ve only ever known you, and I trust you more than I trust myself. I would not be willing to form a blood pact with anyone else apart from you." He was thoroughly honest.
A blood pact was an activity carried out between a master and his butler. It binds the butler to his master, thus preventing the butler from ever serving anyone else apart from his master. This way, the master could have full trust in his butler without the fear of ever being betrayed.
One who betrays his master after a blood pact is made could risk the penalty of death. self-destruction, to be precise.
Draven took the bags. "Allow
to be, Santino. I would rather we not have this sort of conversation ever again." He walked away, leaving the pavilion.
Santino could only gaze at his disappearing figure.
...
Draven approached the door of his master bedroom.
Avelina could be asleep, and she could possibly also be awake. Should he go in or not?
A soft breath exited from him, and he turned the handle, opening the door. He entered and shut the door behind him.
He looked around the room, and his gaze halted at the couch where Avelina lay, staring at the lantern on the mini table. She seed to be in deep thought. And he could tell because, even though the sound of him shutting the door was loud enough, she didn’t look up or even move.
Draven walked toward the couch but made sure to keep his distance. He asked, "Avelina...are you okay?"
But there was no response from Avelina. Her gaze was still fixed on the lantern. It felt as though there was nobody in the room.
Draven beca concerned. He had never seen her like that before.
"Avelina!" His tone was a bit louder this ti around and it managed to grab Avelina’s attention.
Avelina snapped out of her drifting thoughts. She darted her eyes around, and at the sight of Draven, who stood five feet away in front of her, she imdiately sat up on the couch.
"Draven..."
Draven softly smiled at her. "Why are you awake?" His voice was gentle to the ears.
Avelina flickered her eyes. She could not seem to answer him but rather sat staring at him. Draven gazed at her as well, not sure what was going on.
They peered at each other for a minute straight before Avelina abruptly looked away from him. She curled her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees.
"What...is that?" she asked.
Draven glanced at the bag he was holding. He inquired, "Can I co close to you?"
"Yes." Avelain nodded.
Draven took steps toward her. He extended his arm, giving the bag to her. "Your dress ca."
"My...dress?" Avelina had a look of confusion on her face as she received the bag from him.
Draven gave a nod. "Yes. The one I took you to get a asurent for."
"Oh..." Avelina looked into the bag, a smile appearing on her face. She dipped her hand inside, grabbing a box.
Her brows crinkled in curiosity, and she took out the box to see what it was. It was a black mini-box with a little pink rope wrapped around its body.
"What...is this?" She glanced at Draven, her lips curled up into a smile.
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