• DREVON •
"My liege." Garrick seized my attention. "You’ve been quiet than usual. Is there sothing on your mind?"
There were many.
I leaned back on my chair and crossed my legs. "When will she be here?"
"Soon, my liege. How was your eting with Ravyn?"
I smiled. "Nothing gets past you, does it? But of course I wanted you to know."
"Ravyn is wild."
"Yes, but her house has great power, one of the oldest families, on the sa par with House Altherin."
"Her house has never supported the crown before. Her family chose that way. Ravyn followed you to war because you both grew up together. But she has served her ti in war; she aims for non-political life now."
"I didn’t go there for but for Eloise’s sake."
"What?" Garrick asked in shock. "But she has power now with Princess Diana as her ally."
"Yes, but I want her to have one steadfast house that has absolute support for her. In the gas of politics, shared power or a borrowed one isn’t the absoluteness you need. Look at how my father’s court turned out. Those pieces of shit never cared to support . They don’t know ."
"So Ravyn will be Your Grace’s greatest ally. You don’t want what happened to your court to happen to her."
"This is all for her future," I said.
A future I now know was bleak. What happened that day not only raised my suspicion but made question everything I have ever known.
I knew I should be disgusted. It was in my blood to despise the snowbloods ever since I ca into this world, but goddess help , I’m not in the slightest repulsed.
What Eloise experienced when she awoke and pounced on was delirium, a state of intoxication in snowbloods after the taste of blood.
Eloise doesn’t rember, and it’s good she doesn’t. It gave ti to uncover everything I could.
But there was one thing I knew all my life about snowbloods: after a taste, there is always a hunger for more.
I fear Eloise would succumb to blood frenzy soon.
The doors suddenly opened, and a young woman stepped through. Eloise’s handmaid, Talia. Recently, she has made a full recovery.
She walked closer, and as the light touched her face, I saw the claw scars imprinted on her face, faded, but enough to know that she was a survivor.
She bowed to . "My liege." She straightened her position, sparing a brief look at Garrick, who I knew returned it.
This was all too familiar.
I smirked. "Talia..."
She peeled her eyes away. "I-I want to offer my greatest appreciation for saving my life, my liege."
"Who you should thank is Garrick. But I’m sure you have."
Garrick cleared his throat.
"That’s by the way. The reason why I summoned you here and disturbed your bed rest is because I want you to tell everything about Eloise Ravemont."
"Pardon?"
I tipped my head. "Before Eloise Balthar, she was Eloise Ravemont."
Her mouth was agape, mostly in shock, but she quickly collected herself. "I hold my lady’s confidentiality with utmost importance, my liege."
"And I understand your loyalty, but I’m her husband. Don’t I have the right to know?"
"If you want to know everything there is to know about Eloise Ravemont, then she would provide the best explanation."
I see...she doesn’t want to break her faith. I’m truly amazed by this human’s ability to stand her ground.
"Don’t you get it?" I said. "I ask you this because I do not want to ask her."
Talia gulped, probably growing anxious with my icy stare. I don’t want to use force; it was never my style, but I might change my mind.
"Talia," Garrick urged, sensing my thoughts.
"Eloise Ravemont," Talia began forcefully. "Was born a bastard to the Archduke of Beloria."
Now we’re getting sowhere.
"Everyone knows the story of her mother, a whore who seduced the Archduke."
"Then your population is a very dull one. Her own father cannot take responsibility for his mistakes. Why bla his unfaithful activities on seduction?"
Talia flinched at my words but continued regardless. "I-I worked far from the estate, but I have heard how cruelly she was maltreated by her family."
"Go on," I said in a dark tone.
"A-All her life, she was an outcast in her own ho, labeled as the whore’s daughter. And then the day ca when the Archduke announced the alliance with the Lycans to take back our lost lands. Everyone rejoiced."
Eloise was the bargain. The bargain, in fact, was the Archduke’s precious daughter. It seems I have been cheated in that aspect.
That was by the way, because now I have a clearer picture. The Archduke might not be Eloise’s father; he’s human.
Then how did Eloise co into his possession? Why is Eloise more human than she is a snowblood? Her scent was human, her body was human...what could be that explanation?
"Was there anything else about her mother aside from what was spoken about her?"
Talia shook her head. "No, my liege."
"You may leave. Thank you for your cooperation."
"My liege, if I may ask that you allow to get back in service for my lady."
"No," My reply was blunt.
I didn’t give my reason, and she didn’t dare ask why. She simply bowed and left my study.
"Why, if I may ask, my liege? I’m sure Your Grace is looking forward to seeing her again."
"I know, but placing her next to Eloise will put your Talia in danger. She’ll beco the feeder to peck on, to get to Eloise."
"M-My Talia?" Garrick stuttered, which had never happened before.
I chuckled deeply. "I’m not a fool, Garrick. Besides, don’t you want her to be safe?"
An emotion flickered in his eyes. "Yes."
"Good."
"Why did you ask about Your Grace’s background?"
"A husband should know his wife’s background," I replied firmly, hoping to end the discussion there.
"There is sothing else to this, isn’t it? The sa thing that has weighed on your mind ever since she awoke from her slumber."
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