Chapter 100: Not wrong to be weak
"A war?" Alora was stunned to learn that at the ti when Magnus was four years old, the entire kingdom was in chaos.
"Yes. The war went on for five years and it took three more years to bring stability and peace in the Kingdom. I hardly saw my father and mother as I started growing up. In the initial years, the vampires grow faster than the humans. A four-year-old would look like a ten-year-old," Magnus explained to her.
"What about the Queen? Was she in the war too?" Alora asked.
"No, she was with Lillian. I was under the care of my aunt, who is no more. Alaric is three years older than
while Izaak is five years older than . When I was in a growing stage, I always waited for my father and mother to see . They never did," he said as he recalled the ti of his childhood.
Alora sensed his sadness while he shared brief information about his childhood with her. "Were you not in the palace? Were you at your aunt’s house?" she queried.
"Yes. I lived in her house till I turned 12. I never liked my family, who neglected , especially my father, who thought I’d grow up by myself. I know a kingdom needs its King in the ti of war, but a child also needs his father. And I needed my father even if it was for a day. I learned through my cousin that my father had visited Elmswood. Yet, he didn’t get ti to et ," Magnus said with a chuckle.
"Perhaps, your father was busy with vampires," Alora murmured.
"I thought the sa. Father should have called
to see him at least," Magnus said in a complaining tone.
Alora understood that as a child, Magnus wanted much-needed attention from his father and mother. His childhood was the sa as hers. The difference was her mother would always be there. However, for Magnus, his both parents were absent from his childhood days.
"You know why I started liking you the mont you opened your mouth. I always wanted a person to talk to . Random things. I wanted soone to give
attention to without any motives," Magnus asserted, suddenly smiling at his words.
Alora glanced at him and he also tilted his head. "I also had no one to speak with . I liked Prince Magnus the mont I found out I could only speak my heart out with him," she said with a smile.
"Then why did you not propose to
first?" Magnus questioned her.
Alora stuttered at his question. "Where are we? I think we have co far from the cottage," she said while turning around.
"Do you wish to go back? Are you sleepy now?" Magnus asked.
"No. Magnus, when is your birthday? Last ti I asked you, but you didn’t tell ," Alora complained.
"It falls in the winter season," Magnus replied.
"That’s too late," Alora said. "Ahhh." A low scream escaped her mouth as Magnus suddenly carried her in his arms.
"It’s ti to return," he said and began walking toward the cottage.
"But I’m not sleepy yet," Alora stubbornly said.
"You are. I don’t want you to cry tomorrow seeing the dark circles under your eyes," Magnus proclaid as he began walking fast.
Alora moved her face close to his neck and closed her eyes. She didn’t know when the sleep engulfed her eyes in his arms.
Magnus noticed that she was asleep now, so he carefully brought her back to the cottage. Without disturbing Alora’s sleep, he lay her on the mattress. Brushing away the hair strands from her cheeks, he tucked her inside the duvet after removing her sandals.
"Alora, I will make sure things run smoothly for you. I will convince the vampires to not fear you," Magnus said in a low voice as he stroked her hair tenderly. He, too, got inside the duvet and lay beside her. Snuggling close to Alora, he drifted off to sleep.
~~~~
In the morning, Izaak while drinking the blood from the glass asked Louis why he couldn’t spot Magnus and Alora.
"They have not woken up yet, Your Highness," Louis answered.
"They haven’t woken up yet, Your Highness," Louis responded.
"It’s already eight in the morning," Izaak remarked, handing the empty glass to a servant.
"Maybe they’re just tired," Griffin chid in. "After all, they’re newlyweds. Who knows if they stayed up late last night," he added, a smirk playing on his lips.
"We were outside. Will you shut the doors of your imagination?" Magnus hit at Griffin’s back, making him jolt forward.
"You two went out last night!" Izaak mused.
"Alora was unable to fall asleep. So, we went for a walk within this estate," Magnus clarified to him. He asked Louis to set the breakfast for Alora and he himself sat on the couch, facing Izaak.
"Did you kill that newbie?" Magnus inquired him.
"No. It wasn’t right to kill him when Alora was safe," Izaak replied. "Also, you need to understand that Alora cannot be a part of the vampire society. Not every vampire has a control over their thrust for the blood," he advised.
Griffin agreed with Izaak, but he remained silent.
"Brother Izaak, does that an that you won’t let her enter the Vampire Council?" Magnus asked.
"Yes," Izaak replied. "Turn her into a vampire and I’ll let her enter the council," he suggested.
Magnus rubbed the skin above his right eyebrow. "I will be with Alora all the ti. Nothing will happen," he assured Izaak.
"Then, prove to
that her eyes are harmless. Rember you are given the sa task from the father. If you fail, then I am afraid I cannot help you," Izaak straightforwardly clarified to him.
"You call yourself a big brother, but you refuse to help ," Magnus remarked.
"Don’t emotionally blackmail ," Izaak stated. "You never even considered
your well-wisher," he muttered.
"That’s not true. I allowed you to accompany us here because I have finally started trusting you, Brother," Magnus stated in a humble tone.
"I cannot anger the vampires by including Sister-in-law in the council. Either turn her into a vampire or show
that her eyes are harmless," Izaak again put forward the condition.
"Fine. Look into her eyes then," Magnus challenged him.
"I won’t. What if I perish?" Izaak declined to do so.
"See! You don’t trust
and Alora," Magnus said with a frown appearing on his forehead.
Alora, listening to the conversation from upstairs, stood near a pillar, feeling disheartened.
’Magnus will never turn
into a vampire, and people will still doubt
even if I tell them I’m harmless.’
Lost in her thoughts, she took a step back and hid behind the pillar. After a mont, she decided to retreat to the dining room adjacent to the bedroom.
She quietly sat on the chair with her hands clasped together. Louis greeted her morning, but she didn’t hear him. The servants served her breakfast and they left.
"How should I prove myself to Prince Izaak?" Alora murmured. She was desperate to find a way that could make her take a first step. She didn’t wish Magnus to fight all the ti with everyone. "It seems I need to go with Magnus’s suggestion. I will start with an animal perhaps," she decided.
However, the next mont, Alora’s inner voice told her that Izaak would ask her to look into a person’s eyes. And if she failed, Izaak would never let her enter the vampire council. Along with that, she would be hated again.
Just then, the door swung open, and Magnus entered. "Why haven’t you started? The food will turn cold," he said, taking a seat beside her. He offered her a plate of egg toast and poured a glass of juice, showing his care and concern.
Alora picked up the knife and fork. She began eating slowly and Magnus felt sothing was off with her.
"What happened?" Magnus leaned back on the chair.
"Nothing," Alora answered as she shook her head in denial.
"Why didn’t you co downstairs?" Magnus asked.
"I was hungry, so I thought to have my breakfast first," Alora said and chewed her food slowly. Magnus noticed her facial expressions, which told him the entire story.
As she rested the fork and knife on the plate, Alora spoke, "I feel I need to wear the blindfold again to make others comfortable around ."
"Why? Do you wish to return to the phase where all you see is darkness even when you aren’t blind?" Magnus questioned her. "Let others be uncomfortable. You won’t wear the blindfold," he said sternly.
Alora turned silent as tears erged in her eyes. "I think I have to live with that only," she whispered. "I think I dreamt too big."
"So?" Magnus questioned her. "What if you dream big? Is it a cri to dream?"
Alora shook her head.
"Don’t fear anything. Trust yourself," he affird.
"I think I’m weak." Alora finally gazed at him.
"It’s not wrong to be weak. You are learning daily to be strong. Don’t give up this early. Finish the juice. I will take you sowhere today," Magnus said with a gentle smile.
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