Chapter 44: 44. Suspense

Ariana remained silently seated on sofa, eating pudding out of a bronze bowl using a silver spoon while Nate rested on the bed of the chamber assigned to him, with his back leaned against the soft and puffy headboard.

"There used to be a time when you didn't eat much and look at you now!", exclaimed Nate. "Snatching the bowl from that poor server and devouring the dessert that was meant for everyone. People must be waiting for their share back at the table, you greedy voracious eater!"

Ariana took a look at him and muttered lazily. "You and me were waiting for our mates too. Until someone else snatched them from us. Actually those two chose each other but the lesson is people don't always get what they want."

Nate shot up from bed. "Why are you being extra philosophical about insignificant things?" He asked, frustrated.

"You asked me a question. I answered it." replied Ariana.

Nate scoffed. "I see what you're trying to do. Acting all calm and unaffected while minutes ago, you couldn't take your eyes off His Majesty, bastard Xavier."

Ariana maintained her front. "Nothing matters. We are exiting this palace after tomorrow for good. I am returning to the human world. Why would I waste my time keeping up with this drama of the Lancaster and the Bennets?"

"You know that I'm talking about that bastard's pitiable confession."

"What about it?" asked Ariana, raising her left eyebrow.

"What about it!" Nate was now shouting in exasperation caused by her lack of appropriate reaction. "You must be touched! It must have activated the savior complex. You must be having a want to be his knight in shining armor. Fix the powerful yet broken man-"

"- shut the fuck off, Nathaniel Astor!" Ariana spat in anger. "What kind of pathetic girl you think I am?"

Nate took a deep breath and smirked. "You broke down in no time."

"I'm conversing with you, so obviously!" Ariana rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure you can get into an argument with anyone, ranging from a new born baby to a dying man."

"One of my many talents." Nate clicked his tongue and smiled smugly. "Anyway, now that you're showing your real emotions, let's talk."

Ariana shook her head. "There's nothing to talk about. I won't lie. I am thinking about what happened back there. But it is better if we limit it to our thoughts only. It will not concern us when we leave." She explained.

"I know." Nate nodded his head. "But was that sad bastard telling the truth? Does he really have remorse and just wants your forgiveness?"

"Remorse or no remorse. If he doesn't accept his misdeeds and apologize publicly to both of us, I won't even give him forgiveness. But he's the King. He won't do it. Case closed."

"Oh thank Moon Goddess!" Nate let out a sigh. "I just wanted to confirm. When I saw you looking at him at the table, I thought you have gone a little soft for him. Thankfully not. Phew!"

Ariana looked at Nate and shook her head in disapproval. "However, I do have some thing to discuss with him later." Saying that she walked out of his chamber.

Commander Rafael entered the King's office and kneeled in front of the seated Xavier.

"Your Majesty."

"Rise."

Commander stood straight and handed over a scroll that was brought by him. Just then, Duke Lorenzo entered and gave a slight bow to Xavier.

"Duke Lorenzo. Commander Rafael. Have a seat." Xavier gestured to the sofa with his right hand.

As the men were taking seat and adjusting, Xavier opened the scroll and started reading it. After few minutes, his eyes staring at the bottom of the scroll indicated that he was at the end. There was a different shine on his face.

"He is gleaming as if he were reading a love letter from Ariana." Duke thought. "What is it?" He asked.

Xavier's eyes met with the commander's and they both smirked.

"Well?" asked the Duke again.

"A plea from the Vampire King, Duke Lorenzo." answered Xavier. "A desperate and poignant, yet foolish plea."

The Duke waited for elaboration. But before Xavier could give one, he had gone silent as he had caught a whiff of Ariana, which seems to be getting closer and closer till there was a knock at the door.

Xavier pushed his shoulders back and straightened his posture. "Come in."

Ariana opened the door slowly. Upon seeing the presence of other people as well, she was about to close the door. "I apologize."

"No no." said Duke Lorenzo. "Please, come in. Have a seat." He gave Xavier a nod of assurance.

"If you say so." muttered Ariana. She left the door ajar and walked up to them.

"Your Majesty." She curtsied.

"Never do that again, Ariana." said Xavier. It came out of him almost as a plea.

Ariana made an uncomfortable eye-contact with Commander Rafael and took a seat next to Duke Lorenzo. "Commander-in-chief Rafael of our Royal Military, Lady Bennet." The Duke introduced.

Ariana stood up. "I've heard a lot about you since my childhood. Thank you for your service, Commander."

"Such manner she possesses." Xavier rested his hand below his lips and smiled.

Commander Rafael smiled in return. "Pleasure to meet you, Lady Bennet." However, he winced inwardly remembering his first meet with the other Lady Bennet and with her antics.

Ariana adjusted her gown before retreating into her seat. She was about to state the purpose of her arrival when Xavier opened his mouth before she could.

"Ariana, did you know that this disease also affects the Vampires?"

Ariana gulped the words that she had intended to utter as she had to answer his question. "Your Majesty, I am very well aware that Xanthus affects Vampires too as I was also actively working as a healer and this information wasn't kept a secret from healers and doctors."

Upon noticing the dejected tone of her voice and her twitched lips, Xavier was alarmed. "I did not mean to patronize you-"

"Your Majesty, you were saying something?" Ariana cut him off. Him addressing her in such an informal manner in front of the commander didn't seem right to her.

Getting the hint, Xavier composed himself and spoke. "Matter is the Vampire population is plummeting because of that disease and the Vampire King has written to us, requesting for the cure, as his spies must have informed him about our Kingdom's recovery."

"Spies?" asked Ariana with wide eyes and panic stricken face.

Xavier closed his eyes and shook his head once. "We have spies in their Kingdom and they have in ours. You do not need to worry. At least not now when their biggest one has been caught."

"It is obvious they won't get help from us?" asked Ariana.

"It is obvious." confirmed a well pleased Xavier.

"So they will try to steal from us." concluded Ariana.

"But you are the cure. So there is no way we will let the cure be stolen."

Ariana remained silent for a while, clutching her left knee with both of her hands. She cleared her throat and asked, "How did that many Vampires catch Xanthus when it originated from Pack Ziram? It's not like we have trade with them."

"It is because we planted it there. We ordered for some infected corpses to be hidden inside their villages at the border which they share with us. Soon enough, it spread everywhere else. Smelling the urgency of Vampire King through this letter, we reckon it even reached their capital."

"Our spies have reported heavy number of deaths." confirmed Commander Rafael.

"How heartless!" Persephone burst into the room and strutted to take a seat near Ariana. "Here my sister was working endlessly to cure the infected while you were increasing the numbers." She turned towards Ariana. "Don't you agree?"

"I don't. It's not like I'm their healer." answered Ariana nonchalantly.

Persephone fiddled her fingers and turned away while muttering lowly, "I meant you must have had sympathy for any infected person as a healer."

"Persephone Bennet." called Xavier.

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"It's Persephone Luna Bennet, Your Majesty."

"Luna of which Pack?" Xavier asked solemnly.

Persephone flushed angrily. "I'm just here to talk to you about how unfair that punishment is-"

"You? Who is you? You do not have the liberty to address the King in such informal manner anymore, Persephone Bennet. Nor do you have the right to barge in here without our permission." said Xavier sternly.

Persephone opened her mouth to say something but Xavier cut her off.

"We remember you suggested that we should kill ourself this morning, didn't you?"

Commander Rafael gasped. Persephone stood up and inched towards Xavier. "You don't have to say this in front of everyone."

"These many transgressions cannot remain unpunished."

"What?" Color drained from her face.

"Keeping your dignity in mind, since you are a Bennet and a lady, we shall not give you a physical punishment. Since you put a curse of death on us, you shall go to the woods, catch a feral chicken by yourself in your human form and offer it to Moon Goddess at her temple, praying for a long life for the King of Wicref."

"I can pay fine-"

"And we will know if you cheated, trust us on that."

"But-"

"Hurry. Go on. There is Duchess Lily's birthday celebration tonight. You wouldn't want to miss that, would you?"

"No!" Persephone stomped her right foot. "I am an Alpha-blood. Chasing chickens is not my standard. I won't do it."

"Since you have brought the topic of hierarchy, need we remind you which position we hold?"

One could feel from the changing aura in the room that Kon, the Alpha-wolf was surfacing.

Persephone shuddered while taking a deep breath. She quickly bowed in submission and left the room.

Ariana tried to suppress Saoirse, hiding her from Kon. Meanwhile, Xavier regained full control.

"Your Majesty, I take your leave." Commander Rafael stood up when Xavier nodded, and left. Duke Lorenzo left too, leaving them alone in the room.

"I planted Xanthus in their Kingdom because we were weakening and they would have attacked us in our vulnerable state." Xavier started explaining. "I didn't even know if Xanthus would affect them or not. But I gave it a try in desperation- "

"I understand. But Your Majesty doesn't have to give me any explanation."

"No. If there's anyone in this world who possesses the right to demand an explanation from me, it is you. It is my duty to explain my actions to you, Ariana."

Ariana subtly looked left and right before muttering. "As if."

"Wouldn't the Vampire King want to take revenge from you for planting Xanthus in his Kingdom?"

Xavier shook his head no. "It is not a common knowledge that Xanthus originated from Pack Ziram for his spies to inform him. For him, it appeared everywhere out of nowhere."

"Oh."

"Anyway, you came to me. Did you want to talk?"

"Oh yes. About that. You were about to reward me for my contribution. Could I choose my reward myself?"

"Anything you wish, my love."

There it was again. My love.

Ariana chose not to show her objection as she was there to ask for something from him.

"Could you not put a stop on the fund flow for Ravernia's Xanthus victims?"

When Xavier continued starting at her face without answering, Ariana added, "I'm not requesting this for other projects of Ravernia. Just for the Xanthus victims."

Xavier tilted his head sideways and asked, "How did you come to know about the punishment that was given to the Bennet family? As far as I know, only they were informed of it."

"Persephone told me." Ariana said smoothly.

"Really?" A faint smile played on his lips.

Ariana nodded yes.

Xavier sobered himself up. "Ariana, I'm Ravernian's King as well. I don't mean them any harm. None of these projects will come to an end and people won't suffer as Bennets will be forced to pay for all of this from their own fortune. That was the only useful way of punishing them without causing a stir."

"Once again. I get it. I get what you're trying to do." Ariana stood up. "But I know about their wealth. For such profound remuneration, they won't have enough cash and liquidating will take time. That is why I'm asking for Xanthus victims only. Not for those other projects."

"I do have information on Bennet's personal fortune and the number of Xanthus cases in Ravernia. I didn't just wake up and decided their punishment without forethought. Trust me, they have enough funds to cover that small number." Xavier revealed.

"Oh." Ariana stayed tongue-tied. "I'm sorry for wasting His Majesty's time and questioning his judgement. "

She slowly walked to the door and was about to open it when Xavier stood up and walked up to her.

"Your concern for your people is right, Ariana. Do not apologize when you had good intentions. Had the numbers been even a bit higher, they wouldn't have had enough ready cash. You're right."

Xavier moved closer, held her arms and whispered. "But since you've asked for it, it will happen."

Flustered by their close proximity, Ariana backed away and strode out of the room. On her way, she saw Nate leaned against the wall.

"A little bird told me you went to meet His Majesty, Bastard Xavier."

"What little bird? I told you myself before leaving." answered Ariana, walking past him without stopping. Nate started following her.

"The little bird didn't tell me why you went there though."

"To make a fool out of myself evidently."

Nate laughed. "Come on. You cannot be dumber than a werewolf who rejected his own soulmate."

Ariana stopped abruptly and turned towards him. "I never rejected you, he says."

"At least he didn't say 'You will need me one day, Nate' smugly without any guilt." replied Nate.

"I didn't start a 'Whose mate is worse?' competition here, did I?"

Nate scoffed. "By the way, I have a surprise for you in tonight's celebration."

"Don't tell me you will blast firecrackers and create chaos to spoil Duchess Lily's birthday party." Ariana shook her head and started walking ahead of him.

Nate's lips twitched into a smirk. He muttered quietly. "Your surprise tonight is the guy who will make descendant of our Goddess, Guardian of all Packs, King of Wicref, His Majesty Xavier Kon Lancaster a cuckold."

Author's note: Who do you picture as the characters? Yourself or celebrities or some random faces? Do they match with the minimum descriptions provided in the chapters or are they different from them? If celebrities, then which ones?

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