Ch. 136..140: The Vampire Prince's Blindfolded Bride Chapter 136-140

Chapter 136: Finding me special

Magnus smiled to see Alora’s reaction and he stood up finally. Locking the huge door from inside, he turned to gaze at her. She adjusted her clothes while he started taking off his clothes one after the other.

"Magnus, aren’t you asleep? You woke so early in the morning," Alora suddenly opined. Her eyes darted on his naked torso as he took deliberate slow steps toward her.

"You must be kidding with me, Alora. You made me stand up to close the door and now, you want me to sleep. That’s not happening now," Magnus remarked as he rested his knee on the bed first, leaning down, his face hanging right above hers.

"I thought you were tired," Alora murmured, her gaze drifting downwards until he gently lifted her chin with his calloused fingers.

"What are you afraid of now?" Magnus inquired.

"Nothing. Why should I fear the prince?" Alora replied, her finger tracing a path from his chest to his abdomen. He emitted a low growl in response to her touch, akin to a searing heat.

"You are teasing me," Magnus said.

"When did I do that?" Alora pouted her lips.

He chuckled and hovered over her completely. She had her hands resting on the mattress now, her right knee was in the air.

His lips were merely a millimeter away from her when a knock occurred on the door.

"Your Highness, your father and mother have come to see you," Selvina informed from outside the door.

Alora was quick to push away Magnus as she jumped down the bed. He couldn’t believe her speed at that moment when his shirt came flying in his direction and landed on his face. "Wear it!" And then even the waistcoat reached the bed.

Magnus lowered his shirt as his jaw tightened. He watched Alora brushing her hair and chastising him for his behavior.

"What behavior?" Magnus questioned, adjusting his shirt as he buttoned it. "You initiated the kiss. Don’t pretend you weren’t already aroused," he whispered, stepping away from the bed.

Alora set down the brush and hurried to his side. As he began tucking in his shirt, she assisted him, completing his attire with care. "I was excited. I admit. Now, will His Highness not be upset about it?" She asked, caressing his cheek.

"If you continue with such tenderness, I might just have to kiss you again and whisk you off to bed. Your parents will simply have to wait a bit longer for us. Perhaps they’ll catch on to our intentions," Magnus teased, his playful tone evident.

Alora lightly slaps his mouth. "Don’t be so shameless," she glared at him and quickly withdrew. Wearing her heels, she ran outside while Magnus kept smiling on his own. He enjoyed Alora’s reactions.

"She is so cute even when she gets angry," Magnus mumbled while smiling.

As he reached the drawing room, Norman and Rhea left their seats to greet him. "Stay seated," Magnus said as he sat down on the sofa while Alora took a seat next to him.

"We heard from Odin that Alora saved Prince Izaak’s life last night and she can look at anyone," Norman said, smiling, as he gazed at Rhea too.

"Is it true? Alora, can you really look at everyone?" Rhea asked this time. She was desperate to look into her daughter’s eyes.

"Yes, it’s true. However, the condition is that the person in front of her should not carry any wrong intentions toward Alora," Magnus explained to them.

"Alora, are you ready to look at your parents?" Magnus asked as he tilted his head at her.

"Yes." Alora smiled and lifted her head. Her heart thumped against her chest with nervousness.

Finally, her eyes met with her mother’s. A smile formed on her lips as she gazed into Rhea’s eyes. Her mother’s eyes were grey instead of blue. She glanced at Father this time, whose eyes were brown. Norman didn’t have any hate for his eldest daughter, that’s why nothing happened to him.

"I cannot believe this!" Norman remarked as he glanced at his wife, who already had tears in her eyes.

They left their seats as Alora walked to them. She hugged Rhea tightly and closed her eyes. Norman placed his hand on Alora’s head, gently patting it while Rhea caressed her back.

"Alora was never cursed. You all took the wrong meaning of her eyes. They were meant to protect her from everyone and even the people around her." Magnus rose to his feet as he explained them.

Norman regretted his actions. All the pain that Alora underwent in her own house was because as her father he never took her stand.

Rhea and Alora pulled away. Her mother cupped her face and gazed into her eyes again. "I always miss these eyes. They are so pretty," Rhea said.

"Thank you, Mother," Alora replied and she peered at her father now.

Norman embraced his daughter in a warm hug. "Forgive your father," he whispered.

Alora’s eyes turned watery. It felt to her that she had a new life suddenly where everyone wanted her. It was like a dream for her, where no hate was present in anyone’s mind toward her.

"I’ve forgiven you," Alora said as tears trickled down her eyes. She stepped back after withdrawing from the hug and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I’m so happy to see you both. Thank you for giving me this life. I finally feel happy and blessed," Alora said.

All her life she only heard how she should have died at the time of birth. Everyone around her was against her living, except for her mother. Even she wanted to leave this body. She never imagined such kind of life, where happiness finally came to her door.

Turning around, she gazed at her husband, Magnus. Alora couldn’t help but hug him tightly in front of her parents. "Thank you for giving me this life, Magnus. If you hadn’t taken me as your wife, I would not have witnessed all this. Thank you for loving me and finding me special," Alora said while the tears kept streaming down her cheeks.

Chapter 137: One Last Chance

Venus bit her nails as she looked outside the prison’s door in the hope that she would be freed now. For her morning and night were the same. There was no sense of time, so she didn’t even know how many days she spent there.

"Why did Alora abandon me? She wasn’t this kind of person. Why am I left alone?" Venus bent on her knees before sitting down on the floor. She was remorseful of her actions. Had she not hated Alora for no reason, it would have happened. Every single minute or hour she would only think of a chance to correct her every mistake.

Those walls were her companions now as they could only hear her silent cries.

Suddenly Venus heard the door of the prison unlocking and a soldier walked in. He removed the shackles from her wrists and ankles. "Follow me," the soldier said.

"Where am I taken to?" Venus queried as she quickly wiped the tears from the back of her palms. However, she got no response from the soldier. With limping legs, she exited the prison only to find Odin in front of her.

"Prince Magnus wants to see you," Odin said and turned on his heels to go ahead.

"Not Princess Alora? I would like to see my sister," Venus requested.

Odin didn’t respond to her and went ahead. Venus with limping legs walked behind him and finally reached a room, where she found Magnus seated on a chair.

"Your Highness, I brought Miss Venus here," Odin informed as he turned to his left.

Magnus’s elbow rested on the armrest while on his fist his face rested in a tilt. Venus bowed to him while trembling in fear. She wondered if she would be hanged to death.

Magnus noticed how Venus’s body was shaking. "Have a seat, Venus," he said.

Venus looked at him and then told him she was fine at her place.

"I don’t want to be scolded by my dear wife for not even asking you to sit," Magnus said.

Venus finally walked up to the table and pulled out a chair for herself. She sat on it, feeling a sense of comfort after a long time.

"So, how does it feel to be imprisoned and neglected by everyone... Hated by everyone?" Magnus asked he lowered his forearm on the armrest and leaned back on the tall chair.

"It’s terrible. It’s dark with no light around you," Venus replied, keeping her eyes low.

"Alora is with her parents in the chamber at the moment. She is happy now. However, the fact that her sister is still in prison bothers her," Magnus pronounced.

"Did she ask for me?" She asked with a glint in her eyes. "I’m grateful for this warm gesture of hers," Venus stated.

"Alora is unlike you," Magnus commented, causing the tears to flow down her cheeks. "You were egoistic, narcissistic, and filled with cruelty. You wanted to be like Alora now because she has everything. You thought if Alora would die you could tempt any vampire. You failed to understand that I’ve my men to bring to you down. I hate it when someone hurts Alora and she cries," he proclaimed.

Venus’s cries turned intense. She covered her eyes with her hands as she broke down into tears. "I-I regret..." Her voice choked as the words trailed off her mouth.

"In just five days you became this kind of mess. Do you now understand what Alora felt all these years? She was aloof, locked in her room, and not allowed to talk to anyone. You always left harsh remarks on her. She was forced to live in a blindfold like a blind person, surrounded by the darkness all the time." Magnus blurted out everything he felt for Alora.

When he read Alora’s mind for the first time, he realized that she only wanted to feel love. Her desires ended only there unlike most of the people, who wanted everything.

Venus’s cries turned loud as she heard him. She equally hurt Alora instead of standing for her. She fooled her with her fake sense of affection.

Magnus pressed his fingers on the temple of his forehead, but he chose to remain silent and let Venus cry.

Finally, when she stopped after ten minutes or so, Magnus spoke, "Alora wants to give you a chance. One last chance."

Venus sobbed as she looked into his eyes. "I-I am thankful. I’ll prove this time that I’m not the same Venus anymore," she said.

"You don’t need to prove me because I still believe you will not change," Magnus affirmed. "You are maligned from the inside. Alora wants to forgive you and wants a fresh start with you. But this is the last chance as I said. Because if I find a single mistake from your end, which becomes the reason for Alora’s tears, I’m going to feed you to some very hungry vampires. Even Alora won’t be able to stop me. I’ll make you watch your own death." His words were intimidating and so was his gaze.

"Odin, tell a female servant to ready Venus into the clean clothes and bring her to the drawing room, where others are waiting for her." Magnus ended his conversation with that and rose to his feet. He prepared to leave when Venus assured him she would not waste that chance of hers.

Magnus as usual didn’t trust her words. If not for Alora, he would not have let Venus ever see the sunlight again.

Odin took Venus to the palace, where a servant helped her in getting changed into neat clothes. Venus looked at herself in the mirror after so many days. She couldn’t even recognize her own face, which once used to glow.

"Miss Venus, shall we go?" the servant asked her in a humble tone.

"Yes." Venus turned around and followed the servant closely. She was feeling weak, her head was spinning, but she kept her eyes open.

~~~~

I hope you like the Mass Release.

Chapter 138: Shameless for you

"I’m relieved Father sent Grandma to Elmswood. I didn’t want her to leave, but what she did was unforgivable," Alora expressed, urging them to enjoy the tea and snacks.

Her gaze repeatedly flitted toward the door, anticipating Magnus’s return with Venus. When he finally appeared, Alora was surprised to find Venus was not with him.

"She will be here after changing her outfit," Magnus informed them and took a seat. He found Alora had sat by her mother’s side. He let her stay seated there when Venus finally entered the drawing room with a servant.

Rhea and Norman left their seats to see Venus. She snuggled to both her parents and she cried her eyes out. Rhea tried to console her, but Venus was unable to stop her tears.

Alora’s eyes were also covered in tears and she wiped the corners of her eyes. She glanced at Magnus, who shook his head at her. She interpreted his gesture– not wanting her to cry.

When Venus finally stopped weeping, Rhea told her how Alora decided to free her. "Just apologize to your sister for what you have done so far," Rhea said as she caressed Venus’s cheeks.

Alora left her seat, but she didn’t look at Venus. What if she still carried wrong intentions toward her? She didn’t wish to perish her if their gazes would meet. The next second, Alora stumbled as Venus tightly embraced her.

"Forgive me, Alora. It was dark and scary. I never wanted to feel the fear you underwent for years. I’m extremely sorry. Perhaps my words don’t make you trust me because of what I did. I’ll prove you with my actions this time. Thank you for freeing me and if possible, forgive me," Venus’s apology was real this time. Every word she uttered came from the bottom of her heart.

"Venus, Alora can look into your eyes to prove that you are saying the truth this time," Magnus intercepted in the sisters’ moment.

"Yes, Venus. We just looked into your sister’s eyes. You should try once," Norman encouraged her enthusiastically.

"Given the condition, you still do not carry enmity toward her. Else, you will get an instant death," Magnus made her aware of the condition too. He wanted to know if Venus would look at Alora directly, or if would she avoid it.

Venus withdrew from the hug and told Alora that she should look at her.

"Are you sure?" Alora inquired her.

"Yes, I am." Venus thought in her mind even if she would die, she would not regret it because her sins were too many and it was also one way to wash them away.

Alora slowly lifted her eyes and finally, the two sisters looked at each other. As expected, Venus was pretty. She got their mother’s eyes. But she looked pale and weak. Alora’s heart broke to see the state of her sister.

Magnus was quite surprised to see that Venus didn’t perish. So, she did have a change of heart.

"You are so beautiful, Alora," Venus said, smiling at her. "Especially your eyes," she added.

"You are no lesser than a beauty. Just eat healthy and take rest. I’m sorry for being harsh on you this time. Forgive me for raising my hand on you. I-I should not have done that," Alora said as she hesitantly brought her hand to Venus’s cheek. She tenderly stroked her and told Venus to forget everything from the past.

"It’s the time we all should move on. You need to forget your past too," Alora stated.

Venus nodded at her and placed her hand above Alora’s. "Thank you for this chance," she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks again. Alora was quick to wipe them. Rhea walked to them and hugged her both daughters. Norman, too, joined them. Their family was complete and Alora gave its credit to Magnus only.

Alora sent her parents and sister back home realizing Venus needed rest. Tobias escorted them to their home on Magnus’s order.

"So, the Wilson Family’s dutiful daughter has managed to unite their hearts," Magnus remarked, rising from his seat. His hand gently caressed Alora’s hair as he spoke.

"It would have been impossible without Prince Magnus’s assistance," Alora acknowledged his help and support throughout this time.

"Shall we continue then?" Magnus asked, tilting his head at her.

"Continue what?" Alora queried.

"What we left earlier," Magnus replied.

Alora chuckled and pushed him away gently. "I’m hungry. It’s lunchtime. His Highness should also take the meals," she opined.

"Umm... Can I have you?" Magnus smirked at her.

Alora’s cheeks turned like a ripened tomato, and she scolded Magnus for speaking that aloud. "You’ve become shameless," she murmured and fanned her hand across her face.

"Shameless for you," Magnus replied.

Selvina and two more servants came in. They cleaned the table and left them alone again. Alora forgot to ask Selvina to set the lunch table for them because of Magnus.

He hugged her from behind, thus startling her. "I think your stomach can wait a bit longer. Let’s resume where we left last," Magnus whispered in her ear. The brush of air on her earlobe made shivers run down her spine. Her fingers curled and she was unable to think properly as Magnus began coaxing her.

He turned her to face him, his hand remained firm on her back. She had kept her gaze downcasted, not wishing to look at him because she knew she would give in.

Gently, Magnus lifted her chin, his lips were now only an inch apart from her. "When you act like this, you invite me more," he confessed. Promptly their eyes met and she pursed her lips together.

"Your Highness, Rubin–" Griffin stopped as he saw them standing too close. He turned around immediately begging for Magnus’s apology, thinking he would be killed by his hands.

Alora pushed away Magnus and ran away.

"I should go too. The Prince shall continue what he was doing," Griffin said with a smile.

"She ran away," Magnus said, clenching his jaw. "Say it. What does Rubin want?" he asked.

"You."

Chapter 139: Falling in love again and again

Magnus arched his eyebrow at Griffin’s response. "Are you in your right mind?" he coldly asked.

"Forgive me, Your Highness. Rubin wishes to speak with you," Griffin responded.

"Tell him I’m occupied until evening," Magnus replied.

"But Your Highness, you’re free at the moment," Griffin remarked, casting a perplexed glance at him.

"I’m not," Magnus said.

"It can be an important matter," Griffin stated, telling Magnus not to give a cold shoulder to Rubin just because Alora and he were friends.

"They never became friends, Fin. Watch your tongue," Magnus sharply told him. He was again jealous for no reason. It was not him, but he couldn’t help it given the fact that Rubin was a human.

Griffin hid his smile since he didn’t wish Magnus to irk more. "Then, I’ll tell Rubin to come tomorrow," he told Magnus.

"Wait! I’m coming," Magnus said and asked him to lead the way. He thought not meeting Rubin would be going against his promise to him.

Rubin was in the guest lounge on the first floor of the palace and as he witnessed the prince entering the lounge, he left his seat immediately.

"Greetings to Your Highness," Rubin said with a bow.

Magnus nodded at him and took a seat across from him on the sofa chair. As he gestured to Rubin to sit, he promptly settled down. "So, why are you here?" he asked.

"Your Highness, I need to end up the ties with the Hunter group I belong to. Also, I was thinking if I could assure them that not all the vampires were bad, thus making them leave that path. In turn, Prince Magnus can provide them justice for the reason they chose to be the vampire hunters," Rubin put forward his humble opinions.

"You don’t have to do anything. Stay low. I’ve not yet entered the Vampire Council. It will take time to appease the anger of such hunters toward the vampires," Magnus advised him. "Not to mention, you might be called a traitor by them. So, if you love your life, you have to stay low for some time," he asserted.

Rubin acknowledged the prince’s wise advice. "Princess Alora will be in the council too. As a human, can I be a part of the Vampire Council?" Rubin asked. He felt if he were a member of it, then the humans, especially the hunters’ trust would automatically be built on the vampires.

"I’ll let you know once the Vampire Council acknowledges Alora’s presence first. It is not an easy task to let anyone join the council, where only pure-blooded, high-society vampires are present," Magnus explained to him, but he didn’t go into the details.

"I understand, Your Highness. I’m grateful for you to listen to me," Rubin said, expressing his gratitude.

"That’s what I promised you. No need to be thankful." Magnus glanced at Griffin, gesturing for him to send back Rubin. After they left, Magnus made his way back to his chamber.

~~~~~

"I’m perfectly well, Mother. You fret too much," Izaak assured, placing the cup on the bedside table.

"Why not consider marrying again? Your previous wives didn’t bring you the solace you deserve," Margaret suggested to him.

Izaak rolled his eyes at his mother. "I think I’m going to live like this for a while. I enjoy my present," he stated.

"Magnus married against my wish, but I’m not upset with him anymore. Alora takes good care of him. You and Alaric had the worst experiences so far. You tell everyone that you don’t have any feelings attached to any of your wives, but you cannot fool me. You gave them your heart but got betrayed in the end. While Alaric is unable to give his heart to anyone," Margaret complained. As a mother, she couldn’t hide her worries for them.

"I don’t know how to bring a good woman? My status is enough to lure many women toward me. However, how to understand that the woman I bring now will not have a change of heart," Izaak proclaimed.

"Should I find one for you?" Margaret asked.

"Not now, Mother," Izaak stated.

Margaret didn’t force him and told him that he should take his meals. "Every dish is of your choice. Should I help you feed?" she queried.

"No, mother. I’ll eat myself. I’ve not broken my hand. You should go and have your lunch with Father," Izaak suggested. Margaret nodded at him and left the chamber soon.

The servant set the table for him within the chamber. He went to the table and pulled out a chair to sit on it. Eating in silence, he thought of his past, when he fell in love for the first time. It was a beautiful feeling, and he enjoyed his time with her. Though his first marriage was short-lived, he didn’t stop his heart from falling in love again and again until the fourth time.

His heart had solidified from the four betrayals and he decided to live his life in loneliness. But when Izaak would see Magnus and Alora, he would think if he could live such a life too.

Perhaps, no! Because he was also a culprit for not to understand any of his wives. His family was always bigger for him and he had the doubt that no woman could ever understand his love for his family.

Lost in his thoughts, Izaak finished his meals soon. He went to the balcony of his room to take a stroll and find some comfort in the open air.

"Your Highness, it’s the time for you to drink the tonic that the royal physician had sent earlier," the maidservant informed him with a bowl in her hand.

Izaak extended his hand out and she handed him the bowl. Though bitter, Izaak finished the tonic and gave back the bowl to her.

"Don’t disturb me for an hour. If anyone asks to meet me, tell the person that I’m asleep," Izaak instructed the maidservant, who bowed and left the balcony.

Chapter 140: To be strong-hearted

Alora closed her journal after writing her day’s feelings in that. She felt contended because everything fell back to its right place. As the evening’s sun set down and the birds went back to their homes, Alora looked up at the sky. Leaving the journal on the swing, she went toward the balustrade and closed her eyes, feeling the brush of the gentle breeze on her face.

"Thank you for giving me this joy," Alora prayed to God. She opened her eyes to see the patches of clouds in the sky, which mostly had covered it.

"Will it rain tomorrow?" Alora murmured. "I should give a present to Magnus. But what should I give him?" she thought. She wanted her gift to be unique and special.

"Princess Alora, you are here! I was looking for you in the chamber," Selvina said as she entered the balcony.

"What happened?" Alora turned around to face her.

"The Queen wants to see you," Selvina informed her.

"Now?" Alora’s eyes grew bigger.

"Yes," Selvina answered.

"I wonder what Her Majesty wants to speak with me," Alora murmured and went to the bedchamber. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her hair was set, and her gown was good too. She told Selvina to show her the way and left with her to the Queen’s Manor.

The last time she came here, Queen Margaret instructed her to keep her distance from Magnus. She was worried thinking what the Queen would say this time.

Upon reaching the chamber, Alora curtsied to the Queen.

"Have a seat, Alora," Margaret said, gesturing to the sofa across from her. She looked quite happy and the reason was known to everyone. "Would you like to have evening tea with me?" she inquired.

"Why not, Your Majesty?" Alora agreed to have tea with her.

"You shall call me Royal Mother," Margaret replied. This sudden change in her tone and attitude made Alora giddy.

As the tea was served on the Queen’s instructions to them, Alora lifted the saucer and grabbed the cup. As she took a sip, she heard the Queen speak.

"Alora, what happened before was something based on my prejudices toward you. My son always asked why he loved you for giving him the attention he always required. I have no idea if Magnus ever shared with you but in his childhood days, his father and I were not with him," Margaret stated in a regretful tone.

Alora lowered the cup and saucer. "His Highness told me that he felt neglected. When I came into his life, he felt he was given attention by someone like me," she asserted.

Margaret sighed to hear her. "The wartime was difficult for us. What we as parents did at that time, we both regret that. However, both my husband and I are now happy to see that you care so much for Magnus. You two will complete two months of marriage soon," she then stated.

"Yes, next week, Royal Mother," said Alora with a smile.

"I told you not to be intimate with my son. I apologize for that," Margaret then said. "You both are already physical, aren’t you?" she inquired only to confirm.

Alora hummed as she nodded at the Queen.

"Then, think about growing a family with him," Margaret stated.

Alora peered into her eyes. "Indeed, I want to grow a family with Prince Magnus. However, right now, I have a few things to accomplish, Royal Mother. I hope you understand," she humbly said.

"Why do you wish to accomplish this time? I am curious because I thought your biggest desire was to be to able to look at everyone," Margaret affirmed, waiting for her response.

"Royal Mother, I’ve to join the Vampire Council. I want to work closely by His Highness’s side," Alora replied. However, she refrain from mentioning about the purpose of her eyes that Stella revealed to her and Magnus.

"You may get to meet harsher vampires in the council. Magnus is our family, so we were still soft with him for you. The Vampire Council is a toxic place in my opinion," Margaret truthfully told her. "Now, you will think why the Queen is saying that," she laughed lightly.

Alora smiled and heard the Queen further say, "The noble vampires don’t like humans. Your presence will affect them. You’ll find all sorts of vampire rankings there. They punish when one makes a mistake in a brutal way. You have to be strong-hearted in front of them."

Alora carefully listened to the Queen’s advice. Even Lillian told her how difficult it would be for her to work in the Vampire Council. But she had faith in her abilities too.

"Drink your tea before it gets cold," Margaret stated with a smile.

Alora finished her tea soon and had an hour-long conversation with her.

"You should go back now. Magnus will think his mother had intentionally held his wife here," Margaret remarked with a smile.

"Yes, Royal Mother. Thank you for the tea. And I loved our conversation," Alora said as she rose to her feet. Bowing to the Queen, she left for her chamber with Selvina.

As she entered the chamber, Alora found out from Tobias that Magnus would return a bit late.

"Why? Did he go somewhere far?" Alora inquired.

"Prince Magnus didn’t inform me about this. However, after having a meeting with some elders, His Highness went out," Tobias said. "I think it’s related to some important work," he asserted.

"I see. Please inform me when His Highness returns," Alora urged.

"Sure, Your Highness," Tobias said and told her to rest for some time. He asked Selvina to follow him since he needed to give her a few items that the Queen wanted to be present in Alora’s wardrobe.

Alora relaxed on the bed as she lay on it and looked at the ceiling of the poster bed. "So much happened in just a single day," Alora said as a tiny smile carved on her lips.