Ch. 46..50: The Vampire Prince's Blindfolded Bride Chapter 46-50

Chapter 46: Shattering the innocence of the kiss

Alora turned around as her hand rested on something solid, which turned out to be Magnus’s chest. Feeling the coldness of the skin, she gradually opened her eyes and saw Magnus sleeping beside her. Seeing the natural sunlight falling inside through the windows, she realized it was morning.

Slowly, Alora withdrew her hand from his chest and thought to quietly get down from the bed without disturbing his sleep. However, Magnus pulled her down and snuggled to her.

"Is His Highness awake?" Alora asked.

"Hmm. You woke me up," Magnus replied and inhaled her scent. His lips brushed her earlobe, causing her to curl her fingers.

"Forgive me," Alora apologized.

"Will you help me wash today, especially my hair?" Magnus asked.

"Sure," she agreed. "When did His Highness return?"

"I returned at midnight," he answered and began caressing her hair. "I heard from Tobias, that you practiced writing last night. Do you wish to go out today?" He asked.

Alora tilted her head. "Where will you take me?" she inquired.

"You’ve not explored Velaris ever. Let’s begin our tour with the palace first. Mother wishes to see you. She asked me yesterday, but we needed to be present at your sister’s wedding," Magnus explained to her.

"Oh, then we should get ready quickly. I don’t wish to make Queen Mother wait for long," Alora stated and promptly sat up. "I will freshen up first and later, help His Highness in washing his hair," she asserted.

Before Magnus could stop her, she jumped out of bed and left the chamber.

Magnus stayed in bed for a bit longer before heading to the washroom. When he reached the bathhouse, he was surprised to find Alora. She poured a few drops of the natural fragrance into the huge water tub.

"Didn’t you bathe yet?" Magnus asked and walked to her.

Alora turned to face him. "I thought to help His Highness first," she murmured. "Please get into the water tub. I’ll start with your hair," Alora suggested and went toward the shelf to take out the bathing essentials.

"Why don’t you help me remove my clothes? I feel tired, Wife," Magnus opined. He found her gazing at him with apprehension. She lowered her head and reached him. Lifting her hands, she stopped them at the knots of his robes.

"I have a suggestion for us. Let’s have a bath together," Magnus asserted with a grin across his lips.

Promptly, Alora met his gaze, then lowered hers as she gently took the robe off his body.

"Your habit of not answering me instantly hasn’t gone yet," Magnus remarked, observing her reaction.

Alora bit her bottom lip. "Not today, but tomorrow," she replied tentatively.

"Fine," Magnus walked past her and got into the bathtub after removing his trousers. He rested his head on the neck support, and his arms remained at the top of the tub in a relaxed position.

Alora turned around and found Magnus lying naked in the bathtub. Her heart thumped against her chest and even she could hear its loud beats.

Approaching cautiously, she filled a basin with water and positioned herself beside him, pouring the liquid delicately over his hair. Alora focused solely on his face, ensuring not to let her gaze stray elsewhere.

"Your touch is gentle on my scalp," Magnus remarked, observing her intently. He noticed her hair tied up in a bun, with a few loose curls framing her face. "Also, I asked you to call me by my name. I like it when you are casual with me. It shows more of your love," he asserted.

"Sure," Alora replied with a smile. She dispensed the herbal shampoo onto her right palm and worked it into a lather with her left hand. With care, she then applied the foamy mixture to his hair, her hands moving gently over his scalp.

"Why tomorrow, why not today?" Magnus queried unexpectedly.

Meeting his gaze, Alora responded, "I’ve never done this before. It’s my first time, so I want to be fully prepared."

A few stray hair strands fell into her face, momentarily obstructing her view. Instinctively, she brushed them away with the back of her palm, leaving a trace of lather on her cheek as she resumed her task.

Magnus used his thumb to wipe the lather off her cheek, causing her to peer at him again. "You don’t need to be fully prepared to get into this water tub," he said. "But I’ll give you time." A smile carved on his lips as he lowered his hand.

"Thank you."

Alora then picked up the barrel and poured the water over his hair. She made sure the water didn’t enter his ears and washed his hair well. The fragrance of the shampoo spread in the entire bathhouse and Magnus felt refreshed.

He sat straight and thanked Alora for her help.

"I’ll leave now. See you at the breakfast table," Alora declared, straightening up. A twinge of pain shot through her back, and she instinctively reached to soothe it.

Unbeknownst to her, her foot landed on a bar of soap, causing her to lose her footing. With a cry escaping her lips, she slipped, teetering dangerously. However, she couldn’t balance herself and fell into the bathtub.

In a split second, she found herself caught by Magnus, who held onto her arms securely.

Panic surged through Alora as she realized their intimate position. In her haste to extricate herself from the water, she reached out for leverage, inadvertently placing her hand on Magnus’s shoulder, which slipped, causing her to tumble once more.

Thus, her lips inadvertently brushed against his dampened shoulder in the process.

Alora quickly lifted her head, her mind racing as she struggled to find her words, her thoughts jumbled and incoherent.

Without hesitation, Magnus closed the distance between them, leaning in to kiss her tenderly. His arm encircled her small waist, his hand finding its place on her neck, as their lips met in a moment of unexpected intimacy.

As her body sank further into the water, Alora involuntarily parted her lips to draw in a breath. Yet, in that vulnerable moment, Magnus’s tongue seized the opportunity to explore her mouth, shattering the innocence of the kiss she had in mind and igniting a new, more passionate connection between them.

 

Chapter 47: Is it a kind of eruption?

Alora felt her back against the cool surface of the bathtub wall as Magnus continued to engulf her mouth with his own.

Though she struggled to catch her breath, she hesitated to push him away, consumed by the intensity of the moment. With her entire body now drenched, except for her hair, she gasped for air as Magnus finally relented, withdrawing from their heated kiss.

His hands wasted no time in removing her nightdress, leaving her clad only in a thin chemise. His lips trailed a path along the delicate skin of her neck, eliciting a response that caused her fingers and toes to curl with pleasure.

Alora’s surprise surged as she realized she was clad only in the chemise, something she hadn’t foreseen so far. Her grip tightened on Magnus’s cold arms, a mixture of apprehension and anticipation coursing through her veins.

With gentle strength, Magnus lifted her and placed her on the platform above the bathtub, ensuring that her legs remained partially submerged in the water. Both of them were breathless, their chests rising and falling in unison as their eyes locked in an intense gaze, each silently communicating their desires hidden inside them.

Alora’s brow creased slightly as her hand reached up to touch Magnus’s cheek. "I feel... strange," she whispered softly.

Magnus leaned closer, their faces now mere inches apart, sharing the same breath. His touch sent a shiver through her as his hand brushed against her breast through the delicate fabric of her chemise. Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes blinking rapidly as unfamiliar sensations stirred within her.

Alora nibbled on her bottom lip as she was still hesitant. "It’s... tough to explain."

Magnus’s touch on her cheek was gentle, his fingers trailing lightly, wiping away the water. "Is it a kind of eruption? An explosion? Is it a kind of storm inside you?" he inquired softly.

A shiver ran down Alora’s spine as she nodded in admission. "Yes," she confessed.

Her confession stirred something within him. "I feel the same. I crave you, Alora. I want to explore every inch of your body," Magnus admitted, his voice husky with longing. Despite their proximity, he restrained himself, his lips teasingly brushing against hers without initiating a kiss.

Alora pulled him for a kiss and she locked her hands behind his neck. A grin spread across Magnus’s lips and he nipped her bottom lip, making her mewl and pulling away to take a look at her. The chemise was entirely stuck to her body, making every part of her body visible to his hungry eyes. She instinctively brought her hands close to cover herself.

"I think we don’t need to go outside today," Magnus said, meeting her eyes filled with questions. He held her hands and pulled them apart. "You won’t hide your body from me from now onward."

Alora confessed softly, her gaze dropping to avoid his intense stare. "But I’m shy."

Magnus’s smile was tender as he lifted her chin. "Your shyness is a precious gem," he murmured. "It makes my heart flutter."

With gentle determination, Magnus guided his fingertips along her legs, tracing a path up to her thigh. "Look into my eyes," he commanded, his voice firm yet filled with a gentle urgency.

Taking a deep breath, Alora obeyed, meeting his gaze once more. Each touch of his fingers against her skin sent her heart racing, the sound echoing loudly in her ears with each beat.

Alora struggled to maintain eye contact as Magnus’s lips brushed against her skin, planting tender kisses along her neck and throat. With each touch, she felt a chill from the cooling water contrasted by the heat building within her body.

Magnus skillfully removed the last remnants of clothing, revealing her curves. The second he touched them, it ignited a fire within her. Alora’s mind was consumed by a whirlwind of sensations as pleasure surged through her veins, overwhelming her senses.

With that, her control wavered, and a moan escaped her lips as Magnus’s lips continued their journey, trailing down from her neck to the delicate valley between her breasts, sending waves of ecstasy rippling through her being. Unable to contain herself, she found herself uttering his name in a breathless plea, begging for more.

Magnus pulled her down into the water, their bodies now intimately close, leaving a tiny space between them. Alora was compelled to open her eyes, meeting his gaze with a mixture of desire and anticipation. With a gentle yet firm touch, Magnus closed the gap between them, their breaths mingling in the confined space.

As their bodies pressed against each other, Alora inhaled deeply, acutely aware of the hardness of Magnus’s body against her own, sending a thrill of excitement developed inside her.

Her cheeks were covered in the hue of red, but she didn’t avert her gaze even for a second from him.

Her eyes suddenly changed color, which Magnus spotted and he found it strange. "Your eyes," he mumbled.

"Huh?" Alora heard him and touched the side of her eyes. "What happened?" she asked unaware of what he saw suddenly.

"Nothing," he whispered. He didn’t wish her to ask him questions and kissed her– this time tenderly.

"I think we are late," Alora suddenly said as she pulled away.

"What?" Magnus confusedly glanced at her.

"It is not good to make the Queen wait. Before I came to the bathhouse, I asked Tobias about it. He said the Queen Mother had a free hour to talk with me. She had some important works lately, but she took out special time for me," Alora began explaining. She feared that she would get scolded for being irresponsible.

"So, you wish to stop us?" Magnus asked.

"No. But I-I don’t want the Queen Mother to wait," she murmured.

Magnus read her remaining thoughts and decided to stop there. He already had opened one more door of their intimacy. She was now comfortable around him and he didn’t wish to stay forceful to her to complete the last step.

"There’s a robe in the cupboard over there. Wear it and head to another bathhouse to wash up. I’ll see you in the chamber," Magnus instructed her.

Alora hummed and turned around. She picked up the chemise from the platform and covered herself from it before getting off the bathtub. Magnus smiled to see her movements and soon, she disappeared from her sight.

Chapter 48: Leave his life soon

Alora fidgeted with her fingers as she awaited for the Queen to come.

"Why do you look scared?" Magnus asked, placing his hand above hers.

"What if the Queen Mother scolds me for being late?" She wanted to come to the palace as soon as she had gotten ready, but Magnus didn’t let her leave until she had her breakfast.

"Mother won’t do that," Magnus said while being confident. "She knows we are newlyweds," he murmured.

"That sounds like an excuse," Alora replied.

"How is it an excuse? We are newlyweds. We need time to explore more about each other," Magnus whispered in a teasing tone, his lips brushing her earlobe.

She pushed him away gently. "Please don’t start here. What if Queen Mother sees us?" Alora complained in a low voice.

"She isn’t around," Magnus remarked mischievously as he leaned in to kiss her, taking advantage of her blindfold.

"Your Highness!" Alora exclaimed, covering her mouth with her hand in mock indignation. She quickly moved away from him, even though her eyes were covered. Despite her blindfold, she could sense the smile playing on Magnus’s lips after teasing her.

"Why did you move away?" Magnus inquired, moving towards her again. Alora felt his presence and instinctively retreated once more.

But how long could she escape him? She felt the sofa armrest hitting her back. "His Highness should stop teasing me," Alora said when she felt his fingers on her chin.

"If you won’t run away, I will," Magnus whispered teasingly.

"Where could I possibly run away to?" Alora murmured.

"Anywhere. You’re quite good at running," Magnus replied with a playful smile.

Alora placed her hands on his chest, gently chiding him to show some restraint in the Queen’s chamber.

"The Queen is here," a servant’s announcement interrupted them, prompting Alora to stand up, keeping her head low as Magnus leisurely rose to his feet.

"I can see my son is quite delighted these days," Queen Margaret said and spread her arms out.

Magnus approached her to hug her. She caressed his back and shortly pulled away. "Alora makes me smile all the time. She is quite at it," he told his mother.

"I can see that." Margaret went to her and held Alora’s hands. "Did you adjust well here?" she asked.

"Yes, I did, Your Majesty," Alora promptly answered.

Margaret embraced her, leaving Alora astonished. She thought the Queen didn’t like her since she was a human. She felt warm feeling the love from Magnus’s mother too.

"Have a seat, Alora," Margaret softly asked her and went back to sit at her place. She rested her both hands on the armrests of the sofa chair and settled on it comfortably.

Alora had her hands clasped tightly. "I apologize for not being on time, Your Majesty. I didn’t know the Queen Mother wanted to see me yesterday. Had I known this, I would have seen her first before going to my sister’s marriage." She felt she should apologize for making the Queen wait for her.

"It’s alright. I have no complaint regarding that," Margaret replied.

"So, why did Mother want to see Alora?" Magnus queried.

"Can Prince Magnus leave us for a while?" Queen Margaret asked. "I would like to talk with Alora in private," she stated.

Magnus didn’t object to that. However, he warned his mother not to threaten or scare Alora. "It may upset me if you do that, Mother," he stated with a stern and left the chamber.

Once Magnus left, the Queen decided to resume her conversation with Alora.

"It is strange for everyone that only Magnus can look into your eyes," Margaret pronounced. "The King and I consulted a few knowledgeable people, who know about curses. We are concerned that you may become a threat to our kind. I mean the royals," she asserted.

Alora furrowed her brows together, feeling upset to learn that. "I will never do something which may cause anyone to lose their lives," she stated.

"You don’t know what circumstances become in the future, Alora," Margaret affirmed. "You killed two vampires when you were young. Do you remember?" she asked.

Alora nodded her head hesitantly. Her grasp on her hands became stronger. "They wanted to kill me. I didn’t mean to burn them, but somehow my blindfold dropped and..." she paused as the memory was still vivid to her.

Margaret contemplated and wondered if Alora’s eyes were fatal to only those, who wanted her to get harmed. However, it was difficult to come to such a conclusion.

"I have made a decision for my son’s betterment. I hope you do support it," Margaret said.

"What is it, Your Majesty?" Alora’s inquisitiveness grew.

"You should leave his life soon," Margaret said. "Also, don’t get intimate with my son. I don’t wish my grandkids to be born with such eyes."

That was a total 360° change in Margaret’s attitude. Alora thought she liked her, but it wasn’t true.

"Magnus is head over heels for you. He doesn’t wish to listen to anyone, but I, as his mother, am worried for his safety. You need to think about it, Alora. If you truly love my son, you need to choose his safety above everything else," Margaret asserted.

Alora comprehended a mother’s concern. She accepted what the Queen told her. "Prince Magnus can read my thoughts. If he reads what I talked with the Queen Mother, he may get angry at you," she said.

"I know. That’s why you must tell him and show him how friendly the conversation we both had. Magnus reads only if you think about that. If you don’t think about it, then everything will remain good," Margaret affirmed.

"I understand, Your Majesty," Alora said. She realized her happiness was short-lived. She planned a happy life for her and turned selfish in those moments.

"Alora, I wish you had eyes like us. You are humble and persuasive. However, because of your flawed eyes, we cannot accept you wholeheartedly. As a human, you don’t have a long life. You also know this well. Another way to bring an end to everyone’s misery is disappearing," Margaret pronounced.

 

Chapter 49: A friend to Alora

"I didn’t expect you to see here," Alaric said as he put the quill pen down and clasped her fingers. His elbows rested on the desk and he straightened his back.

"I thought to meet Brother Alaric before returning to my residence," Magnus stated. He looked at the parchments and various documents lying on the desk. "Brother Alaric has taken a lot of work," he asserted.

"Summer season usually has lots of work," Alaric replied. "Did you come alone? I thought Brother Izaak would follow you here," he remarked.

"Brother Izaak has gone somewhere. I wonder if he has gone out to work or something else," Magnus murmured. "Alora has come here. I thought to tour her around the palace and then, later take her outside."

"That’s wonderful to hear," Alaric lowered his hands and leaned back on the chair. "So, where is my sister-in-law?" he asked with a curious gaze.

"With mother. She asked me that she wished to talk alone with Alora," Magnus asserted.

"Father and Mother are concerned about you. They let you marry Alora, but her eyes bother them," he shared with him. Alaric’s tone was a bit serious.

"I can look into her eyes, so what’s the problem with that?" Magnus opined.

"They think she can be destructive to our race. You’ll have kids in the future. What if they inherit the eyes like Alora? I heard them speaking about it after they met the older vampires," Alaric explained to him.

Magnus’s brows furrowed together as he began thinking whether his mother would manipulate Alora to leave him for that reason. He knew how manipulative his mother was!

"You love her deeply, don’t you?" Alaric amusedly asked.

"Yes, I do," he admitted.

"I am happy for you, Magnus. You made the right choice for pursuing what your heart told you," Alaric said with a smile. "If you need any kind of help, knock on my door any time, Brother."

"Uh... I do want help," Magnus said.

"Hmm? Say it," Alaric encouraged him.

"Can the Second Brother be a friend to Alora?" Magnus requested. "She doesn’t have a friend and I think you will be a great friend to her," he asserted.

"Sure. I’d love to converse with a human too in my free time. Did you ask Brother Izaak to be her friend?" He was inquisitive to know.

"Izaak scared Alora the first day he came to the residence," Magnus said and rolled his eyes. "Also, he doesn’t like Alora because she possesses such eyes," he explained.

"Brother Izaak must be worried for you same as our parents," Alaric replied. "I will see Alora tomorrow then," he affirmed.

"Thank you, Brother." Magnus rose to his feet. "I won’t take any more time of yours," he added.

"Why don’t you join the High Council?" Alaric suggested to him.

"The people there annoy me," Magnus answered. "Currently, I’m on a bigger mission," he stated.

"A mission to find the answers to Alora’s eyes?" He queried.

"Yes," Magnus admitted.

"Good luck, Brother. I know you’ll succeed," Alaric provided him with his best wishes.

~~~~~

"Alora! How are you?" Lillian asked as she entered the common room of the palace, where usually she and her siblings would meet.

"Greetings to Princess Lillian. I’m doing well," Alora humbly replied, keeping her head low.

"Why do you sound low? Did Mother scold you for using my brother as your shield?" Lillian directed a harsh comment at her.

Alora’s lips quivered and she was unable to answer her immediately. "Princess Lillian is wrong," she said after a while. "Queen Mother was happy to see her son smiling with me." She was controlling her tears from falling. Also, her heart would clench every second, but she wasn’t supposed to bring such feelings to her face.

"Lily, I told you not to trouble my wife. You again started to throw harsh comments at her," Magnus’s voice reached their ears and they both turned attentive. "Lower your eyes because it’s time for Alora to remove her blindfold," he instructed Lillian.

"Brother cannot do that here. It’s the palace, not his residence," Lillian protested.

Magnus chuckled to hear her. "You think I’ll follow that," he stated and sat next to Alora. Lillian quickly got on her feet and ran out of the room, telling him she would tell their mother.

"As if I’m afraid of my mother," Magnus mumbled and brought his hands to the back of Alora’s head.

"I want to go out," Alora promptly said and he stopped. "I can tour the palace some other time, Your Highness. Let’s go outside. I never get to see what the capital looks like," she requested him.

"Alright," Magnus dropped his hands to her shoulders. He held her hand and then took her out. However, they didn’t go in a carriage. Instead, Magnus decided to take her out on a horse.

"Why are we going on a horse?" Alora asked when Magnus suddenly pulled off the blindfold from her eyes and stared into her orbs.

"Because that would be more romantic," Magnus responded, "and more enjoyable."

The moment their eyes locked, Alora forgot the pain she was undergoing. She realized she only had some limited time with him to enjoy. The Queen’s words had deeply affected her as she considered herself selfish for thinking for her own happiness.

"Shall we go then?" Magnus asked.

Alora nodded at him and he helped her in mounting the horse. She was scared because it was her first time sitting on it and her heart raced in apprehension.

"Relax," Magnus said as he sat behind her, holding the reins firmly in his hands. He hit the horse with his shoe and it started running.

"Oh, the horse is going to run. What if we fall?" Alora asked while being scared.

"We won’t fall," Magnus said as he had his one hand rested firmly on her belly. "I’m good at riding the horses, so you can trust me, Wife," he whispered in her ear.

’Trust?’ Alora fell into contemplation. If she would leave his life, would he feel better? Would he be able to enjoy his life? She recalled how he had asked her to put her faith in him.

’Magnus will hate me for not trusting him,’ she thought.

Chapter 50: You need not to leave my life

"Why can’t I see anyone around? Is the market usually empty?" Alora asked as she tilted her head slightly.

"I ordered everyone to empty the market for a while," Magnus stated. "I would not take any responsibility if someone looks at you and gets burned." By now, the horse had stopped.

"But, His Highness cannot stop people from doing the business. They need to earn and many people do what to buy goods," Alora asserted.

"Why should I care about that?" Magnus chuckled and hopped down the horse. He lifted his head to peer at her. "All I care is about you. For you, I can even change the flow of the water," he pronounced while smiling.

Alora’s eyes brimmed with tears and she quickly averted her gaze from him. "Prince Magnus should not flatter me with such words," she murmured.

"Ahh!" A low scream escaped her mouth as Magnus suddenly pulled her down, his hands securely holding her waist.

"I think we should walk from here," Magnus said. "We have an entire day to explore the places in the capital," he stated.

"I would be happy if the market was filled with people," Alora said. "His Highness should not have ordered for closing the market. People make a living by selling goods daily. I don’t wish anyone to sleep empty stomach," she explained.

"The market is closed for only one hour," Magnus revealed to her. "Also, there lies a water canal which takes you to the largest lake of our Kingdom with boats, in the center of the market. If people were present around you, only you would not be able to enjoy your time with me," he proclaimed.

’He thinks so much about me,’ Alora thought while staring at him.

"Of course, I do. Except me, there’s no one who will think this much for you," Magnus said and tied the horse to the pole present outside a shop.

"Let’s go." He grabbed Alora’s hand and walked along with her with gradual steps. "I never had a dream in a long time. But I’ve found one after meeting you," Magnus confided with her.

"What is it?" She was curious to know.

"To make you free of the blindfold," Magnus stated with a smile.

She suddenly halted in her step, causing him to stop as well. "What happened?" he worriedly asked.

"I fear if I am able to return the same amount of love to Prince Magnus as he much he provides to me," Alora asserted, raising her doubt.

"I think you will provide me more than that," Magnus said and resumed the walk. "We should walk faster because we only have two hours to be in the lake.

Alora fell into step beside Magnus, a soft smile gracing her lips as they meandered through the bustling market. The cacophony of vibrant sounds surrounding them ignited her imagination, filling her with an internal sense of contentment that she could share these cherished moments with Magnus.

Upon arriving at the dockyard, their eyes fell upon a beautifully adorned boat, its presence stirring memories within Alora.

She recalled the conversations of her siblings, Venus and Elliot, of boat rides with their friends. Now, standing before the vessel, she realized the fulfillment of that one childhood dream, grateful to finally experience the joy of a waterborne adventure with Magnus at her side.

Alora’s affectionate gaze met Magnus’s as he settled into the boat, his inviting hand extended towards her.

With a gentle touch, she placed her hand in his, allowing him to guide her gracefully onto the boat. As the boat swayed with the gentle rhythm of the water, Alora instinctively clung to Magnus’s arm, savoring the thrill of the moment.

"I knew this was something you’ve always wanted to do, so I wanted to make it special for you," Magnus revealed, his voice warm with affection.

Assisting her to settle on one side of the boat, he positioned himself opposite her, firmly grasping the oars to navigate their journey across the water.

"His Highness is full of surprises," Alora remarked, her eyes wide with admiration as she clasped her hands together in awe.

"Fifty years ago, Gabriel challenged me to learn this," Magnus shared, a hint of nostalgia coloring his voice as they glided further away from the dockyard.

Alora leaned over the side of the boat, her gaze fixated on the crystal-clear water below. Entranced by her own reflection dancing upon the surface, she reached out a hand to graze the cool liquid.

As her fingertips made contact, gentle ripples cascaded across the water’s smooth expanse, eliciting a delighted smile from Alora. Magnus watched fondly as she continued to dip her hand into the water, marveling at the simple joy radiating from her.

As Alora pulled her arm back and sat upright, she reveled in the picturesque surroundings enveloping them. The tranquil scene unfolded around her as they glided effortlessly through the water.

Passing beneath a bridge, Alora’s gaze lifted to admire the towering structure above, marveling at its height. Meanwhile, Magnus couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness wash over him as he watched her delight in the journey.

Leaving the bustling market behind, they ventured deeper into the vast expanse of Velaris’s largest lake. Surrounded by dense forests and with a majestic hill rising on one side, the serene beauty of their surroundings only added to the magic of their boat ride.

As they reached the middle of the lake, Magnus stopped stirring the oars in the water and pulled them up.

Alora, on the other hand, kept scanning her eyes around. "I never knew Velaris was this beautiful," she mumbled as she looked at the hill, covered in clouds.

Her eyes locked with Magnus and she thanked him for bringing her there. "It seems we are the only one present here," she stated.

"Yes, we are the only ones here," Magnus agreed with her.

"I feel free. I wish to live in such a place, where people don’t have to look at me or talk about me," Alora asserted.

"You’ve been humiliated for your eyes all this time. They aren’t flawed. They are just blessed. You need not to leave my life just because my mother asked you to," Magnus pronounced, bringing a shocked look to Alora’s face.