Chapter 172 - Dedicated Husband
Adeline heard ringing in her ears, as the world began to spin, and she was choked by the air. She suddenly found it difficult to breathe, a panic attack making its way to her for the first time.
Adeline heard her name being called in the distance, but it was futile. Her gaze could not leave the limp Asher.
Asher was slumped on the ground, his face buried in the dirt, and she had sudden flashbacks of her parent's coffins being lowered into the ground. She opened her mouth, ready to scream, but someone roughly embraced her.
"Shhh… shhh, it's okay," Elias soothed, grabbing her tightly, blocking her line of sight with his body.
Elias pressed her face into his c.h.e.s.t, one hand on the back of her head, the other grabbing her shoulder.
"He's alive," Elias muttered, just as she tightly grabbed onto his shirt. He didn't understand what the problem was, nor knew what was going on.
One minute he heard her fall to the ground, right onto her knees, and the next she was gasping uncontrollably. He initially thought it was the baby, but realized it was something else.
"Breathe," Elias warned her. "You have to breathe in and out."
Adeline buried her face into his c.h.e.s.t, her breathing coming out haggard and terrified.
"Breathe in through your nose, and out your mouth," Elias instructed, rubbing her back. He was terrified that something had happened to her.
"It's alright," Elias softly said, pressing his lips onto the top of her head. "It'll be alright, darling. Breathe…"
Slowly but surely, she began to listen to his instructions. Her breathing returned back to normal for a bit, and she was no longer trembling in his arms.
"Let's head home, darling," Elias said, his voice dripping with remorse. He hugged her tightly, unsure of what happened to her. Was it the sight of Asher's body? He couldn't figure out what it was. It's not like the man was dead.
"I-I'm alright," she finally said, her voice weak and small.
"I'm sorry, darling," he murmured.
Elias swooped down and carried her into his arms. Adeline stiffened, her hands flying to his shoulders for support, as she glanced up at him with horror.
"P-put me down," she warned.
"Darling—"
"No, I feel like throwing up," she said.
Instantly, Elias settled her onto her feet. She leaned her head onto his c.h.e.s.t for support as she breathed through her nose, and out her mouth. He supposed the sudden motion startled her too much. He wrapped his arms around her, and comfortingly rubbed her back.
"A warm bath will do you well," Elias softly said. "Lean on me, I'll walk with you."
"Did you kill him?"
Elias paused. At a time like this, she worried about someone else. What was he going to do with someone like her?
"No," Elias said. "I only wiped his memories."
"B-but his body—"
"That happens when you wipe a memory," Elias said. "It's enough trauma to the head for you to lose consciousness."
Adeline swallowed. "F-for a split second, I saw—"
"You're stuttering again, darling," Elias pointed out.
Elias grabbed one of her hands, bringing it to his lips and gently kissing her fingers. Sometimes, he couldn't believe his own actions. If someone had told him years ago, he'd be doing this, he'd snap that person's neck.
Elias couldn't help himself. He wanted to touch her, kiss her, hold her. He wanted to do so much with her, but also wanted so much. He yearned for her smile, craved her laughter, and wished for her eyes to light up again. He had never felt these kinds of emotions, until she came into his life. Was this what it meant to fall in love?
"I-I just do it when I am shaken up," Adeline stammered out. "It stops after a while…"
Elias slowly nodded his head. "What did you see?" he asked.
"My parents," she choked out. "I suddenly remembered their limp bodies, and t-then the coffins being lowered into the grave."
Elias frowned. Were her memories returning? He thought those were part of the "bad memories" he had wiped from her. He hoped nothing else would return, but deduced it was because she had witnessed his power take effect.
"You've had a long night, darling," Elias softly said. "Let's take you home."
Adeline weakly nodded. "But what about Asher—"
"You're in no position to worry about other people, darling,"
"How is our little monster?" Elias murmured. "Are you injured anywhere?"
Adeline scowled at the nickname. "Little monster?" she sharply asked, her head snapping up. Couldn't he think of a better nickname?
Elias chuckled. He continued guiding them away from the spot, until they turned a corner, and he raised his brows. Instantly, he began pulling her in another direction, not wanting her eyes to be ruined.
"Liddy?" Adeline gasped. "Weston?" she added on, her eyes growing wide.
"Way to give them some privacy, darling," Elias muttered, tugging her the other way.
Elias didn't need her to see this wild kiss scene. Especially when he thought about recreating it with her, against a hidden wall, until she was breathless, and doing it outdoors with him.
Before he could react, the couple quickly broke apart.
"A-Addy," Lydia stammered out. Even in the darkness, one could see her face was bright red with embarrassment.
Weston, on the other hand, smirked like the arrogant brat he was. "Your Majesty," he said.
"I can explain," Lydia rushed out, even though there was nothing to explain and she was a grown a.d.u.l.t. She shifted her dress and glanced from left to right, from Adeline to the King.
Lydia didn't know why but she was so horrified at being caught with Weston. What if… what if word spread of their relations? But then she wanted to smack herself for thinking that. Adeline wouldn't tell anyone. The King, though… she narrowed her eyes. He wasn't to be trusted.
"I always thought you two would make a handsome couple," Adeline naively said, smiling happily at the sight in front of her. How wonderful, her best friend in a relationship with her husband's best friend!
"Come now, darling, let's not tease them," Elias snickered. "They obviously haven't figured out their situation yet."
Adeline blinked. She thought they were together by now. Wasn't that why they were secretly kissing in the dark gardens, where the lamps lit the way?
"Oh, I thought that was a reconciling kiss," Adeline said.
"A reconciling kiss?" Weston echoed, his head snapping in Lydia's direction. "You told her?" he hissed, narrowing his eyes.
"What else was I supposed to do?" Lydia snapped at him. "You left me all hot and bothered, but also confused and bewildered. Who was I supposed to rant to?!"
"You could've—wait, I left you hot and bothered?" Weston suddenly paused, his smirk widening. So he did affect her. And here he was, thinking he was the horrible person for making a move on her, when she clearly enjoyed it.
Lydia scoffed in disbelief. "I can't believe you right now."
"Come darling, let the love birds quarrel and hope we'll see baby birds soon," Elias snickered, tugging his wife away before she could eagerly l.a.p up the scene in front of her.
Adeline was probably watching her book fantasies come to life, especially with how glued to the scene she was.
"We are not going to have baby birds!" Lydia shouted, just as Weston's head snapped to her.
"Oh, then what was our conversation earlier of you wanting a relationship? Did you want kids out of wedlock?" Weston hissed. "I always knew you were a crazy woman, and now you want to be wanton?"
"Wanton? Catch up to the modern times and just use a different word!" Lydia shouted back at him. "I don't understand you vampires and your medieval antiques."
"Medieval?!" Weston bellowed. "You're just embarrassed you don't know how to act like a lady."
"I do know how to act like a—" Weston kissed her again, just as Adeline yelped in surprise.
"Alright, alright, the fun's over," Elias said. He began pulling Adeline away, but she was floored, watching them intently.
Elias let out a small sigh. Maybe he should get her a TV to watch those cliche, romance dramas. Since she wasn't budging, he swept her off her feet.
Suddenly, Lydia shoved Weston off of her. "If you're so dedicated to kissing me, you might as well ask me out on a date already. Or have you forgotten what it's like to be a gentleman?!"
"Wait wait, Elias, it's getting juicy," Adeline murmured, tapping his c.h.e.s.t for his attention.
Elias paused. What was she doing? Did she think this was free entertainment?
"And you!" Lydia angrily shouted, pointing a hand at the King. "If you're such a dedicated husband, you might as well announce the pregnancy already! What are you waiting for?"
Adeline was surprised. Her head snapped up to Elias, but he was already watching her. And he seemed far from pleased.
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