Chapter 170: A Devoted Wife Slave
[Music Recommendation: Nicholas Bamberger - Flume]
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When Damien caught a few local ladies looking at him with heart-shaped eyes, he paused and flashed them his dazzling smile, enough to make them squeal in delight. Ivan and Edward, on the other hand, were far too preoccupied to notice the women swooning over them, as their attention was fixed solely on the two ladies walking a few steps ahead, exploring like excited children.
Ivan’s eyes softened as she stared at Eve, finally looking a little more alive than she was back in the museum. He knew there was a lot for them to uncover, a lot for them to talk about, but right now was not the time.
It warmed his heart every time she found something interesting; she would run to him, eager for his opinion, and he would readily agree with whatever she said. It was inexplicable to him how he always felt as though only her opinion mattered, only her happiness mattered, and he found himself willing to give in to anything she wanted.
Just as he was lost in thought about her, Eve turned to him again, now holding a pair of golden binoculars. Her bright eyes sparkled as she said, "Ivan! Look! Do you think these would be useful to you? You can see far into the distance with them!"
Ivan’s lips twitched, and he opened his mouth to reply when Damien chimed in, "Hmm, giving binoculars to a vampire who can already see miles ahead with perfect vision? I’m not so sure, Evelyn."
"Oh," she murmured, pursing her lips thoughtfully. "I wasn’t thinking about that," she said softly.
Ivan shot Damien a sharp look, as if the comment had personally offended him, making Damien glance away with a playful smirk before turning his attention elsewhere.
Eve was just about to hand the item back to the shopkeeper when Ivan caught her hand, his touch firm but gentle, and took the binoculars from her. "Let me see," he said, pretending to examine them closely before giving her a small nod. "I can use it."
Damien’s eyes gleamed with amusement. "Really, brother? How so?"
"I can use it when I go hunting," Ivan replied smoothly, his tone casual but his eyes still fixed on Eve. She was watching him closely, curiosity glimmering in her innocent blue eyes as though trying to gauge if he truly meant it.
He softened under her gaze, the corners of his lips lifting faintly. "You have good taste," he said gently, his voice lower now, meant only for her. "It’ll definitely come in handy."
Eve’s eyes lit up again. "Really?"
He gave her a slight nod. "Really."
"Alright!" she exclaimed excitedly, turning to ask the shopkeeper to pack it up, leaving the other three men momentarily stunned. The infamous, fearsome prince was, before their very eyes, slowly turning into a devoted wife slave.
Damien let out a dramatic sigh, pressing a hand to his heart. "Ah, love...the greatest curse ever disguised as bliss. One moment you’re feared across kingdoms, and the next, you’re carrying shopping bags."
Oliver’s lips curled into a smirk as he thought, ’If it’s Princess Evelyn, I’m sure anyone would gladly be her slave.’
Edward simply shook his head with a gentle smile and turned to look at Cece, who was currently bargaining with the vendor like a seasoned warrior at war.
Not too far away, atop a higher rooftop, Alex stood with Caleb, watching the whole scene unfold and couldn’t help but chuckle at their prince falling for their princess.
"Seems like things are progressing well between them. I would never have imagined in a million scenarios that our prince, who doesn’t even like others picking what he eats, would give in to everything Princess Evelyn asks for," Caleb mumbled, disbelief plain in his eyes.
Alex smiled in agreement. "Princess Evelyn is remarkable."
"I have to agree. Not only is she ethereally beautiful, but she’s powerful as well," Caleb replied.
Alex’s smile faded, and he shot a pointed look at his friend. "Don’t let the prince hear you complimenting her beauty, unless you want to be buried six feet under," Alex warned.
A cold shiver ran down Caleb’s spine as he realised what he had just said. "I would never dare! I was only praising the princess," he said quickly, raising his hands in defence.
Alex rolled his eyes at him before leaping ahead to survey the area. The elite soldiers of the Ignis Blades were stationed everywhere Ivan and Evelyn went, ensuring their safety under the prince’s strict orders that nothing be allowed to threaten them.
In addition, the royal elites assigned by King Iskara himself had been following Evelyn ever since Ivan requested additional protection for her.
As Alex moved along the rooftops, one of the soldiers suddenly landed in front of him and bowed his head respectfully to his commander.
"Commander Alexander, we just received a report that Prince Valon stayed at Hotel Rosemount for two hours after His Highness departed, before returning to his castle."
Alex pondered what that troublesome prince was really planning by showing up in the first place. Giving his subordinate a curt nod, he instructed, "Keep a strict eye on him, even at night. If you see him involved in anything suspicious, report back to me immediately."
"Understood, Commander." With that, the vampire leapt away, vanishing into the distance to carry out the order.
Caleb turned to Alex and asked quietly, "Do you really think he’s connected to the missing women in this kingdom?"
Alex’s expression hardened. "I’m sure of it. He doesn’t seem simple at all. Not only is he trying to pursue Her Highness, but he’s also openly challenging His Highness. I’d bet his hands are as dirty as they come."
Caleb let out a sigh, his gaze drifting back to their prince, who was now being led by Princess Evelyn to another shop. "I just hope that crazy prince doesn’t do anything stupid," he murmured. "If he does, His Highness might just raze this entire city to the ground."
Alex followed Caleb’s gaze and whispered, "I hope the same."
After buying more souvenirs than they had expected, the ladies finally grew tired. Spotting a nearby bakery, they decided to stop for some tea and local baked goods to rest their feet and ease their exhaustion.
They chose a table by the window, overlooking the bustling market street through the glass. As they waited for their order, they chatted idly or rather, listened to Damien complain dramatically about how much energy Eve and Cece had when it came to shopping.
Eve rolled her eyes at Damien’s dramatics and turned to look outside as she murmured, "People seem really friendly here."
"Oh, Evelyn, that’s called having business skills," Damien replied.
When she gave him a confused look, he rolled his eyes and elaborated, "They have to be nice to their customers, say the sweetest things about the product and about you, just to butter you up into buying their goods."
A slight frown settled on her face as she listened to him.
"Don’t look at me like I’ve said something wrong," Damien added with a smirk. "If you don’t believe me, ask Lord Oliver here. He’s involved in his family’s business; he knows exactly what I’m talking about."
When she turned to look at Oliver, he smiled politely and admitted, "I’m afraid he’s right, Your Highness. If you’re not kind to your customers, they’ll never buy what you’re selling."
Eve looked at Cece, who only shrugged her delicate shoulders. "I used to think the same as you," she said. "Until one day, Damien explained it to me, too."
Eve pressed her lips together, glancing down at the pile of shopping bags neatly arranged beside her chair. "Are you saying I’ve been conned?"
The others burst out laughing at her innocent conclusion, while Ivan’s lips twitched in amusement. Taking her hand gently, he said softly, "Why do you think you’ve been conned? Did you like what you bought?"
She nodded like a child. "I did. But most of the time, whenever I picked something, they said it looked nice on me, so I came to you for your opinion, and you said the same. That’s why I bought it."
The others laughed again, knowing full well that the "fearsome prince" sitting beside her would agree to anything she liked just to make her happy.
Eve, however, looked utterly confused as to why everyone was laughing. "Why are you all laughing? Ivan approved of the things I got." Turning to him with earnest eyes, she asked, "You liked them, right?"
"Of course," Ivan replied without hesitation. In his mind, whatever Eve liked, he liked, so technically, he wasn’t lying. "Everything you bought is perfect."
At his words, she gave him such a sweet, unbridled smile that it momentarily stole his breath away. The others at the table could only shake their heads lightly at the lovestruck pair.
"See?" she said triumphantly to Damien, who only rolled his eyes at the two hopeless cases.
