Chapter 182: The Key and The Bait
She kept walking until the narrow path opened to a massive gateway. Its golden doors gleamed with intricate filigree and a radiant sun emblem at the centre. Ivy trailed down the stone walls, and soft golden light seeped through the seams, as if something divine waited beyond. The air shimmered with ancient energy, making the place feel less like a doorway and more like a threshold between worlds.
Eve stood rooted in place, feeling the magic thrum through her veins as if it resonated with the doorway itself. She was so enraptured by the sight before her that she barely registered Valen’s voice.
Noticing her lack of response, Valen called again, breaking through her reverie. "Princess Evelyn? Are you listening?"
Her eyes snapped to him, and she blinked. "Pardon me?"
Valen’s lips curved into a smirk. "I can see why you’d be so captivated. There’s definitely magic in there, and as a lumen, you’d be especially sensitive to it."
When Eve didn’t respond, Valen continued, "This is the gate that leads to the Vault of Ages." He pulled out the key hanging from around his neck once again and pointed toward the keyhole positioned at eye level. "That keyhole is where this goes, and that’s how the gate is unlocked."
Eve’s gaze shifted from the keyhole to the key, and an almost uncontrollable urge surged within her...to knock the deranged prince unconscious, snatch the key, and step into the Vault that was calling to her. Every answer she sought lay just beyond that door, yet she was powerless to act. Her hands curled into tight fists as she fought the desperate impulse.
Valen, noticing her focus lingering on the key, watched her in silence for a moment before his lips curled into a sly smile. In a low, teasing voice, he asked, "Would you like to...try it?"
Suddenly, Eve looked up into his pale green eyes and thought, ’What is he up to?’ He grinned again, and she narrowed her gaze slightly; suspicion flickered across her face. Was he trying to play her? The thought made anger boil in her veins. ’Should I just knock him unconscious?’ she wondered darkly.
Tearing her gaze from his repulsive face, she forced herself to give a small, polite smile. "Don’t jest with me, Your Highness."
Valen chuckled at her reaction. He had seen the spark of interest glinting in her eyes and couldn’t resist using it to his advantage. The knowledge that she wanted something from him thrilled him; it made him feel powerful. He wanted to grant her wish, but only if he could take something in return.
"Well...I assure you, I’m certainly not jesting, Princess," he murmured in a low, silky voice he clearly thought would sound enticing.
He stepped closer, leaning in until his breath brushed against her ear. "You can’t hide it from me, Princess. I can see it in your eyes...just how much you want to try entering the Vault."
Eve instantly leaned back, rejecting any form of closeness from him. But as his words sank in, a flash of unease crossed her mind. ’Has he figured it out?’ She forced a nervous laugh, trying to mask her tension. "Well...I can’t deny that it does make me incredibly curious to know if I’d be able to enter the Vault," she said lightly.
Taking a calculated step back to put a comfortable distance between them, she added, "But it seems His Highness might not be able to fulfil that particular wish of mine." Her tone was careful, but her words were deliberately chosen....baiting him, challenging his pride just enough to see how far he’d take the game.
And fall for it he did. Valen’s ego prickled at the insinuation that he was incapable of something, especially within his own palace. His jaw tightened slightly before he raised a brow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Should I take that to mean Princess Evelyn believes I lack the authority to grant her access to the Vault?"
As he posed the question, Eve’s eyes snapped to his, meeting his gaze with quiet defiance. She could tell immediately that he’d taken the bait she had so carefully laid out for him. Folding her hands together, her lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "I believe it was His Highness who said that others are not allowed to enter the Vault," she replied smoothly.
"That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t allow you to enter," Valen countered, still feeling the sting of her challenge, and he refused to back down before the beauty standing in front of him.
Eve raised a brow, her tone teasingly curious. "Does that mean you’ll allow me to enter, then?"
He paused for a moment, his smirk returning as his mind began to turn. "I would..." he drawled, his voice laced with arrogance, "...but tell me, Princess...what’s in it for me if I grant you this wish?" He tilted his head ever so slightly, his pale green eyes raking over her features with unashamed admiration.
At that, Eve instantly grew more guarded, her body tensing as her instincts screamed caution. Her expression remained composed, but her voice carried a sharp undertone. "And what would Prince Valen like in return?" she asked, her blue eyes locked on his face, carefully studying every change of his expression, ready to unleash her power the moment he tried or demanded anything inappropriate.
Valen studied her with keen interest, noticing the subtle shift in her demeanour as she grew more guarded. He could see the fire intensely blazing in her eyes, and it utterly captivated him. It only fueled his desire further, fanning the flames of his need to possess her completely. ’What a feisty little cat,’ he thought darkly. ’Oh, how I’d love to tell you what I truly want from you...’
But he restrained himself. He knew she was unlike any woman he had encountered before....sharp, proud, and unpredictable. One wrong move, and she’d slip right through his grasp. So, he forced himself to play it carefully, to savour the chase.
Prince Valen gave her a charming, flirtatious smile and said smoothly, "Tomorrow, then. How about I tell you what I want tomorrow...and afterwards, we can return here for you to enter the Vault?"
Eve felt her eye twitch as she fought the urge to scowl at how he kept dancing around the point instead of being straightforward. She knew this was her only chance, and as much as she had planned to avoid tomorrow’s ball, this pompous prince was making that increasingly difficult.
"Isn’t tomorrow His Highness’s birthday ball?" she asked evenly. "Wouldn’t it be rather difficult for you to slip away when you’re the celebrant?"
Valen’s smile widened, his confidence unshaken. "You needn’t worry about that, Princess," he said smoothly. "I’ll find a way to get away. You have my word."
She remained silent for a moment, reminding herself how important it was for her to enter the Vault. Finally, she said, "Alright... tomorrow it is, then. I’ll hear your request first, and only then will you get my answer."
Seeing the wariness in her eyes, Valen chuckled softly and gave a slow nod. "Very well," he said, his voice rich with amusement.
With her goal accomplished, she didn’t want to spend another second alone with him, especially knowing that Ivan was likely already on his way. "I think we should head back now," she said evenly. "The others must be wondering why I’m taking so long."
Valen’s mood instantly dampened as he was reminded of the one obstacle he despised most, the vampire prince who was still somewhere within the palace. Not wanting to deal with that infuriating man, he gave her a reluctant nod and gestured smoothly. "After you."
Eve let out a quiet sigh of relief, grateful that he didn’t attempt any more of his sleazy tricks. Turning on her heel, she began to walk out, carefully mapping the place’s location in her mind as she went.
While Eve was away, back in the dining room, minutes passed, and Ivan grew increasingly restless over why she hadn’t returned yet. He knew Cece wouldn’t let anything happen to her, and he also knew that Eve was more than capable of defending herself if needed, but this place reeked of sinister energy. No matter how many times he reassured himself about the two women dearest to him, unease gnawed at his chest.
His molten red eyes swept over every person at the dining table, all of whom seemed blissfully unaware as they enjoyed their meal. That was when he noticed something else: the Crown Prince’s seat was empty for a long time as well.
A sharp sense of unease twisted in his gut. Unable to sit still any longer, he abruptly rose to his feet, drawing the attention of Damien and Edward, who both turned toward him immediately.
"Something the matter, brother?" Damien asked, already suspecting where Ivan intended to go. He had an inkling of what Cece and Eve were up to but chose not to voice it aloud. If the women managed to pull it off, he’d gladly support their plan over Ivan’s far riskier one. Still, a faint unease lingered in his chest, something he’d felt ever since they’d set foot inside the palace.
