Chapter 261: Blood Is Not The Only Bond
While they were eating, Eve looked at him. "Ivan?"
"Hm?"
"I didn’t ask you before, but I want you to honestly tell me, for my peace of mind, that you’re feeling alright now, aren’t you?" she asked, and he caught the slight worry in her tone.
It took him a moment to realise what she was referring to. "As you can see, I’m back to how I was."
When she remained quiet, clearly waiting for him to say more, he set his cup back onto the saucer. Meeting her eyes, he explained, "The corruption that was taking root in my body isn’t there anymore. It’s been completely obliterated by you. When I was fighting Valen, he tried to infect me again, but he didn’t succeed."
"Why is that?" she asked, her eyes widening at the detail she had missed while she was fighting Viva at the time.
"Because of our awakening. Our souls are probably the most powerful in this entire realm, not to be affected by such things. The divine fire within me, the same one wielded by the God of Fire, burned away every trace of it."
"Then why," Eve asked softly, "did it happen in the first place?"
"My theory is that, unlike in the past, we now inhabit bodies belonging to this realm, not Heaven," Ivan explained. "And with our powers still only half awake at the time, the corruption managed to take root, though not completely. Had it been anyone else, they would have surely been dead by then."
He continued, "Viva also managed to lace my wine during lunch with something that forced my divine powers into dormancy for a short while. Because of that, the corruption spread faster when she used her magic on me. She nearly succeeded....but do you know what protected me then?"
Eve already knew the answer from Viva’s confession and whispered softly, "The brooch I gave you."
Ivan smiled at her. "Yes. You saved my life, Eve."
"But....she confessed that she destroyed it. Then how-" Eve asked, confusion flickering across her face.
Ivan scowled at the thought, displeased that his treasured first gift from Eve had been destroyed by the evil queen.
"It did," he replied. "But the power you placed within it, bound by your strong intent to protect me, clung to me. Like a....remnant of its owner’s will. I remember that when I could see nothing, when it felt as though my soul was falling deep into an abyss of darkness, I would see golden eyes every now and then. And the moment I saw them, it was as though my consciousness began to fight against the control. But because it was only a remnant, it wasn’t able to fully overpower it, trapping me in an endless loop of battle within myself."
Eve listened to everything he said, her heart aching as she imagined what he must have gone through. She whispered softly, "You must have been in so much pain."
Reaching across the table, he took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Not as painful as being away from you....or hearing about everything you did and went through to save me."
Eve offered him a helpless smile. "Things we do for love."
Ivan’s eyes softened as he repeated quietly, "Things we do for love."
They returned to their breakfast in comfortable silence until another thought surfaced in her mind.
"Ivan?"
"Yes?" He looked up at her while taking a sip of his tea.
"Did you....did you hear anything from the Kingdom of Luminear?" Eve asked, recalling the reason she had told him everything about her past.
Ivan paused for a moment before answering. "The last I heard, there was growing tension between the two factions supporting you and your half-brother. The rumours about us have spread like wildfire and caused major unrest in Luminear. I heard King Solan was preparing to hold a meeting regarding the incident in Dartmouth. Since then, I haven’t received any further reports, especially since I’ve been here with you."
"Oh..." Eve murmured.
Ivan caught her unease immediately with his sharp gaze and said gently, "I can see something is bothering you."
"Well, about what I told you today....there’s a reason behind it. First, I don’t want to keep anything hidden from you anymore. And second, it’s my growing concern about what King Solan might do in a fit of rage."
"And what is it that concerns you so much?" Ivan asked.
"I know what kind of man he is, Ivan. He thinks far too highly of himself, which gives him an enormous ego. And when someone wounds his pride, he always seeks revenge. What I did back in Dartmouth, in front of so many people, was openly defy him. And with you attacking him as well, I’m certain he’ll retaliate soon. When he does, I don’t want either of us to be caught off guard."
Ivan clicked his tongue in clear displeasure. "Seems like he didn’t get the message when I almost strangled him."
"Yes, he’s far too conceited for certain things to ever sink in. That was one of the reasons I didn’t stop you. I wanted him to get a taste of the consequences that could follow if he ever decided to push me."
"So you’re not angry with me for attacking him... you know, considering who he is?" Ivan asked, hesitating slightly.
"He is not my father, Ivan," she said calmly. "He’s merely the king of the kingdom I belong to, nothing more. He made that very clear to me when I was a child, so there was never any father-daughter bond to begin with."
She spoke as though it were inconsequential, yet Ivan caught the lingering sadness in her eyes as her gaze dropped to the tea in front of her.
Ivan felt every emotion coursing through her, and it pained his heart to know she was carrying so much for a man who did not deserve to be called her father in the first place. Setting his cup down, he rose from his seat, drawing her attention.
"Where are you-" she stopped short when she saw him walk towards her and offer his hand.
Confused, she stared at it for a moment before placing her hand in his. Ivan curled his fingers around hers and gently tugged her to her feet. The moment she stood, he took her place and pulled her back onto his lap, a soft gasp escaping her lips.
She looked at him, a question shining in her eyes, but he simply placed one hand at her back while the other guided her hand to rest against his chest, right over his racing heart.
"Eve," he began softly, "do you remember when I told you everything that happened after you lost consciousness in Dartmouth?"
"Yes," she nodded, waiting to hear where he was going with this.
Ivan continued softly, "When I was in that room, watching over you while you lay unconscious, do you know who else was just as worried?"
Eve stayed silent as he went on.
"Yes, Damien, Cece, and Edward were there," he said gently, "but there were two others who were just as worried as I’ve rarely ever seen them. Two people who cared for you far beyond obligation." His thumb brushed over her knuckles. "My father....and Uncle Regulus."
Eve hesitated, then spoke carefully, "They must have been worried in general, because...I’m with you, so-"
Ivan shook his head, a soft smile touching his lips. "No, Eve. Not them. Not King Iskara Ignia De Ashen or Duke Regulus Silver." His voice grew firmer, "I have known those two men my entire life, and if there is one thing they have never failed to do, it is protect their family."
"They would never look twice at someone simply because that person is close to me," he continued. "They looked at you because they care about you. Uncle Regulus stood between you and King Solan like a shield when Solan tried to take you away. I still remember his words. He said you were one of us. And that he would always protect one of us."
He paused briefly before continuing, "And I can speak even more confidently about my father. I saw it in his eyes. He already sees you as his own daughter and protects you as such. The bond between our mothers, the fact that he knew you when you were a child....it only deepened what was already there."
Ivan tightened his hold slightly, "So, baby, never think you don’t have a father who has your back. Because you do. There is someone who worries about you just as fiercely as a parent worries for their own child."
"There hasn’t been a single day I’ve returned to the palace without him asking about you. Not once," Ivan whispered. "When I asked him to deploy an elite king’s guard for your protection after I rescued you from being kidnapped, he didn’t hesitate. Not because I asked....but because it was for you."
His voice softened further, "So no, that wasn’t a general concern. That was family worrying for family."
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles as he finished, "My beautiful Eve, you don’t just have me now. You also have my father’s and my uncle’s support....if that brings you even a little comfort."
