Chapter 49: Back To The Game
The next evening, the Aldric townhouse finally felt alive after days. Esme sat at her vanity while two maids styled her hair. The invisible blood ward at her neck pulsed softly, a constant reminder of the leash she had willingly put around herself.
Tonight was the Imperial Palace’s Autumn Gala which was also her grand return to High Society.
She had chosen a beautiful shimmering emerald gown with black velvet. She deliberately avoided red this time. Tonight, she needed him provoked by jealousy, not overwhelmed by his war memories.
A small satisfied smile touched her lips, as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Suddenly, the door to the dressing room opened, maids immediately bowed their heads and walked out of the room.
Eveyr, like always, walked up behind her, resting his hands on her bare shoulders, watching their reflection in the mirror.
"Julian will try his best to search for a weakness to exploit. He will try to find a way to break us," Eveyr whispered.
"Let him try," Esme replied, adjusting her diamond earring. "I want him to think we are playing his political game."
Eveyr leaned down, his lips brushing her ears.
"Play whatever political game you want," Eveyr replied. "But remember the ward, my wife."
His fingers tightened slightly on her shoulders, just enough to remind her of his power.
"I am allowing you to walk into the wolf’s den only because you asked me to," Eveyr added. "I will tolerate their stares. But the second I sense your pulse spike with fear, I will snap their necks. And if your pulse spikes with interest in anyone else... I will tear the roof off the palace and bury them under the rubble."
"Then it is good that I only have eyes for you," Esme replied, meeting his gaze in the mirror, smiling softly.
Eveyr smiled as he took out a small and beautiful emerald pendant out of his pocket.
"I had this made yesterday," he said.
Esme looked at him through the mirror.
"For me?" she asked.
He nodded.
"It contains a defensive ward," Eveyr replied. "If someone tries to use magic at you, it will shatter before a spell reaches your body."
He brushed her hair over one shoulder and fastened the necklace around her neck. While doing so, his fingers accidentally touched the blood ward.
The ward instantly flared to life. Esme felt a pleasant warmth spread through her chest, while Eveyr’s breath caught as her heartbeat echoed inside him.
"I can feel you," he murmured. "When you’re calm...my heart becomes calm. When you’re frightened...mine does the same."
Esme lifted her hand and touched the pendant.
"Thank you,"
"I don’t need your gratitude, Esme," he replied, intertwining their fingers. "I only want you to stay with me forever."
"I’ll stay with you forever," she replied, smiling.
I have to stay with you Eveyr...because if I don’t keep your obsession alive, I won’t survive long enough to see another dawn.
Eveyr’s black carriage was already waiting for them in the courtyard. Commander George and two dozen shadow guards flanked the carriage on their respective horses. It was a bold display of military strength meant to intimidate the crown before they even entered the palace.
The carriage ride to the palace was filled with silence. Eveyr kept looking outside the window to look for any kind of danger, and Esme kept thinking about her plan she was supposed to follow at the gala tonight.
The carriage stopped in the courtyard the Imperial Palace. The courtyard was already filled with several other carriages but the arrival of the Duke of Aldric made everyone silent.
Eveyr stepped out first, and offered his hand to Esme to come out. Esme took a deep breath as she took his hand and stepped into the crisp autumn air.
"Showtime," Esme murmured to herself as she looped her arm through Eveyr’s.
"Please...do not kill Julian the moment you see him," Esme whispered, keeping her gaze ahead. "I want him to think he has the upper hand tonight."
Eveyr did not respond. He just held her tightly. As they climbed the stairs, the chatter of the other arriving nobles faded away. Julian, who was standing at the top of staircase, stepped forward with his fake smile.
"Duke Aldric. Duchess," Julian greeted them, loud enough for all the nearby nobles to hear. "How brave of you to come here after the... unfortunate incident in the Bloodwood."
The nearby nobles laughed mockingly. Then Julian, to insult Eveyr, ignored him and took Esme’s hand in a customary greeting. Esme didn’t pull back. She lifted her hand and put her fingers over Julian’s gloved palm.
Julian bowed his head, his lips hovering just above her knuckles. Instantly, the blood ward at Esme’s neck began to burn.
Beside her, Eveyr froze. His patience was gone. A sharp sound echoed in the silence as the eardrums of the nearest Imperial Guards ruptured, sending thin trickles of blood down their necks.
The shadows clinging to the palace pillars stretched, writhing hungrily under Julian’s boots.
[SYSTEM ALERT: EXTERNAL AGITATION DETECTED]
[Target possesses lethal jealousy]
[Reward: +200]
[Vitality restored to 50%]
Before Julian’s lips could even brush her hand, Eveyr struck. His hand snapped out as he grabbed Julian’s wrist with bone crushing force.
Then with a strong jerk, Eveyr yanked Julian’s hand away from Esme.
"The Duchess does not entertain the touch of lesser men," Eveyr said, his voice dripping with contempt.
He dropped Julian’s hand as if it were infected with a plague and stepped in front of Esme to shield her.
Julian stumbled back a little as he massaged his bruised wrist, his calculated smile turning into shock at the terrifying physical strength of Eveyr.
The Imperial Guards immediately reached for their swords, but Eveyr just stared at them, challenging them to draw their swords out. No one dared to do so.
Behind Eveyr’s back, Esme smirked in satisfaction. She took a deep breath as the pain from her body completely vanished.
I did it!
Esme then stepped out from behind Eveyr’s shadow, acting completely oblivious to what he had done to the Crown Prince and his Imperial guards.
"Shall we go inside, Your Highness?" Esme asked as she stepped past Julian. "It is too cold here. I fear...I might get sick standing here for too long."
