A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 79: Bisexual

The double doors to the throne hall swung open. Andrian halted in his tracks, his heart racing with anticipation. The corner of his mouth was still painted scarlet with his own blood but he seemed to care less. He walked halfway to meet the captain.

"Tell me you’ve found them!" He demanded, his eyes growing in optimism. The look on the captain’s face was all it took to get the answer.

"We tore the capital apart but couldn’t pick their trace Your Majesty." The captain fearfully watched the king’s shoulders drop. He’d never seen him this scared.

"Maybe they’ve already..." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Please don’t!" He held his hand before curling it into a fist. If only he could punch someone in the guts right now. But he was the king. Taking in a deep breath, he said,

"Everything will continue as planned. Not a word of Gabriel’s disappearance is to be breathed, not to my sister especially. Hang anyone who dares open their filthy mouths."

"Your Majesty." The captain bowed and left with a dismissal by the wave of Andrian’s hand.

*****

Elena stared unblinkingly at the ceiling for the nth time. She hated every second she spent in this room. It only brought back painful memories. She had thought the vampires were the real monsters but Andrian was the monster in disguise. Funny how this world works. Even Vathin the demon was better than her own brother.

This was not the first but second time he was treating her like an item of trade in order to get what he wanted. ’Being a princess sucks’ she thought, heaving a sigh for God knows what nth time.

She rolled over to see the last night’s food still on the nightstand, untouched. She simply didn’t have the appetite.

The door flew open but she didn’t care who it was that stepped in. They were all the same anyway.

"My Lady!" She heard Lilian exclaim. "You barely touched your food."

’Isn’t it obvious?’. The question did cross her mind but she held so much respect for Lilian to ask. "I wasn’t hungry," she lied.

"You’ve eaten nothing since you came to Mysthaven." She dropped the basket on the floor and sat on the edge of the bed, taking Elena’s hands into hers. "Poor child. We both know what’s bothering you but you need your strength."

"I don’t want to get married to another person. Prince Charles! God knows I hate him."

"He really was an asshole when young," Lilian chimed in, relishing the memories. "Who knows he’s a changed man by now?" She added, raising her shoulders in optimism.

"I love Gabriel," she admitted, the tone in her voice obsessive. There was no way she was going to let another man lay his fingers on her.

"I could see it in your eyes," Lilian giggled making Elena blush. And come to think of it, Elena had never seen Lilian with a man her entire life.

"Do you have anyone you love Lilian?" She asked out of curiosity.

Lilian cast her eyes on the ceiling, her smile syncing with the light streaming through the open window.

"I used to. He was a knight. You and His Majesty were young, and I used to serve in your mother’s quarters. He would sneak in when I was washing and tickle me before enveloping me in a warm hug. It felt so good but forbidden."

Elena waited for her to continue but she turned to look at her, squeezing her hands gently. "Eat first and I’ll tell you the whole story."

"Is this some kind of manipulation trick?" She asked in enthusiasm. Both women laughed but Lilian stressed Elena had to eat.

"If not for me, do it for Gabriel," she said, her fingers caressing Elena’s face. Elena gave her a reassuring smile before Lilian walked out with her dirty clothes.

Lilian was aging, quickly at that. Elena had noticed the wrinkles on her face, and the occasional ones whenever she smiled or frowned. The years hadn’t been kind to her but Elena treasured her closely. She wouldn’t be the woman she was today if not for her.

____ ____ ____ ____

Lilian took a corner by the hallway when she almost bumped into the king.

"Your Majesty?" She bowed, holding the basket tightly in her arms.

"And?" Andrian pried.

She lifted her eyes to meet with the king’s. "She’ll eat, hopefully. I do not intend to do this any longer."

Andrian’s hands rested on her shoulders. "I wouldn’t force you to do it if you don’t. But it’s El’s life on the line Lilian. Serve the crown well and I promise it’ll be your last year of service. Mmh?"

Without waiting for an answer, Andrian parted her shoulder and walked past her, disappearing around the corner. He walked towards the end of the hallway that led to the parlor by the sea.

The mist had cleared up, the cool air blowing into his nostrils. If not used to this weather, an outsider would instantly get sick.

He drew in a deep breath, his eyes closed tightly. And when he opened them, he saw a ship in the distant horizon. It looked magnificent in sync with the setting sun. But then appeared another, and another till the Misty sea was doted with ships everywhere.

"Your Majesty?" The herald called, appearing on the king’s side. He was a short man in stature, but old, serving two kings consecutively.

"They’re here!" Andrian breathed. He could already sense victory in the air. The sigil of Althenia, a three headed sea god holding a Trident, was embedded on the mainmast and stern.

"Ring the bells," he ordered. The herald retreated with a bow, the bells tolling all over the capital a short while later.

*****

"So what’s the plan?" Gabriel asked. Vathin jumped back to the side of the cliff panting heavily.

"We take on the prince after he anchors on the harbor and get into the palace in his and his father’s disguise. We take your book wife and the army to Eldoria."

"Easier said than done," Gabriel pointed.

"Well, we have to try. After all, you’re my son." He parted Gabriel and left, leaving him in a state of daze. Did he just feel bisexual?