The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 22. Royal Blood

Everyone turned to look in the woman's direction and Dahlia's eyes widened after realizing that the lady was a vampire, just like the man beside her.

"Ma-" the woman is about to speak but Gilbert quickly cuts her off.

"Moss! You didn't tell me Alice is visiting the ridge tonight!" He enthusiastically cried and walked to the female vampire's spot.

Alice was confused and raised an eyebrow, looking between Gilbert and the king.

"Princess!" Also, Baron came running with Jamie behind him.

"You know her?" He asked after seeing the vampire inside the old man’s property.

"Yes, Baron. Don't worry, Alice is a friend. Right, Moss?" He turned to the vampire.

“Oh, by the way. I like this handsome man. He is observant, he knew that someone was coming and was trying to find me. However, he still failed when I made it inside without being caught.” Alice explained.

“What are you doing here?” Massimo inquired.

“Well,” Alice started to walk closer in Dahlia’s direction.

“I am worried about you. You didn’t return home for days and so I decided to come over to check what’s happening.” She said as she stood firmly, looking down at the shorter lady in front of her. Then slowly she leaned her head down to Dahlia's side, sniffing her nose near her bandaged arm. But before she could get even closer, Massimo quickly grabbed Dahlia by her waist and hid her behind him, blocking himself between the ladies when he noticed how Alice’s jaw suddenly clenched.

“What’s happening here? Who is that lady? Why are there so many humans inside your house, Gilbert?” Alice continuously inquired and walked to the side, grabbing a piece of apple placed on the counter before she sat in front of the dining table.

“I’m Princess Dahlia of Haru, and these are my friends Baron and Jamie.”

Massimo didn’t realize that Dahlia had just sneaked from behind and suddenly introduced herself with a broad smile on her face.

“Moss saved us when we got attacked in the middle of the forest and Gilbert kindly took us in and treated my wound.” The princess explained.

“Nice story,” Alice responded while munching the fruit.

“Yeah, I am delighted to meet you, Alice,” Dahlia said and gracefully bowed in front of the lady vampire in respect.

“Lovely,” Alice commented and stood up.

“And it’s my pleasure to meet the princess of Haru kingdom as well.” she also bowed with a mischievous smirk on her face.

“Uh, alright. So why not everyone gather at the dining table so we could start our dinner.” Gilbert interrupted.

“Uh, Gilbert. Do you have any preserved blood in your storage?” Suddenly, Alice inquired, that made everyone furrow their eyebrows except for Dahlia.

“Oops. I’m sorry. I hope you guys don’t mind.” She dramatically said, facing the mortal while covering her mouth with her slender fingers with sharp long nails.

“Ye-yeah. I still have goat’s blood in the basement. Do you want me to grab a drink for you?”

“Uhmm, sure. But I was expecting you to have some of the Princess’s so I could have a taste of it too.” She said without any hesitation, even though Dahlia was just around. Massimo didn’t like the words that came out of her mouth and harshly grabbed the lady at his speed and took her out of the house.

“Stay away from the Princess!” He hissed at her, gripping her arm harshly.

“What do you mean? I am not going to slit her body just to suck blood, I was just asking if Gilbert happened to save some while he was treating her.” Alice explained and shoved his hand.

"Wait a minute." Suddenly, Alice's expression changed and her arms crossed on her chest.

"She didn't know that you were the vampire king she was looking for, did she?" She inquired, fighting the flaring golden eyes of his.

And when Massimo refused to answer, Alice confirmed it.

"What are you doing? Why did you save her life? For what? And what's that scent she has?" She asked continuously.

"Just get out of here, Alice. Go back to the north and wait till I return."

"I apologise, Your Majesty. But my senses are urging me to join your new human friends for dinner tonight and you in bed later." She stubbornly said, and quickly made her entrance to the house again.

"Plus, I really wanted to have a taste of that royal blood. I wonder what it tastes like." She added with a smirk.

"Alice!" He shouted her name but the lady vampire refused to look back and headed straight to the dining area.

"Alice, your back." Dahlia noticed her first.

"Yes, it's been a while since I have tasted human food," Alice said, and took the seat from the princess, while Massimo also joined the table and sat beside Alice.

Dahlia smiled, looking between the two vampires in front of her.

"Are you together or something?" She asked timidly.

"No." Massimo quickly answered coldly.

"Yeah, we're not that 'something' officially, but we share some intimacy together. You know, vampires crave it too." Alice confessed with a playful wink that made Dahlia blush with shyness and turn her attention to her food.

"Alice!" While Massimo didn't like her words and badly wanted to toss the lady vampire out of the house.

"What?" She bluntly reacts and starts digging into her plate.

"Alice, dear. I hope you notice we have a young lad's presence here." Gilbert said in a calm tone with a smile.

"Oh, right. I'm sorry." She apologized.

"By the way, Princess Dahlia. How is your journey going so far? I heard that you are given before inheriting the throne." Suddenly Alice opened up.

"Uhh. Honestly, it wasn't as easy as I first thought. I wasn't half way yet to the north but we already struggled too much." Dahlia sadly answered.

"But I have learned so much in this adventure and this scar." Touching her arm gently.

"This will always remind me of this experience," she added.

"Wait, what do you mean?"

"She's returning to their Kingdom tomorrow morning." Massimo interrupted, while Baron shot a glare in his direction which he just ignored.

"You're going back after everything? You said you have struggled a lot, right? Then why are you throwing everything away? The scar is just a scar, princess. It will never picture any bravery or success because you have achieved nothing yet." Alice speaks up.

"So maybe it's true then that the heir of Haru is nothing but only her beautiful face and royal name." She added bluntly, rolling her eyes.

"Alice, stop! Why are you saying that?" Massimo hissed beside her.

"Because she is about to reach her destination. Right?" Teasing the vampire beside her as she raised an eyebrow.

"If I am a princess of a wealthy kingdom," turning to the princess again.

"I am not going back empty-handed. However, if you have already made up your mind." Biting a piece of potato before she proceeds to talk.

"Don't forget to send me an invitation to your grand wedding."

"What wedding?" Massimo was stunned by the information.

"The princess is betrothed to someone who could pass the royal standards. Don't you know about it? Right Dahlia?" Alice said.

But the lady didn't answer as she kept her attention on the food, acting like she didn't hear anything. However, deep inside her chest is shattering and her throat is in pain. While Massimo shot a look in Gilbert's direction, confused.

"I mentioned it to you before." The old man quickly defended himself.

"Congratulations in advance, Your Highness," Alice added and that made Dahlia break down as she quickly stood up and left the area without uttering a word.

"Excuse me," Baron stood up as well and followed the princess.

"Oops. Guess the groom is a terrible looking man that made the princess act that way. Now I think I understand why she chose to accept the dangerous quest rather than stay in the comfort of whoever her groom would be."

"Alice," Massimo called to her.

"Yes, My King?" She looked up.

"I don't want you here on the ridge. Leave and stay away from Dahlia." He said and stood up,

"That's an order and I'm serious, Alice. Don't dare me." He strictly added before leaving the area as well.

"What is wrong with him?" Alice muttered as she continued her food and showed a sweet smile in Jamie's direction.

"Do you still want a drink, Alice?" Gilbert kindly asked.

"Nevermind, but I really want Dahlia's blood. I'm curious about it." She responded and noticed Jamie staring at her.

"Don't worry. I am not going to kill your princess, young mortal," he chuckled softly.

*****

Massimo is currently on a tree just close to the house, watching the world from above while he is troubled about Dahlia’s engagement. He feels something is wrong, like he is losing something if he still urges the princess to go back to her kingdom. However, part of him is hesitating and afraid to disappoint the lady once she learns that he is the Vampire King, especially that she believes the false allegations against him.

“Why did you lead me to this lady?” Massimo muttered, staring at Amaia’s image inside the locket and sighed deeply.

“I need to talk to Dahlia.” He decided and quickly jumped off of the tree.

Slowly, he entered the house without making a single noise. He heads straight to where Dahlia's room is located and hopes she is still awake. But, suddenly, he felt something strange and heard some movements inside the house.

'Must be Gilbert. His ageing is making him hard to sleep at night.' He thought unbelievably until he stood in front of Dahlia's door.

But his instinct suddenly went up when he realized the movement was coming from the lady's room.

'Could it be Baron?' He thought again with a furrowed forehead as he suddenly hesitated to enter the chamber.

'No. Impossible!' He refused after his brain brought a silly thought of the two kissing.

"Don't worry, Your Highness. I wont drain you up." Every suspicion disappeared when he heard a lady say the words and, with the speed of light, Massimo burst inside the room and caught Alice on time before she could rip the lady's skin with her nails.

He dragged her out of the house and pinned her harshly on a tree.

"I told you to stay away from her!" He hissed in her face angrily.

"But I want her blood!" Alice retorted madly.

"She's mine! Don't you dare get close to her again or else I will not hesitate to pull your heart out and smash it with my own hands, Alice" He warned, gripping her jaw tightly with his shivering hand and piercing eyes while they were both panting heavily due to tension.

Alice nodded her head without further argument and that's when Massimo let her go.

"Yours, huh?" Alice bluntly said while rubbing her jaw.

"Leave now, before I lose my temper again." Massimo said with his calm tone before he fled back to the house.

He entered Dahlia's room again and silently walked closer to the bed to see her sleeping soundly. The vampire didn't realize that he had been drowned by her until his hand touched her warm skin, caressing her face gently with his fingers.

"I will not let anyone hurt you, sweetblood." He whispered.