The Royal Quest

CHAPTER 44. The Proposal

Dahlia is currently on the balcony, seeing the wonderful view of Gorgax when suddenly Alice appears from behind.

"Remarkable, isn't it?" She inquired, standing under the shadow of the wall.

Dahlia smiled.

"Yes, it is. Never thought Gorgax would be as impressive as this. We always heard many stories about the vampire king and his castle but, ridiculously, none of them tells the true definition of them." Dahlia genuinely said.

"Right. Because it's been many years since a mortal has reached this far in the north. However, you are here now and have broken the record."

"Yes, but it is because the King has granted me permission to step inside his castle." Dahlia smiled as he thought of Massimo.

“That is because he believes that his past love is in your soul.”

Dahlia became silent for a moment as she knew that the lady vampire was right in her words, that even though the vampire king kept showing affection towards her, the memories of Amaia still lay deep in his heart.

“Don’t fash, Alice. I am aware of that.” She answered, trying to keep her tone firm to hide her worries.

Alice nodded and smirked.

"So, are you planning to stay here for long?" Alice suddenly inquired.

"Massimo insisted. He said that we should wait for the right time until we can prove that it wasn't him who attacked my land."

"I wonder how you could find any clues about the real culprit if you just stayed here? Standing while enjoying the view and the King's attention?" Alive countered with a bit of hostility in her voice.

"And why are you asking?" Suddenly Massimo interrupted.

"Dahlia could stay here as long as she wants and about the culprit. I have already asked someone to help me find it, so you don't have to worry about it, Alice." He explained.

"Oh, I see. That's good to hear then."

"Dahlia." Massimo turned to the princess and stretched his hand forward, inviting her.

Dahlia felt hesitant but still accepted his hand, which Massimo immediately squeezed gently.

"There is something that I want to show you." The vampire said, lovingly staring down at the lady.

"What is it?" Dahlia asked, as she also felt anxious because of Alice's presence around them.

"You'll see later," Massimo said, and was about to kiss Dahlia's knuckles when she abruptly pulled her hand away. Massimo was stunned by what she did but just ignored it for the meantime.

"Let's go." He said again as he grabbed her hand and held it tightly.

Massimo took Dahlia to his study room where the books were placed neatly on the bookshelves, which is the entire two storey wall. In the middle of the high ceiling, a glamorous chandelier that is made up of gold and diamonds is placed, giving brightness to the whole place down to the ground.

"Wow," Dahlia exclaimed.

"It is way bigger than the study of my father in our castle," She commented.

"My father loves to read, especially to study about wars. However, it's not about the books, why I brought you here." Massimo said and pulled a lever hidden in one of the shelves, Then a secret door opened, revealing a passageway down.

"Come, love." Massimo said and Dahlia swallowed with the endearment as she also felt her cheeks getting hot. As Massimo noticed her suddenly halting on her spot, he reached for her hand again, intertwining their fingers and leading her to the path.

He lit the torches and they walked along until finally they stood in front of a steel door. Massimo opens the entrance with a key and steps aside to let the princess walk in first.

"Massimo, this is incredible." Dahlia muttered while roaming her eyes around the chamber full of treasures; pieces of jewelry, stones, including armors and weapons. Massimo pulled her to a chest placed on a table. He opened it and revealed the Kingdom's most valuable treasure of all. The king's crown.

"Beautiful," Dahlia said with a smile.

"And supposed to be a powerful one. However, it is just a useless crown here in Gorgax."

"But why? You are the king, aren't you?"

"Maybe I am, but I don't have people like Haru to rule over. The castle is just surrounded by forest and ruins from the past where the vampires claimed it as their shelter now." Massimo sadly let out.

"But with you, we can make the Gorgax whole again." He added.

"What do you mean?" Dahlia was confused.

"Be my Queen, love," Massimo proposed with a smile creeping on his face.

"What?" Dahlia suddenly felt agitated about the vampire's proposal.

"We can start everything, establish our own family. To have princes and princesses running along the wide hallway." Massimo held both her hands.

"Also, you will not have to worry about the marriage that awaits you back in Haru, if we are already married."

"Do you hear yourself, Massimo?" Dahlia retorted with a bit of annoyance in her voice.

"Haru needs me, my father needs me to keep the throne and his pride. I can't be someone else's queen." Dahlia asserted, looking up at the man with furrowed eyebrows.

"I'm sorry, I just thought it was a good idea. Also, I just don't want to regret this another chance again." Massimo looked down, feeling down.

"Are you thinking about Amaia again?" Suddenly Dahlia inquired.

"No, I mean a bit," Massimo answered with hesitation.

"But it is not what you think," he quickly added.

"Of course it is you that I am thinking about right now and our possible future if you say yes." He sighed before he continued.

"I love you and I am sure of that. That's why I want to grab every opportunity to prove that my feelings are genuine." Massimo explained.

"But you are a vampire and I can't marry you. My parents will not allow it, they will disown me if they learn about the relationship that I have with an immortal." Dahlia explained, murmuring her last words.

"Relationship? What exactly?" Massimo countered.

"We-we already kissed, right? I-I believe that there is something between us already." Dahlia stammered.

"You're confusing, really. You let me kiss you while pushing me away at the same time."

"Well, it is because you are disturbing me. You are making my heart twirl, Massimo. And I don't like this! But my people will curse me if they learn that I have these feelings for the vampire who took the lives of their loved ones."

Massimo sighed and chuckled softly.

"You mean you are falling for me?" Massimo asked.

"No," but Dahlia quickly refused.

"Liar," Massimo countered as he started walking closer to the lady.

"Massimo, I can't. Why are you doing this to me?"

"I'm not doing anything, I just want you to be my wife. You have no idea how much it is to resist every time you're near me, sweetblood." Massimo suddenly uttered with his dark eyes looking down at her.

"Ma-Massimo, what do you mean? And can you please stop staring at me like that? You're scaring me." Dahlia swallowed as she stepped backwards.

But Massimo continued stepping forward, pinning the lady to the wall. Dahlia shut her eyes tightly and was stunned when Massimo just gave her a peck on the forehead.

"Let's go back, before I can't control myself and claim you right here and now." He whispered.

"Ye-Yes." Breathing heavily as she agreed.

But when she opened her eyes and looked up at the handsome vampire, Massimo abruptly claimed her lips. Dahlia is still, crumpling her hands on his chest as she savours their lips that are moving in sync until they are out of breath.

"This is crazy, I swear I can't get enough of you." Massimo whispered, connecting their foreheads.

"I love you, Dahlia." He added, but the lady just pushed him slightly and freed herself.

"I'm starving, we should head back." she said and started walking out of the chamber, leaving the vampire behind to stop whatever emotion that was thriving inside her.

"This can't be love." She murmurs as she turns her pace even faster.