180: A confrontation with Andreas

A confrontation with Andreas

You are doing this for your sister.0

Larissa is worth all of it.

He is the one who always takes shots at your pride, you can put your pride aside for your sister, can't you?

Adela was caught in a fierce internal battle as she trailed behind Egon, the von Conradie guards acknowledged her presence with respectful greetings at every encounter.

She, who had staunchly refused to learn the secrets Egon had withheld from her regarding his uncle's situation, set aside her reservations for the sake of her sister and followed Egon into the King's former estate. Hyperaware of the bond between them, she was unsurprised when he emerged and met her by the stairs leading to the manor.

A normal man would not have had the time to put on a shirt, but Egon did.

"Welcome," he said with a tenderness that caught her off guard.

"Hello…" she greeted awkwardly, "I am here to meet with Andreas."

Egon averted his gaze and nodded. "He is not inside, but he is nearby. He should be here any minute... Your lesson ended abruptly."

Her eyes darted between his face and the door to the manor. "Indeed," she replied, avoiding direct eye contact with him.

"The student's skill is commendable, keeping pace with his tutor," he murmured, his head slightly lowered as he absently tapped his foot on the ground. "Though one can't help but wonder if the tutor's bright smile and wholehearted devotion to the lessons play a part in fostering such exceptional talent."

Her head snapped in his direction, a sudden defensiveness overtaking her. "Exactly what are you implying, Egon?"

His dark eyes darkened further as they dug into her, "I'm not implying. I am saying. I didn't know that you would be so thrilled to tutor him,"

The nerve!

"That is quite the statement! I was under the impression that you didn't have the time to care about what I do or don't do," she retorted.

He took a step closer, looming over her, but unlike the other times this had happened, there was neither seduction nor anger in the magnetic pull between them. Instead, there was an unmistakable air of pain.

"What I needed was time, nothing more. That's all I ever asked of you,"

Her eyelids fluttered, her stomach somersaulting as she fought to maintain her unwavering gaze. This was precisely what she had hoped to avoid - making excuses for him.

"...You know what, Adelaide, just continue along the path you have chosen," 

Closing the remaining distance between them, she locked her gaze onto his, her voice firm, "I fail to comprehend why you are so unsettled."

His face contorted with a burdened expression as he replied, "Just carry on with what you are doing."

With clenched teeth, he pivoted and ascended the stairs, entering the manor without extending an invitation. Adela wasn't taken aback by his breach of etiquette; it would have been surprising had he adhered to it in the first place.

It was a bitter pill to swallow, especially when he distanced himself from her.

Recognizing that it might be a while before Andreas returned or even made an appearance, Adela ascended the stairs and settled into one of the chairs at the table situated outside the main door. Leaning her chin on her hand, she felt the passage of time stretch and linger, taking on a peculiar quality.

Had it truly been that long since she last met Andreas here when he returned from the pretense of being kidnapped? The memory felt distant and hazy, as if shrouded in a fog.

Too hazy...

Questions swirled in her mind. Had Andreas used his supernatural abilities to bend her will? Had he obscured her recollection of events to suit his own agenda? The more she pondered, the more it seemed plausible, given the dark and enigmatic nature of vampires in Emorian folklore.

"…At least Larissa's mind is still running free," she murmured to herself.

"Lady Adelaide?"

Startled, she quickly removed her hand from her chin and looked up, finding Andreas standing before her. 

"Andreas," she greeted, trying to maintain civility while questioning his actions.

"...I called you a couple of times, but you seemed totally immersed in your own world," 

It was strange to realize that she had lost much of the respect she once held for Andreas. Now, her hope rested solely on her sister's judgment. If Larissa chose to give him another chance after her conversation with Grace de Lanark, Adela knew she had to find a way to tolerate his presence for the sake of her sister's happiness.

He sat in the chair across from her, his smile seemingly oblivious to the turmoil within her. It provoked Adela to no end, fueling her frustration even further.

"…Up until now," she began, her voice firm and her green eyes filled with anger, "I didn't want to interfere in your relationship with my sister, but I can no longer ignore it. If there had been any alternative, I wouldn't be here, confronting you face to face," she studied his face, the smile now faded, a sight she welcomed. "Don't you see how much anguish Larissa is going through?"

"This is between Larissa and me."

She took a deep breath. "Then I am making it a matter involving the three of us,"

They locked eyes, her gaze sharp and penetrating, while his remained void of any emotion.

"We are discussing a woman who has given you everything," she scowled at him, "Taking things to such an extent with a noblewoman, it is completely beyond my comprehension."

He gazed past her for a prolonged moment, exhibiting an oddly familiar demeanor reminiscent of Egon's distant gaze, despite their dissimilar appearances.

"Don't you feel guilty at all, Andreas?"

His sky-blue eyes found her again, clouding profusely.

Deciding to confront the depth of their actions, she pushed the boundaries even further.

"What if Larissa was pregnant with your child? Would you turn your back on your own flesh and blood?"

His eyes flashed with a mixture of pain and defensiveness, as if he believed himself to be the aggrieved party in their situation. Sensing that further discussion would be fruitless, she abruptly stood up and turned away, leaving him with her parting words.

This is all about the Oracle...His first mate...

"…When my time comes, I hope to be remembered by my loved ones," she uttered with a hint of vulnerability. "But I cannot rest in peace if I become a source of conflict between them and their cherished ones. Placing me in such a position... it would be a disservice to my memory."

With her conviction intact, Adela pressed forward, continuing on her path. Her words had been sincere, born from a place of genuine concern, but the question remained: would Andreas's first mate share her opinion?

I guess we will never know. 

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