192: His gamble - Aldric's POV (part 1)

His gamble - Aldric's POV (part 1)

Sitting amidst the shattered remnants of plates strewn across the ground, memories surged through his mind like flickering flames. He recalled the image of her almond-shaped, olive-green eyes ablaze with fury as she hurled his cherished dishes at him.2

He used the back of his hand, holding the Varinthian alcohol, to roughly rub his nose, feeling the stinging scent of the drink. He then rested the side of his head on his knees once again,

"She's a feisty one," he murmured.

Despite purposefully soundproofing his room to shield his men from his wrath, the incessant pounding on the door from outside shook Aldric to his very core. With a wave of his hand, a dark and deadly magic slithered into his man's lungs, posing an immediate threat to his life had Aldric not swiftly released him.

That should teach them not to interrupt my reverie about her.

It was unlike anything when she pounded on the door with her small fists. It wasn't solely because he could physically hear the sounds or feel the impact through the energy infused in his Varinthian metal, but rather because it felt like a surreal blend of both a dream and a nightmarish reality unfolding before his eyes.

The haunting images of his mother lying helpless beside a locked door made him sick to the stomach. Day by day, he witnessed her long black hair losing its luster, gradually fading as she withered away right before his useless eyes. Her midnight blue eyes, once full of life, stared empty and void right at his face until he could finally grant her the peace of closing them.

"...You could have tried pounding on that door too, mother," he whispered.

He took another gulp of his drink, simultaneously rubbing his eyes with his index and forefinger, exerting pressure that made it feel as if they were being pushed back into his skull.

Adelaide...it is always an Adelaide who taunts me.

The moment his men began sending him Morse signals through the metal, he erupted into hysterical laughter.

Bastards.

It was his men who had initiated the salutation, treating her as the Queen Consort who would give birth to the crown prince. He held them responsible for instilling that cowardly notion in his mind. The memory of her adorable expression upon hearing their Varinthian chant remained vivid. Despite having no understanding of the words being chanted, she graciously smiled at them, displaying her generous nature.

Ah... It was her fault too. 

Quick images of the Emorian Healer's tear-stained face in that famous market flooded his mind. Her radiant white magic overflowed like an angel who had been deeply wronged. In that moment, Aldric made a solemn vow to locate the individual responsible for bringing tears to her eyes and seek immediate retribution. His determination stemmed not solely from their shared fate as magical beings, but also because she was undoubtedly Kaiser de Lanark's resolute daughter, a fact he held in high regard.

What have I done?

He had envisioned a serene conversation with her, intending to disclose his efforts to win Egon over to her side. He planned to share further anecdotes of his mother's tales regarding the Emorian Healer. Moreover, he aimed to enlighten her about the potential role she might play in the imminent trial that Emoria would inevitably face.

With a roll of nausea rising up his guts, he cast a restless gaze across his room.

How did we get here?

Do I truly have feelings for her?

He shook his head. I never needed anyone besides Samandra. She had always been there for him, enduring the hardships they faced together. He had tested her resilience time and again and he wasn't willing to abandon her now, especially when she had reached an age where she had become more vulnerable within their relationship.

He gritted his teeth.

The tormenting question persisted: were Adelaide de Lanark and Egon von Conradie truly mates? The thought gnawed at him more intensely than ever, fueled by Egon's visibly flustered state as he emerged from a mana portal, hastily making his way to Adelaide's side.

Did they share a blood bond like the one Andreas shares with his mates?

His heart thumped angrily at that thought.

Aldric furrowed his brow, struggling to recollect any instance of seeing bite marks on Adelaide, even during the times when he covertly observed her while skillfully concealing his expertise as a falconer. It was yet another occasion meant to facilitate a closer bond between her and Egon von Conradie, but fate had intervened, leading them down an entirely divergent path.

Samandra would be heartbroken if she knew about this.

He had even poured his essence into that anklet, presenting it to her as a heartfelt birthday gift. However, instead of elucidating how it symbolized his unconditional trust, it had backfired, becoming nothing more than a foolish attempt to evoke jealousy in her potential mate.

Nothing had unfolded according to his careful plans!

With a resounding thud, he forcefully threw his head back, colliding with the transformative metal wall behind him. "As if allowing her the choice to sink my fuc*king ship wasn't enough! I didn't even have the chance to explain myself!"

The gift held too much value to be left in the possession of a man who had attempted to harm Kaiser not long ago. But that Commander is a man with balls, possessing the nerve to seize something from Aldric's grasp.

"She has a reliable guard dog at least."

Suddenly, the air around his ship crackled, acknowledging the arrival of a mighty artifact, one of the last two cursed swords in the world. It was wielded by the one and only Kaiser de Lanark.

Extermizer.

Aldric leaped to his feet, his heart racing as he paced anxiously within the confines of the room.

I fuc*ed up. 

She is a child.

She ran to her father and tattled on me.

It had been a gamble on his part, a risk he seldom encountered defeat in. However, it became apparent that he had made an error in judgment when it came to her.

Pausing by the door, he muttered, "What a spoiled brat... stirring up his emotions like this. That obstinate man would never permit a descendant of the Empress to directly partake in that coup."

With a swift flick of Aldric's wrist, the door swung open, granting him passage. Ignoring the concerned expressions of his crew, he hastened with determined strides until he reached the edge of his ship. Peering down at the bustling harbor below, his gaze fixated on two stallions that had just arrived. Mounted upon one was the man who had bestowed upon him a second chance at life years ago, while the other creature, with its foreboding red eyes, seemed as though it had arrived to claim that very life.

pqdm.com