Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Aylin braced herself to walk into the dining room, the veil over her face a soft gold. It complemented her royal blue dress with gold embroidery, her nervous smile falling off her face at the sight of the beast at Dulce Montesserat’s feet.

Dulce rose to his feet when the Queen made an appearance, "Your Majesty."

"You brought your dog to dinner," Aylin noted in a pinched voice, continuing on to her seat.

Caedos lifted his head when the Queen stepped in, but it wasn’t to acknowledge her presence. Rather it was because he sensed a fourth presence, his sharp gaze scanning room, tracking down the familiar presence.

"He was nervous to be alone, I hope Her Majesty doesn’t mind." Dulce excused, still on his feet.

Aylin sat down and blew out a breath of exasperation, receiving the news that Dulce Monteserrat had become addled with his Demons only served to make the situation more displeasing. "Not at all," She said flatly. "Do take your seat."

Dulce sat, glancing down at Caedos. The stone floor was cold and hard, it couldn’t be comfortable, but it also didn’t seem right for him to invite the barely clothed Hellhound to the table.

"Have you been to Alderth before?" Aylin asked to make conversation, silently signalling the servants to serve them.

"It has been a long time now, I can’t fully remember, perhaps long before Alderth was..." Dulce trailed off, his panic written on his face. He had gotten so used to the company of the Demons that he had forgotten that most topics were inappropriate for polite company.

"...I mean no," He corrected, "No, I haven’t."

Aylin pretended not to hear his faux pas, "Then you certainly should stay a while, Marlen is such a beautiful representation of the country."

Dulce dropped his gaze to the polished gold plate on the table in front of him, the most important conversation of the night had been brought up first thing. "I’m afraid I can’t," He said calmly, "I have other important tasks to attend to."

Aylin shakily reached for her goblet that a servant poured ’wine’ into, conversation with Dulce Montesserat was incredibly nerve-racking. "In that case," She said after lifting her veil for a delicate sip, "It is only right you linger for a few days. I plan to host a masked Spring Ball in a week. I would be honored to have you as a special guest."

Dulce frowned, not even noticing the Queen cutting into the meal on her plate. A week wasn’t a terrible request, and it would do them good to get some rest before the journey to the east, but the Queen’s strange interest in him only threatened his safety.

"Your Majesty flatters me," He murmured, trying to quickly think up an excuse and unable to come up with much. "I unfortunately do not have the privilege to linger that long..."

"Three days," Aylin cut in with a hint of desperation, "I’ll have the ball moved closer."

"But..."

"I would be very hurt if you were unable to attend," Aylin tried another method, acting quite out of character.

Dulce gave in then, picking up his silverware. "Then I will have to trouble Her Majesty with my presence," He said coolly, disinterest in his silver blue eyes.

"How long would your important tasks take you?" Aylin went on, a cheery note in her voice as she nibbled on her meal.

Dulce glanced at her, "You seem familiar." He blurted out, his head slightly tilted to the side like it would better help him remember.

Aylin froze, her veil doing little to hide the terror in her eyes. "A-Are you certain? None have been graced with the visage of the Queen." She managed bravely.

Dulce reached for a large cut of meat on the lavish spread laid out on the table, sneaking it over to the Hellhound at his feet. "I apologize for my presumptuousness, Your Majesty simply reminded me of someone from my past."

Aylin was far from reassured, her hands trembling so hard she had to place them in her lap. "It’s a little matter. Did you have a favorable relationship with this person?" She asked tentatively, dancing with the devil.

The large cut of meat was similar to a piece of hard candy in the mouth of the large beast, but Caedos swallowed it down anyway, pleased that his savior was so generous with nourishment.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty, my memory isn’t what it used to be..." Dulce excused.

In the shadows, Asael grew bored, unable to see how or why the Vampire would choose to suffer through such an ordeal. It would do them good to make decisions as they saw fit in the future, leaving it all to Dulce was just more reasons to have the Vampire be in discomfort.

He didn’t interrupt them, however, lingering in the shadows, ignoring the Hellhound’s knowing gaze on him. How dangerous those monsters were, yet they couldn’t be left alone to themselves in their home.

The mindless chatter continued over the course of an hour, the Vampire Queen was a strange one. Much like the noble Vampire, it was clear she was hiding something from Dulce, it almost seemed like they were once acquainted.

Asael ignored the niggling curiosity, uncertainty was dangerous, and Dulce seemed not to want to revisit the past. He was better off not digging up the skeletons and the dark secrets they held.

"Thank you for dinner, Your Majesty." Dulce said when it was polite to, "I have to feed my dog."

Aylin glared down at the Hound that had eaten up most of Dulce Montesserat’s meal, was it a bottomless well? "I understand," She said reluctantly, "What do you say to dinner tomorrow?"

Dulce rose to his feet, unwilling to give the human Queen more. "I’m honored, but I will have to decline." His tone was still polite but there was a finality to it.

Aylin wisely didn’t push any further, rising to her feet as well. "I understand. But you will be attending the ball, won’t you?" She asked hopefully.

"I would be honored to." He bowed, stepping away from the table.