Chapter 254: The worst she can say is No

"The children have really grown up, dear," Edren’s deep voice came low as his crimson eyes remained fixed on the distant, starry sky ahead. "We don’t need to worry about them anymore."

His lips carried a bittersweet smile, the smile of a parent whose one part was glad that his children had grown into adults while the other was reluctant to accept the fact that they were no longer his little kids.

He was standing on the terrace with Elaria beside him. His long coat was draped over her shoulders as her head rested against his arm, her hands clasping Edren’s.

"They aren’t ready to face the cruel world yet," Elaria shook her head, the mother’s reluctance to accept the undeniable fact evident in her voice. "Chloe is too innocent and soft-hearted. And Vlad..."

Her grip instinctively tightened around Edren’s hand, a hint of fear flickering in her eyes. "He is dangerously protective of those he considers precious. If an incident like twelve years ago happens again..."

The sight of that cursed night replayed in Elaria’s mind. The image of Vlad, barely five years old, sitting on the ground in a forest. The intense rain washed away the crimson from his little hands and his unreadable face. A pool of blood and rain mixed on the ground where a corpse lay in front of him.

Edren placed his other hand over Elaria’s, pulling her out of her thoughts. "Don’t worry. It’s not a negative trait to be protective of your friends and family," he said with a reassuring smile.

"But what if he offends someone powerful because of this trait?" Elaria asked, still worried.

Edren’s eyes narrowed, crimson lightning flickering within them as he declared, "His father is still alive."

The lightning immediately vanished from his eyes, a confident smile forming on his face. "Did you forget?" He proudly pointed at himself as he reminded her, "I’m the strongest Lumberjack of Grimwood Village."

"Hmph, what can a Lumberjack do?" Elaria scoffed, rolling her black eyes. "You almost died fighting an Orc back then. Even Vlad could defeat you with the flick of his finger."

"I can ask Lord Lucas to protect him," Edren stated shamelessly, rubbing the back of his head.

Elaria simply sighed in disappointment. But still, she was relieved that Edren had a connection with a powerful noble. He would surely protect Vlad if a situation arose.

She decided not to worry anymore and enjoy this date with her husband.

---

"I love you too, My Vlad," Chloe whispered as her lips slowly parted from Vlad’s. "I always did, and I always will."

Her confession fell like music to Vlad’s ears. His hand lingered on her face for a moment too long before he slowly withdrew it.

His eyes remained fixed on her blushing face, causing the poor girl to lower her eyes in shyness.

Her lavender scent was as alluring as ever. He could still feel the lingering softness of her plump lips on his own.

Chloe moved her hand to his eyes in an attempt to cover them. "Stop looking."

She still needed time to process everything that had just occurred so suddenly. She had waited for this moment for years, but now that it was actually happening, it felt too good to be true.

Vlad’s intense gaze was crashing her barely functioning brain’s processing power.

"Why?" Vlad asked, removing her hand.

"I feel shy," she murmured, turning her face to the other side.

Although Vlad was putting up a strong front, he was not faring any better. His heart was already beating louder than necessary, rushing blood throughout his body and turning his pale skin red.

’O-Oh god, I really said it,’ he gasped inwardly. ’And she feels the same way too.’

"Tch, it’s cold now," Chloe’s growling voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

He leaned forward over the table, her puffed-up face coming into view. She was already stuffing the noodles into her mouth as if nothing had happened. Or more accurately, she was trying to calm her nerves by distracting herself with the food.

She side-eyed Vlad, the one responsible for the now-cold noodles, as she slurped the strands into her mouth.

"Should I order another one?" Vlad asked in a gentle tone. "I will eat this one."

She shook her head. She had already eaten half of it, not to mention the more than twenty dishes she had devoured before it. Even for the gremlin she was, she had her limits.

Since Vlad was leaning forward, his eyes caught sight of something that immediately piqued his curiosity.

"What’s this?" he murmured, the corner of his mouth twitching as he fought back a laugh. He gently nudged the hem of her sweater upward.

Her trousers sat unbuttoned, the zipper half-open, and underneath was the soft, rounded curve of her stomach, full from everything she’d devoured.

"So cute," he exclaimed in a low voice, grabbing the chubby curve between his thumb and fingers. "I have never touched something this soft and cute..."

His words stopped mid-sentence as he sensed a sudden danger to his very life. His eyes shifted upward, finding Chloe glaring at him with teary eyes. A strand of noodles was still hanging between her lips.

Vlad swallowed hard. He covered her tummy with the sweater again and was about to move back.

Bam!

---

Few minutes later...

Edren and Elaria came back from the terrace, hoping the two had already confessed to each other.

They were already thinking of the different ways to tease the newly formed couple. But as the lift opened, the sight at the table left the duo speechless.

Chloe was eating the last of the noodles from a bowl with an unreadable expression. But as people who had raised her, they could immediately tell that she was absolutely pissed.

Beside her, Vlad lay... dead? No, he was still alive. Though barely.

He was slumped forward in his chair, his forehead pressed flat against the table. A spiderweb of cracks radiated outward from the exact spot where his head rested.

Edren and Elaria exchanged worried glances. They had thought the worst Chloe could say was no.

They didn’t expect that not only would Vlad get rejected, but he would also get beaten by her.