Chapter 100 - Unexpected Visitor (2/2)

“It would be exciting to see him among the horses,” he teased.

“If that were to happen, surely the nobles would admire Estia’s hospitality.” Leah said without altering her expression. She expected him to lift his hand and slap her, but the blow never came. He just laughed.

“Bring a handkerchief on the day of the hunt,” he told her.

And that was that. Before the maids could even bring the tea, Blain was gone. Leah took up her quill again, and the ink at its tip fell like tears, blotting the sheet of paper before her. The darkness fell like a shadow over her body.

She felt terrible.

***

A haunting voice echoed behind a closed door. The sounds within were unmistakable, enough to make anyone’s ears burn, but Blain, sitting on a nearby sofa, was indifferent. His face only reflected incredible boredom. The maids standing behind Blain did their best to keep their faces equally expressionless, and silently refilled his glass every time he emptied it.

A final moan issued from behind the closed door. After a few moments, the door opened, and Cerdina stepped out of the doorway, pushing her sweaty hair aside. Her eyes widened.

“Blain?”

A thick scent accompanied her out the door, sweet, heavy, and sickening. When Blain frowned at her, she only smiled softly and pushed the door open wider to reveal the scene behind her.

The King was inside, lying naked and unashamed on the bed, looking dreamily at the ceiling. His eyes were unfocused, devoid of spirit. They looked like the eyes of a doll.

Cerdina rearranged her mussed dress to better hide her figure, still smiling.

“I don’t know if it’s a side effect of the spell, but it looks like it will take some time.” Barefoot, she walked over to Blain and sat beside him, her voice affectionate. “Have you been waiting long? Why didn’t you come in?”

Blain snorted. “ know exactly what you’re doing. How could I come in?”

“Well, this is much better than behaving like a mother who wastes her son’s precious time,” she said, sipping from a glass the maids handed her.

Blain’s gaze unconsciously shifted to the King, who was still lying in silence. Seeing the King’s silver hair, he started to think. It was said that blood cannot be deceived, and the two men were very much alike. Blain had heard that when the King was younger, he had been a very handsome man, as handsome as his son.

Cerdina saw Blain looking at the King and burst out laughing. Blain quickly averted his eyes, too late.

“You want me to do the same with Leah, a lifeless doll?” she asked, smiling coldly. Her soft voice was enticing.