206 - The Dinner Continues
“I hear them,” Zezi said, looking between Gwen and Delice. “My mate does too.”
Delice smiled, shaking her head as she looked away. “Well, my abilities haven't been the best since I woke up.” Her hand moved over the mark on her neck. She still hasn't seen George since she woke up and honestly she didn't know if she wanted to. “Or even after the fight against the White Circle.”
“You should tell Nicholas,” Zezi said, worried. “He should know. He will have a way to help.”
Delice shook her head again and dropped her hand from her neck, lacing her next words with a chuckle. “There is no cause for alarm. I’m certain it is nothing. I’ll heal.” Then she turned to Gwen, excited. “Well, this is another great news! Congratulations, also do congratulate Zyon for me. In fact, it has been a long time since I saw them all. I will pay a visit tomorrow.”
“You will be welcomed, Milady,” Gwen said with a smile.
*I’ll come along,” Zezi chirped in, tossing another berry into her mouth.
“And you think the King will let you leave the Castle. You look like you are going to pop anytime.”
Zezi sighed as she turned away, rolling her eyes. “Fine, fine. I’m just going to go back to stealing berries.” She paused, blinking. “No! I mean, the pups,” she pointed to her baby bump, “are going to go back to stealing berries.”
“Of course,” Delice chuckled. “I’ll see Gwen out.”
“Goodnight, Milady.”
“Goodnight, Gwen. My regards to your family. Tell them I will appreciate another story.”
The echo of their laughter filled the dining hall as Gwen and Delice departed through the door.
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“So we have the wine,” Aunt Alice said as she handed a bottle of wine to Valerick. “We have to bring something for Zezi unless we will not hear the end of it.”
“I already have something here for her,” Valerick said, lifting up a sachet of something filled with red liquid.
Aunt Alice's smile dropped.
“Is that… blood? My daughter drinks blood?”
“Oh, no. It isn't blood. It is just juice. Tomato juice. One of her cravings. See—” He took a sip, then stopped when he realized that wouldn't help anything. “That does nothing.” Then he offered it to her. “You can taste it?”
Aunt Alice smiled, politely refusing to take the juice from him.
“I don't have to do that.”
“It isn't blood, I assure you of that.”
“It doesn't matter. If that is what is needed, and she is drinking it, it matters not to me. My granddaughter drinks blood too and— I seriously do not have a problem with it.” She ended with an awkward smile and uncomfortable silence.
It had gone on for some seconds but it felt like it went on forever.
“This is a very fine piece of suit,” she said, patting his shoulder stiffly twice before pulling away. It was strange to tell what the King was thinking, his eyes ever remaining concealed. In fact, the only reason she could even speak to him at all was because of how much Gwen had made them laugh when she was here. “My mate would be very impressed if he were here. He would say you were dressed like the perfect son-in-law.”
“Really?”
She nodded.
“Thank you.”
A smile crossed his face and she relaxed.
“You know of how Zezi became my daughter, right?”
“She told me.”
“She told me about your parents too. Your mother sounds lovely.”
“She was.”
Another silence but this one was different. This silence was filled with each person remembering their lost loved ones.
“There is something not quite right in the air,” Aunt Alice said, blinking her tears away at the memory of her mate.
“Indeed,” Valerick replied, as he folded his arms behind him.
The cellar was filled with yet another silence.
This one, less awkward than the first.
This wasn't going as planned at all. He didn't particularly have anything planned but at least the dinner had gone better in his head. He had thought by the end of the dinner, they would be like a… family?
That was certainly too much but he had hoped for it.
Instead of making progress with his mother-in-law, all that was happening were long and awkward silences.
By the Blood, he should have read a book for this. He was on the verge of reaching out to Zezi for help when his Mother-in-law spoke.
“I am not great with conversations,” She finally let out with a sigh.
“Neither am I.”
“Zezi—-”
“I love her.”
Too fast. He had to let her finish!
“I know.”
He nodded. It was such a strange thing to be this nervous. The only time he had felt something like this was when Zezi had just gotten to the Castle and he had invited her for dinner.
“I leave her in your safe care.”
Safe care. Safe.
After that word, Valerick’s nerves seemed to still and he consumed the moment with utmost attention.
“My daughter is precious to me, your Majesty. Please treat her well. If there are any reservations in your heart because of what happened, please forgive her. She is just very selfless and she puts others before her so many times. Zezi loves Teeland more than anything,” she held his free hand with both her hands, as she looked up at him. His presence casted a hazy shadow over her, his gaze focused on her face that wasn't filled with irritation, hatred or fear. Instead, she looked at him like he was no different from her, like he wasn't a monster. “But now my little pup loves you more than Teeland.”
He smiled.
“I leave her in your care. Please be careful with my daughter.”
“I will.”
“and my son too.”
Valerick frowned. Immerse confusion.
“Son, you say?”
“Promise to take care of him.”
All the happiness Valerick had felt leading up to this moment started fading away.
Was it George? It had to be George. She had no other one to refer to as a son. Why would she ask him to talk care—
His thoughts paused when he felt her motherly palms hold his face, causing him to lean downward even more.
“I only just had him,” she ended with a warm smile, then left the cellar the moment understanding flashed in his eyes.
He stood frozen in the spot she had left him then he stood up slowly.
He was the “son” she just had.
His family had just gotten bigger.
He leans on the wall realizing he was the son she only just had.
‘Valerick,’ Zezi's worried voice rang in his mind. She must have felt his overwhelming emotions. ‘Are you alright? Did my mother say something–’
‘Everything is perfect, My Love,’ he responded, speeding right out of the cellar and in a flash, he was a door away from the dining hall.
As he stepped in, their eyes met and he said to her through their mind link. ‘Absolutely perfect.’
She sighed with visible relief as Valerick pressed a kiss to her forehead and they settled down for dinner.
Tonight was perfect.
What could ever go wrong?
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((I’m just in love with the calm and tranquility. It is so lovely.
Also, thank you all for your patience during my exams. I really tried to update during that period but I couldn't. I’m back now and updates will be rolling in. We are some chapters away from the end, if there is anything you will like to see, do drop a comment.
I can't thank you enough for coming with me this far, I will forever remain grateful. There will be another chapter in a few. Love you.))
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