Chapter 63: Jealousy and misunderstandings!

It had been two days since the official crowning, but Dominic still hadn’t left Valyria and was circling around the palace grounds, mimicking the palace guards. He and Demetri seem to have struck some sort of a deal and he acted like the royal shield’s assistant and followed wherever Selena and Demetri went discreetly. Because of his face being covered and him being dressed fully in a shield, no one even made a second glance at him and noticed him. Everyone had figured that the entire clan of the Vanhuesans had fled after Selena won the king’s duel at the Labyrinth of the death.
Though Selena herself was aware of the fact, she didn’t quite comment on it and was just happy that he had stayed and not left without a word like she had initially believed.

Caro Silva was appointed as a council to the Empress and he too decided to remain in the kingdom of Valyria until Selena had settled in her rule, which further infuriated Dominic.
His last talk with his grand uncle, Caro had made him realize that even though the both of them had a rather rocky history together, he still wasn’t prepared to let her go and had full intentions to make everything right between them once again, which put Dominic in quite a tight spot.

As Selena walked across the palace grounds, she came across Caro Silva headed her way and she stopped on her way. Demetri stopped dutifully and Dominic almost crashed into him from behind, caught up in his own thoughts.
He narrowed his eyes from behind Demetri as he saw his grand uncle approach Selena. All his male instincts went haywire and warned him off their interactions and he shifted uncomfortably from behind Demetri. There had been rumors going around the palace, now that he had been divorced, the citizens of Valyria were contemplating whether or not they will get back together and they seem to be shipping them together more than anyone else, even they, themselves. Caro being one of the original vampires had a huge hold over the citizens and they were in support of him, which further infuriated Dominic as the citizens nor the council of Valyria had never shown him any love and treated him like an outsider which he was, but Caro was one too yet his grand uncle was treated like a family in Valyria, which he felt was unfair and was a whole lot bothered by it than what he was letting it show.

Dominic further narrowed his eyes dangerously as he realized that his woman too was greeting Caro rather enthusiastically, much to his disliking. He had thought that they were on rather icy terms with each other but they seemed to be getting along just fine.
He then bent his head deeply and murmured solemnly, “Your majesty, may I have a moment of your time”

Selena grinned at him and playfully smacked him and Caro Silva let out a throaty chuckle. Dominic fidgeted behind Demetri nervously, not at all pleased with their light banter and Demetri shot him a knowing look and murmured into his ear, “Jealous much?”
Dominic scowled at his new best mate and Demetri’s otherwise mean poker face erupted into teensy tiny smile, which he was desperately trying to hide. Because of their little discussion and snickers, they caught the attention of Caro Silva and he eyed the guard behind Demetri curiously and Dominic found himself going stiff, nervous that his grand uncle may notice him.

Caro, not reading anything suspicious concentrated his attention back on to Selena and Dominic heaved a sigh of relief which soon turned to a huge scowl as he saw his woman giggling furiously and playfully hitting his grand uncle’s shoulder.

Demetri was having the time of his life, snickering while watching both Selena as well as Dominic.
Caro then leaned forward and murmured into her ear, “Can we go to a place where we won’t be disturbed?”
Selena frowned at him as she saw him eyeing the guards with distaste and nodded at him, wondering if he had anything important to discuss. After all, he was her personal counsellor and she was determined to bridge the uncomfortable gap between him and maintain cordial relations with him despite their rather rocky past.

Selena looked at Demetri and motioned him to leave them alone and only stand guard out of their eyesight and earshot and Demetri nodded at her, catching the inference and dragged a rather unwilling Dominic away. He wasn’t at all willing to leave the two alone.
As Dominic and Demetri watched them away from afar, Dominic shifted his weight from one leg to another uncomfortably, being bothered by their sudden closeness.
Demetri eyed the fidgeting Dominic warily and snapped at him in a pissed off tone, “Oh! Would you please get used to this? The council of elders appointed Caro Silva as Selena’s personal counselor. That’s why he didn’t leave even after the crowning. They are going to be spending a lot of time to together to reform the effects of their kingdom which wad under the concubine’s atrocious rule.”
Dominic gaped open his mouth in disbelief, not at all pleased by this newfound information. If what Demetri just declared turned out to be true, they were going to spend a lot of time together for the reformation of the kingdom which the concubine and her children had messed up for over fifty years and that further irked Dominic out as he was still a little bit irked out by their past relationship.

“I can be her advisor”, Dominic declared haughtily and Demetri snorted at him deliriously.
“Are you kidding me? You were our national enemy till a few days ago? Do you think the citizens pf Valyria would accept you with open arms after the stunt you pulled? Besides, do you think you can be a better counselor than Caro Silva? He is an original vampire and a war strategist for centuries. You are just a kid in front of a great man like him”

Dominic scowled at his friend, displeased by every single thing he heard from his mouth. He glared indignantly at Demetri with his arms crossed over his chest, being deeply offended by his statement. He didn’t have to quite rub it in like that given that Demetri already knew about his reservations and insecurities against Caro Silva.
But he had perfectly pinpointed it out and hit the nail perfectly on the head. That was what exactly he was afraid of, being treated like a kid by Selena because she was elder to him. He was afraid that she would prefer a man like Caro who was elder to her and held countless experience in everything.