Chapter 174: Chapter 174

DAHLIA:

“Very well, King Helion! I will come with you. Please release Lady Livia,” I uttered bitterly.

I took one last look at Tristan. His eyes still held the same cold stare earlier. He wasn’t fazed at all…

I walked towards Livia, who was still struggling to keep herself on her feet. Our eyes brushed on each other. Suddenly, her gaze widened.

“No! No, don’t, Dah -”

I put my arms around her still imprisoned arms immediately.

“Shh, it’s alright,” I whispered. “No need to tell everyone…”

I knew she recognized me. I can see it in her eyes, and that’s what hurt me the most…

Perhaps this spell given by Samalah has an actual curse on it – that the very person I would’ve wanted to recognize me won’t be able to do it no matter how many times I try...

We’ll, even if he would recognize me, it’s too late for that now. I steeped closer to King Helion’s side.

“Good thinking, child,” he said. He turned to one of his guards. “You, release Livia immediately.”

I was relieved to see them remove the rope that bound Livia. The guards tossed her frail body towards Tristan as soon as she was freed.

I turned my back to Livia then, intending to walk further behind towards the guards that were getting ready to put a chain on me.

Just then, King Helion seized my wrist and spun me around.

“Ah, one second, child. It has been bothering me from the start. Let me just remove that stupid spell casted on you…”

He laid a hand across my face, and my whole body tingled.

When he had finished, I heard the agonized scream of a wolf.

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TRISTAN:

I’ve had enough of Samalah’s schemes. I have truly reached my limit!

Before we had left towards the magical road to Laudicia, I thought I had come to understand Samalah more deeply. I have seen sides of her I didn’t get to see. She became human in my eyes again, and I promised myself I shall do my best to keep her safe throughout this ordeal.

But what was this? Why did she contact Naskan to hand me over to Count Jeteris and his men?

Of course the only answer was because this was Samalah we were talking about. She would never change. She was still the scheming creature she had always been!

I thought her deal was over when she had finished Naskan herself, and yet, throngs after throngs of mercenaries came to us after that.

She must really be bent on seeing me dead!

So now, presented with the deal of giving Samalah to the Apricus King in exchange for Livia’s safety, I did not hesitate.

“Listen, you could just use your powers, right? Just turn yourself into water like you always do to escape King Helion. I will cause a stir, so that you can escape.”

Samalah’s magic was flawless. She could get out of there on her own in a whim if she just wanted to. That was why when she hesitated and became furious. I did not understand her.

“Tristan, I am not your slave or your possession! How can you sell me off like this?”

I lost my temper. “Why can’t I? You had caused all that chaos while we were on our way here. Wasn’t it because you wanted to harm Livia?”

That’s right. Samalah was the mischievous one. She had brought this upon herself.

She gave me an accusing look. “Did you… Did you meant to do this all along? Did you mean to give me and my child to the Apricus King if he asked for it?”

I didn’t plan to do this, but given the circumstance, wasn’t this the most logical choice?

“Why not,” I answered. “You’ve been nothing but a nuisance to Dahlia and Livia. You connived with Count Jeteris. You also didn’t say anything when Kaist recognized you as his mate. Wasn’t that all because you planned to steal the throne?... I am only trying to stop the evil that will further come from you!”

I thought she was going to argue more, but she did not speak. She only blinked back her tears. She finally understood me.

I watched her walk towards the Blasted Ones who were keeping Livia a prisoner. Livia screamed in opposition that she mustn’t do this. She mustn’t surrender herself to them.

Just then, she hugged Livia. She seemed to be saying something to her, but I couldn’t hear it well.

I didn’t know Livia and Samalah had such a close relationship. Livia always said there was something that puts her off about Samalah, and yet, here they were, comforting each other that I felt absolutely guilty.

Finally, Samalah walked towards King Helion.

I wanted to take back what I had said. This was all wrong. Samalah was with child after all…

Just then, the deranged king held Samalah by the wrist.

“Ah, one second, child. It has been bothering me from the start… Let me just remove that stupid spell casted on you.”

I could only watch as he held a palm on her forehead. I saw her body tremble and contort suddenly that I screamed out.

“What are you doing to her?”

That’s it! I wasn’t going to gamble Samalah’s safety anymore!

Just then, something extremely outrageous took place. When King Helion took his hand off Samalah’s face, I didn’t see Samalah at all.

My wolves roared uncontrollably. Standing there next to the Apricus King was Dahlia.

“No! D-Dahlia!”

Samalah – no, Dahlia – could only stare at me helplessly before the vampire king dragged her away from me.

“Brother,” Livia uttered, “Brother, it was Dahlia! I could sense the traces of Samalah’s spell on her. Brother, we have to take her back!”

“King Helion, there’s been a mistake!”

“No, of course not. I had always wanted the new owner of red ruby to be mine. You can keep that she-wolf. The bargain has been well paid-off,” the king said with a snigger.

If that woman was Dahlia and not Samalah, then how about that child inside of her?...

Her words earlier instantly came back to me like an avalanche.

“Tristan Abell, how could you say that to your own child?”

“Who else would this child’s father be? Do you think I could grow a child by magic?”

“I am not Samalah!”

She had been trying to tell me all along! She had tried painstakingly to tell me every chance she had that she was my Dahlia, and the child she was carrying was mine – my own flesh and blood!

I roared at my own foolishness and stupidity as they took Dahlia away by force.