Chapter 78: Chapter 78

TRISTAN:

“Prince Kaist and his men are here. They are asking for you.”

I slowly turned the knob from the shower and dried my body. Despite the present situation, I didn’t have the slightest inclination to hurry…

I was more deathly afraid to face Dahlia and confirm the cold stare that accompanied the icy tone she just used to call me.

Is it really true? Did she already know the truth?

If so, then, is everything over between us?...

Suddenly, the bathroom door burst open.

“Tristan, hurry up. Let’s not make them wait.”

Dahlia held my hand and led me outside of the bathroom. He snatched the towel from my hand and dried my hair with it, tiptoeing just to reach the top of my head.

“Dry yourself well, and wear that.”

I looked at the set of clothes at the bed. It was a red and silver suit – the colors that Dahlia liked a lot…

This is the first time she had ever chosen my clothes. Will this be the last time too?

No… I didn’t want it to be the final time!…

I folded my hands around Dahlia’s waist.

“Dahlia,” I whispered. “Dahlia…”

So many words swarmed across my mind, but I couldn’t bring myself to say them.

We stayed like this for some time, neither of us speaking, neither of us doing anything else…

Finally, Dahlia pushed me back gently. “Let’s talk later.”

It was the same icy and curt tone she used to me earlier.

As soon as I got dressed, we went into my study room at the west wing of the villa.

The air was heavy with the smell of danger and hatred, and at the very center of it was Prince Kaist Lyon, the arrogant heir to the Talandor throne and my incessant pursuer since last night.

“Finally, you’re awake, Count Abell! I didn’t think you’d keep your superior waiting like this,” he said with disdain.

Dahlia and I bowed down in reverence to the prince. I would rather snap at his neck, to be honest.

“I didn’t think you’d really fulfill your promise to come back this early, Prince Kaist,” I sneered, “but did you not hear me last time when we talked? I thought I clearly asked you not to lead my wife again on very dangerous trips especially if she’ll only end up sick…”

I looked at Dahlia for a while, but her face held no expression… She was clearly angry with me, but she was holding it in…

“Are you sure that was our last conversation?… I thought it was last night,” the prince retorted back as he took a seat from across us.

So, this prince was still suspicious…

I don’t know how he was able to track me… I had used my invisibility flame as a final measure, and yet, he was able to track me down up to here… Was it possible that he too was able to use magic?

“Tell me why you’re here. Dahlia and I don’t have all day.”

“Last night, we were able to foil an attack against the vampire village at Payn. We tracked down every last bit of wolf who attacked except for one - their leader,” the prince leaned forward as he spoke, “Tell me, Count Abell, why were you busy last night? Were you, by any chance, out in Payn?”

That prince surely did catch up quickly…

I was about to open my mouth when Dahlia spoke. “Prince Kaist, did I not already tell you? My husband was out on a business meeting… If we knew you’d suspect him like this, he wouldn’t have left in such an unholy hour.”

I looked back at my wife… So this was how being protected by her felt like…

I shouldn’t have left her alone last night… Darn it, I shouldn’t have left her at all!…

Instead of feeling happy, I feel wretched to the gut that she had to tell lies for me, and in turn, I had to tell her all those lies…

“Countess Abell, I have more than enough reasons to doubt your husband. I tracked the rogue’s leader to your house, and your husband was out in the middle of the night. If he isn’t guilty, there’s nothing to fear, am I right, Count Abell?”

I never had any likes for this young prince. He was as egotistical as his father, and what made me more infuriated was how he still harbored feelings for my Dahlia.

That’s right… Dahlia is mine alone!… Even if Dahlia resents me after this, she must never be his…

“I see your point, Prince Kaist. That’s right, there’s nothing to fear when one is guilty… However, I must admit that you’re right…”

The prince’s eyes lit up in surprise and fury, and even Dahlia, who was so frigid before I spoke, looked alarmed and frightened.

“I am guilty, my prince. I was doing something bad behind your back, and I was also in Payn yesterday.”

“Then you, scoundrel – you admit you’re that Shadow wolf?!”

“Shadow wolf,” I said, laughing softly, “Shadow wolf? Are you referring to the wolves of the Shadow Rune Pack? Aren’t they just some fairytale, Prince Kaist? I didn’t take you as someone who believes in make-believe stories.”

The prince, perhaps losing his cool already, suddenly seized me by the collar.

“Tell me then, you fool! What do you mean you’re guilty? Weren’t you those rogues’ black leader?”

“I should have been more precise, Prince Kaist. My apologies for not making myself clear. I almost went to Payn yesterday when I heard the news that there might be some skirmishes… Instead, I went to Loracan.”

“What does it have to do with the invasions of the vampire villages yesterday?”

“Prince Kaist, I had been operating behind your back… Lady Livia Jeteris and I – we’ve set up a temporary camp helping displaced vampires in Loracan.”

“What,” the prince exclaimed, still clutching me by the collar, “what nonsense are you saying?!”

“Like you said, I was somewhat involved in the rogue invasion… Right after most of the invasions, we scour the villages for injured vampires and take them to Loracan. Lady Livia and I set up a healing shelter for them there, and it was without your consent… I am deeply sorry.”

This incident – although not entirely a lie – would be enough to keep me off his radar, right?...

“You – was that all you’ve really done?!”

“Yes… It was originally Lady Livia’s idea. She has a soft spot for the victims of war, and she begged me to help the victims in this manner,” I expounded. “This is also her way of repenting for the sins her father had done towards the vampires so far…”

The prince, although still trembling with anger, finally released the grip on my shirt.

“Of course, I know you’ll need proof of everything I just said…” I stood up even before I finished. “I had been keeping this list should there be any problems in the future… I didn’t know I’ll be needing it soon to prove my innocence…”

I tossed a ledger in the table. The prince immediately picked it up and scanned through it.

“That ledger contains the names of the vampires we have helped over the past few weeks and the treatments they were given. You can interview them and trace each one of them to your heart’s content if that’ll appease you, your highness…”

After a few minutes, the arrogant prince’s countenance has softened. My alibi worked.

“Very well. I shall take this document with me then and investigate this incident further. However,” the prince said, turning back to face me one more time before going out of the door of my study. “If I find even a hint of suspicion in you, I shall not hesitate to come back and arrest you. For good!”

Right… As if I will let that happen!…

Finally, the blasted prince exited the room, shutting the door heavily as he left.

As the door closed, I become aware of something heavier looming in my heart.

I turned my eyes away from the door and back into Dahlia. She hadn’t said a single word after defending me earlier in front of her childhood friend.

What now?... What could I say?

What does she want to hear from me?

“Dahlly,” I whispered.

“That… Don’t call me by that name anymore.” She raised her head and looked at me without any emotions in her lovely eyes. “Stop calling me by my nickname…”