Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Permission

Lancelin’s P.O.V:

“How do I look?” I asked Acelin as he raised an eyebrow at me.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the clothes or your hairstyle.” Acelin shrugged, looking me up and down. This was probably the first time in my life that I had asked my older half-brother for his opinions on my clothes and he was quiet enjoying my dilemma.

It may not look like it but I’d put a lot of effort into today’s clothes and my appearance. I had dumped my usual dark suits for a steel grey suit jacket and trousers, paired with a sky colored shirt. I had also combed my hair back and skipped the gel. Light colors are supposed to make you more attractive and charming, right?

I had also chosen the flowers carefully as well as the gifts and I had made sure that the dinner reservations were up to the mark. Everything had to be perfect today. My life depended on it.

“Are you sure she isn’t allergic to these flowers?” I pointed towards the large bouquet of gladiolus in my hand. It was a multicolored bouquet with colors arranged in the form of a rainbow with darker colors on the outer edges and lighter colors at the centre.

“Lance…you need to relax.” Acelin sighed. “This isn’t a battlefield. Women love you, you should be just fine.”

“Well, she isn’t just any woman.” I reminded him. “And I’m starting to lose faith in you, brother. Wasn’t it you who told me a few months back that meeting the parents was like entering a battlefield naked?”

“Forget what I said that day. I was drunk.” Acelin frowned. “Are you sure I have to be here for this? Isn’t this something you should be doing alone?”

“Shut up and stay put.” I snapped at him. “I need emotional support.”

For a few instances, there was absolute silence as Acelin looked at me wide eyed like I had grown three heads, before he burst out laughing.

“The great Lancelin Eustein needs emotional support?” Acelin’s laughter rang around the small hallway as the door we had been standing in front of, opened with a snap of a sound, even before I had the time to compose myself and knock.

Well…I guess it’s now or never.

Acelin swallowed his laughter in disguise as a cough and stood with his hands behind his back like a soldier waiting for my command.

Mrs. Johnson was an older, wiser and definitely more skeptical version of her daughter. Her dark hair was in a bun atop her shoulders and she wore a salwar-kameez, an Indian dress that I’ve seen Sanaya wear only once, on the death anniversary of her beloved father. But unlike that day, when Sanaya had worn all white, Mrs. Johnson wore the dress in a beautiful light golden color with embroidery work in all shades of blue.

I smiled politely as I held out the bouquet for her to take. “For you…ma’am.”

An amused smile tugged on her lips as she took the bouquet from my hands and smelled the sweet fragrance of the flowers. “Thank you, beta (son). But isn’t Sanaya supposed to be on a business dinner with you today?”

I almost winced as I remembered the conversation I had with Sanaya not too long ago.

****

“What do you mean you can’t show up?” Her voice was more than a little stern. “You were supposed to introduce me to some vampire guy today! This was your idea!”

“Sanaya, love. Please don’t panic.” I tried to soothe her with calming words. “I can’t be seen with you today. This is all for appearance. Alina will be with you so you don’t need to worry, but the man you’ll be meeting, is someone who will be giving you the right to use their family crest as your own so you can blend into our world easily.”

“But…but…”

“Don’t worry; Alina will walk you through the whole process smoothly.” I comforted her. “I’ve heard there are countless spies in work to know your true identity, that’s why I arranged for you to meet him alone. I’m always with you, even if I can’t be present physically, so relax.”

“Ok…fine.”

****

I hadn’t lied to Sanaya when I told her about her integration into our society. It was indeed true and several of my high-ranking noble families were indeed keeping a close eye on both me and Sanaya, so we had to be extra careful.

But for today, I had used that excuse to get Sanaya out of town so I could take one of the most important steps in my life…ask Sanaya’s mother for her hand in marriage.

I wasn’t that firm of a believer in rituals and tradition and religions. I wasn’t an atheist, but I wanted everything to be perfect for Sanaya and I wanted to honor her faith. And also, I wanted her mother to be a part of our life for as long as she could.

“Sanaya had to attend the business dinner alone.” I answered her earlier question, waiting outside with Acelin until she welcomed us into her room.

This wasn’t the first time that I noticed how small the apartment was. Sanaya wasn’t very close to buying back her childhood home and she kept on refusing to accept my help. I can only hope she accepts the salary raise and bonus I had planned for her.

“So…what brings you here all of a sudden?” Mrs. Johnson raised her eyebrows at me and then at Acelin. “If you’re not here seeking my girl, then it must be something bad…”

“Oh, no!” Acelin intruded immediately, preventing Mrs. Johnson from thinking the worst. “It’s nothing like that; trust me…but, what we are here for…it’s important.”

“Oh?” Mrs. Johnson was silent for a while before she went into the kitchen and brought out a vase to arrange the flowers in before she took a seat in front of us in the living room. This was the part I had been waiting for all along. It was now or never.

“Mrs. Johnson…I know you have had your doubts about me since I’m…different.” I continued nervously. “I am also aware that I have many flaws. But if there is one thing I’m certain of, it’s the fact that I’ll do anything to make your daughter happy.”

“You want to marry Sana.” Mrs. Johnson’s eyes met mine across the room as she spoke. It wasn’t a question but a statement.

So much for beating around the bush, I guess.

“I know you were hoping that Sanaya changed her mind eventually.” Just like she had told me when we first met. “I just hope you can accept my sincere feelings for her.”

“Do you truly love Sanaya?” Mrs. Johnson asked. “Will you truly do everything to make her happy?”

“Of course!” My answer was immediate, without hesitation. “I love your daughter, Mrs. Johnson. And I will continue to love her my entire life.”

“How can you say that when you’re immortal?” Mrs. Johnson frowned. “Forever for you will last for thousands of years! How can you guarantee that Sanaya will be happy with you for so long? How can you guarantee that you wouldn’t get tired of her?”

“I know that because we are mates.” Right now, only the truth could convince her and I had no reason to hide the truth from her. “It’s very rare for an Incubus to find a mate but once we do, we will never part until the day we die. That’s how I can guarantee that I will love you daughter for the rest of my life and I will do everything in my power to keep her happy.”

“Wait…”Acelin interrupted. “Why didn’t you ask ‘how’ Lance and Sanaya will stay together for thousands of years instead? How did you find out?”

It was only after Acelin had pointed it out that I noticed Mrs. Johnson’s words as well. How did she find out about Sanaya?

“I’m her mother, after all. Mother’s have a way of noticing even the slightest of changes in their children.” Mrs. Johnson sighed. “I don’t know what it is, but she’s different. My Sana was always gorgeous but now she’s become even more beautiful and her reflexes are better. And she went to live with you right after she came from your palace. It doesn’t take that much energy to figure out what’s going on with her.”

“Mrs. Johnson-”

“You can call me Samira,” a small smile appeared on her lips as she spoke. “After all, we are going to be family soon enough.”

I could’ve fainted right then and there, if it were possible. That was how much relief I felt when I understood that Mrs. Johns-Samira, had somewhat accepted me as her daughter’s partner.

“Thank you…thank you, so much.” I told her genuinely. “I cannot express how grateful I am for your acceptance. Not just for me but for Sanaya as well. You took everything so calmly…I hadn’t expected that.”

“I wasn’t as calm when I first noticed the changes.” Samira gave a lopsided smirk. “I was getting ready to get rid of you. But then I realized that no matter what she is right now, human or otherwise, she’s still my baby girl. She’s still my Sana and that hasn’t changed.”

“No matter what, Sanaya will always remain your Sanaya, that much I can guarantee.” I confirmed. “So…do I have permission to marry your daughter?”

Samira pretended to think for sometime before she grinned. “Granted.”

I didn’t tell her all the facts, especially about how Sanaya was now a vampire who drank my blood to stay strong and how Sanaya and I are not being allowed to have a child. That was another battle, another chapter of our lives that didn’t need to be brought up right now. I was sure Sanaya was trying to deal with it her way as well and I didn’t want to bring up the topic and cause her unnecessary pain.

When Sanaya’s mother asked me about if Sanaya could have children or not, I had to lie and tell her that Sanaya was just an infant in immortal terms and her body needed to develop more so she could have children, and wouldn’t happen for a hundred years yet.

It wasn’t a complete lie, but not the entire truth either. It would give her hope that her daughter will get everything she always wanted and it will also give Samira peace.

“Have you chosen a ring yet?” Samira asked with a slight smile. “I’m pretty sure it’s all exquisite and royal.”

“Actually…” I told her sheepishly. “I was hoping you could help me design a ring for her.”

“You want my help designing her ring?” Samira looked genuinely surprised. “Isn’t that something you would want to do yourself?”

“No, I would prefer your input more.” I told her honestly. “Sanaya and you share a special bond and you’re the only person who knows her best. I want the ring to be special for her, so I want you to help me decide.”

“Well…Sana has always loved floral designs.” Samira said, a faraway look in her eyes. “She had loved these flower diamond earrings that her father had gifted me on our tenth marriage anniversary. She had always wanted something similar.”

“I think I know which ones you are talking about.” I told her, remembering how Sanaya had once worn those earrings to office with pride. “I think I know just what to do now.”

“I’m glad I could be helpful.” Samira smiled. “Please feel free to ask me anything you need to know, especially about the wedding.”

“How about we get through the proposal first?” Acelin said with a laugh.

“Sure, sure.” Samira waved her hand dismissingly, but I had a hunch she was serious. She wanted a grand wedding and I had no problems giving it to her.

“How about you join us for dinner?” I told her instead, moving the subject in a different direction. “I’ve made dinner reservations at one of your favourite restaurants.”

“Oh, no!” Samira shook her head immediately. “I’m getting old and digesting restaurant food is becoming difficult for me. How about you save Sanaya from that boring meeting you left her at and go eat dinner together?”

****

“That went well.” Acelin smirked when we got into my car. “I had a lot of fun watching you sweat in front of a woman who wasn’t our mother.”

“But just as important.” I reminded him. “If I’m going to marry Sanaya, I’m going to do it the right way. Samira needs to see her daughter in her traditional wedding attire before she passes away. It’ll be one of her blissful memories.”

“So you’ll be getting married in an Indian ceremony?” Acelin asked, surprised. “Wow! I’ve always wanted to attend one like that!”

“Well, then you’re most welcome to attend.” I smiled at my brother and bumped my shoulder to his before ordering my new chauffer to take us to the hotel where Sanaya was having her meeting.

This was a time when I wished Martin was near me, but maybe I’ll have to wait for that. I had my family with me and I was about to propose to Sanaya. My family was expanding and I was incredibly happy. So happy in fact, that I had to pinch myself sometimes when I woke up in the morning to find Sanaya next to me.

My life finally felt complete.

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