Married To The Mad Vampire Lord

"Well, I can use any weapon, but since we are only allowed to use one, I am thinking of picking a Jaeger rifle. Last year, Lady Cordelia won using it. If I could, I want to beat her this year in the female section hunt," came the determined voice of Evenly that made Belle look at her, but she said nothing about her wanting to win.

It was good for one to have unrealistic hopes, because Belle had no hope in winning this, with this many female vampires.

But then, in the hunt, it was against the rules to use vampire ability, hence they would all be in the same level of strength.

"I know you are looking for your husband, Lady Dagon. He is right there—look to your right, next to the white pillar," Evenly said when she noticed how Belle was craning her neck to look through the crowds lining up to enter the hall. Evenly was two heads taller than Belle, therefore it was easier for her to spot the Duke among the crowds of men in the other side.

Belle looked in the direction and immediately caught sight of Rohan, leaning against the pillar causally with an unlit cigar between his teeth. He was standing way back from the crowds—everyone who came to pass him hurried past like they feared being close to him or going near him. He didn’t even try to scare them away but his aura was enough to repel them.

He wore the same black attire as everyone else, but the color on his shoulder was dark blue, the same shade with his hair. His complexion had paled again compared to the day before, and a sudden bolt of worry gripped her chest when she noticed it.

Still, he didn’t appear to be in any discomfort. He stood calmly, almost like he was waiting for the crowds to clear. And then, as if he could feel her eyes on him, his gaze turned in her direction, and Belle felt fuzzy inside, in a warm, fluttery kind of way. She curtly bowed her head in greeting, and he nodded in acknowledgment, crooking his head to the side as if to study her in the strange attire.

He spat the cigar from between his teeth, then flashed her a grin as his eyes slowly roamed her body. He liked what he saw, she could tell by the pleased expression on his face and the grin.

She flushed in spite of herself. Before she could look at him more, she and Evenly had reached inside the hall, where chairs and tables were arranged for everyone to sit.

The royal castle was a big place, it was like double the size of the other castle where she lived. And the area where the guests stayed was separated from the main section where the royals lived their daily lives.

This particular wing appeared to have been arranged specifically for the guests attending the hunt. Everyone was seated with their respective group members, and Belle and Evenly made their way to the table where the other two ladies were already seated.

When she sat down, she saw Rohan walk into the hall. She watched as he made his way to the back and took a seat alone, away from his group members. With a dark scowl, he glanced around the room before lowering his head onto the table, as if trying to rest or shut everything out.

She watched him, contemplating whether to go to him or sit where she was, as none of the couples were sitting with their partners.

"No offense, Belle, aren’t you afraid of him?"

Evenly’s question made Belle tear her gaze away from Rohan to look at the other woman. "Pardon me?"

Evenly, who was sitting next to Belle and had noticed how she kept looking towards her husband, leaned down towards her and said, "Every social circle I attended lately only talks about him. Many are saying he will kill you very soon and that they doubt you will even make it to this hunt. I noticed some bruises on your arms and knees in the bath... did he do that to you?"

"What? No, he didn’t. I got those injuries..." Belle trailed off at a loss for words. She had gotten those bruises when Jamie manhandled her, but she couldn’t tell the woman that. And her silence made the other woman sigh.

"Vampires can be cunning, they can hurt you and make you not remember it. Does your head feel like something is blocking your memories when you want to remember how you got hurt?" Evenly asked in a whisper, suspecting that the mad vampire had hurt his wife and then compelled her to forget it.

She hated abusive men, and though just last night she had believed the duke was treating his wife well, the bruises on her body made Evenly doubtful.

Belle laughed softly. "I know how I got hurt, and I can assure you it has nothing to do with Rohan."

Evenly’s eyes widened softly when she realized Belle had used her husband’s name to address him. If he was indeed hurting her, there would never be such confidence in her eyes and the way she kept stealing glances his way.

In fact, if she was under compulsion, it would have shown in the way she talked, as any person under compulsion always looked confused and lost when they tried to recall a certain memory that had been wiped off. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Evenly had been born and brought up in this land, and she knew so much about the vampires, though she kept it to herself, as humans weren’t supposed to ever know about the compelling. And even if they did, the knowledge would be wiped out of their memories.

"My apologies for assuming things."

"It’s all right," Belle replied good-naturedly. People liked to spread untrue words, and no doubt no one would ever believe that her relationship with Rohan was not what they all thought. If she were in the place of Evenly or anyone else, she would also assume things with the reputation of her husband in the land.

Belle was about to look towards Rohan again when Evenly said,

"You love him that much?"

Belle reddened. She couldn’t help but keep looking at him because she was worried. She had brought another cotton wool with her but did not know how to give it to him with this many people.

"He’s my husband," she replied, as if that had answered it.

"I know. Many have husbands but they do not love them. But you... it’s all over your face," Evenly said in a whisper, smiling in amusement. "I like it when couples love each other. At least it makes one believe love is real, and that only a few are lucky to have it."

"..." Belle only smiled shyly, not knowing what to reply.

"I like you, Lady Isabelle. And I like that you love him, your husband, I mean, despite how everyone sees him. I like honesty, and I have a feeling you and I will make a good friendship." Evenly beamed, her blue eyes shining brightly.

Their meals were soon brought to them, much to Belle’s relief, as she had no words to keep the conversation going. She wasn’t used to all this friendship talk, though she felt flattered at the other woman’s kind words, she’d never truly had a friend before, so she decided to focus on eating rather than talking.

It was a simple toast and tea, and just so she wouldn’t be caught carrying her affection on her sleeves, she subtly looked toward Rohan to see that he paid no heed to the tray placed in front of him and continued to remain with his head down on the table, unmoving and unbothered.

Was he all right? Panic gripped her heart when he didn’t move even after everyone finished eating. She was about to throw caution to the wind and go check on him close up when the king walked into the hall, having everyone stand up to their feet.

Rohan finally stirred and sat up. Belle let out the breath she did not realize she was holding. He did not stand to his feet like everyone else and remained seated where he was.

"The time of the year has finally arrived. We celebrate this day in honor of our ancestors who founded Nightbrook and brought us into civilization. We shall not forget our customs, and just like every year, this day will be observed in the same way," announced the king, who looked as young as his two sons standing behind him in black attire, like everyone else in the hall.