Chapter 493: The two of you

Beatrice was smiling from ear to ear as she stepped away and walked closer to Evie as they both watch the brothers interact stiffly with each other. Not knowing that Gavriel's smile had faded as soon as Beatrice was behind him and could no longer see his face.

"Good to see you back… my little brother." Gideon said back, forcing a smile as well as Beatrice was looking at him with so much gladness. Both her sons were good boys as they were not willing to see their mother sad.

"So… you're the one who dared to kidnap my wife…" Gavriel whispered lowly to his brother in a threatening voice, and Gideon laughed darkly for a moment before faking another smile again. 

"If I say yes, what will you do, huh? My dear little brother?" Gideon taunted back in retaliation and Gavriel had to take a deep breath in order to not elbow him in the stomach right there and then. His mother would get a shock if the brothers suddenly got into a fistfight.

Suddenly, Gavriel flashed an evil smile at Gideon and pulled away before looking over at Beatrice. 

"Mother, did you know that this dear brother of mine kidnapped –" Gavriel mentioned in a sing-song voice.

Gavriel's statement was cut off as Gideon's arms suddenly descended and were draped around Gavriel's shoulders in an instant as he laughed loudly and awkwardly. "Of course, mother already knew that I had kidnapped a human and brought her back here." Gideon said, desperately changing the topic before he pulled at Gavriel as though he was light-heartedly playing around with him. He secretly whispered to Gavriel as he did that. "Mother will cry if you tell her that. Are you okay if her heart ends up breaking and she weeps right now?" 

And just like that the two let go of each other and Gavriel secretly glared at him. Though he did not take it further, there was a dark promise in his eyes saying that 'they're not finished yet'. But in the next second, they both fake smiles at each other again. 

"Oh my, I am so happy seeing the two of you in such good terms with each other like this again." Beatrice spread her arms wide, telling her two sons that she wanted them to hug her. Gavriel and Gideon could only give in and relent to what she wanted and the three embraced each other. And somehow, for that few moments, the atmosphere between Gavriel and Gideon warmed up, as if Beatrice's emotions were enough to overpower whatever heaviness that had hung over the two of them. 

But when the hug was over, the two returned to their acting mode again. 

"Now, now, let us all take a seat. We have a lot to discuss right now." Beatrice merrily sat down waving at her sons to follow after her. 

Gavriel sat next to Evie while Gideon sat on the seat across the couple. Queen Beatrice sat on a single chair at the head of the small table between them. 

…

Meanwhile, Vera was finally coming out of the room after being pampered by the ladies the queen had sent to take good care of her. The treatment she had just experienced made her remember the luxurious life she had when she was younger. It was so unsettling just how fast she had lost all those things, everything… It was as though it all had happened within a dream.

"Oh goodness," a deep voice echoed, causing Vera to lift her face. The man they had called Lord Kione was before her. "You're a vision to behold, My Lady." He complimented her, looking a bit dazed and Vera blushed a little. 

She was not used to being praised like this anymore. Unlike when she was younger.

"T-thank you… the dress and… jewelleries are the ones that are breathtaking," Vera replied shyly and awkwardly. 

"They are… but you overshadow them by a long shot," he smiled, flashing that perfect startling teeth. "Now, please take my hand. I'm here to escort you back to the queen's room." 

Vera did not think twice nor hesitated to accept his offer. This man, just like that huge man Azrael, even though she had just basically met them, she did not get the feeling of being repulsed around them at all. She didn't know why but she just has these good vibes that she would be safe with them, without a doubt. 

"I am glad you're not wary of me, Lady Vera." Kione started up some small talk as they walked.

"J-just Vera. I don't have any title to be addressed that way." She responded shyly and Kione just nodded. "I… I think you're a good guy." 

"Good guy, hmm…?" Kione tilted his head. "It's rare for any lady to tell me that I'm a good guy. You're actually just the second to comment this way." He chuckled with a tinge of irony in his chuckle. 

"Really?" Vera cocked her head sideways as she wondered why that was so.

"Yes. The ladies always tell me that I am so bad. I do think they are right though." 

Vera looked at him, blinking at him with innocent eyes. "I don't think you're bad." She commented as she shook her head in a very adorable manner that made Kione's heartbeat speed up.

"Don't look at me like that…" he looked away, the tips of his ears reddening. 

"Yes? Are… are you okay?"

"Oh, we're he –" All of a sudden, Kione could not even finish what he was going to say because the door was suddenly pushed open. A blast of dark magic gushed out like a violent wind, blowing Vera's red hair and white dress back with a gust. 

Kione and Vera's eyes fell inside towards the source of the magic that had literally slammed the door open. And they saw a man sitting there, his electric blue eyes blazing and shooting blue flames at them as his dark magic spilled uncontrollably out of his body.