CHAPTER 433: RUBIUS

The gasp that had escaped Arabella’s mouth reached every ear that stood nearby.

All gray as ash every hair on that man’s head was. Dressed in a fully black, perfectly fitted attire... Velour.

The kind of fabric the poor never purchased, not only due to its exorbitant price but because it was quite hard to clean after any sort of filth had latched onto it.

The rich turned to it as a means to flaunt their wealth with the ability to simply acquire more with ease instead of going through the trouble to try and wash it.

He too took his sweet time in stepping down onto the ground, relying heavily on the lavish cane in hand for support.

Sils’ diamonds went between his petrified wife and the stranger that neared them ever so slowly.

Although seeing those gemstone green irises of his, shaved most of the mystery away.

It was a relative of the Sterling family. His direct ties to Arabella, however, were yet to be disclosed.

"Out of all the gifts I could think of this one seemed the most fitting as a congratulations to your wedding," the prince continued to grin in the face of her utter stupor.

Arabella’s every muscle had locked into an unyielding position so rigidly, that Silas feared moving an inch would shatter her body.

When the older man finally stopped and stood with a near ideal posture, he had eyes for no one other than her... He cared very little for introductions or propriety.

"You’ve grown," his lips moved for a raspy and worn-out voice to emerge.

"Such is our nature, grandfather,"

To Silas’ side small gasps arose, relieving him from the burden of believing that those news were as unexpected to others as he had thought.

Ada immediately clasped her hand over her mouth after realizing she’d brought some attention onto herself.

But it included neither the attention of Arabella nor her grandfather’s. No, those two gazed into each other’s eyes as if staring at their own reflections in the mirror.

"It is indeed, my dear," the man brought an arm to his chest then bowed before the young woman.

That action seemed to bring her back to reality as she was prompted to curtsy in response while clearing her throat.

The man’s eyes fell to Arabella’s brooch which had been tucked between her arm and side, "I feel robbed," a faint smile overtook his lips, "Missing the wedding of my only grandchild... Now that is a blow I do not think I can ever recover from,"

As if snapping out of the mold that had kept her confined in a single position all that time, Arabella’s brows furrowed, her hand finally letting go of Silas’ arm to join its sister, "Had I received a shred of evidence or a sign of life from you, I would have sent an invitation your way," her voice wasn’t exactly the steadiest but it never cracked once.

"Would you have?" his head tilted slightly to the side.

"Yes," she reaffirmed.

"I wonder what I did to deserve such... Kindness from you. Thank you for receiving me still after so many years of absence," he practically whispered before bringing his gaze over to Silas, "Oh, pardon my insolence! I was so taken by the sight of my dear granddaughter that the thought of thanking my gracious host had slipped my mind entirely," he bowed respectfully.

Silas bowed back, but not without an answer, "You thanked her and therefore thanked me as well,"

"Right!" a glint flashed across his eyes at those words as they flickered between the vampire and Arabella, "Please accept my deepest, most sincere congratulations for your... Unprecedented union," he paused momentarily before adding, "I’ve been blessed and am so proud to have been born with blood that once again paves the way for a whole new realm of possibilities within our reality,"

"You’ve always been so proud," her voice came sweet yet firm.

"Well, at the very least, today I have more a reason to be,"

"You’ve always had great reasons to hold your head high, Rubius. Why would today be any different?"

It seemed the atmosphere had grown too stale for the crown prince. Either that or he was simply tired of standing aside instead of being the centre of interest for once.

"I truly am so grateful that your highness has thought of me in all of this. I will remain forever in your debt for allowing me to come along," Rubius appeared to have caught on just like Silas did and immediately knew how to soothe him.

"Of course, of course," the prince spoke slowly, his eyes strictly on Arabella.

"But I am better than to assume that my presence alone would be enough as a gift and therefore brought one of my own," Rubius ushered behind himself for one of the servants to approach with a glossy wooden box in hand, "It’ll serve as a late wedding gift, but also... As an early birthday gift for my dearest,"

At the mention of her birthday, it was Silas’ muscles that had tensed up which did not go unnoticed by Arabella and her grandfather.

Nevertheless, no one made any comment of it as Rubius moved on to open the box, earning yet another gasp from Arabella.

Only that time around, tears filled her eyes and threatened to spill, "This is...," her voice trembled.

"Yes, indeed, it is," he smiled and watched the surprise turn into pure joy on his granddaughter’s face, "Your grandmother and I have held on to it since the day your mother gifted it to us,"

Arabella asked for permission and dipped her hands into the box to pick the folded fabric up.

White it was and silky smooth it would have been without the embroidery garnishing it.

She gaped at it as though it was the single most precious thing to her in the world at that moment.

There was no taking her attention away from it.

"Thank you," she whispered without taking her eyes and hands off it.

Silas believed that had it not been for the many eyes watching her, she’d have taken a deep and long whiff of it.