CHAPTER 437: A SYMBOL OF POWER

Rubius did not say a thing. For a moment, at least, he held his peace.

"You don’t have to answer if you don’t wish to," she kept her eyes on the paper, "I understand how frustrating all of this must be for you, being interrogated so openly and directly by a woman in your family so... You don’t have to say anything if you don’t feel like it. I won’t react the way you would have towards me had the roles been reversed,"

From the corner of her eyes, the manner in which Rubius opened his mouth, took a breath in then just closed it back without a whisper was very visible.

Though eventually, he did find his voice, "I’ve been here and there, seeking peace,"

The answer left Arabella a tad perplexed, but she kept the thought to herself.

"That tiara upon your head," he killed the silence between them once more, "The one you donned this very morning," he elaborated since Arabella had long since changed into a more comfortable wear, "It was something I yearned to see for the longest time,"

"It was presented to me. I had no idea it was a rare piece of jewelry,"

"It wasn’t," he said immediately, effectively garnering her full attention again.

They stared into each other’s eyes which was like glaring at a mirror on a miserable day for Arabella.

"Crowns and diadems are associated with power and dignity. Women in Lustris rarely get the privilege to don one even on their wedding days. Only the queen carries one at all times. I longed to see a piece on one of my daughters,"

"Why?"

It wasn’t due to the building up of tears in her eyes, but something invisible strained her vocal cords.

Why, indeed, would a man such as him want one of his daughters to wear... Power as he called it.

"I-"

"Good evening,"

After the wincing of the door, it was Silas’ ice-cold voice that put a stop to Rubius’ speech.

The glare on him strictly meant for the other man in the room, he still looked between his wife and her grandfather.

"Good evening to you as well," she stood off her chair, her features instantly mellowing.

"Is everything alright?" he addressed her.

"Yes, very," she nodded with a smile.

That total shift in demeanor seemed to enrapture Rubius whose gaze weighed her shoulders down.

"We were simply... Catching up," she threw a glance back at Rubius as she joined her husband by the door.

"Well, in that case, I do apologize for interrupting your conversation, but the doctors have summoned us," his diamonds remained on Arabella.

"The Doctors?" Rubius spoke again, "Should I be worried?"

"You needn’t worry yourself with such things. There is nothing worth fretting over," she did spare him a smile, but it was nowhere near as warm as the one meant for Silas.

The couple waited until Rubius left the map room first before following.

"Did you find anything? About Allegra, I mean," she clung to his arm.

"I am afraid not," he shook his head, "Are you sure everything is alright?" his eyes flickered from the hallway ahead to her face.

"Yes, of course," she nodded, "He said and did nothing to hurt me. Although the sight of him was painful enough,"

"I understand," Silas went back to staring ahead again, "I’d love to hear more about him if you do not mind,"

"I do not,"

"What about the prince? Did he try anything at all with you?"

"From what I have been communicated," she started, "He remained in his chambers all day long since their arrival. He hasn’t tried to reach me for now,"

"That is good," he whispered.

Dr Zarveth and Damiana weren’t twiddling their thumbs while waiting for them. They carried on with whatever their hands were full of until the couple’s arrival.

It was odd to witness Damiana’s features go from a blank expression to a brilliant smile all of the sudden at Arabella’s sight.

Zarveth’s beam wasn’t as bright as his colleague but then again, the young woman thought he had always been warmer than Damiana anyways.

All in all, odd.

The doctors began as soon as Silas and Arabella sat facing them.

"Previously, almost all of the tests we’ve conducted on your blood focused on you and not really on how it affects others so...," Zarveth began but trailed off.

Damiana quickly cleared her throat to finish what her partner had started, "We never tested the effects of your blood on someone else when ingested or introduced in their system repeatedly,"

Silas took one look at the both of them then spoke, "If that is where you are starting from then, I assume you’ve reached the same conclusion that Morgana did,"

They looked at each other then back at Silas, "Indeed, we have," said Zarveth.

"As she said, her body takes a certain time to expel your blood, exactly like it does any other substance eventually. The details of the process are simply different. That is all," Damiana nodded along.

"And you are positive there aren’t going to be any repercussions on her health," the vampire half asked.

They hesitated to answer which did not help the growing knot among Arabella’s guts.

"Well, that is something we can only make sure of if we keep on surveilling it," Zarveth stood up and took a sheet of paper, "If you do not mind as this is necessary, we wish to follow the progress of this condition and as such we would like to be informed about every time the Lady feeds on your blood, my Lord,"

"It would be ideal," Damiana seconded his words.

"Alright then," it was Arabella that answered them first.

After they’d gotten what they had come there for, Silas did not dally and left the room with his wife’s hand around his arm.

"Will you go back out there shortly?" she broke the silence between them.

"I must," he said simply, "Please keep your guard up even with guards around you,"

"I will," she smiled.