CHAPTER 462: MORE IS GREED

Irene’s pulse did not rise as much as Arabella’s did. Nothing seemed to bother her by any means. Not even being in a vampire’s arms.

She barely raised her gaze towards Silas at all.

To put it more simply, it was as though her eyes distinguished no colors, as though her senses picked on neither warmth nor coolness.

"Are you feeling alright, my Lady?" he asked.

"Yes, I am alright, thank you, but I am no Lady," her voice was as dull as the look in her eyes.

She followed his lead when dancing and made no demands, no attempts at shifting her weight of her own accord, raised no complaints and... Sadly, returned no smile.

Then again, it was no surprise that rocking the boat wasn’t her favorite activity. In a position where putting a hair out of line could cost someone their life... What was left to bargain with or for?

Those lines were enough to deter the vampire from asking about anything else. The well dried up between them after that and they simply went through the motion while their partners finished their dance together.

Arabella’s heart battered its cage and null doubt threatened to sink to her heels, but she held it together well enough.

It came as no shock to Silas that his wife would lose her temper when speaking to the prince as he introduced Irene.

He gave her a glimpse of the life she would have been leading by his side. It was a miracle her hands did not wrap around his throat that very moment.

Silas would not have blamed her one bit for it.

"Is she another gift?" it was she, Arabella, who broke the silence between them as they swirled around the dance floor.

"No," he sighed, "I am not much of a gifter, but when I do, I don’t pick them cheap either. That dress on your back alone is worth more than her entire bloodline,"

Cedric was pushing his luck with those words. At any moment, Silas would’ve had to step in and collect his eyeballs off of her thumbs.

Arabella was never the violent type, but surely, she too had her limits.

"I just wanted you to see what you could have been if you had just remained by my side," he added.

"I will thank Irene for her painful sacrifice later,"

The turn for Cedric’s pulse to rise came. With the way his features dropped the smirk that very instant, his heart skipped a beat as he prepared to speak, but Arabella crossed the mark before him.

"All eyes and ears are on us, your grace," she warned.

That made him tuck his lips back. Allowing himself the time to brush the glare away, the prince managed a strained smile.

"Thank you," he said, clearing his throat.

As it turned out, Silas had no need to interfere. He pressed until she pushed back, throwing him completely over the edge.

"Does she even speak?" she asked, her eyes darting back towards Silas and Irene.

"She’s never had many words to utter," he shook his head.

"Is that so?"

"No, she has nothing to worry about anymore. She is sheltered, well fed and clothed. What more would she have to raise her voice for? Anything above that would be greed, wouldn’t it?" Cedric allowed her no time to retort, "But enough about Irene! You were right, you know!"

"About what?" Arabella’s eyebrows knitted a little.

"I do have another gift for you," his lips reached almost from ear to ear, "The best one yet,"

"I can’t wait to hear all about it!" her cheeks burning redder and redder, she did not, in fact, wish to hear all about it.

"It’s a surprise!"

Silas’ entrails contracted, tying his guts into an unsolvable knot. Another surprise? What was it going to be that time around? An arm? A leg? Or flat out a heart carved out of its beating place?

"And when will I be receiving it?" she murmured.

"Since I will be leaving tomorrow, you will be getting it somewhen before my departure,"

That was days short of what had been planned... Why was the prince in such a rush? Perhaps he had already achieved what he came there to do.

A meek wince brought Silas’ attention towards Irene. Upon laying eyes on her face, the grimace that riddled her features quickly vanished.

Thankfully, the vampire needed no pointers to understand what pained her and immediately loosened his grip around her waist.

"Forgive me," he said, "It appears I have gotten carried away,"

She barely even flinched, "There is no need for you to apologize, my Lord. It is I who should apologize for distracting you," her tone shifted not once, and her eyes did not move.

Silas was never a man of many words, but he was also rarely at a loss of them. There was no retort in him for such a statement.

"I pressed a little too hard without consideration and since you are human, it may yield more consequences than simple pain. Perhaps it’ll be wise to have one of our doctors look at it," he suggested.

"If such is your wish. I only must acquire permission from the prince to leave the ballroom," she said just as dryly as before.

That did not help the knot writhing at Silas’ core.

Nevertheless, the vampire did stop the dance to approach Arabella and the prince.

When their eyes connected, her smile grew immediately brighter. She stopped in place, forcing the prince to begrudgingly do the same.

"I thought we’d have a little more time," he glared at Silas.

"The Lady is not feeling that well. I’d rather she pays the medical wing a visit,"

"Thank you for the concern, my Lord," Cedric pressed on the words, "But there will be no need for tha-"

Before the prince could finish his sentence, Arabella chimed in and took Irene by the arm. For the first time since Silas had laid eyes on the blonde, she finally managed to push a little gasp of surprise thus breaking the monotony her soul had been plunged into.

"I shall handle that!" she chirped, "Besides, a little tour around the manor won’t hurt!"