CHAPTER 203: DOLLY’S OFFER

"But Gordon’s behavior aside."

Echidna muttered, her voice softening as she shifted her weight and looked down at Adam, her expression unreadable.

As she met his gaze directly.

"Have you made up your mind yet?"

Adam blinked.

"My mind? Hm? On what exactly?"

Echidna raised an eyebrow.

"On Dolly’s offer?"

There was a pause, at the mentioned of the question.

And a long, weighty silence fell between them, neither one looking away.

Adam reached up, scratching his head slowly, his fingers brushing against his regulator crown. As he looked away slightly, deep in thought.

But eventually words do escaped his mouth, as he said.

"I... I don’t know. The benefits she is offering are astronomical, their is no denying that. But what she wants in return is...

"Too much."

Echidna said, finishing his sentence before he could.

Adam nodded, slowly, as he also added his thoughts.

"Yeah. It’s not just a trade. It feels more like... like a gamble. One that could spiral out of control if I am not careful... What they asking too isn’t really too much, it just took me off guard."

He exhaled.

"I mean, what she wants, it is something that affects not just me. I can’t make a decision like that without talking to my sister. Especially Priscilla. What if this is just a ploy? What if I am opening the gates for an enemy to walk right into our territory?"

Echidna gave a thoughtful hum, the tip of her tail swaying behind her lazily.

"Hmmm. I understand where you’re coming from. And truth be told... I feel the same. The Umbra family isn’t exactly what you would call active, militarily speaking. Their founder, Dolly, is more scholar than warrior. She has spent more time dissecting political structures and ancient archives than being involved in major events."

She tilted her head slightly, her long serpentine hair gliding across her shoulders as she studied Adam’s reaction with calm curiosity.

"So while her request might seem strange... maybe even suspicious, I personally see it as an opportunity."

She said gently.

"But if you’re still unsure... I can speak with Priscilla and the others. Get their thoughts on the matter. You don’t have to carry this decision alone."

Adam nodded, exhaling slowly.

"That would indeed be helpful."

He replied, his tone sincere.

In truth, if it were only up to him, he would have already accepted Dolly’s offer. The sheer meaning of what she proposed, the power and influence it carried and could bring was too tempting to ignore.

But this wasn’t just about him.

He was part of a family now, a leader, a protector, and a king.

And he would be damned if a lapse in his judgment undid everything they had worked so hard to build.

This was no longer the same world Dane lived in, when the game became reality so too was weight of his choices, but instead from behind the screen be init was different.

This was the kingdom of the Sidhe. And his choices had consequences far beyond himself, what Dolly him.

To be honest he still doesn’t trust her.

For that reason, he was stuck on what to do.

Echidna didn’t need to read his mind. She could feel his desire radiating off of him like heat from a forge. It wasn’t lust or greed; it was ambition. Burning and determined. A need to secure the future even more tightly than ever no matter how chaotic the present.

She smiled faintly, giving her advice on the matter.

"It wouldn’t hurt to stall for time."

She advised, her voice layered with understanding. She saw the risk of Dolly offer.

"Just tell them to either head back home and await your final answer... or remain here until our meeting concludes. You need to go over this with the other girls as well. That is not up for debate, otherwise you will be breaking Minerva rule of potential treason."

Her tone turned contemplative at this moment.

"Still... I can’t help but wonder. Why would she even ask for something like that? What his her goal here, I wonder?"

Adam turned his head to the side, his eyes narrowing as his thoughts drifted back...back to what Dolly had said earlier. Her words, her expressions, the terms she laid out... they all replayed in his mind.

He didn’t answer Echidna directly.

Instead, under his breath, he muttered to himself.

"...Yeah... just what the hell is she really after?"

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Dolly’s expression softened just slightly at those words.

"Aye... That she did... That she does."

"Although we are not forcing you, despite how it may sound, I don’t mind bringing you some books to read up on it. But that aside I think we do need to reach compromise of sorts, don’t you think?"

Dolly asked Adam, causing him to inwardly sigh as he said.

"I know, but you lots still haven’t told me what you want from me. I am not one to be taken lightly you know."

Adam raised his voice slightly, hoping to make his point clear and simple.

But before he could finish, Kifril let out a dry laugh and jumped ahead.

"It’s not such a bad offer, what Dolly has in store for yo...

"...Kifril. I wouldst speak it mine own self."

Her voice was calm, yet firm, and commanding. Right after Kifril stopped at once, sighed once more, and raised his hands upwards in surrender.

"Yeah, yeah... My bad."

With that, Dolly stepped forward, her robes gliding across the floor. And her eyes, shimmered faintly, as it was filled with her own agenda.

"Originally, Kifril sought only for cordial relations, trade and aid, in kindred measure, betwixt our two factions."

She began.

"Yet mine eyes hath long observed the one called Alustus... aye, I watched him with unblinking gaze. He bore potential most rare, blood most curious, and affinity most strong to the Umbra Line."

She folded her hands behind her back as her tone deepened.

"To that end, I desired to bestow upon him the gift of the Night... to welcome him into the shadowed embrace of vampirism, and forge a bond eternal through blood. For a craft most sacred, he was needed. A creation... incomplete without him. As affinity is key to what I need done."

Her eyes shifted to Adam.

"But now I see... thine essence far surpasseth his. Thou art as moon to flickering candle, and so I must needs redirect the offer, from he to thee."

Adam blinked.

"...Wait. You want me to become a vampire? Sorry, lady...but I must refuse."

His tone was flat, dismissive, but inside he mused to himself.

’Besides... with my Shinso trait, I adapt the moment I enter a society. Their essence becomes mine regardless.’

Yet Dolly showed no disappointment. She had predicted this response.

"Aye, I had foreseen such refusal. Thou art not one to bend to fang or collar so lightly. Thus, I come bearing a countermeasure... another path."

Her voice turned smooth as drifting fog.

"Know this...I once intended to offer Alustus not only the blood of night, but also the hand of one born of my house. A union between two major families in the monster world."

Adam narrowed his eyes.

"...A marriage proposal?"

"Aye."

She answered without pause.

"I offer thee the hand of mine heir. The fairest among my blood... a daughter of with the utmost beauty and pedigree."

Adam flinched slightly at the bluntness of the offer. His thoughts stumbled, he hadn’t expected this.

And to be fair he was expecting some bloodshed to take place tonight.

But a marriage proposal put of nowhere, was not one of the things he was expecting this day.

So it was a given his reaction was as followed.

"Wait, what?"

Dolly stepped closer, her expression unreadable.

"What say thee? Wouldst thou accept this pact of union? Through it, thou wouldst gain our full blessing, and our clan, a future strengthened by thy flame of passion noe?"

Adam hesitated. The offer was huge, and he knew it.

But the sussiness of it... the political implications... the sheer audacity, left him uncertain.

"Hmm...

He groaned, scratching the back of his head, unsure how to even begin forming a reply.

...He groaned, scratching the back of his head, unsure how to even begin forming a reply.

His mouth opened, but no words came at first. He looked from Dolly to Kifril, then off to the side where the distant light of the hallway glowed faintly from the torches.

"...I’ll need time to think about it."

He finally said, exhaling with stress of the moment pressing down on his shoulders.

Dolly gave a gentle nod, as if she expected such a response.

"Of course. We ask not for an answer this night, only thy contemplation. Decisions of import need the wisdom of the moon, not the heat of the sun as they would say in my home."

Her poeticism barely masked the seriousness of her request.

Either way he responded.

"I’ll give you my answer tomorrow. For now... if you and your people wish to stay the night, feel free to. Just speak with Berreta and she will make arrangements for rooms in the castle."

Adam said with a calm voice.

"I need to talk to my family first. They deserve that much."

"A wise choice."

"Mhm... Well you can follow me."

Berreta said walking to giant door to leave the throne room gesturing for the group to follow.

"Of course Lady Berreta."

And without another word, she turned away following Berreta, her footsteps barely audible as she motioned for the others to follow. Kifril gave Adam a casual two-fingered salute before trailing behind her like a shadow.

Once they were gone, Adam lingered in the silence. He didn’t move for a while. His hand fell slowly from the back of his neck as his eyes stared into the hallway, empty and unsure.

Eventually, he turned, heading back toward his quarters with slow steps, mind racing with different possibilities that tonight meeting could bring all things considered.

"Sigh... I really don’t trust vampire’s after the attack on Ultima. They are a manipulative bunch, I really have to play my cards right here."