CHAPTER 450: TO CLAIM SPACE

"You did not think you’d have any of those," he half asked.

"No, I simply had no high expectations. I... To be honest, now that I think about it," her eyes rose to the sky, but still kept away from the blinding sun, "I did not think things through at all. Back then, I was so focused on crossing the border, I put not a single thought into what would happen once that was done,"

Silas took a moment to consider her words then think of some to respond with, "Crossing the border was on your mind from day one. Did you not consider going to any other region in Lustris at all?"

"Different region or not, if they were part of Lustris then they still answered to the royal family which would have been counterproductive for me," she took a deep breath, "I would have lived my entire life in fear that someone would find out who I was and turn me in for blessings or riches and as for other countries, well...," a light chuckle escaped her, "I would have frozen to death in the windy land, the flesh would have boiled off my bones in Gehenna and I would have choked due to the toxic air in both Caligo as well as the waste land,"

"That is a given," his arms remained tight around her figure, "But why come to our door specifically?"

She hummed in response before peering up at him, "Your reputation proceeds you,"

"Is that so?" Silas made sure to mirror the soft tone Arabella had spoken in.

Once again, she hummed instead of a yes, "Word goes around in Lustris that the Eleazars rarely turn down someone in need so... I held out hope. I just had to hold hope for I could do nothing else but run forward and hope,"

By then, her smile had dimmed significantly and Silas’ did the same.

"I didn’t know what was going to happen once I knocked on your doors," she continued, "For some reason, I kept thinking; what could be worse than serving the prince?"

Something, a small glint flashed across Silas’ eyes as he nodded, "Forgive me for saying, there are much worse fates in this world than serving the prince, I am afraid,"

"Yes, in hindsight... But back then, I thought that even if I had it worse under your roof, at least, I couldn’t blame my father or anyone else for it. I suppose being the victim of my own choices is a lot bearable than being one of someone else’s decisions,"

Silas said and did nothing but nod at first.

Her words made sense, didn’t they? Or did she perhaps sound unfit? He looked so deep into her eyes, even blinking became rare and yet there was no way of truly telling what ran through his mind.

It was one of the hardest times Arabella had felt while trying to read him.

However, before any sort of success could be reached, he spoke up, "No, indeed, we rarely turn anyone away. We almost always find a use for them,"

His words brought a lighter mood back along with her bright smile, "You definitely did find a good use for me then,"

"No," he shook his head, "The whole time since your arrival, I searched for what made you different from others. At first, I believed it was the noble blood that courses your veins, then I thought it was the fact that you were immune to the Mirari which turned out to be false later on but...," he trailed off.

"But what?" she nudged.

"Now, I see that it is the way you make your own place in any room you enter. You claim attention without noise or violence. We didn’t find a use for you. You found your own purpose and calling,"

They took a moment to just breathe in and gaze at each other’s faces. A moment that would appear fleeting and short to the onlooker, but to them, the action stretched the fabric of time for their convenience.

"Alright then," his lips drew a beautiful smile on him, "It is time for the second half of my plan to be executed,"

"Right! The second half!" she straightened up, her heart skipping a beat, "The way you said it was sort of scary. I won’t lie,"

"Sorry for the scare then, but I’d rather just show you instead of telling you,"

With that, Silas tugged at the reins, causing Chance to turn around and resume the galloping.

His hooves thudded the dirt rhythmically until the vampire slowed him down once more.

"Oh Lord! Are those..." Arabella trailed off.

In the distance, among the greenery, sat a group of women, gathered around upon a thin layer of fabric.

Through their uniforms, they were distinguishable even to her human eyes from afar.

"If I remember correctly, you also told me that one of the last things you’ve done on your mother’s birthday back then was a picnic under the sun,"

Her vocal cords were too strained to provide a coherent answer. The stinging ache that rose in her throat every time tears gathered in her eyes came again.

He remembered that too... He had listened and held on to every word.

Out of every blessing in the new leaf her life had turned, that realization was the very best to note.

"Will you sit with us?" she managed to utter.

"Well, I believe I wouldn’t survive the giggling and chirping of all of you put together, so I will gracefully take my leave and patiently wait for the third phase of my plan to come," a funny sort of grimace escaped his control.

"There is a third phase!?" her eyes opened wide.

Instead of a reply, Silas smiled, kissed her forehead before declaring, "Happy birthday, my love,"

Chance was instructed to trot along towards the picnic set up where Ada, Abigail, Estrid and multiple other women sat waiting for her.

While still on the horse, Arabella shut her eyes to bask in Silas’ warmth, bracing for the good time that was to come in the next seconds.