Just like before, the weather was dreary and rainy around the Rutherford Manor. With each drop of rain, I banged my head against the windowpane. Not only was it pouring, but also all the Rutherfords were busy doing something. Sebastian was doing his usual Kingly duties, Fiona was out shopping with Lue for new clothes, Solomon was out ying golf, and Vincent had gone hunting with Joel, which left me by myself.


    In and around the manor, the security had increased greatly. There were a lot of new vampires I didn’t know hanging around. I didn’t want to know them either- they were quite intimidating. So while the others were away (or in Sebastian’s case, holed up in his room) I was sitting in my old temporary roompletely bored. To pass the time, I mindlessly thumped my head against the window.


    Thump. Thump. Thump.


    “You’ll get stupid doing that, you know.”


    My heart flew into my throat and I twisted around in my seat, my gaze falling on Sebastian. “Sebastian! You scared me half to death!”


    He chuckled, his green eyes twinkling in amusement. “Oh, I know.”


    “What are you doing here? I thought you had work?”


    “I can’t take a break and keep youpany?” he inquired, feigning a hurt look. “Emily, you wound me…”


    I shook my head, grinning at him. “No, actually, I appreciate it. I’m really bored. No offense, but there’s nothing to do here when you’re by yourself.”


    A sad smile crossed his face. “I know. Since you’re not doing anything and I’m taking a break, would you like to talk?”


    “Talk?” I repeated. “About what?”


    “A few things,” he said vaguely. With a strong hand, he grabbed mine off myp and gripped it, pulling me easily to my feet. “We’ll go to my room though, in case someonees home early. I can just say you forcefully barged your way in.”


    I fake scowled at him. “Hey! That’s not fair!”


    “Life’s not fair, Em.”


    The tone behind his words wiped all expression from my face. They were bitter and cold. “Is something wrong, Sebastian?”


    A heavy sigh left his lips. “Is there ever a time where something isn’t?”


    “Um, well, I don’t know,” I responded honestly, blinking at the back of his head. “We can talk about it though.”


    “Aren’t we going to talk now?”


    “Ah, yes…”


    He threw a quick smile over his shoulder at me. “Then we’ll talk. Make yourselffortable.”


    We reached his room in no time and I entered first, taking in the familiar room. The same brown curtains hung from the gigantic window on the opposite side of the room. The Oak colored couch was still in the same ce. Even the random magazines on his little coffee table were still there. Cocking an eyebrow, I turned to look at him. “You don’t use your room much, do you?”


    “No, not so much my room. More like my office,” he informed me, pointing to a door I’d failed to notice before.


    “Oh.”


    .


    .


    “Have a seat,” he insisted, pointing to the couch. “It feels as though it was only yesterday I told you about Fiona in here. Time’s been passing by quickly.”


    Nodding, I copsed onto the incrediblyfortable couch. I really needed to get one for my room back in the human world. “Speaking of Fiona, how’s it going?”


    With a sigh, he sunk down next to me. “What’s it ?”


    “Your rtionship.”


    “Emily…”Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    I frowned at him. “Sebastian. Don’t tell me you haven’t made any moves.”


    “I can’t make any moves,” he told me, his emerald eyes hardening. “I’ve told you. We’ve caused enough trouble for our family as it is.”


    “That’s still no reason to give up.”


    “I’m going to be King,” he said tly. “There is nothing to give up because whatever I had was taken away from me when this was decided.”


    My next response was stuck in my throat. “D-did something happen, Sebastian?”


    “Yes,” he responded, clenching his fists on hisp. “Apparently I have to marry soon.”


    “Marry? What?”


    “Wait, it gets better. You remember the fairy tale Cindere?”


    I cocked my head to the side. “Yes?” My eyes widened in realization. “You’re going to have a ball? Oh my god! That’s so exciting! Is everyone going to dress up in fancy dresses and suits? When is it?”


    Sebastian stared at me, blinking.


    “Oh, wait…” I cupped the back of my next and gave him a sheepish smile. “I’m sorry. This is bad, right?”


    “Well if you don’t like balls…”


    “So there is a ball!”


    He half-smiled. “You cane, if you like. It’s next Friday.”


    I blinked. Next Friday? When Ashton was going toe?


    “It’s going to be one busy night,” Sebastian said with augh. “Don’t worry though. If there are more people there, it’ll be harder for him to find you and easier for us to either defeat him or scare him away.”


    I shifted ufortably. “Right… But I’m not worried about that. Well, I am, but also about you finding a wife. Was this your parents’ idea?”


    He snorted. “Yeah, right. It’s the court’s.”


    “Did Solomon and Lue have a marriage like this?”


    “Yes,” Sebastian told me, “and luckily for them they managed to be a happy couple. They had a thing for each other before the ball…


    “But you don’t love anyone besides Fiona… Do you even know any other girls?”


    He gave me a t look. “Of course I do. But none capture my interest.”


    “So you’ll be forced to marry someone you hardly know?”


    “Marry in haste, repent in leisure.”


    I stared at him. “Huh?”


    He sighed. “Those who impetuously rush into marriage may spend a long time regretting having done so.”


    .


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