- NO, I REFUSE TO GET MARRIED! GO AWAY, ALL OF YOU! – Joel shouted hysterically as he threw everything that he could put his hands on towards servants who tried to dress him in a white wedding suit.
- But, young master, your mother-
- I DON'T CARE. GET OUT! I'M NOT GETTING MARRIED! – Coral interrupted the maid that tried to speak to him.
Since he saw no one has moved even an inch, he rose his hand and took the vase filled with freshly picked up roses. As he swung his hand towards one of the servants, they understood they should not really push him at that moment. As one of the maids beckoned with her hand, other servants bowed to their master and left the room.
When he was finally left alone, Joel growled in frustration and jumped on the bed, head first. He buried his face in the pillows and started hitting the soft mattress in anger.
He just couldn't accept the fact that he has to get married. The fact that it was arranged so quickly that he didn't even know the vampire he will be marrying and the fact that he was marrying a male were so terrifying Joel could only shiver in fear.
Because his family, Bellerose, was in big financial crisis, Joel's mother and current head of the family, lady Sibylle, decided it would be the best to unite her own family and Keighley family and the fact that current head of the Keighley's, Nikolas, still hadn't had a mate was more than convenient.
To Joel, however, all of that came way too quickly. He didn't even have a chance to meet his future husband and he didn't even want to do so at that point.
From what he had heard, Nikolas Keighley was the most powerful head Keighley family had ever had. He was intelligent, witty, and able to solve any kind of problem regarding any other economy issue and was carrying out his duties within the Ministry of Economy diligently and respectfully. He didn't really show up in public a lot and when he did, that would only be at the Crimson Ball, the most important event for the royalty and nobility of vampire race in the whole year. Even though Joel attended one of the balls where Keighley family was the host, he still didn't manage to meet their heir.
Or he maybe did, but he didn't remember. He was a very young vampire when he attended that event, around 300 years old. Comparing to his current age of 700 it was almost a long lost memory.
Despite him being that old, Joel still didn't find a mate and was never really concerned with the matter. Even though Joel was deemed as one of the most beautiful vampires to ever live, he was still over 700 years old and that very information would always surprise other Corals which would result in them pitying him for not being able to find a mate.
Joel, however, didn't care about those rumors or what other Corals thought of him.
He was always dedicated to his work as a healer and he was more than ready to inherit his mother's job once she becomes Immortal and distances herself from society like all Immortals do when they reach the age of 1000 years. He loved to help others, especially vampires of lower-class since their healing powers weren't as strong as ones of Coral vampires.
When he wasn't in the main hospital in the Capital, he was in his garden, planting and raising about a hundred different types of plants, some of them being healing herbs while others were just pretty flower bushes or delicious fruit.
But ever since his mother had arrived at his mansion one month ago, Joel's whole world started to crumble.
He didn't want to give up on his current lifestyle, he didn't want to abandon home for someone he didn't even meet once. He just wanted to be left alone by everyone, including his own mother-
- Joel, open the door! – a familiar female voice could be heard behind the closed bedroom doors, vampiress banging on the heavy wood like a lunatic.
- Katarin, go away! I don't want to talk to anyone!
- Stop acting like a brat and open the damn door! I'll slam them down! You know I'm capable of that!
With an annoyed sigh, Joel stood up from his bed and headed towards the door. As he turned the key two times, his first cousin, Katarin Bellerose, entered the bedroom, her pretty face painted with fury and annoyance while her full and heart-shaped lips turned into a thin line.
- Why aren't you in the hospital? – Joel asked as he closed the door and headed towards one of the two huge windows on the other side of the room. Night had just fallen and only a few stars were up on the sky illuminating the way for the lost souls such as his. It seemed so peaceful…
- Because a certain someone is acting like a five-year-old and my aunt had to send a carriage for me so that I can calm you down! – purple-haired vampiress stated as she tapped her foot on the floor, her black dress looking magnificent on her despite its simple cut.
- Well, you could refuse-
- Joel Bellerose, stop it right this instant! – Katarin suddenly reached for her cousin, clenching onto the collar of his shirt. – You have to be at Keighley estate in less than two hours. Everything is ready for the wedding and here you are, acting like an irresponsible idiot. – she hissed.
As he stared down in her pale-green eyes, Joel felt an urge to cry. Behind all that anger, he could see the glimpse of anxiety and worry in his cousin's eyes but she still didn't understand how he was feeling at that moment...
- You don't understand anything, just like mama doesn't…
- Then explain it to me, for heaven's sake! – she exclaimed while letting him go. – All you've been doing this past month was whining about that arranged marriage, without even having the slightest intention of explaining what your main problem is!
Joel refused to look his cousin in the eyes once again, vampiress sighing heavily before heading towards the bed and sitting on it.
- I'm all ears, Joel Bellerose.
- When you use my full name, it sounds… odd. – the pink-haired vampire chuckled as he joined Katarin on the bed, still refusing to pay her even a glance.
- Well, I am really mad at you at the moment. Now, start talking. What is it that's bothering you so much?
Joel had already known what Katarin will think of him if he tells her. He would only be called selfish and immature for a 700-year-old, but he still wanted to talk to someone about it all in the hope to find relief from that burden.
- I hate the fact I will be leaving everything behind just because of a person I don't even know or have ever met before. I spent my whole life preparing to become the next head of the family; I helped to build the Main Hospital in the Capital and am feeling comfortable there. The thought of abandoning it seems so scary to me.
Katarin just observed her cousin as he intertwined his fingers, his head bowed deeply as he tried to prevent tears of frustration from falling.
- But most of all, I'm afraid of him. I don't know him, who knows what kind of a person he is. Will he be tormenting me, ordering me around? Because if that's the case, I'd rather drink poison and die on the spot.
Purple-haired vampiress sighed with exhaustion while raising her hand towards the middle of Joel's back, rubbing in slow circles in order to soothe him.
- Look, Joelle… - she started. – I know it seems scary now, but it is one of your duties. You know our family wasn't doing great after the Great War and we need all possible help. Since marriage was the least painful option, your mother chose it, as a real leader.
- So it's alright to just sacrifice me for a greater good, is that what you are saying?! – older vampire rose his voice, his own frustration showing in his deep pink eyes.
- I know it does seem like a sacrifice to you now, but one thing I know: auntie Sibylle loves you deeply and I am sure she chose the best possible candidate for you. There are at least one hundred Coral families amongst us, but she only wanted Nikolas Keighley for you. And the fact that he is the head of one of the four most influential Coral families is only a bonus.
- No matter what you say, I feel betrayed by my own mother… - Joel sighed this time while bowing his head down again, burying his hands in his light pink hair.
A longer silence was cast between the two, Joel feeling like the whole world was against him and his desire to just live his life in peace. But then Katarin sighed again and started talking:
- Since I didn't have any time to talk to you about this, I will tell you now: auntie Sibylle had met Mr. Keighley and after that meeting, she refused to meet any other candidate that was offered as your potential spouse. She told me he was very polite and understanding, also a very handsome vampire. But most of all, he seemed really kind.
Older finally rose his head, his cousin's green eyes seeming caring and full of worry.
- You know she is great at reading personalities, especially after all the hell she had been through with your late father. The last thing she wants is to make you suffer through the same thing she did. She tried to explain this to you, but you refused to listen. Just think about it: all your mother ever did for you was protecting you and she is doing the same now.
Katarin was right.
For Joel, his mother was his own angel guardian without whom he wouldn't even be able to live as long as he did, especially after all things his father had done…
Mother always looked for the best solution, but when she had to choose between two evils, she would always choose the one that had a lesser impact and would try to make it as harmless as possible.
That's why she was so adamant about choosing his mate…
- You did it again, Rin… - Jin chuckled as he slid his hand through his hair. – You made me feel like a spoiled and egoistic brat again and now I feel really guilty.
- That was the plan. – purple-haired vampiress said with a smile.
- You are right. If I wasn't fussing around before, I would be able to talk it out with her. I would maybe even be able to meet him…
- There is no use in crying now, Joelle. You better let servants dress you up because you have to be at Keighley estate in less than two hours. And you don't want to leave a bad impression on your future husband, now do you?
Joel chuckled again despite the feeling in his stomach that made him want to scream with despair.
He still didn't want to get married that way, but as Katarin had said, it was his duty to help his mother and that was exactly what he will do.
All of this was just a duty...