Alora blinked rapidly since Magnus asked a question, which definitely made her feel nervous. She couldn't return to her family in the capital.
"It seems your family hates you," Magnus pronounced while playing with his ring.
"No, they don't," Alora replied promptly.
"You cannot lie to me. Usually, a person if gets saved, then the first thing he wants to do is to return to his family. However, you didn't ask me to send you back. Though, you insisted at first not to take you as a servant. If there would be another woman at your place, she would have begged me to let her go." Magnus had observed already that Alora didn't get the love from her family.
"You are the eldest daughter, but instead of marrying you off, your family decided to send you far away so that their second daughter can get married." Magnus continued to tell her the observations he had made so far.
"Your Highness, the table is set for Miss Alora," a female servant informed in her humble tone.
Alora looked at the blindfold in her hand and almost tied it around her eyes when Magnus took it from her. She stood up and tried to take the blindfold from her.
"Tell everyone at the dining hall to shut their eyes," Magnus ordered the servant. She bowed and left the chamber to comply with the command.
Magnus held Alora's hand and began walking with her. She felt strange because nobody ever held her hand and nobody ever asked her not to wear the blindfold.
"Your Highness, what if someone comes in our way? I don't wish anyone to–" The remaining words couldn't come out of her mouth as Magnus suddenly halted and placed his finger over her lips. It happened within a blink of an eye, causing Alora's breath to hitch for a moment.
"You don't have to care about that. Let others live like blind people." Magnus slowly dropped his finger from her lips. He noticed their plumpness and wondered what they would taste like. He resumed the walk and shortly, they both were in the dining room.
Alora kept her gaze down because she feared if any of the servants had her eyes open, then she could burn the servant right away. Magnus let go of her hand and sat on the tall chair at the other end while he asked Alora to take a seat.
She pulled out a chair and sat on it.
"You all are dismissed," Magnus instructed, and right away the dining room emptied. "Start eating or the food will get cold," he stated.
Alora nodded and picked up the spoon. She began eating slowly and liked the taste of the food. However, she could sense Magnus's deep gaze at her. Lifting her eyes, she asked Magnus if he never ate meals.
"I vomit the meals humans take. You must have known about this," Magnus asserted. "Blood is all I need," he added.
"Doesn't His Highness feel bad for not tasting food?" Alora asked.
"Why should I feel bad?" Magnus arched his eyebrow at her.
"Uh... Because..." Alora couldn't understand what to say further. She turned quiet and silently had her meals. After having the heart-felt meal, she felt happier. Dabbing the napkin across her lips, she drank the water.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for providing me the meals," Alora said with a tiny smile.
Magnus left his seat and asked her to follow him. Alora quickly ran after him and stood close to him. "So, what are your plans after your father comes here?" he inquired as they reached the lounge area.
"Again, you are silent," Magnus chuckled and quickly sat on the comfortable sofa.
"Your Highness, can I trust you?" Alora questioned.
"Trust me with?" Magnus gestured to her to sit.
"If I tell the truth to His Highness, then he shall keep it a secret. I don't wish people to talk badly about my family," Alora stated while fidgeting with her fingers.
"It's up to you to trust me." Magnus wanted her to decide.
"Because of me, my entire family has suffered. I don't wish to return to the capital. My grandmother doesn't like me at all. I hardly received love from my father. Even my siblings never talked to me. They have always stayed away from me. I understand I'm cursed and that's why they have this hatred toward me," Alora expressed her thoughts to him.
She could never get a chance to speak all this with anyone. In fact, there was none around her who could hear her. Although her mother always was there, Alora didn't wish to trouble her.
"You are not cursed. I believe you have some strange supernatural strength. Humans are like this. If your powers not being destructive, then they would have worshipped you. Since your eyes burn people into ashes, they hate you. Strange humans!" Magnus remarked as he snickered.
Alora stopped blinking to hear his words. Magnus was the only person, who didn't call her cursed. Instead, he showed a very different perspective. She was overwhelmed with the emotions and lowered her eyes again.
"Your Highness is so kind," Alora said and tears fell from her eyes.
Magnus didn't expect her to call him kind. "I'm not kind. I'm the most vicious creature in the kingdom," he reminded her.
Alora looked into his red eyes. "Not for me. Your Highness is indeed very kind." She wiped the tears from her cheeks. Her nose and cheeks turned red in just a mere seconds of crying.
"Do you understand what you are choosing, Alora?" Magnus asked her. "You are choosing a vampire over your family. Do you really wish to live with me? Once you say yes, there's no turning back. All your life, you'll be with me," he affirmed while waiting for her answer.
Alora fidgeted with her fingers as she contemplated. "I have no problem living with Your Highness. I want my family to be happy and their happiness is my disappearance from their lives," she pronounced and gazed into his eyes. "I am willing to live here with His Highness," she announced her decision to him.
Magnus smirked, his eyes glistened and he said, "Alora, you have made the worst mistake of your life."