Chapter 13
Information
"Did you get any information about her?" Vladimir asked without looking at his second in command, Nicolas. He was reading the book in his hand, but his mind was thinking about something else. Nicolas nodded his head and moved towards him.
"Yes, but before I'll tell you the information about her, can I ask something?" Vladimir stopped what he was doing and looked at him. Nicolas had known him since childhood; this was the first time he had asked him to seek information about a certain girl whom he knew out of his league. So, he was quite shocked when the king ordered him to do the task.
"Okay, ask me," Vladimir answered. Nic nodded his head and took a deep breath before asking him.
"Who is she to you? It's unusual of you to ask for information about her." A small grin formed on his lips when he heard Nicolas ask him that. He knew that Nicolas was curious, but he didn't need to ask the reason why.
"She's just a nobody. Is it bad to know the new maid's identity?" he questioned him. Nicolas shook his head, "Of course not, I'm just curious." he answered immediately.
Vladimir's cold expression remained on his face as he returned his gaze to the book he was reading. Using his left hand, he signs to Nicolas that he should tell Nicolas the information he has gathered. He nodded his head and obeyed the king's command.
"Her full name is Arabella Clarkson, twenty-three years of age. Both of her parents died when she was young; the cause of death was a rouge attack. She has no siblings; she was living in a small house in a small town before she got here. She used to have two jobs, but she quit and chose to work here instead." Vladimir raised an eyebrow, 'she seems so lost and a lonely girl.' He placed the book on his table and rested his knuckle on his chin.
"Nothing more?" He asked emotionlessly. Nicolas nodded his head, "That's all I got today, but I'll gather more information about her if you want to." Vladimir shakes his hand, "No, no need." He answered and looked outside the window.
"What's the update on southern territory?" he asked to change the topic completely. Nicolas curiously looked at him; he dropped the first topic easily; does that mean he's not curious about the new maid at all? Well, what does he expect? That new maid is not that important; maybe the king was just conscious of whoever would enter the palace.
"After the grand duke died last week, his family were in chaos, the same as the residents of the town. Three of his sons were fighting to get the title of their father. There was no peace in the place; it was in its vulnerable state. I'm afraid that the rebels will target the place if no one will replace the grade duke as soon as possible." Nicolas answered seriously. Vladimir looked at him, "Three of his sons were fighting?" the man nodded his head.
"I see what man can do for power and throne. Okay then, invite the three of them to come here next week. I'll select the next grand duke of Southern land territory." Nicolas had an idea of what he was thinking or planning to do; the king's selection would never be easy.
"Got it," he paused. "Anyway, Ms. Malcom---" Vladimir signed him to stop talking; he was not in the mood to listen about that matter.
"Okay then, the knights and I came back after the mission to defend the Northern Territory; after two weeks of fighting, we defeated the rebels." The king nodded his head and murmured good. Nicolas looked at him weirdly; he was not this when they were talking about this kind of matter. Was he thinking about something?
"I can read your thoughts, Nic. Congratulations if that's what you wanted to hear after defeating the rebels." Vladimir said that made Nicolas burst into a fit of laughter. This man was really serious. He tapped the king's shoulder while laughing.
Nicolas and the king were childhood best friends; Nicolas' father was the Grand Duke of the Central land. He's the advisor of the former king. Nicolas was living on the fifth floor of the palace, the same as the knight Commander. He was perfectly aware that Vladimir valued his privacy so much, what he hated and what could make him angry.
The king chose him to be the second commander not because Nicolas was the grand duke's eldest son but because of his power and ability.
"You're so boring," he said and chuckled when he saw the king was giving him a death glare. "Anyway, to continue my report, Duke James came over to show his gratitude to you. He is with his second-hand, Mr. Ingrid and Mr. Ingrid's son, Mr. Ryle." He informed him.
"Show gratitude, unusual of him. I thought he hated my guts since I became his king?" He asked seriously with a glint of mocking in his voice. Nicolas grinned after hearing him say, "Well, maybe he realised he's nothing without your favour?"
"Tsk. Pathetic." He hissed.
"Right." Nicolas agreed as he glanced at the wall clock. "Oh, it's almost lunch, aren't you hungry? Ms. Malcom arranged the lunch, I heard; she prepared blood for dessert, too." Vladimir remembered going to the west wing of the palace this morning. He was supposedly not going there, but when he smelled the scent of his mate, he couldn't help but go there.
Her blood was really tempting him. It's hard to control himself when she's around. Three options are running in his mind, three options that he doesn't know which one to choose. First, he can kill her to stop this shit; secondly, just ignore her forever; and lastly, claim her.
Three hard choices.
"Vlad? Are you listening to me?" Nicolas asked him while waving his hand in front of him. He nodded his head without looking at him, "Yeah. Let's go for lunch now, then? Who will join?" He asked as he stood up from his chair.
"Just nine of us, me, Lady Alyssa, Lady Natalie, Lady Mariah, Duke James, Mr Ingrid, Mr Ryle and Mr Rogers," Nicolas mentioned their names.
"The three of them will join?" he knew who he was referring to. The three ladies, Nicolas was slightly shocked, too, when he learned that. Those three ladies had bad blood with each other; they were fighting to get the king's attention.
"Yeah, but don't worry. I think they will behave and won't make any fuss." Vladimir looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
"Who cares if they kill each other." Nicolas shook his head in amusement. He doesn't give any fucking care towards them; he just uses them for pleasure and power.
"That's dark, Vlad." He commented, but Vladimir just grinned devilishly.