“Alora isn’t returning to this house anymore,” Norman pronounced. “You can definitely go to see her, but don’t expect that I’ll bring her back,” he cleared her.
Rhea’s heart sank to hear about it. Before she could protest, she heard Venus’ voice. “Mother, it’s the time for our happiness. Let Alora live in Elmswood even after my marriage. Everyone in the capital is happy to learn that Alora no longer lives with us,” she asserted with an annoyed look and sat beside her grandmother.
“Don’t say this about your elder sister. It wasn’t Alora’s fault to be born with such eyes,” Rhea said with a saddened expression.
“Pardon me for intruding in the conversation, but a messenger has come from Elmswood,” a servant informed them.
“Did my daughter reach safely to the Elmswood?” Rhea asked while having a tiny smile on her lips.
“Lady Rhea, a vampire has come with a message. He wishes to see Lord Norman,” the servant informed.
“A vampire?” Norman immediately left his seat and so did the others. All of them went outside and were a bit scared to see the vampire.
Norman stepped ahead and had a formal greeting with the messenger vampire.
“This is Odin, from the palace of Elmswood,” the messenger vampire introduced himself.
“Please come inside,” Norman asked.
“No, I’m fine,” Odin replied. “Last night the caravan in which your daughter was attacked by a werewolf,” he began.
Rhea widened her eyes and quickly moved to the front. “My daughter… Is she fine? Please tell us,” Rhea asked. Her heart pounded rapidly in fear.
“Calm down, Rhea. Let me talk,” Norman said and asked Venus to take her mother inside. Norman had this odd feeling that Alora was dead and he didn’t wish Rhea to hear it directly.
“Miss Alora is the only one, who survived the attack. Prince Magnus has saved her life and brought her to the palace of Elmswood,” Odin explained to them.
Rhea took a sigh of relief but the moment she heard that Alora was in the palace where the vicious Vampire Prince lived, she was terrified again.
“I want Mr. Wilson to accompany me to the Elmswood and take his daughter back,” Odin said.
“My lord, I’ll also accompany you to Elmswood,” Rhea requested.
“You should stay here, Rhea. Venus needs you since her marriage is near,” Madam Aubrey intervened. “Alora is fine, so even Norman doesn’t have to go there. We will send someone else to take Alora to the old residence of ours,” she suggested.
“How can you say this, Mother? Alora must be worried. I will go there if my husband refuses to go,” Rhea stated.
Odin observed everything as he had to inform all this to Magnus.
“Rhea, we will go later to the Elmswood. Venus’ marriage is within this week and our presence is necessary here. Let’s send someone else for now,” Norman asserted. He was not interested in seeing Alora anymore.
“How can Lord Norman can even think of ignoring our eldest daughter? Venus’s marriage can happen even without me. I’ll go to Elmswood and bring my daughter back,” Rhea announced.
“And if the mother leaves, she will never see me talking with her. I will consider my mother is no longer alive,” Venus pronounced.
Rhea pivoted to glance at Venus. “Your sister was attacked last night. Don’t you care for her?” she questioned her second daughter.
“Alora is alive. What’s there to worry? I am sure she escaped the death because of her eyes. Mother, I’ll be wedded off within a week. Don’t ruin anything because of Alora,” Venus requested and left her sight.
Lady Aubrey reprimanded Rhea for upsetting Venus. She told Norman to send some servant with Odin and she too, walked away.
Rhea’s eyes filled with tears and with her last hopes, she glanced at her husband, Norman. He was the father of Alora, their first daughter, so he would not ignore Alora like this. It was only about a day and they could return.
However, her last hope was also shattered as Norman decided to send a servant with Odin. “Take her to the old residence,” Norman ordered the servant and gazed at Odin.
“Then, I must take my leave,” Odin said and went out, followed by the servant.
“Have you not heard about the Vampire Prince Magnus?” Rhea wanted to know if Norman even ever loved Alora.
“Even Prince Magnus is scared of her,” Norman said. “That’s why she’s alive in his palace,” he stated and glanced at his wife. “After Venus’s marriage, you can go and check on Alora,” he suggested. He excused himself since he had a few works to finish.
Tears streamed down Rhea’s cheeks. No one cared for Alora. They all hated her. “Forgive your mother, Alora. I’ll come to you once Venus is married. I know you’ll understand my compulsion to be here,” she murmured while sobbing. Her heart ached with the thought that Alora was being punished by everyone for no reason. She was such a beautiful and obedient child, but nobody in the family loved her.
Wiping the tears from her the back of her palm, Rhea went inside. She went to Venus’s room and walked in.
Venus looked extremely delighted to see the jewelry that had come from her in-law’s house. She even checked them on with the help of her personal attendant.
“Mother, see how pretty this looks on me,” Venus remarked as she saw Rhea’s reflection in the mirror.
“It is,” Rhea said with a smile, but her entire focus was now on Alora.
“Mother, don’t be upset because of Alora. Look how everything turned good after she left. Her curse badly affected our lives. Grandma is absolutely right. She is a cursed witch. You have me and Elliot too. At least, unlike Alora, we aren’t fully dependent on you,” Venus muttered while rolling her eyes.
“Don’t call your sister a cursed witch. Next time you do and I’ve to teach you the manners,” Rhea suddenly shouted at her before leaving the room.
*****
Alora stared at the ceiling while tapping her fingers on the back of her other palm. “Why is Prince Magnus not back yet?” she murmured to herself. The dinner hour was approaching, but Magnus had still not arrived.
She sat up and got her feet on the floor. She wore the sandals and then put on the blindfold. Alora then called for Cecilia, who was present outside the bedroom, and entered the room with her eyes low.
“Did His Highness return?” Alora asked.
“Not now, Miss Alora,” Cecilia answered. “The Vampire Prince usually returns late. I’m sure he had been drinking someone’s blood since it’s necessary to keep up with his strength,” she explained to Alora.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.