Chapter 105 - Bragging
When the moon was high in the sky, its light drifted through the gardens, Elias headed for the tower his Grandmother was in.
Through the small, stone windows, he could see the gardens where Adeline had confessed her love for him. He was proud of taking her to that small, secluded garden, instead of the grand, main one behind the castle that people always boasted about.
Suddenly, he thought of Adeline and the thought of bragging about her.
The thought of her meek nature, shy smiles, and slow confession made him smile a bit. She was adorable when flustered, yet there was something wise about her words.
He couldn't put a finger on it, but he didn't feel like doing that either. She just humored him, that's all. And perhaps, humored him too much, to the point of where he wanted to possess all of her—body, heart, and soul. He'd stop at nothing to acquire all three.
Some could say he was obsessed, others would say he's crazy. He preferred the latter.
"Did you have to show me that disgusting display of affection?" Dorothy muttered the second she saw her Grandson. Her voice was filled with animosity and irritation.
The audacity of this grandson!
Elias walked into the highest room of the tower, where she usually resided. She had her own room in the castle, but preferred to not use it. She hated the smell of wealth, even though she had married into it.
"Beautiful little thing, isn't she?" Elias commented.
He didn't need to hear the response to that question, for no one could deny Adeline's beauty in the castle. She blossomed brighter than a flower, all because of his tender care.
"I suppose," Dorothy muttered.
Elias took a seat by the usual spot he conversed with her. He stared out the window and saw the gardens from underneath it. From her position, she had the perfect view of what happened this afternoon.
"Your little Quinston is scheduled to be executed tomorrow," Elias boredly said. He crossed his legs and leaned back in the chair, despite her frosty stare. "Though, I can't guarantee him a safe ride to the prison."
"Do you plan on cutting off my pawns, one by one? Until I'm left with nothing, whist you have your pawns, bishops, knights, and even… Queen," Dorothy responded.
Dorothy frowned at the thought, lifting the tea cup to her lips and drinking from it. The calming element of the tea wasn't providing any benefits at all. Her blood pressure was still rising out of irritation.
"I don't need a dog that bites the hand that feeds it," he said.
Dorothy stiffened at his sickening sweet smile. He looked like someone who wouldn't flinch at tortured victims being skinned alive. Instead, he'd probably laugh and sip his wife.
"I was the hand that fed it, Grandson. Not you."
Elias lazily clicked his finger on the table. He stared at the rose bushes where she made her confession. The hesitation of her emerald eyes, the lowering of her head, and the clockworks in her brain. He already knew she was deeply in love with him. He didn't need to be told that, but he wanted to hear it anyway.
Sensing his lack of willingness to answer the question, she decided to move onto a different subject.
"Minerva is next, isn't it?" Dorothy bitterly asked.
"Ah yes, your favorite." Elias smiled. "I can have her tortured infront of you for taking your side."
"Elias," she warned.
"Yes, that's my name, Grandmother."
Dorothy breathed in through her nose and let it out. "Minerva is a good woman. She won't hurt you or your little prey. Keep her out of this discussion."
Elias tilted his head. "She resides in the heart of the capitol, but that's her house on paper. Where does she live again? Hmm…"
"Elias!" she sharply hissed, slamming her hand on the table. "She is the representative of the aristocratic faction. If you dare to hurt her—"
"Everyone is always looking to have a seat in the Council. One death won't matter to them, even fi she's loved by high society."
Dorothy's lips thinned into a fine line. She stared at him with irritation, wishing her husband and son was still alive to discipline him. Now that they're both dead, Elias roamed free like a wild beast. Someone needed to put a leash on him, and his little flower didn't do that.
"What do you want?" she spat out. "You showed me your affection for her in the gardens to make me believe she's the Noble Flower. I performed that ritual for you to waste it on assassins. Do you hate me to that extent?"
Elias simply shrugged. "How can I hate my grandmother who's gathering people to oppose my power?"
Dorothy stiffened. "You're my grandson, the heir of House Luxton. You're the only person who can carry out the bloodline and legacy. Surely, I would never try to hurt you."
"So prove your loyalty to me."
Elias glanced at her. "Adeline Mae Rose will be my Queen whether or not you like it, but it'd be better if you do."
"And why is that?"
"I plan on taking no other woman but her. I plan on sleeping with no one but her. No other woman will sire my children, except for her."
Dorothy sent him a scathing glower. "You're a Pure-Bred who's bloodline is centuries old! You're willing to throw away your entire bloodline for a mere mortal like her—"
"The Golden Rose is also a human, yet you still wished for me to bed her. My child with the Golden Rose would've been a Half-Blood as well."
Dorothy closed her mouth. She glowered towards the table, her face twisting with irritation. She should've smacked him on the head a bit more as a child. Maybe that'll beat some senses into him!
"A Half-Blood King… what will the aristocratic faction think?" she hissed. "You're embarrassing yourself for this human. Do you have any idea of what the people are thinking?"
Elias smirked. "The humans, comprising of 80% of our population is highly pleased that one of their own is Queen. Let our kind whine as they please, like the children they are."
"This is unacceptable behavior even for you!"
Elias raised a brow. He finally glanced at his grandmother. She had the expression of someone that bit into a fresh lemon. He held back a snicker. It was always fun getting her irritated. Her blood pressure would rise, and maybe then, she'd have fewer guts to question him.
In the entire nation, only his grandmother was allowed the liberty to scold him. After her mother died, his grandmother took that role by his side. Every little accomplishment, she would celebrate with him. Some would say she took care of him, but he knew better than that.
She treated him with kindness, not because she was his grandson, but because she was the future king. Despite this fact, Elias allowed her to stay in this castle.
"Have Minerva spread the rumor that the King is slowly gaining compassion. It'll please our kind to know my heart has grown weak, and they can try to appeal to my lack of sympathy."
Elias rose from the chair. "She controls the high society doesn't she? Put her to good use."
Dorothy narrowed her eyes. "Or, I can have her spread the rumor that you performed the ritual to bed the Golden Rose. How will that make your little flower feel?"
"They're good friends. Even if my Little Rose finds out, she won't be angered, once I tell her the truth."
Elias's cold gaze shifted towards his grandmother. "But you, on the other hand, won't leave unscathed. Tearing down this tower will be mercy, having your head on a spike is kindness."
Dorothy opened her mouth, but closed it. She was overwhelmed by his dangerous presence that lowered the temperature of the room. Despite how spacious this place was, his presence took up every inch of the flooring. She suddenly felt suffocated by his intimidating glower and the sneer of his face.
"Heed my promises carefully, Grandmother. If my Little Rose so much as frowns, I will ruin you."
Dorothy was floored by his words. She watched as he walked out of the room, leaving the doors wide open. She was slapped by the sound of his echoing footsteps, heavy and loud, as if the devil himself was stalking through the darkness.
"She truly has you wrapped around her finger," Dorothy breathed out. She glared out the window and towards the exact spot that her grandson once stood. "How despicable."
Dorothy debated the idea of spreading the second rumor of the King's infidelity. She knew they didn't consummate the ritual, for she had caught word of the assassination. Quinston, that damn fool!
How stupid could one get to try to kill the King like this? Sure, a man inside a moment was his moment of weakness. It would be easier to kill the King if he was distracted by a woman, but Quinston had forgotten the type of man that Elias was.
"I have no use for stupid pawns." Dorothy let out a loud sigh. "That Noble Flower will doom House Luxton."
She stared up at the sky and the clouds that sprawled over the dark, night sky. She glared at the stars and how bright they shined. Pale and brilliant, she was suddenly reminded of Addison and Kaline Rose's daughter.
"Fate is a fickle thing." Dorothy twisted the ring on her finger. "Am I supposed to sit by and watch my only grandson suffer the same, miserable demise as the Roses?"
Dorothy wondered if the Heavens will answer her question. When she was met with silence, she slowly shook her head in disappointment.
"A blessed name…" Dorothy continued twisting the ring. Her husband had long died, but she still wore it. "Adeline Mae Luxton..."
"What a horrible ring." Dorothy sighed again. "I suppose I'll have to get used to it soon. Fiddling with another's fate is too dangerous, even for a powerful seer [1] like me."