His Majesty's Devious Sins

Elias could feel an insult at the tip of his tongue. But then his hands moved on their own. He realized Adeline was beginning to cut the medium-rare steak again. Whether she was intentionally distracting him or not, he allowed her to continue cutting, but this time, he removed his hands.

He watched intently as she brought the food to her mouth and chewed. He watched as she swallowed, then repeated the motion of cutting the steak.

"Do you like steaks?" Elias asked.

"It's good," Adeline vaguely said. She ate half of the wagyu beef before setting her fork and knife down. 

"Don't you have a Kingdom to rule?" Lydia bit out towards Elias. She didn't like having her time with Adeline interrupted. It happened twice now. The next time it happened, she might as well kidnap Adeline out of the palace.

"Hm, I keep on hearing the buzz of mosquitos," Elias muttered under his breath. He remained hovering over Adeline whilst grabbing the plate of desserts and placing it in front of her.

"Lemon cake, darling?" Elias asked as he shifted the plate of beef away. He knew once she settled her fork and knife down, she wouldn't be taking another bite.

Adeline warily looked at the cake. It was yellow like its name with fluffy whipped cream and topped with meringue and lemon slices. A sole mint leaf rested on the cut cake. 

"No thanks…"

"The chefs worked hard to prepare this lemon cake. The fruit often burns their skin, my sweet," Elias said. It was half the truth. 

Only low-bred vampires flinched at the touch of lemon juice. The people that worked in the castle were all Half-Bred, with at least one parent that was a vampire, but somewhere in their bloodline contained at least one or two humans. There weren't many Pure-Bred vampires left in this world, who's blood have never mingled with a human.

"Oh, but… then… I…" Adeline was flustered. She didn't want the chefs' hard work to go to waste. She wasn't full either. Thus, she lifted the small dessert fork and sliced into the cake.

Adeline's shoulders relaxed at the burst of sweet tartness. Her mouth watered as she chewed in bliss. The cream soothed the tiny burn of the sour cake. She took another bite, closing her eyes to savor the delightful taste.

"Addy, I'd still like to extend that invite to the shop in the capital," Lydia spoke up. "They have even more lemon desserts, with a higher concentration of lemon juice since it's a bakery owned by humans."

Elias shot her a dirty glare. Just how persistent can one woman get? There was no way in hell he was going to wed an irritating woman like her. Didn't she understand this was private time with Adeline? 

"When, Liddy?" Adeline asked. 

Adeline felt his thunderous stare and the protest in his mouth. But she ate another bite of the lemon cake, knowing this would quell his anger. His grip loosened on the edge of the table.

Lydia opened her mouth to respond, but Elias cut her off again.

"Eat more, there is plenty of cake left, darling." Elias pushed the plate even closer to her. He leaned on one arm, whereas his free hand rested on the back of her chair. He wasn't going anywhere.

"Addy, I was thinking tomorrow—"

"No." 

Both women turned to Elias with a frown. His abrupt command was displeasing.

"You're busy tomorrow, darling," Elias reminded her. Her brows wried together at his words.

"I know, Elias. I was just going to tell her to reschedule," Adeline said. She felt like he was babying her more than usual. 

"It seems your dear friend doesn't know she's trying to sabotage you with that invitation," Elias deadpanned.

Lydia sharply gasped. Her utensils loudly clattered on the table. She stood up and pointed an accusing finger at him.

"I would never try to hurt Adeline like that! How dare you make horrible claims like this to ruin our friendship?" Lydia said with the strictness of a frowning teacher. 

She had never been accused of something like this, especially to Adeline Rose—the one person that Lydia considered the greatest of her friends.

"Elias…" Adeline trailed off, clearly disappointed by his actions. "Liddy has been friends with me since birth. She wouldn't try to hurt me."

Elias ignored Lydia's stupid accusation. He picked up Adeline's dessert fork and placed another bite of cake before her mouth. She needed to eat more—especially when he wasn't certain if she properly ate breakfast or not.

"Eli—" Elias shoved the food into her mouth.

Adeline glared at him but reluctantly chewed. Once she swallowed, she opened her mouth to speak again but he placed another bite into there. She moved his wrist away and scowled.

That was six bites already. A few more and she would've eaten too many calories for lunch.

"It seems Lydia Claymore hasn't told you the truth yet," Elias said with a dark glint in his face. A storm cloud rolled over him, a venomous look in his eyes. Some friend she was.

"What are you talking about?" Adeline lightly demanded.

She shifted her face away from the fork. He was trying to get her to eat another bite. She felt like he poisoned the cake or something, given how eagerly he wanted her to eat.

"Addy, don't listen to me," Lydia hurriedly said. "He's just trying to say anything to come in between us. You must hear my explanation of the story—"

"Lydia Claymore is attempting to become my future bride," Elias seethed out.

Adeline was startled. She reeled back from him. Her gaze bounced from the furious Elias to the nervous Lydia. Was that what Lydia wanted to tell her this afternoon? Was this the unsaid truth that made Lydia sweat so much? 

"T-that's ridiculous," Adeline stammered. "Don't joke like that Elias, it's not funny."

"Go ask her yourself, darling. Go demand if it's the truth or not." 

Elias was unwavering, even in the face of her uncertainty. She hadn't called him a liar, but didn't believe him either. Her response was a great way to show her neutral side. He supposed this was another quality that would make her a great Queen.

"Is it true?" Adeline asked in a light voice. She wore a calm, understanding smile on her face. She didn't want to make Lydia unhappy with this accusation. She was willing to see the brighter side of the pictuer.

"Addy…" Lydia trailed off, her eyes shaking a bit. 

Adeline's smile slowly died. Lydia was a straightforward person. If there was something that needed to be said, she'd say it in a heart beat.

"You must understand, Addy, that I never have any intentions of hurting you and that I love you very much," Lydia rushed out. She walked around the table and towards the seated Adeline.

"Please, you must believe that first," Lydia said whilst taking Adeline's hands. She squeezed it, but found Adeline's fingertips had gone cold from shock.

"I will always consider you as my best friend," Adeline responded in a low, controlled voice. Her heart was shaking with anticipation.

From Lydia's responses, she was beginning to know the truth before it was uttered.

Lydia's hands trembled. She cherished Adeline with every fiber in her body. Twenty years of friendship had its ups and downs, but more ups than downs. They had grown up together, known each other since diapers. Their parents were best friends, and they were destined to continue the legacy.

Lydia hung her head and uttered the heart-breaking truth.

"It's true. I might have to marry His Majesty."