Adeline's face was drained of blood. She felt her fingers tremble, as she took a shaky step backwards. Placing her hand over her mouth, she tried to register the extremities of his words.

"For your sake," Elias clarified, in a lowered voice. He approached the staircase and walked upwards, stopping directly a step below her. He grasped her lone hand, and clasped their fingers together, bringing her closer.

Adeline shook her head and tried to let go, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her towards him. He enveloped her in a hug, his lips pressed upon the side of her head.

"Did you know your uncle had your mother at his mercy years ago?"

Adeline stiffened. It was such controversial wording that her heart froze. He wasn't going to talk about her bloodline, right? He had done a paternity test for her, which stated her Uncle was not her father. Now that Adeline thought about it, she had always been curious about how Elias obtained her uncle's DNA.

Now, she knew.

"Darling, he was aware of your suspicious birthdate and the fact that your father lied about the day of your exact birth in hopes of convincing me that you were the Golden Rose."

Adeline's eyes went wide. She didn't think her Uncle would know of this, but then again, her Aunt Eleanor was there the day Adeline was born. This would make a lot of sense.

"Your mother had begged for his secret, for he held the one secret that could ruin you for good. She was at his mercy and took control of the Marden estate with that very rumor."

Adeline was absolutely floored by his words. She looked at Elias, her lips parted. His face was fierce and serious, no inkling of mischievous teasing.

"See?" Elias softly said. He stroked the side of her face, his mouth tilting into a smile. "Everything I do is for your sake. Your Uncle had to be eliminated for that secret to go to the grave. There was other information he had against your parents, like the fact that your father tried to kill you when he was drunk."

Adeline swallowed.

Elias released her hand to embrace her tighter, his fingers folded around her lower back, tugging her towards him. She was completely enveloped in his arms now, her face resting upon his chest.

"Trust me, darling. I will keep you from harm's way."

- - - - -

"Your Majesty!" Stella and the entourage quickly greeted, bowing at the sight of him.

They weren't astonished by his presence, for they had witnessed the King storm down the stairs. People thought the King would be arguing with the Queen downstairs, but the smile on his handsome face implied otherwise.

"Your Grace!" They added on, the second they spotted the Queen. Her face was a bit pale, and she looked sick."Prepare tea for the Queen," His Majesty instructed, his hand lingering on his wife's lower back. He stuck close to her, hovering like a protective husband.

Evelyn, despite being married, couldn't take her eyes away from the King. He possessed a face that made many people, men and women alike, take a double look. It was difficult to not fall in love with him, especially with his wicked gaze and arrogant smirk.

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Stella quickly said. She bowed her head and stepped back when the King walked past them, with the Queen in his arms.

Stella and Evelyn exchanged curious glances. What happened downstairs? Was the Queen scolded for disobeying orders? They had seen the Queen's face. She was evidently upset by something, her emerald eyes turning into a dark shade of moss green. Something must've happened. And neither one of them wanted to find out what.

"Brew ginger and mint tea for the Queen," Evelyn instructed Stella. "It will soothe her nerves."

Stella slowly nodded. She walked off to grab the tea, whilst Evelyn continued to follow after the King and Queen. They were at least twenty steps apart, visible in the distance, but too far to hear their conversation.

Evelyn watched with a keen eye as the King whispered something to the Queen before kissing the top of her head. He was very attentive of her needs, seemingly carrying the weight of her body with his sturdy arms.

Evelyn wondered what the King told the Queen for her to seem this glum. She pressed her lips together and continued observing them.

She was stunned when he turned his face towards the window. His eyes that always resembled a pouncing predator were as soft as a lamb. He only wore a gentle expression for his wife, who seemed to ignore his attempts.

"His Majesty looks at her with so much love and adoration," Evelyn muttered to herself, wondering if the rumors were true.

They said the heartless King had fallen deeply in love with his wife. It was one of the reasons why he married her, and said such devoted vows. They said the proud King could not keep his hands off of the quiet Queen. His smile for her was more than friendly. It was filled with a devotion that transcended the honeymoon stage of marriage.

- - - - -

"It has been a tiring day for you, darling," Elias said. He guided her into their bedroom and shut the door behind him. "Take a nap. I will wake you when it is time for our dinner together."

Adeline was not used to Elias's surprisingly tender voice. He had always spoken to her with patience, but today, he seemed to be a completely different person. He had always been caring, but now, he was just tedious. She felt like he wanted her to sleep so that he could get rid of whatever was in the basement.magic

"Sleep with me," Adeline said, holding onto his hand with two of her own. She grasped it tightly, showing she meant business and would not let him go.

Elias harshly laughed. "I've always been waiting for you to say these words."

Adeline couldn't even laugh at his joke. She simply approached him and hugged him tightly, pressing her face into his chest. She won't sleep. She would just hold onto him for the entire night until morning came, and he'd fulfill the promise to show her the cellar.

"I'm not tired," Adeline said. "I-I want—"

"I've been rough on you for the past few days. Your body won't be able to go on if I continue to ravish you like this."

Adeline scowled. So he could get it whenever wanted to, and she couldn't?

"Now, now, don't pout," Elias snickered. He tenderly touched her cheek whilst he kissed the crown of her head, his lips lingering. She always smelled sweet to him, like a meal he couldn't wait to dive into."I will gladly let you have your way any time of the day, but not today."

"But—"

"I'm already thinking of punishing you. If I take you now, I will break you," he harshly said, the last part sending her heart skipping.

"So behave and sleep," Elias said. "We will do it tomorrow, as long as you'd like."

Adeline's brows wrung together. "I-I just meant I'd like to sleep in the bed with you… not the other kind of sleep."

Elias chuckled. "I'm sure you meant that, darling."

Elias placed his hand upon her hips and took her to the bed. He remained standing whilst unbuttoning her shirt.

"I thought you said you'd break me," Adeline mumbled, watching as he threw her shirt aside.

Elias snorted. "I am simply helping you change into more comfortable clothes." He approached the closet, grabbed a sleeping gown, and went back to her, all within the second.

"I'm envious of how quickly you can transport," Adeline said.

"It's not transporting, it's speed walking, but literally." Elias reached for her pant buttons. She pushed his hand away, stood up, and discarded her pants herself. He smiled in amusement.

Elias's gaze remained on her face the entire time she dressed herself. His eyes didn't need to wander when he had already seen her in every single position possible.

Adeline walked towards the couch, placing her clothes onto it in a neatly folded pile. In the meantime, she slipped the vial out of her pockets.

"Will you truly not turn me into a Vampiress?" Adeline mumbled with her back turned to him.

Without warning, he hugged her from behind, his face resting upon her shoulders. "Never."

Adeline's heart raced. She thought he had seen her take the item out of her pockets, but it seemed not. "What if I don't survive the childbirth?"

"That won't happen," Elias coldly said.

"But—"

"It won't." There was an edge to his voice, as if he was certain of it.

Adeline pressed her lips together. His arms tightened around her, digging into her stomach.

"Now, let's sleep shall we?" Elias said, rising to his full height. He went to change his clothes, and when he returned, she was already sitting in the bed, waiting for him.

Elias's eyes lingered on her stomach, hidden by the blanket. If that damned child of his dares to hurt their mother, he decided he wouldn't need an heir.

"Elias?" Adeline mumbled, confused as to why he was just standing at the edge of the bed, with a murderous look on his face.

"Nothing, darling. Let's sleep, just as you wish."