THEME SONG: Drown By Yuppycult ~🖤

Ayra questioned and immediately regretted when the man didn't answer to her and rested his devilish eyes on her perturbed expression. No wonder,she was definitely panicking and had been seen through by him probably.

Cedric wanted to close that tiny gap between them,if possible he would have just leant down beside her ears to hear her racing heart beat. But he had to hold back for the sake of his mighty position in her heart so far. With a mischievous smile,his reply came out half ambiguously,

" What a typical pick up line, Princess! "

Ayra was stunned then looking up at him astonishingly. She didn't quite understand what was the actual meaning behind his words actually.

Wait, was he trying to indicate that she was hitting on him using such lame lines?

She was going to correct his thoughts but then after the man's seductive voice came out again slowly,

" But I don't mind hearing such cheesy words from a beauty like you, Princess."

Ayra's face slightly blushed but she just ignored it. Lifting her hazel eyes up, she berated with a polite smile,

" Pardon, Your Highness. I just got a gut feeling that you and I met before. Rather than this, I had no intention of using such suggestive words which could mislead you into different meaning suddenly. Besides..."

She took a pause delibaretly, lifted her head up haughtily and explained their relationship with a slight smirk,

" I am at your elder sister's age. So in a word, you are like a little brother to me."

Cedric's expression dropped into a few degrees down. His face changed color but quickly found a reasonable answer to defeat this overconfident woman,

" Well..that doesn't change the fact that you are a girl and I am a boy."

Ayra who naively thought that he would get embarrassed after such definition of their relationship fell in dillemma. She didn't know what was he trying to prove in reality but something strange kept rolling inside her heart whenever she met his dark eyes.

At that certain moment, they both heard a wail from down and Ayra soon after discovered a black cat nearby his feet. She gasped in surprise,

" Your cat.."

Cedric hummed between his gritted teeth. When Ayra heard a mere wail only, Cedric, the master of this shifter cat heard the actual ridiculous tongue of Frenchies Wesley. Unfortunately he had to endure such mockery for the sake of Ayra's presence.

Ayra smiled at the cat who gave him a strange look in back. Looking up, she heard the noises coming out from the hallway and muttered nervously,

" I should go back now..Feel free to visit around, Your Highness."

Ayra spoke with a smile and already started walking for the hallway. As she promptly took few steps ahead, the man's icy voice interrupted her track again,

" Princess Ayra! Shouldn't you suppose to guide your guest while visiting around? I mean.. it's called minimum respect.."

Ayra cursed him in a low voice and eventually turned around with an awkward smile. She had a feeling that this man was purposely holding her back.

But Why?

She didn't wish to dwell in this matter anymore. With her lips still smiling brightly, she answered in a very decent way,

" Pardon,Your Highness. Since we have three princes present in the castle, it would be a shame if they don't get the chance to meet you. I will ask any of them to guide you around. Unfortunately I have plenty of guests to attend now hence I have no spare time for you."

Cedric was Impressed at the way of ignoring him. It was no issue to him and one day, she would have all her time only for him. He denied with a slight smile,

" No need! We will get a lot of time later.. Princess.."

Ayra felt her soul slipping out from her body at his words and quickly turned around to get back on her brothers's side. This man gave her a weird kind of feeling that likely undescribable to her thoughts.

Cedric kept staring at her retreating back like a patience lion whose prey just accidentally slipped out from his paws. Frenchies who heard and understood their conversation finally spoke in his human voice without any fear,

" Haha..My Lord..I like this lady..She has not only rejected you but also regarded you as her little brother."

Cedric shot the mischievous cat a death glare and replied with a cold voice,

" I think that you don't want your human form anymore, Frenchies Wesley."

The cat immediately stopped laughing and looked up at his master horrifyingly. After that, his pleading voice started to echo in the empty corridor while Cedric made his way back to the hallway,

" My Lord, I was wrong."

" My Lord, you aren't her little brother. Bullshit, I am his little brother, big brother..aahh.. what else..Step brother.. Everything..My Lord.. listen to me..."

*******

Ayra briskly walked back into the hallway and breathed a sigh of relief. The first night of their festival had nearly come to an end and average citizens had started to leave for their own respective homes. Ayra spotted her three brothers at a corner and wanted to join them eagerly in case that demon king came after to find her.

Exhaling a deep breath, she speeded her pace on their way but was blocked midway by her mommy. Esme who worned a white shimmer colored gown gave her daughter a stern glare. After an age of time, she no longer looked like a cheerful youth but a perfectly grown up woman and mother. Her aura changed from a charismatic ones to an elegant lady who now rulled over Vampire kingdom.

Before Ayra could ask anything, Esme's cold voice hit her ears,

" Where did you go? Seriously, Ayra! Your fathers were getting worried about you after not having you around for a long time. Come and greet the guests."

Ayra pouted angrily and soon followed her mommy to join her two fathers. Though she didn't agree to call Ethan ' father' but after a span of time, she decided to call him 'Papa' which made some certain vampire king very jealous. As they both had no daughters from their side, all the doting and pampering fell on Ayra.

Esme led her towards Ethan and Aaron's couch where they were preparing to play chess after having a tiresome day. Aaron who first noticed Ayra called out lovingly,

" There..my favourite child.."

Esme rolled her eyes back. Ayra was twenty seven years old now but this two called her 'child' still. Ethan also looked up at Ayra with a bright smile and patted the empty spot beside him,

" Come here,baby. Where did you go? We were looking for you."

Ayra who never forgot that she was a child in her father's eyes walked over to Ethan obediently and sat down with a smile. Looking down at the chess board, Ayra questioned with curious smile,

" Are you two going to play now?"

Aaron who had also aged slightly at times responded with a snort,

" Yes! Your papa Ethan is getting bored and offered me to play."

Ayra chirped excitedly,

" That's great! I am gonna sit here and enjoy then. It's so much fun when you two fight against each others."

Ethan snorted back coldly and wanted to respond but tilting his head aside, he welcomed the man with a bright smile,

" Oh there..King Cedric..Come and join us..You haven't met our family yet."

Ayra froze and instinctively clutched her gown nervously. While she inteneded to slip away, Cedric's calm voice came from aside,

" Greetings, Lord Aaron and Lady Esme. I have heard about you a lot. It's pleasure to meet you all today."

Aaron smiled at his face and complimented while reaching for his strawberry juice,

" You are so young indeed. I have heard about your influences a lot. Come..We are having a chess play. Wanna Join?"

Cedric smiled and instinctively walked beside Aaron to sit down gracefully,

" Sure! How can I miss this chance of playing a game with two magnificent kings?"

Ethan urged hurriedly with an exciting smile,

" Let's get started then.."

Cedric hummed and suddenly proposed with a calm smile,

" But it would be a great loss if we don't bet on something."

Aaron agreed after giving it a thought and started to bet randomly,

" Umm..Sure..It would be more fun..How about we bet on jewels or horses..or..or..any land nearby..What do you say Cedric?"

Ethan also agreed without thinking much,

" Yes, you are so younger than us. You choose Cedric. Whatever you ask, we will agree."

Cedric's lips formed into a knowing smile. With his fingers placing the chess pieces on right spots gracefully, he commented calmly,

" Well, I don't lack any assets truly. But I want you to promise that if I win, you will give me whatever I want from you. Meantime, I want to think about it more deeply."

Neither Aaron or Ethan found any doubts behind his words. Only Esme who had a great observation skill wanted to stop them from promising such a weird request felt a hint of danger behind his words. But before she could spill out what was going on inside her mind, they both agreed with unison,

" Deal."

" No worries, Cedric. We are generous enough to reward you with anything."

Cedric smiled cheekily and glanced between two kings calmly. With his brief words, the chess play had begun words,

" Remember your words, kings."

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Hi everyone. Sorry for late today. I fell asleep lol. Now, tell me what are thinking about this play?*wink wink*