Terros appeared back in his place in front of the bamboo house.

Veronica was sitting on the balcony waiting for him. ​​

Terros climbed the stairs feeling tired.

"How's everyone?" Veronica asked.

"After putting Graven and everyone inside the deserted castle, the ground opened up and swallowed them all. They're currently underground, in the territory of the cursed King!" Terros replied. "I just come back here to rest. I will return to the castle later after I wake up." He stepped into the house and disappeared behind the door.

Veronica breathed deeply while shaking her head. She continues staring at the roots of the Oakenblossom Tree. She has to go back to the Windless Mountain and asked Elva about the proper way to use the thousand-year tree old tree.

Some ingredients may be needed before it can be an effective medicine to use. Her mistake was turning the roots into an elixir hastily without consulting the deity first.

She released a deep sigh.

She will go to the Windless Mountain right away after Terros is done with Graven's business.

She went back to the house to prepare the meal for lunch just in case Terros will wake up and want to eat something due to hunger.

Five hours later.

Lunchtime went by and the dish that Veronica had prepared has gone cold. She will just re-heat it later when the old man wakes up.

She chose not to disturb him because he was in a deep slumber. When she looked at his haggard face earlier - he badly needed a good rest.

She's aching to visit the deity, but she can't leave the plants alone without anyone tending and watering them every day. As soon this whole problem is over she will go back to the Windless Mountain and learned more about the thousand-year-old tree and its great healing powers.

Then her thoughts shifted to Graven and his men.

How are they doing right now beneath the ground of the castle? Are they okay? Are they still alive? Did the cursed King administer the antidote right away or let the men die for good?

She has lots of questions that have no answers.

She felt guilty that her healing skill failed to save Graven and his men. But what can she do? The black liquid is not only mysterious - it's also hard to study.

She left the balcony and went inside the house, she pushed the door open in Terros's room and looked at him... he's stirring in his sleep, he will soon wake up any moment now.

She went back to the tiny kitchen and starts the fire to re-heat the soup dish that she mixed with veggies and dried bits of chicken meat.

A few minutes later, she was done re-heating the dish.

Terros had finally awakened from his sleep and left his room, he went to the kitchen after sniffing the delicious aroma of chicken soup. "I'm hungry!" he said.

"Sit down, I'll set the table for you," Veronica said.

"Thank you!" he said while caressing his tummy that is already rumbling due to hunger.

Veronica transferred the dish into the serving bowl and placed the plate and spoon in front of Terros.

He began eating in silence.

Veronica watched the old man devouring his meal silently.

>>

Meanwhile...

Across the miles.

At the vampire couple's mansion.

Corbin and Rebecca are in the garden, sitting on the bench, admiring the white and yellow daffodils that are in full bloom.

"So lovely!" Rebecca murmured.

"But you my dear is lovelier than the daffodils!" Corbin stated.

Rebecca looked at her companion and smiled. "You're such a sweet talker! You are so good in flattery!" she commented.

Corbin smiled and pinched her nose. "I'm telling you the truth!" he said.

Rebecca giggled. "Stop showering me with your flattery! I might not be able to live without them," she joked.

Corbin looked at her meaningfully. "Then stay by my side, don't leave me! I will fill your world with love and bliss," he said sincerely.

Rebecca released a deep sigh. Day after day, Corbin never failed to shower her world with his intoxicating affection. After the wedding, and she's out there after a successful escape, she would definitely miss his sweet and caring attitude.

Things would have been better if he was not the son of the vampire couple, she can accept him with all her heart. She considered the vampire couple as her foe and the enemy of her friends, therefore, she and Corbin could never be together in this lifetime.

Corbin studied her face. "You're in deep thoughts again..." he commented.

Rebecca sighed. "I never thought that the time would come that I'm going to marry someone that I've only known for a short time! This is so absurd!" she said.

"Me too... when I first meet you and discovered that you are an impostor, I know right there that we are straight-up enemies. I didn't expect that I'm going to fall in love with you ending up marrying you in just two weeks. Never in my wildest dream! Life is indeed unpredictable," he whispered in her ears.

Rebecca grinned and caressed his handsome face lovingly. "This must be fate!" she said.

"Yeah. Destiny is certainly playing a cruel joke on us... or maybe it has other plans for us," Corbin suggested.

Rebecca shrugged and sighed.

"How I'm gonna live my life after you left my side?" he asked gloomily.

Rebecca looked at him. "Life must go on for you and me. I'm just a passerby in your life. Don't cry for me and don't hold on to our memories. You deserved to be happy with someone you truly love. Soon, you will meet new women and you will forget everything that we shared with time."

"No, I will never meet someone like you again. You're simply unique and the only one of your kind in this world. That's why I fall in love with you. Rest assured that I'll be waiting for your return no matter how long it takes, I will wait for you!" Corbin said in a heartfelt voice, pledging his love and loyalty to her.

Rebbeca shifted her attention to the blooming flowers, misty-eyed. She avoided his gaze. It's distressful to see how quickly he fall in love with her. How devastating it would be for the two of them when the time of separation comes and she will leave his side for good, never to return. He must bear the pain of their separation alone... while she will be surrounded by the comfort of her friends, that is ready to cheer her up when she's feeling down and lonely.

For once she pitied Corbin. But she must not be swayed by the pity that she felt for him. Their separation would be painful but bearable. The feelings they have for each other would fade away after a long time of not seeing each other.

The silence thickened around them.

Corbin wrapped his arms lovingly around Rebecca and planted a gentle kiss on her head. He's going to miss her laughter, her voice, her scent, her beautiful face, and everything about her.

The longer time he spent with her the more he doesn't want to let her go, but he knows that it's just a matter of time before she will find a way to escape and leave his side forever. That's why he won't leave her side no matter what - while the wedding preparations are still ongoing.

If there's one thing that he and his mother shared in common right now... they both want the wedding to go smoothly as possible, and after that, he is ready to prepare for the consequences of his action.

Rebecca's desire to leave is as great as his desire to persuade her stay by his side, but he can't force her to stay...she will always find a way to leave his side and he has to be mentally and emotionally ready when that time comes.

He sweeps his gaze around the area. "This place looks beautiful..." he murmured.

Rebecca smiled, she looked at the flowers then looked at his face in amusement. "You only notice that this garden is beautiful? Where have you been?" she asked him jokingly.

Corbin smiled and pinched her nose. "This garden has been here all the time since the day my family bought this place a long time ago. But I never sit on this bench and admire the blooming flowers, I just saw them every day from afar, I have taken them for granted all this time. I only see their beauty when you come into my life and learned to admire them with you by my side," he said meaningfully.

Rebecca's face broke into a grin. "Wow, you're getting romantic, darling..." she said. She starts caressing his thighs.

Corbin watched her hands on his thighs, he looked at her face. "What are you doing?" he asked in amusement.

Rebecca smiled naughtily. "What do you think?" she winked at him playfully.

Corbin's face broke into a mischievous grin. "Oh... you're horny?" he asked.

"Kind of..." Rebecca answered, giggling.

Corbin laughed. "Oh my... so let's go back to our room now and let's do something about it," he whispered in her ears and starts nuzzling her neck.

She moved away from him. "Hey...don't do that here...the servants might see us!" she reprimanded him.

Corbin chuckled. "Darling... you're such a tease...! It's okay to caress my thighs while it's not okay to nuzzle your neck, eh? Shrewd woman!" he said and pinched her nose playfully. He rose to his feet excitedly. "Let's go back to our room and try to remedy that itch you have down there..." he grinned naughtily, staring at the area between her legs. Damn! Her horniness quickly rubbed on him.

"Alright, darling...let's return your room now," Rebecca purred, gazing at him seductively. A playful smile curled up on her lips.

The couple left the garden and went back to the house holding each other's hands.