Heart Over Sword-Chapter 286: Elven Wine Is Better

Even without some of the family drama that followed, Isabel made snide comments about Evanna travelling with men, and she quietened not only Isabel but the queen with her sharp responses whilst Arawn was enjoying the simple engagement celebration. After eating, they’d also engaged in conversation with other nobles that Evanna did not seem at all bothered about speaking with for very long. They mostly talked to Garrett, Ger, Ronan and Axel, who sat on a separate table.

A table that was becoming known as the hero’s table, and after some time, Evanna left them, realising there were many women who wanted their attention. Ronan and Axel didn’t mind the attention and conversed back, but Ger looked at them like they were disgusting insects matching Garrett’s expression. In fact, their thoughts on the matter were pretty similar.

Ger had grown up in these halls, facing the scrutiny of the nobles because of his father’s deeds, ultimately making him and his mother poor and working as servants in the palace. He knew how the nobility were like vultures. They were only giving them attention now because of their titles and their entrance into the palace, which made an exciting story for years to come. He also despised most of them for the treatment of Evanna.

These fancy dinners and parties didn’t mean anything to him. Not anymore. Ger once strived to be a part of all this instead of working for the nobles. Since dying and returning to life as this... this beast, he had no such desire to return to society. Soon, he would be gone.

It didn’t take much for the women to stay clear of him as well. Their initial response was the usual, eyeing him up, taking in the expensive attire he wore, his roguish looks and deep blue eyes, so similar to the navy seas, until up close they would finally see the disinterest in his gaze and the slight difference of his right eye. It was hard to try and overlook something like that, and it served as a reminder of what he was.

They didn’t know what he was. But the stories had swirled around the palace and transformed into wild tales about what Ger was. Some might find it enticing to meet and gain his attention, whereas others might stay further away. Whatever.

Ger glanced at Garrett, who drank from the wine the servant girl poured him, and he crinkled his nose in disgust, commenting in Muranthian. Ger didn’t need to understand his words to know the elf did not like the wine and probably compared it to the superiority of elven wine.

Garrett sighed, frowning at the horrid taste in his mouth. He couldn’t wait to return to Direwood Forest. How these humans enjoyed such wine and food was beyond him. It was like they didn’t enjoy differing flavours. He tapped his finger, watching Arawn and Evanna dancing on the floor, their steps in time, eyes locked as though nobody else mattered in the world.

They truly were quite the match, and everyone here could either see it or envy them. It was apparent in their expressions. The queen and her daughter, Isabel, also made it obvious their dislike for Evanna and her mother. Garrett searched for Lady Loraven. She was standing beside the king, conversing as they watched their daughter smiling happily and dancing with Arawn.

The king stepped away after Princess Isabel called for him, glaring at Loraven, who was unfazed by her childish whims. Garrett rose from his chair, ignoring some of the women trying to engage him in conversation and stood beside Loraven, providing her with some company. He didn’t like how some looked at her, and it wasn’t because of what she was, either. Nobody knew that Loraven was an elven princess from Lyvaria.

"These people do not know better. They lack the knowledge of the elves and the world beyond their kingdoms," Loraven said softly. "They are not all so bad."

Garrett nodded. "They find me... exotic." It was vulgar and annoying. He stood out even more than Arawn because of the colour of his skin. Standing beside Loraven meant nobody would approach them, and that was how he preferred it. He couldn’t wait to return to Direwood Forest, where everything made sense again.

Loraven sighed, placing her wine glass on the server’s tray and accepting the last one on there. "How is Thalinal? I have not seen him-"

"My lady."

Loraven paused, and the pair turned around to the newcomer. Loraven’s eyebrows rose at the vampire bowing to her. Garrett took a step forward almost protectively until Loraven held her hand up. "Killian. I did not expect you to still be here," Loraven greeted.

"How delightful," Killian smirked, his red eyes glinting deviously. "I saved you on many occasions, and you wish for me to leave so quickly. How hurtful."

Killian did not look hurt. "You know that is not what I mean." Loraven sipped on her wine before continuing. "My daughter made promises with you. As you can see, I am well and... ahem..." Loraven frowned, rubbing her throat. "You can leave and do... ahem ahem."

Loraven sipped on the wine to get rid of the tickle in her throat. As soon as her lips touched the rim of the glass, Killian knocked it out of her hands, causing the glass to smash on the ground and the hall of people to stop and look in their direction. The vampire was gone, out of sight to others, leaving Garrett standing there looking disgruntled until Loraven started smacking her chest.

Her eyes were wide, wheezing like there was a blockage in her windpipes. Garrett watched her like everyone else until his eyes dropped to the contents on the floor. Evanna rushed over from the dance floor, Arawn close in pursuit. The moment she got to her mother’s side, Loraven collapsed in Garrett’s arms.

"Mother!" Evanna started patting Loraven’s cheeks and smelled her breath. "Poison. Someone poisoned my mother! Physician! We need a physician!"

"Oh, how awful," Isabel approached, watching the king rush to their side as they awaited for a physician to help. "I do wonder, would this elf here have anything to do with it?"

Evanna’s glare cut straight to Isabel. Did she have something to do with this?! How could she step forward and instantly point fingers at a guest? An elf from the Florian kingdom at that.

"Isabel!" King Osian snapped as Garrett helped Evanna lay Loraven on the ground. His voice startled Evanna; he wasn’t usually so sharp with Isabel, but she was acting like a spiteful little child. "Instead of speculating like the other nobles, you should be doing your part as a princess."

Loraven’s wheezing snapped Evanna out of her rage, and she looked away from Isabel, pausing her thoughts on the girl so she could focus on her mother.

The king ordered the guards to guard the hall so nobody could leave, whilst a physician came through the crowds. Amidst the chaos, Arawn locked eyes with Killian, who remained in the shadows and tilted his head back, gesturing for him to meet with him. Through teary eyes, Evanna watched her fiancé leave, parting some of the crowds to meet with the handsome vampire who wanted to remain out of sight from others besides his master.

Evanna wanted Arawn to stay by her side, aide her, and provide her comfort in this time as her mother struggled with her life, but she knew her fiance was getting straight to the issue here. Killian had been helping her mother and spying on the palace whilst she tracked the gem, so she trusted them to get to the bottom of this.

Updat𝓮d from freew𝒆bnovel(.)com