Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 579: To save a country

Experiencing the grace of sunlight did not hit the same through the windows as it did when Arabella finally stepped outside to the gardens.

It had been a week since the last time her eyes were blessed with that beautiful view. The unnatural glow around the greenery told her the fairies had something to do with its upkeep, null doubt to compensate for the absence of Edgar until his return.

The chirps and giggles were not so hard to follow as the maids had garnished a long table decorated with many delicacies that were sure to delight one’s taste buds.

The white linen carrying the lot reflected the light so harshly that the young woman was forced to look away from it. The sparkling sterling silverware on top did not exactly help soften the effect.

Arumina, who was usually so great at maintaining her composure, was the first to practically throw herself into Arabella’s arms, tightening the embrace around her, "You did great, my dear,"

In response, the young woman stood patient and smiled sweetly.

Behind her, Estrid stood tall and straight, but something in her eyes lived differently. Her traits weren’t as sharp or stern either.

In fact, across all of their faces an expression alluding to the same sentiment transpired.

The pity that lingered in the mix was too much though... The weight that caused the pillars in her to shatter.

Still, she held it together and maintained the soft simper in their presence. After all, enough crying had been done already.

Much to her relief, the table was dressed for multiple people. They hadn’t planned a meal for just one person and sat or stood around her to watch. At least there was that tact.

Sharing food and drinks with other souls at the same table revealed oddly cathartic, considering the way Arabella had been deprived of that decency back at the castle. The decency of feeling like a human being. Like an equal to someone, anyone, instead of beneath them.

Nobody asked about her days spent as a floor mop in the castle... Nobody brought up what’s been done to her body or the nasty names she had been called by. It was just a nice catch up, breakfast and morning under a sun that knew how to keep everyone cozy without burning them.

The fairies attacked as Arabella was swallowing her last bite of food, zooming from the rose hedges straight for the table with the first line, Ariel smooshing herself against her right cheek whereas Floriel cried against the left one.

"Oh, Lord! I am sorry, I could not come back to you after my return," the little thing sobbed, "The syndicate allowed no one else to cross the border and said that if I dared disobey that I was not allowed to go back home anymore,"

"Floriel, dear," Arabella patted the fairy in her palm, "You have nothing to apologize for. You did your part perfectly. You saved the country so, be proud and hold your head high,"

"We could never have done it without your sacrifice so, as long as you hold your head high as well, then I will do," Floriel’s red cheeks stood out so clearly among the rest of her features, it was hard for Arabella to focus on anything else.

To hold her head high for the sacrifice she made they said... Was that even possible? Was she allowed to think such things of herself?

"Why didn’t you take me too? I could have helped as well!" there was no view of Ariel’s little face as she refused to lift it off the young woman’s cheek.

"I am sorry we took so long to show ourselves, but Floriel needed a moment to collect her thoughts before meeting you again," Liriel fluttered onto Arumina’s shoulder while the younger winged creatures swirled and glided around Arabella’s seated figure, "Come now, girls," she pleaded sweetly, "Come off her. You’ve dampened her face enough,"

Through the cries that attempted to drown her vocal cords, Arabella chuckled, "It’s alright. Just let them be. Let them get it all out,"

And get it all out they did!

It took them a little over ten minutes to simmer down and release their hold over her flushed cheeks. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

As the other maids cleared the table, Liriel moved to settle onto Arabella’s shoulder instead of Arumina’s.

"It was an insanely brave thing you did there," after a short pause, the fairy added, "Don’t allow anything or anyone to convince you otherwise,"

"It doesn’t feel like it, Liriel," she shook her head lightly, eyes on the fairies leaping from one rose to the other.

Liriel too followed her gaze but kept her mind on their conversation, "I suppose none of us can truly control what we feel about circumstances around us, but at least consider the fact that you saved the country,"

"Edgar, Cynric and Floriel saved the country. I had no hand in that," Arabella stated flatly.

"If you actually believe that then you should stop it right this second," Liriel mirrored her tone.

"How can I when I was the reason they got their hands on the map of the underground tunnels in the first place?"

To her surprise, Liriel let out a chortle, "Exactly, my dear. Exactly," she nodded.

Arabella’s brows furrowed at that out of pocket reaction, but no words left her mouth.

"The fact is, ever since we received word of the crown prince handling the kingdom’s affairs, we expected him to pull such a stunt. We simply did not and could not anticipate where or when the first strike would come,"

A stunt? Did she seriously call a war declaration a stunt?

"But with you as a part of the equation... Your presence and his behavior towards you helped us read the man like the open book he was. Knowing his connection to your... Late father, may peace find his soul, we could not tell for sure, but it gave us an insight as to the kind of methods and paths they were willing to take," after another short pause, she added, "I am sorry. My words must make you feel used, but what I just said was nothing but the truth. Floriel only brought the confirmation we’d been expecting to hear all along and...," the older fairy’s face fell completely, "Despite all the suffering you’ve been put through, know that your intervention, the role you’ve played in all of this has helped narrow down and contain the prince’s patterns. Thanks to you, another needless war ended before even getting the chance to see its first day,"