7 Visiting the Palace

The realisation that Vance was not able to go through the night without shivering in cold unless he had the woman's touch infuriated him tremendously. Life was terribly unfair. How could a great werewolf like him be turned into nothing in front of a mere human? Why did a mighty immortal creature need a woman's touch to go on living without freezing to death?

Before the curse, Vance was an unbeatable werewolf duke whom everyone feared. Now, they had pity in their eyes whenever they looked at him, as though he was so fragile that if someone sneezed too loud near him, he would be shattered. He was still the Duke of Nightwind! A werewolf who had lived for over a thousand years!

'How dare they belittle me like I am a weak creature that has to be protected by humans?' thought Vance angrily. His pride as a great werewolf duke was hurt.

Not only embarrassing, this was also an incredibly troublesome situation for him. With so many people aiming to steal his position as the Duke of Nightwind, he certainly couldn't show his weakness or everyone would trample him with ease and Nightwind would be taken over in a blink. The other dukes would gladly help them get rid of him right away when they were given the chance. With him gone, they would have less competition for the throne.

Seeing the only woman who could bring Vance warmth did nothing but upset him. He should be relieved that someone who was able to prolong his life finally appeared before him. However, at the same time, the woman had full control over his life. If one day she decided to deprive him of her touch, she could kill him without having to do anything. Using Ichorhold as a guarantee and a threat was the only thing he could think of, so that they would stand on the same ground with no one having advantage over the other.

What made Vance even more irritated was that the woman was fully aware of what she was capable of. She didn't have an ounce of fear on her face when she met him while knowing he was a werewolf. It was evident that she was not afraid of him, for she was able to take him down whenever she pleased. He despised the fact that she had that much power over him. He was supposed to be unbeatable and intimidating. That woman reduced him to a frail, sickly werewolf who was unable to protect himself and depending on her to stay alive.

'The audacity of that woman!' thought Vance spitefully as he saw her leisurely walking towards the carriage he was in.

Vance was certain he had told the woman that she had ten minutes to have her breakfast. Yet, she only came out of the manor twenty minutes later, wasting ten minutes of his time. She dared to disobey him. This woman had no fear towards him at all. He had to show her how powerful he could be and engrave it in her mind that she must show her respect to him.

"You are late," pointed out Vance after Melva climbed into the carriage to sit beside him. He purposely put on his most intimidating face to demonstrate his authority.

"My apologies, Your Grace," apologised Melva, slightly bowing her head. "I will suffer from stomach ache if I eat in a hurry. I would rather not trouble you with my illness."

Vance widened his eyes in disbelief at her smart and rebellious response. Refusing to back down, he replied by exerting his authority. "You should hope we arrive at the palace on time or there will be consequences."

Undaunted by the threat in his words, Melva only nodded as an answer and she averted her gaze, opting to look at the window instead of him. She seemed like she had no intention to engage in another conversation with him for the rest of the trip.

'Perfect. I am also not in the mood to face her,' thought Vance in irritation, turning his head to look at the window as well.

Vance couldn't decide how to behave towards Melva, whether he should be straightforward and openly express his distaste for her or be polite and tolerate her. He despised how her existence made him weak, but at the same time he needed her to stay alive. 

Being in her presence was difficult for Vance as somehow, her scent was unusually enticing to him. No other humans had ever given him the same reaction as he had with Melva. He wasn't really fond of the taste of humans, only consuming their flesh if the situation deemed it was necessary, yet this woman appeared very appealing in front of him. He had to endure his hunger for her flesh and his thirst for her blood everytime they were near each other, which was almost all the time, since her presence was something he was unable to live without. Drinking animal's blood and eating animal's meat was not enough to quench his thirst and hunger. And this woman only made it harder for him to control himself.

In conclusion, he disliked her.

Around half an hour later, they arrived at the palace and the coachman opened the carriage door for them. Vance stepped out of the carriage first and as the coachman was about to help Melva climb out of the vehicle, he stopped him by raising his hand.

"Lady Melva will be waiting in the carriage whilst I am having an audience with the King," said Vance to the coachman who nodded his head in understanding. He turned to Melva who was still staring out the window. "Don't cause trouble whilst I am away."

"Don't worry, Your Grace. I am perfectly capable of staying still and doing nothing," replied Melva, her words laced with sarcasm.

Bantering with the woman was not his priority, so he cut the conversation short. "Good. I will come back in a couple hours." 

Vance left the carriage and headed towards the palace. A few guards hurriedly came to escort him inside after offering their polite greetings which he returned. The castle was immensely huge, but he was familiar with every corner, for he had been visiting the building for more than a thousand years. He had the map of the establishment burned into his memory.

He unconsciously walked ahead of the guards who were escorting him and found his way to the courtroom in his haste to announce his recovery. Even after a few years being bedridden and unable to visit the palace, he still knew the way like the back of his hand. One of the guards had to run ahead of him to open the door and announce his arrival.

"Your Majesty, Duke Vance of Nightwind has arrived," announced the guard loudly.

There was no one else besides the King and his entourage inside the courtroom. The other dukes and the ministers were nowhere to be seen, meaning the morning council meeting had not yet started. He was relieved that he was early, considering he was almost late because of an unprecedented circumstance, which was the woman.

The King immediately stopped talking with his advisor once he saw Vance entering the courtroom, bowing politely as he approached the throne where the King sat. Expressing his wish to speak privately with Vance, the King dismissed his entourage to leave them alone in the courtroom.

"Glad to see you on your feet again, Vance. How are you feeling?" asked the King pleasantly as he stood to pat Vance's shoulder before sitting back on his throne.

"Very good, Your Majesty. Thank you for asking," answered Vance in a polite manner, even if the King treated him like his own son. "I apologise for my absence in the council meetings during the last couple years."

The King waved his hand dismissively, chuckling in amusement. "You were ill and bedridden. How could I possibly blame you for being sick? I heard from Father Seymour that the woman who is capable of healing you has arrived in your dwelling yesterday. I want to meet her. Did she come here with you?"

"Yes. She is waiting in the carriage as of now."

"Bring her in. Let her join us for breakfast."

"I'm afraid it is not proper, Your Majesty. She was only a townswoman before she was brought to my residence." Vance had not expected the King would ask to meet her. The request took him by surprise. He was worried the woman would say improper things about him in the presence of the King. 

"It is proper when I say it is," insisted the King. "She is the woman who saved your life, Vance. I want to thank her. And we also need to talk about your marriage."

Vance's face fell when the topic of marriage was mentioned. Marriage was the last thing he wanted to do. "Ah, about that… I am not ready for marriage. She is already living in my house. I do not think marriage is necessary."

"It is necessary. Vance, you know that you cannot be eligible to be a candidate for my successor if you are not married," reminded the King seriously. 

The King was incapable of producing an heir, which was why he decided to choose one of the dukes to step up and take over his throne when he retired. He had expressed his preference for a duke who was married and able to produce a son, because he couldn't have done so himself.

"I know. But, does it have to be her?" Vance couldn't see having Melva as his wife would be anything but torture.

"No, it does not," answered the King honestly. "But, can you imagine living with a wife that is not her whilst needing her touch at the same time? If you can live that way, then I apologise for assuming you cannot."