What about my gift?
Cassius was completely flabbergasted by what his son had just said.
Even though in his heart, the king was cheering for joy 'son, you really understand your father's wish'
The boy just looked at them in turn innocently. He didn't even realize that his words just now made the two adults feel awkward.
Ophelia's cheeks turned red.
"Averio, you can't talk like that" Cassius stroked his son's head.
Of course he couldn't show that he was too overjoyed. He had to maintain his image in front of the girl.
"Why is that, dad?" the boy pouted. He turned to Ophelia as soon as his father disapproved of his words "Lia mommy, will you be my mother and take care of me forever?"
Ophelia was at a loss for words as soon as she felt the gaze of king Cassius fall on her. She found it difficult to breathe let alone move.
"I will always take care of you" the sentence came out with a slight quiver of nervousness.
Ophelia closed her eyes tightly. She tried to push all the wishful thinking out of her.head for fear that she might go crazy at the thought of it.
What happens if someone like her seems to be married to the king? It was a hope she never even dared to imagine.
Though the thought of it succeeded in making her heart beat wildly.
Cassius watched her closely to try to find the slightest hint of a smile from her. But the girl was still like a statue.
'Come agree. My son has given the green light'
Averio started to fuss "but that's different! I want it as my birthday present"
Naughty boy. Cassius thought.
His son was smart enough to use a moment like this to collect him a gift realizing that he rarely asked for gifts from his father.
Cassius pulled his son to sit beside him "Can you ask your mommy Lia if she wants to give you that gift?"
Ophelia immediately looked up at the king who gave her a mischievous smile.
'the king has burdened me with this answer' The girl grumbled in her heart.
She was reminded of the threats from princess Gwyneth and warnings from Louis.
She was just a commoner, an ordinary human who had inadvertently managed to grab the attention of the vampire king.
Although it is undeniable that there is a feeling that grows between the two of them. Still, Ophelia's voice won't affect anything.
"Come answer my son's question" Cassius urged impatiently.
The girl just stood there looking thoughtful. And when she turned back to Cassius, her face was sullen and her lips pursed. How cute. Cassius chuckled softly.
"It's not my right to answer that, prince Averio, I'm just your servant" Ophelia answered slowly.
Averio looked at her innocently. He blinked and next a look of disappointment dominated his face.
Ophelia felt sad to see the boy's disappointed face.
"Dad, does that mean Lia Mommy can't be my mother?" the boy to his father who was now looking intently at Ophelia.
Averio looks that he will soon cry.
Cassius ignored his son for a moment because he was focused on the human girl.
She now completely dropped her gaze to the floor.
Cassius didn't like how she was asserting her position and implicitly putting boundaries so they couldn't be together.
"dad... "
"Yes son?"
"what about my gift?"
"You will definitely get your gift later" Cassius answered as his gaze nailed Ophelia.
She felt shrunken under his gaze.
"But not now your dad needs time and effort to get what you want"
'I'll get you in the end' his gaze implied that kind of sentence.
The king's words sounded so sure and confident. As if he would do anything to get her.
Ophelia bit her tongue. 'His Majesty is reckless'
"But when dad?"
"Patience boy, that time will surely come. And you will get what you want"
'and what I want' He gave a smirk 'Ophelia, I have no intention of letting you go'
*****
Returning from a trip with the king to Enuyn, Ophelia was greeted by Eva who filled her with questions.
"His Majesty invites you?!"
"why?"
"Is the prince fussy that the king took you with them?"
This really took her and all the servants by surprise.
Once the king who always ended up killing the prince's nannies, his attitude changed a hundred and eighty degrees when this human girl worked for him.
He even took Ophelia on a trip with him and his son.
"Yes, His Majesty needs a little help." She smiled a little.
Eva looked at her a little suspiciously.
"I didn't do anything wrong while I was with them. I swear." Ophelia tried to reassure her.
Eva nodded "okay. Take care of yourself"
The king is a complicated person. Cold, predictable and doesn't like to be rejected.
All the workers already know it. And actually Ophelia was sufficiently evidenced by how the king behaved on the carriage this afternoon.
She didn't know if it was too late to be afraid.
*****
The prince's birthday party was held in three days.
She had never been in a party like this before. Surely the party would be lively, grand, and filled with wealthy vampire aristocrats.
As the prince's nanny, Ophelia felt that she needed to appear worthy so that she would not embarrass Averio and the king.
The girl had been rummaging through her closet long ago to find a gown worthy of her to wear to such a grand party.
But she forgot that because she almost never came to parties and lacked money, she didn't have a single nice dress.
The two simple plain dresses she had brought from her home in Fallside were too tight and too small.
Ophelia sighed in annoyance.
She thinks she needs to buy a dress for the occasion.
Ophelia didn't notice that her bedroom door was open. Cassius who was about to knock on the door stopped seeing the girl looking to mess up her own wardrobe
Cassius watched the girl confused and desperate in choosing clothes.
He walked in. Forgot to knock on the door "Do you need anything?"