Chapter 338: Blind
The little square of paper was thick, clearly of the highest quality available on the market.
Even the envelope it had come in was a delight to manipulate between one’s fingers. Crimson red, the emblem decorating the wax seal on it was unmistakable, giving access to the even smoother surface that thin, white coat of paper harbored.
The front side of the invitation glistened under the light so brilliantly one could believe it beat with life.
The silver gilded lines that garnished its four sides, closer to the edges, painted eye-catching patterns that were only outdone by the calligraphy at the heart of the drawn perimeter.
The words on it described the joy they were invited to witness and take part of.
To stand present at the wedding night of the beloved and renowned silver warrior, Silas Eleazar.
"Well, this is... Most unexpected," Lord Dragomir held the invitation between his thumb and index.
"It doesn’t make any sense," Reubon sat tame in his seat, his voice at the peak of monotony, "That cow swore up and down that he was head over heels for my daughter and yet here we hold the invitation to his wedding? Mere days after her demise?" the man slowly rubbed the fingers on one of his hands together. That action when combined with his furrowed eyebrows earned him the most skeptical of pensive expressions.
"Lauden?"
The vampire’s eyes snapped away from Reubon before connecting with his Lord’s. His features softened significantly and quickly after that, "Yes, my Lord?" He cleared his throat.
Dragomir’s lips moved a few seconds before the words ever followed, giving Lauden the impression that he wasn’t uttering what had initially come to his mind, "Have you heard anything from our friend?"
By friend, the vampire assumed he meant none other than Edna.
"Nothing yet,"
"Just as unreliable as I said she’d be," Reubon scoffed, "I told you, putting your faith in a woman would lead to no good," upon receiving no response, Sterling added, "What about your other informant? Is it a woman as well?" a chuckle escaped the man, "Because if that’s the case, then don’t expect any better results. Disappointment isn’t good for the heart. You may ask me all about it, I should know something or two,"
"Lovely," the word came out before Lauden had the time to properly weigh it.
The two of them exchanged a cold glare that lasted until Dragomir put an end to it, "The invitation says nothing about the bride to be which is even more perplexing," his eyes scoured the piece of paper for a detail he missed or any clue about the bride, but to no avail.
"Oh, come now! Isn’t it obvious?" Reubon stood to his feet at once, "Your two informants vanish around the same time. We receive an invitation to the wedding of that freak despite there being rumors he was pining after my daughter who supposedly bit the dust less than five days ago," the man strung those words together at very short intervals of time, earning him the impression of being in a hurry and certainly on the edge, judging by the glower on his face.
"Well, enlighten us," Dragomir breathed in, puffing his chest.
In reply, Reubon held his own invitation slightly higher before waving it around a little, "There is only one explanation for this," he paused before adding, "My daughter is still alive,"
"That is a possibility to consider," Dragomir took a seat.
He and Lauden exchanged a brief glance as Reubon’s eyes had turned away for a moment. What they were trying to communicate remained unclear to both, but Lauden thought he perceived a hint of pity on his Lord.
"Oh, please, why else would I receive my own invitation then?"
"Because you are a guest under an Umbrarian Lord’s roof. Such is our culture, or have you already forgotten where you stand?" Lauden did his best not to spit those words with more firmness than he should.
Lord Dragomir eyed his servant for a moment but then seconded his statement, "True it is," he threw the invitation on the table in front of him, "It is in our custom to invite guests of our... Guests to weddings. No matter where they come from,"
Reubon seemed to simmer down after that.
Only his heart beats sang for the two vampires with him in the room, betraying his emotional state.
Not that either of them cared for his wellbeing. Most particularly Lauden who did not appreciate the way Sterling spoke of Edna one bit.
The servant wished for nothing more than to see him hurt... Suffering.
"So, what is the plan then?" Reubon cleared his throat and looked at everything that wasn’t Lauden or Dragomir.
"Well, it would be unwise to prepare anything while we remain blind and, on the outside," Dragomir played with his cane in hand, "And besides-"
He cut himself off, eyes darting towards the door. Lauden copied his action upon noting the pair of feet tapping the hallway floor, heading straight their way.
Soon, the doors opened, revealing a young-looking woman donning a maid uniform. She curtsied first before sharing the information on her tongue, "My Lord," her eyes remained on the floor, "The Lady wants to see you,"
"Thank you, Yamma," he said, "Please let her know that I will be there in a moment as I am still in the middle of a meeting,"
Yamma shifted a tad in her spot, "Yes, well...," she stumbled on her words momentarily, "She’s already been told that and... She did not take that answer quite well,"
"With all due respect, my Lord," Lauden chimed in, "I believe it unwise to make the Lady wait in times such as these. Please consider heading there right this second to limit the consequences,"
Dragomir heeded the warning of his right-hand man and went to meet his wife as requested.
That left Lauden alone with Reubon in the room.
The latter scoffed something about women not knowing where they stand. The vampire did not entertain the thought and simply suggested calling it a night, but the look on Sterling’s face announced nothing good.
Lauden had the inkling he was plotting something of his own... And that something null doubt promised no favorable results.
Or perhaps it did. It was hard to gauge things with everything going on.