Chapter 35: Seal of the Silver Ring (Part II)

The pain in my body made me drowsy. In a trance, I felt a pair of glass-colored eyes staring at me.

Since I was only in a light slumber, I snapped awake instantly. With such an intense presence, who else could it be but Her Majesty, the Queen?

Every cell in my body went on alert; I felt exactly like a hedgehog bracing for battle. Before the Queen could step forward, a shadow flashed in the darkness and blocked her path, preventing her from approaching me.

"Oh?" She seemed slightly surprised, then laughed. "I won't do anything to her. Have you forgotten we are the same person?"

"Your Majesty, once she wakes, I will take her away from here." Alastor’s voice sounded exceptionally deep in the dark.

"I'm surprised you're defending her so fiercely," she chuckled softly. "Perhaps letting you get close to her in the first place was a mistake."

"The Inquisition has withdrawn from the Demon Realm, and the Sabbat no longer poses any threat to you. It's all over," Alastor lowered his head slightly. "I was the one who personally dragged her into this chaos; therefore, please let me be the one to personally send her back to where she belongs."

"Where she belongs? Isn't that right here?" The Queen smiled. "Don't forget, she is no longer human. Can she even survive in the human world?"

"I will stay with her."

"Stay with her? In what capacity? You aren't even her Creator," the Queen looked at him coldly. "Someone performed the First Embrace for her before you could."

My heart skipped a beat. What did she mean? Even if I hadn't been bitten by that inexplicable vampire, would I still have been turned into one by Alastor?

"Yes, it's quite a pity," Alastor actually began to smile. "How wonderful it would have been if she truly were my creation."

"I can feel that she is in pain," the Queen suddenly looked at me, as if seeing right through the fact that I was awake.

Alastor frowned slightly. "I have already asked those of the Healing Clan to look at her."

"In the art of healing, who could be stronger than Albus?" The Queen tilted her small face and smiled. "Let Albus see her; that way, she'll suffer less."

Alastor didn't speak, seemingly giving his tacit consent.

Albus? That giant block of ice?

I hurried to open my eyes to protest, but before I could speak, the Queen flashed me a sweet smile, and I instantly lost consciousness.

Good one, Your Majesty!

In a daze, I heard the sound of flowing water. When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying in a hot spring.

The surroundings were misty. Where was this?

While I was wondering, a figure approached.

Albus?! My eyes went wide as I remembered the Queen saying she'd have him treat my injuries. I struggled, but found I still couldn't move a muscle. I opened my mouth, but not a single sound would come out. That woman must have done something to me!

I could only watch as Albus drew closer. He suddenly stopped, and then... started taking off his clothes?!

I was dumbfounded. A striptease?

He elegantly removed his white robe, followed by his inner white shirt... and then...

I stared at him like an idiot. While it was certainly easy on the eyes... why on earth was he performing a striptease in front of me?

Or... did he have no idea I was even there?

He slowly stepped into the hot spring. His long silver hair floated in the water, contrasting against his pale, bare chest. He was indescribably beautiful.

I secretly despised myself for actually swallowing hard.

"Who's there?" Albus’s voice was slightly cold.

See... that’s what happens when you gulp.

Caught red-handed.

His pale, slender legs came to a halt right in front of me. I couldn't help but feel jealous of his skin. How could a grown man have skin smoother than a woman's? It made me look bad!

"You?" His voice rose slightly.

"Uh... well... I was here when I woke up... I wasn't peeping, I'm not a voyeur..." I stammered out a defense.

"Methinks thou dost protest too much," he said flatly.

I got angry and glared at him. "If I could move, do you think I'd want to look at you? What a lousy physique—no muscle to speak of, and you're as white as a girl!"

"Too small," he said, ever the man of few words.

"Huh?" I was confused.

Too small?

Following his gaze, I slowly looked down, and I froze.

I was... not wearing any clothes.

"They're bigger than yours!" I snapped, mortified. It was one thing to be seen naked, but how dare he look and then complain!

"Yes, bigger than mine." He looked down at himself and nodded in agreement.

I was petrified. I wanted to bash my head against a wall. Someone save me...

"Alastor!" I screamed.

Albus pulled his robe over to wrap around me, then picked up my still-immobile self in a horizontal carry.

With a blur of motion, Alastor appeared. Seeing me in this state, he paused, his face turning somewhat grim.

"Don't mind it; it was Her Majesty's prank," Albus smiled faintly. "Your Majesty, come out."

A prank? Stripping me bare and leaving me in the spring where Albus bathes?

"She was injured... I only..." A soft, light voice suddenly sounded behind us. The Queen stood barefoot in the air above the hot spring, looking at Albus warily.

The corner of Albus’s mouth curved slightly in a smile that made one shiver. "I understand, Your Majesty."

Having said that, he carried me and turned to leave.

"Albus! Albus!" She chased after him, but only managed to catch the corner of his sleeve.

I turned and saw an expression on her face as if she were about to cry. I was shocked. I had never seen such an expression on her face. Even if she looked like a ten-year-old and only reached my chest, she was always dominant, possessing a massive presence that was impossible to ignore. But now, she looked pathetic and vulnerable, exactly like a child.

With a light turn, Albus was already miles away.

"Let me go!" I snapped, coming back to my senses.

Picking a clean spot to set me down, Albus stared at me thoughtfully.

I shivered. "What are you looking at?"

He didn't speak, but slowly raised his hand. Pure white light gathered in his palm, and the radiance slowly covered my body. It was warm and comfortable, as if it instantly masked all the pain.

Even though it was the same healing art, his level was clearly far above Rose's.

Just as Albus withdrew his hand, I was pulled into a protective embrace by the arriving Alastor.

"Albus, are you angry with me?" The Queen bit her lip slightly, looking at him tentatively.

"I wouldn't dare," Albus said coldly, not looking at her. "I have healed her injuries as per your orders, Your Majesty."

Every dog has its day, I thought, stifling a laugh. This fearless Queen was actually afraid of Albus.

"I thought... you would be happy..." Her glass-colored eyes turned slightly red, and she bit her lip in grievance.

Albus gave her a cold look.

Truly cold-blooded. Seeing her look so pitiful and small, even I felt like pulling her into my arms to comfort her, forgetting she was the Queen.

"I... I became so small..." She sniffled. "I'm so afraid you'll grow tired of me... Anyway, anyway, she and I are the same person. Even if... even if you really liked her... I wouldn't mind..."

My jaw almost hit the floor. What was in this child's head? She put me in the pool naked just to appease her little lover?

What am I? A gift?

"Hmm?" Albus snorted coldly.

"It's been four hundred years, and I'm in this state—neither human nor ghost! I even loathe myself!" She bit her lip hard. "I'm so afraid you won't want me... so afraid you'll leave me..."

Albus sighed softly and opened his arms.

She blinked, her long, thick lashes covering her eyes. She walked to him and stood with her head down, silent.

Albus pulled her into his arms and turned to walk away.

I was fuming. Those two were just fine, acting as if no one else was around—what did they take me for?