Chapter-11 Stephano

"I hope only in a sisterly manner. Let's not forget I have a husband now, someone I have started to like already," Elliana's eyes dropped to Stephano's hand gripping hers, and the latter removed his hand awkwardly, his admiring eyes not moving from her face.

Sebastian looked at the girl with a neutral expression before walking inside the hall where his grandpa already left.

"Why are you sitting there?" The old man asked when he saw Elliana sitting at the other corner of the table.

"I am a pure vegetarian, and Mr. Marino has allowed me to eat at some distance. It's not like this distance of a few minutes really makes a difference when we spend our whole day together, right?" Elliana smiled and sat on her seat elegantly once everyone sat.

Once the food was served, Abramo looked at his youngest grandson before putting his fork down.

"Sebastian, I came here to meet your bride, but my purpose was to ask you about the vampires from your palace near the council," The old man asked, extending his powerful aura that made Elliana's hair on her neck stand and Sebastian, who was least bothered by his overbearing aura, paused his cutlery and looked at the man he has grown with calling grandpa.

"I don't know what you are talking about," Sebastian said, and Abramo clenched his fists around the fork.

Around all his grandkids, his youngest grandson, Sebastian, has been someone he has never been able to tame or find something against. It is so hard to read him all the time. He always has this cold aura around him that keeps everyone away like a large wall.

Sebastian's father, Leonardo, was the same. However, he had turned like this after he became a king. But to say Sebastian has surpassed his father would be an understatement.

And this constant mask on his face that makes it hard to read his facial expressions is another thing that gets on his nerves.

After losing both his parents, Sebastian has become someone not to reckon with, and his power and aura are only increasing. If this continues, Abramo won't be surprised if Sebastian makes it impossible for Stephano to get on the throne. He has surprised his other elder siblings too.

The prophecy about the youngest being the cruelest would come true. And Abramo didn't want that to happen. That is also the reason when the council suggested that a prince should marry a human girl to save the world from another human-vampire war and this constant attack from hunters who are destroying families, Abramo gave Sebastian's name for it.

Abramo was aware that the girl in front of him wasn't the one they had decided upon. This was something he immediately found out when she saw their wedding photos last night. He had done some research before coming here and found out that the girl was the illegitimate daughter of the king of the hunter bloodline and was the most innocent and naive in the family. He was happy to hear this.

Maybe, if Sebastian stayed around a kind human, he might learn some basic emotions that he lacks, like compassion and kindness.

Abramo looked at the girl once again, who was busy eating like nothing happening on the table mattered to her, and sighed.

Or this could work in an opposite direction and become the reason for the third supernatural species war with humans.

She is too oblivious, and he can see Sebastian losing his temper at her someday. He can only hope that this girl tames the beast Sebastian has become before anything like that happens.

"Don't try to fool me, son. I have been ruling this world for quite a long time to call for your petty tricks and words," Abramo breathed, and Sebastian hummed.

"Or your old age is finally catching up to you. No matter what you say, my answer is going to stay the same," Sebastian's cold eyes challenged the old man who was a few centuries older than him, and Elliana felt the pressure on the dining table as a cold shiver ran down her spine.

However, she didn't let the nervousness show on her face.

"Sebastian, I am not blaming you without any reason. I was in the council house when I saw your agents lurking in the forests. The council might have overlooked them, but I know what kind of agents my grandsons are rearing," Abramo paused before taking a deep breath.

"Tell me. What kind of information are you looking for? What do you suspect? Or should I ask, what part of the state are you thinking about attacking now?" Abramo's jaws clenched, remembering the last time Sebastian caused havoc.

Elliana looked at Sebastian monetarily when she felt that the grandpa was becoming too angry with Sebastian's quietness and bit her lips before dabbing her lips with a tissue softly.

"I am sorry to interrupt and apologize to the elders, but this is a dining table. Even if you guys aren't interested in eating, you can bring the topic to discuss in the meeting or office. This is the first meal of the day. Shouldn't we have it in peace rather than ruining it?" Elliana interrupted when she saw that the grandson and grandpa were almost on the edge of grabbing each other's throats.

Her words immediately drew their attention. Abramo realized what he was doing and how badly he was portraying himself in front of the human bride and took a deep calming breath.

Sebastian was amazed to hear her speaking after all that time. She sounded really confident, like a princess he wanted her to pretend like. But he was even more amazed to hear the familiar words.

'First meal of the day, bring the fight to the office, eat peacefully,' these were some of the words his mother often used to use whenever Sebastian and his father would talk about things and forget eating in between.

"I forgot. Your aunt Ruth will also be making her presence known in any minute -"

A female vampire rushed inside the dining room with a swoosh, and before Elliana could react, she was scooped up from her place.

"Oh my god, she looks so lovely. Isn't she the prettiest thing in the room?" Ruth blinked in pure amazement, and Sebastian looked at his cousin, who looked like he would die from embarrassment.

"Mom, she is not a thing. A human," Stephano stifled the urge to groan.

His mother was practically holding the girl like she was some big teddy bear in the air.

How is he supposed to react to that when he is here to ensure he insults Sebastian in front of his wife? His mother has embarrassed him in return. Stephano closed his eyes before huffing and opening them.

"Mom," Stephano warned.

Ruth looked at the old man, who had an amused smile, then at Sebastian, whose eyes were neutral like always, before her gaze went to the girl, looking back at her with big wide eyes.

"Hi, I am Elliana Heart," Elliana didn't know what else to say in a situation where she is held up like a rag doll.

If she had any doubts about how powerful this species was, they were nicely cleared.

"If you could put her down, maybe she would be able to finish eating and not actually throw up because of how you are holding her so tight like you want to break her ribs," Sebastian commented after a long time.

Ruth raised her brows before putting Elliana down as if she was the most delicate artifact in the dining hall.

"I am sorry, I didn't realize," Ruth chuckled awkwardly before going around the table and sitting beside Stephano.

"Dad, why didn't you look for a girl like that for our Stephano too? I don't care which bloodline she belongs to. I want a bride just like Elliana for Stephano,"

Ruth blinked at Elliana like she was smitten by her.

"I am glad you like my bride," Sebastian commented before slicing his steak, and Elliana stole a look at her husband.

It was really difficult to find what he was thinking about from his mask.

Was he happy that his family members were here? It didn't particularly look like that. Then again, it's not like she has seen the prince happy about anything.

She sighed when the elders started to talk again and drowned their voices in the back of her mind.

She wasn't much of a political person.

Since she was an illegitimate daughter, Marla never allowed her to step foot into the meeting room. Her stepmom was afraid that if Elliana showed even the tiniest hint of being intellectual, the king might actually start involving her in the kingdom deals, and that was the last thing she wanted to happen.

As Elliana was eating, she noticed the four vampires standing and walking out.

Sebastian threw her a look, and she had the strongest urge to roll her eyes at the prince. He wanted her to act tough and confident? She gets that. But what does it have to do with the food?

She sighed before wiping her mouth.

The chef, who had been looking at the princess, or should he say, peeping at her, sighed disappointedly before turning around.

He didn't see the slightest hint of her smile and satisfaction with food. He threw the cloth in his hand on the counter in disappointment.

"I understand that the princess is only eighteen and a human, but isn't this thing a bit too childish for her age?" A maid sighed behind the chef, and Chef rolled his eyes.

He turned around to hang his apron over the nail when he saw the plate the princess was eating in placed near the sink.

It had a small heart in the middle of the plate with a spoon and fork, and his eyes widened.

Did the princess find a new way to compliment his cooking?

Right. How could she enjoy the food in front of in-laws like that? The chef smiled like a kid who got his favorite appreciation before humming a random song.

The maid, who saw the chef singing while holding the Princess's plate, quirked her brows at him.

"Are you out of your mind? Do you want to get killed? The main family members are here. Keep it down," The maid said, and the Chef immediately went to his professional attitude, smiling giddily inside.