Garden Of Poison-Chapter 250: Irreversible step

Emily followed Raylen’s lead as he led her towards the dance floor, bathed in the glowing light that cascaded from the chandeliers suspended from the ceiling. Her hand remained firmly enclasped in his, and her heart began to quicken with a touch of nervous anticipation.

The other couples who had been dancing earlier were quick to move aside and make way for the King, giving them the centre of the dance floor. Emily and Raylen became the central focus of the room. Raylen paused, executing a graceful turn to face Emily. A moment of hushed anticipation descended upon some of the guests, their attention captivated by the King’s commanding presence on the dance floor.

"Is that Beatrice?" inquired a curious female guest, her gaze firmly fixed on the couple on the dance floor.

"No, that’s not her. Beatrice is over there, to the right," another guest corrected, gesturing discreetly. "The lady in the centre is Princess Emily Blackthorn of Versailles."

Meanwhile, Beatrice stood at a distance, wearing a mask that concealed only half of her eyes. She clutched a glass firmly in her hand, her gaze unwaveringly fixed on the couple commanding the dance floor’s spotlight. Accustomed to being the focal point of such grand events, she felt a sting of displacement. In one swift motion, she drained her glass and, with a blend of elegance and indignation, made her abrupt exit from the ballroom.

On the dance floor, Emily’s heart fluttered with excitement as Raylen closed the distance between them. He gently placed his hand on the small of her back, drawing her closer. His calm blue eyes locked onto hers, creating an intimate connection that seemed to make the rest of the world around them fade away.

"Your hand, Princess," Raylen gently prompted, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Yes," Emily responded, feeling a warm blush spread across her cheeks under his intense gaze. She lifted her hand gracefully, resting it on his shoulder.

Noting that the King and his dance partner had assumed their positions, the music finally began to play a new melody. It was a tune unfamiliar to the guests, and they couldn’t help but feel a sensation of lightness in their chests as the music swelled, reaching out to caress the walls and ceiling.

Emily took a step forward, while at the same time, Raylen gracefully moved backwards, their feet perfectly synchronised as they danced to the ethereal music. She had danced with many partners since her arrival in the Storm Kingdom, but nothing could compare to this moment.

Raylen, with a hint of satisfaction in his voice, remarked, "It appears I’ve finally succeeded in securing a place on your dance card."

"Indeed, you have," Emily replied, her gaze locked on the confident, patient man before her, captivated by the moment. "A birthday wish."

Raylen’s lips curled into a smile. "Playing safe, are we, Princess?"

As Raylen’s hand gently encircled her waist, the expression in his eyes shifted to one of seriousness. This subtle change sent a tremor through her heart.

Emily saw him take a step away from her before twirling her so that her dress fanned out like a bird’s wings, showcasing its exquisite beauty. After the third turn, his hand returned to the side of her waist. Her heart leaped to her throat, and as she placed her hand back on his shoulder, she inquired,

"What’s your favourite part of your birthdays?"

"Eating cake," Raylen replied with a grin that began to spread across his lips.

"I should have guessed," Emily murmured, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Plenty of time to remember it, Red," Raylen teased, observing as her eyes briefly lowered, as though she sought to conceal something from him. Then, switching to a more earnest tone, he added, "But on a serious note, I believe my favourite part would be being in my room, savouring a fine liquor with quality blood."

"Alone, because of the past?" Emily inquired as they continued to dance. She saw him offer her a tender smile in response.

"No. It must be because of who I was from the very beginning. I’ve always found comfort in my own company, especially in earlier times," Raylen clarified as he guided Emily around the dance floor.

He twirled Emily once more, and during the second rotation, he pulled her back to him. He heard the flutter of her heart at their proximity. With his face mere inches from her neck, he couldn’t resist hovering near it, inhaling her sweet scent. In a soft murmur, he said, "I hope I am not chasing you away. You have been quieter than usual."

A furious blush flooded Emily’s face as her breathing grew more laboured. The gentle, cool whisper of Raylen’s breath against her skin sent a shiver cascading down her spine, causing goosebumps to form. He released her from his hold, bringing her back to their previous position.

Emily was quiet due to her heightened awareness of Raylen at this moment. She had never been placed in such a position before and apologised, saying, "Forgive me for my limited words."

"I am not complaining, Princess," Raylen remarked, tilting his head. Her silence and flushed cheeks proved he was on the right track, and he couldn’t wait to hear those words of acceptance from her. "Did Lauren help you get ready for the ball?"

"She did," Emily replied, and she added, "Thank you for lending her to me."

Raylen briefly pursed his lips as a wicked thought crossed his mind. He would have been happier to help her personally, but he knew that such an offer would have likely caused her to combust on the spot. Not to mention, he would have immediately received a glare from her, which would have reversed the progress they had made so far. He replied, "You don’t have to thank me. I am sure Lauren is happy to help, especially in the absence of your personal maid."

And though Raylen’s thoughts didn’t come to his lips, Emily noticed the untamed look in his eyes.

As Emily and Raylen waltzed gracefully across the dance floor, Lady Sophia entered the ballroom, with Maverick following closely behind. Her eyes scanned the room until they settled on the dancing couple. Maverick observed,

"They are dancing. It seems those rumours might actually be true." He noted the unmistakable spark between the King and the Princess.

Lady Sophia, who had previously worn a frown, found it deepening at the sight of her daughter in King Raylen’s embrace. Doubts swirled in her mind. Was there something going on that she wasn’t aware of? After all, hadn’t Raylen spoken of finding a suitable suitor for Emily? The scene before her suggested a different story, and a grim expression settled on her face.

"Poor Mr. Ardolf. The Princess must have realised the King was a better catch than a commoner," one of the guests whispered to their companion. This remark, overheard by Lady Sophia, added fuel to the simmering rumours and her growing concerns.

"It appears that everyone is aware of the situation except you, Lady Sophia. You shouldn’t be arranging matches for your daughter," Maverick turned to Lady Sophia, his tone laced with a touch of annoyance. Under his breath, he added with a tinge of frustration, "You nearly got me into serious trouble." With that, he excused himself, moving away to seek an agreeable woman who wasn’t already taken.

Lady Sophia’s cheeks flushed with a touch of embarrassment in response to Maverick’s words. Before she could muster a response, he had already departed. Her gaze then returned to Raylen and Emily. She realised she would have to speak to her daughter once she stepped away from the dance floor.

While the celebration within the Storm Castle had only just begun, not far from the kingdom, a ship made its way towards it on the sea. Its flag bore a skull emblem, as if to represent a pirate vessel, but the people occupying it weren’t pirates but Viktor, with Celeste standing behind him.

They had been sailing for many hours, and Viktor began to question, "Are we on the correct course?" His gaze shifted to the archdemoness standing to his right.

"This is the way, Master," Celeste assured him, as she had travelled this route before.

When the ship made contact with another icy expanse of the sea, Viktor snapped his fingers, causing the ice to crack and transform into liquid. In a tone devoid of enthusiasm, he stated, "I can’t afford to be late for my son’s celebration."

Celeste, however, understood the underlying truth. She knew that Viktor’s intention was not to attend the birthday festivity but to instigate chaos. Raylen had successfully eluded Viktor’s grasp for years, and following the recent incident in the treasure room in Hell, it appeared to her that Viktor’s patience had finally worn thin.

"We should be there soon. Once we cross over the barrier that Archdemon Raylen has erected, the castle isn’t too far away," Celeste replied dutifully. She looked ahead at the ship’s course and pondered whether all hell was about to break loose. The Princess, she thought.

Back in the castle, the song came to an end, and Emily and Raylen exchanged a slight bow, mirroring the other couples on the dance floor. As they moved away from the dance floor, Westley suddenly appeared ahead of them.

"Master." Westley offered a deep bow.

"Excuse me, Princess," Raylen said, recognising that Westley had something to discuss.

As Raylen and Westley made their way towards the ballroom’s exit, engrossed in conversation about something, Emily’s flustered thoughts were interrupted by her mother’s voice.

"Emily."

"Mother!" Emily’s voice rose slightly, and her earlier thoughts flooded back upon seeing the expression on her mother’s face. "Did something happen?" she inquired anxiously.

Lady Sophia caught hold of Emily’s hand before tugging her to a corner of the ballroom. Though the older woman hoped no one was looking their way to keep their conversation discreet, it was challenging for some of the guests not to cast lingering glances at the beautiful Emily.

"What was that there?" Lady Sophia questioned, her lips setting into a thin line. "On the dance floor."

"Dancing on the dance floor?" Emily responded, initially feigning innocence, but then realised her mother was opposed to Raylen, even though he had readily forgiven her for her earlier mistake. "King Raylen asked me for a dance, and we danced."

"And there’s nothing more to it?" Lady Sophia inquired further before continuing, "There are odd rumours circulating, suggesting that King Raylen has taken an interest in you. You make sure to maintain your distance from him, okay?"

Emily gave a nod to her mother, who wore an apprehensive expression. She then asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Lady Sophia sighed. "With great difficulty, I managed to find a suitor for you, but he was too scared to confront the rumours and chose to believe them."

So that is what happened, Emily thought in her mind. She placed a comforting hand on her mother’s arm and said, "Don’t pay attention to what others say, Mother." After a brief pause, she slowly asked, "Would it be so bad if it were true?"

Lady Sophia’s frown returned, and she replied sternly, "Do not think even about it! He may be a good host, but—"

"Lady Sophia. Princess Emily." Mr. Hatt arrived before them, offering a bow. He complimented them, saying, "I was wondering where my best dressers were. You both look stunning. Especially you, milady," and he took Lady Sophia’s hand to plant a kiss on the back of it.

With her hands sanitised with liquor, Emily didn’t want to extend her hand to the man. However, Mr. Hatt refrained from taking her hand, as if aware of the potential consequences a simple greeting could entail.

"I see that you both don’t have your drinks with you," Mr. Hatt noted, and he raised his hand to signal a nearby servant.

"That is fine. I do not drink," Lady Sophia declined instantly. She had seen her mother-in-law drink enough, so she felt a strong aversion to partaking in alcohol herself.

"I hope you aren’t one of those who believe it’s a negative trait, because I hear that you have demon blood in you. Your family," Mr. Hatt remarked, and this comment seemed to catch the woman’s attention.

"And where did you hear that?" Lady Sophia inquired, raising her eyebrows in curiosity.

"I will go find Janelle. She must be feeling lonely," Emily said, offering a polite smile as she excused herself, hoping Mr. Hatt would keep her mother company.

Emily found Janelle engaged in conversation with Mrs. Ruiz, and when she drew closer, Mrs. Ruiz complimented her, saying, "The most stunning one in the room you are today, Princess Emily."

"You look lovely yourself, Mrs. Ruiz," Emily complimented the woman politely. "Won’t you join the dance floor?"

"Oh, I will. I saw Jane here alone and thought I would have a chat with her. Let me go find my husband," Mrs. Ruiz replied before waltzing away.

Seeing her mother’s gaze following her, Emily asked, "Do you want to take a walk outside?"

"Would love to," Janelle replied, and the two young women exited the ballroom. As they walked, she remarked, "Mrs. Ruiz was asking about the rumour that has spread like wildfire. About King Raylen and you."

"What did you tell her?" Emily inquired, the music coming from inside the room fading into the background.

"I told her that I don’t have any knowledge of it, that it was news to me." Janelle smiled and then added, "I don’t think she completely believed me, though."

"Thank you for saying that, Jane," Emily replied, grateful for Janelle’s discretion, as her newfound emotions and feelings were still in the process of settling. They strolled through the corridors on the ground floor, where some of the guests had also dispersed. She couldn’t help but wonder what information Westley had conveyed to Raylen earlier. freewebnoveℓ.com

In one of the tallest towers of the castle, Raylen peered through the binoculars set at the window. After he pulled away, he remarked, "Looks like a pirate ship. But it could also be uninvited guests from Hell."

Westley had earlier been alerted by another lowly demon about the approaching ship, and he promptly relayed this information to his master. Now, he asked, "What should I do, Master?"

"The barrier prevents sudden apparitions within the kingdom, but it won’t stop them from entering, especially not Viktor," Raylen said in a displeased tone. Out of all the days, his father had chosen this particular day, which only left him annoyed.

His father had a thick skull, and was too stubborn and unable to comprehend that he held no interest in playing as his assistant in Hell. If his father thought he would change his decision, his resolve to stay in the kingdom had only strengthened. He ordered,

"Tighten the barrier further." Although Raylen didn’t use the binoculars to observe the ship, he could see with his naked eye that it was swiftly drawing near. It was only a matter of minutes before his father would set foot in the castle. "Also prepare a room far away from mine," he added.

"Yes, Master Raylen," Westley replied before turning away and leaving to carry out his orders.

As Raylen stared through the window, he pondered what had suddenly prompted Viktor to pay him a visit. He questioned whether Celeste had revealed what she had witnessed and knew of this place, and his jaw clenched briefly before he released it. Or was it the potion? Dante’s imp... did something, didn’t it? His eyes narrowed.

He raised his hand, moving his finger through the air as if writing something, and when he opened his palms as if to touch the symbols in front of him, the writings glowed, and he pushed them towards the barrier.

Back on the ground floor, Emily, who was being accompanied by Janelle in the corridor, suddenly felt a sharp pang in her chest, causing her to halt in her tracks.

"Lily?" Janelle inquired with a concerned expression.

"My heart must have exercised a lot today," Emily murmured, reflecting on all the racing it had done since the afternoon. The anxiousness in her chest lingered, as if it were apprehensive about the murderer suddenly appearing before her. Every time a man walked past them, she found herself holding her breath.

"Exercise? What are you talking about?" Janelle asked her, puzzled by Emily’s comment.

Believing the pain was temporary, Emily resumed walking. However, she suddenly felt as if someone had sewn threads into her heart and was attempting to pull it out. It left her momentarily dizzy, and she reached out to place her hand on the wall for support.

"I am getting worried now. Should I call your mother or King Raylen?" Janelle asked, growing concerned as she witnessed Emily’s face contorting with pain.

When Emily turned to face her, Janelle’s eyes shifted to something on her friend’s chest that she hadn’t noticed before. She pointed and asked, "Y—your chest. What is that?"

Emily struggled to breathe, and when she glanced down at her chest, she could barely manage a whisper. She said, "Corruption..." It was happening.

Janelle’s eyebrows drew together in worry, and she quickly said, "I will bring whoever I can find first. I will be back soon, Lily!" She hurried off to seek help.

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Unable to remain standing, Emily slid down the wall and sat on the cold marble floor. Tears began to fill her eyes due to the unbearable pain that shot through her chest, and she gasped for breath. She didn’t understand why this was happening... Nothing should have triggered this today, yet here she was, experiencing excruciating agony.

When her heart clenched once more, she coughed this time, and when she touched her lips, she noticed the presence of blood.

Emily leaned her head back, taken aback by how rapidly the corruption was progressing. It felt as if a dam had burst, and everything was now overflowing. She dug her fingernails into her palms to help her cope with the pain, and she coughed again.

When Janelle reached the ballroom in search of Emily’s mother or the King, she found that neither of them were in the room.

Seconds felt like minutes to Emily as her heart continued to corrupt at a rapid pace. She was surrounded by silence since they had ventured deep into the castle, where most of the guests didn’t dare to tread, as casually wandering into such areas was not encouraged.

When Emily’s vision began to dim, she realised her time was close. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she attempted to hold herself together, but her heart clenched painfully, and this time, when her heartbeat accelerated, it wasn’t due to a flutter of emotions.

As the darkness started to engulf her as she coughed up more blood, she heard the distant sound of hurried footsteps, which gradually grew louder and closer.

"Emily!"

He is here, the faint thought passed through Emily’s mind. She heard the footsteps come to a halt next to her, followed by the sound of his harsh breathing. She asked, her voice weak, "Did Jane—find you?"

Raylen had intended to step out of the castle when he detected the scent of cake, and he knew that Emily was hurt. Fearing that the murderer had gotten to her, he rushed to her location, only to find her in a much worse condition than he had expected.

"You are corrupting," Raylen observed with deep concern as his gaze fell upon her chest and the root-like markings that had spread across her neck.

Emily smiled, her lips stained with blood, and whispered, "A year ago... if someone had said you would be the last person I would see before dying—"

"You’re not going to die. I won’t let that happen," Raylen declared through gritted teeth. He swiftly picked up her blood-smeared hand and, without wasting another second, bit into it to draw out the corrupted blood that had spread throughout her body.

Raylen drank from her until he knew he couldn’t take another drop from her, as she needed it to stay alive. However, when he pulled his mouth away from her wrist and looked at her, the corruption hadn’t diminished, and she coughed up more blood.

"It’s not working." Raylen’s voice was laced with frustration. At this rate, she wouldn’t survive.

Emily already knew it. She could sense herself slipping further and further away. She felt Raylen drop her hand.

"Forgive me," they both said simultaneously, and despite the pain, Emily wondered what he was apologising for. She wanted to ask him, but she was too weak to speak. Then, in the next second, she felt his cold hand curl around her neck, pulling her closer. The next words she heard from him sounded distant.

"You are going to live, Princess. I won’t let you die or leave," he vowed.

Raylen firmly gripped the side of her neck and leaned in, sinking his canines into her skin. He closed his eyes, feeling the tremors of pain coursing through her body. After what felt like minutes, she finally calmed down, and so did her heart.

Slowly, Raylen withdrew and tenderly licked the blood from her neck. His eyes, now glowing with an intensity like never before, noticed she had passed out. He looked back at her neck, his gaze lingering on the eternal bond he had just marked.

"Now you are only mine," he whispered.