Chapter 251: Family
Vlad and Edren went to the neighbouring room. It was identical to the one where Elaria and Chloe were staying, with a similar view of the city outside.
The first thing Edren did the moment he entered the room was put his clothes inside the storage ring. His eyes brightened with excitement as the clothes vanished.
Vlad settled into the chair, silently watching his father laugh and giggle like a child each time he inserted and retrieved the clothes from the ring.
The only time he had seen him this excited was when a friend of his from the village had gifted him an expensive wine.
But it also brought a hint of sadness to Vlad’s heart. When even something as mundane as a storage ring and a gown could bring such happiness to his parents, he realised how underprivileged they had lived.
Yet never once had Vlad slept with an empty stomach or worn torn clothes. When they learned that Chloe’s grandparents were getting too old to provide her with food and clothing, they took her in as their own daughter and never once treated her differently.
To him, his parents were the richest people in the world. Forget about clothes or a ring, he could offer them the world if it meant bringing a smile to their faces.
Edren’s gaze shifted to Vlad. He took the seat opposite him. "Why are you smiling like an idiot?"
"You should be the last person to ask that," Vlad scoffed, playfully rolling his eyes.
"Well, I can’t help it," Edren laughed again, looking closely at the ring in his hand. "This is the first gift my children have given me, after all."
Vlad’s eyes widened as the realisation hit him. Edren wasn’t happy because he had received a magical artifact. The source of his happiness was the fact that his children had gifted it to him. Even if Vlad had given him a simple bag, he would have been equally happy.
"Oy, Vlad," Edren’s excited tone pulled him out of his thoughts. He pulled him towards him by grabbing the leg of his chair. "What’s your current progress with Chloe?"
Vlad’s brows twitched at his question, his eyes turning sideways. "And why should I tell you that?" he scoffed.
"Really, brat," Edren’s eyes narrowed at him. "You used to tell me everything when Chloe used to give you hugs or k—"
"You should get ready, Dad," Vlad muttered, cutting him off mid-sentence, his cheeks turning a faint hue of red.
Edren only sighed at his response. He decided not to pester him about it further.
He went to the bathroom for a quick shower.
Meanwhile, Vlad’s eyes shifted to something inside his storage ring. "Should I give it to her before telling her or after?" he murmured to himself, a hint of nervousness on his face.
A few minutes later, Edren emerged from the bathroom in nothing but a towel. Vlad’s focus instinctively shifted to the numerous marks across Edren’s torso. His back, shoulders, abdomen, and chest were all covered with slashes and scars from old wounds.
Although Vlad had seen these scars several times, they still sent goosebumps through his body. They were the marks of countless times Edren had cheated death.
The Grimwood Forest used to harbour many dangerous monsters. Edren and a group of other mercenaries were the reason that place had become safe.
But since he didn’t possess high talent, every battle he fought was a matter of life and death. It was his monstrous physical stats and high vitality that helped him survive those battles. Or at least, these were the tales Edren had told him and Chloe.
It didn’t take more than twenty minutes for Edren to get ready, including the bath.
As for the ladies, they didn’t come out until another hour had passed.
But when they did, both Vlad and Edren’s breaths caught in their throats.
Edren’s crimson eyes were fixed on Elaria, who slowly walked along the red path in the hallway, approaching them with elegant steps. The body-fitting black gown hugged her figure up to her waist before gently flowing down in curly layers of black fabric to her ankles, making her look like a goddess descended to earth. Her raven hair was tied in a high bun, with a few strands framing her face, which only added to her charms.
As for Vlad, his crimson eyes were fixed on the figure beside her. Chloe had changed into her high-waisted trousers and a baby pink sweater. Only her delicate fingers were peeking out from its sleeves.
"Doesn’t Chloe look like an angel?" Vlad gulped, pulling on Edren’s coat.
"Doesn’t Elaria look like a goddess?" Edren gulped, pulling on Vlad’s coat.
"No doubt about that." Both of them replied simultaneously to each other’s question.
"How do I look?" Elaria asked Edren with lowered eyes.
"Breathtaking as always, my wife," Edren replied without hesitation.
"Such a smooth-talker," Elaria hissed, but the smile on her lips betrayed her retort.
She leaned closer, fixed the collar of his shirt beneath the waistcoat, and murmured, "You are also looking like a gentleman."
The couple felt as if they had entered their honeymoon phase.
While they were cutely flirting with each other, something similar was cooking beside them.
"What are you staring at?" Chloe murmured, her eyes lowering from Vlad’s intense gaze.
"You look so gorgeous, Chloe," Vlad’s words came out genuinely, his eyes refusing to leave her figure.
Chloe’s eyes widened. He hadn’t given such a reaction when she was wearing that skirt. But now that she was wearing what she always wore, Vlad couldn’t take his eyes off her.
It was then that she realised that instead of following someone else’s script, she just needed to be Chloe.
She reached his side, grabbed his hand, and whispered with a faint smile, "Thank you... My Vlad."
The blush on Vlad’s face spread further, his grip instinctively tightening around her warm hand. Chloe’s eyes narrowed in delight. He was finally reacting the way she wanted him to.
"Let’s go," Vlad said, pulling Edren and Elaria out of their flirt bubble as the whole family moved out of the inn.
Vlad held Chloe’s hand, her head leaning against his arm.
’Today is the day I must tell her.’
’Today is the day I must tell him.’
Both of them declared simultaneously.
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A/N: Guys, I have an exam in a few hours, but I can’t stop writing. 😭