Chapter 144: Vitra capital city
In the heart of the Vitra Kingdom, at the heart of the capital city within the serene and sunlit royal grounds , a picturesque scene unfolds. A strikingly beautiful man, dressed in a long-sleeved black shirt and fitted pants, sits cradling a baby against his chest. The gentle rocking motion of the wooden chair soothes the infant, whose small breaths rise and fall in peaceful rhythm. A collar adorned with a large diamond star encircles the man’s neck, catching the sunlight and shimmering with a brilliance that seems almost otherworldly.
The man’s dark hair falls loosely around his face, and his eyelashes flutter as he begins to doze off, lulled by the warmth of the afternoon and the comfort of the child nestled close to him. Nearby, under the shade of a grand tree whose branches sway lazily in the breeze, a young preteen girl sits on the soft grass. Her brown hair is pulled back into a ponytail, and she wears a delicate blue dress. Her focus is entirely absorbed in the thick books spread around her, the pages whispering as she turns them.
The tranquility of the scene, the idyllic harmony of the moment, is suddenly shattered. Footsteps crunch on the gravel path, and the atmosphere shifts, as if the light itself recoils from the disruption. A man in his fifties strides into the space, commanding attention and casting a long shadow. His features bear a familial resemblance to the beautiful man—handsome with finely sculpted features and sharp, green eyes. His salt-and-pepper hair gives him an air of authority and experience, yet his very presence seems to drain the peace from the surroundings.
The beautiful man in the rocking chair stiffens, the tension subtly replacing the warmth of the moment. Even the young girl under the tree looks up from her book, her gaze narrowing slightly as she registers the unwelcome visitor. The serene bubble of their sanctuary bursts, and a quiet sense of foreboding creeps into the once-perfect afternoon.
**
"Mona, take Mirelle inside," Noelle instructed, his voice steady but with an edge of urgency. He handed his toddler over to the young girl, who accepted the child with practiced efficiency. Mona moved swiftly, her steps confident and sure, a clear testament to her familiarity with this routine. In a heartbeat, she disappeared into the safety of the nearby residence, cradling Mirelle protectively against her chest.
Noelle remained where he stood, his posture tense, as if each muscle in his body had coiled into a wire ready to snap. He watched the older man carefully, eyes narrowed, every inch of him defensive. The intruder, a man with salt-and-pepper hair and piercing green eyes, strode forward with an air of entitlement, as if he had every right to be there. His handsome face, marred only slightly by the deep lines of age, twisted into a faintly disappointed expression.
"You really should stop reacting this way every time I come by," the man chided, his voice oily with false concern.
"Can I not see my grandniece?"