Chapter 251: Birthing An Heir
"Oh." His tensed shoulders eased with relief, "Alistair, it’s you." From how he called his name, there was an underlying feeling of assuagement laced with his tone. If it were anyone else who had caught him entering the late Queen’s chamber, he’d be questioned thoroughly like a suspect.
"What are you doing here?" Alistair’s expression darted sideways, as if cross-checking to make sure no one was coming. Duncan quickly stepped out of the room without giving the mirror another glance, but his grasp on the withered rose showed no sign of loosening, whilst he took it with him.
After stepping out, Alistair closed the door, sealing it the exact way it was left. He turned to look at Duncan who awkwardly scratched the back of his head, and he was yet to recover from the image he just saw. No doubt, the entrapped woman in the mirror was Ivan’s Mother, but she was holding the same crystal. The complexity of the matter made Duncan’s eyebrows creased in dubiety.
"There’s a reason why this part is sealed." Alistair informed Duncan, "you should keep out, or you can get into serious trouble with the four Lords."
"I... see." Duncan nodded in understanding, feigning cluelessness. "To avoid similar occurrences from happening in the future, why not station a guard here, or find someone who is capable of handling it?" He asked, folding his arms. "You don’t have to listen to it, it is just a harmless suggestion."
"Always so formal, you haven’t changed at all." Alistair tsked and threw a hand around Duncan’s shoulders, pulling the slightly irritated vampire close. He knew how much Duncan loved his personal space, more reason why Duncan avoids him because he was fond of breaking that number one rule. "Where are you heading by this time of the day? Aren’t you a night walker?"
"I need the herbs planted from the garden in the upper quarters. Ivan told me they were divided from the ones below." Duncan explained plainly, trying to coil himself away from Alistair’s rough hold, but he couldn’t even do that since Alistair was presently taking him through the path, refusing to take his hands away.
"Why didn’t you say so sooner? You must have lost your way! I’ll show you."
"I do not mind walking ten times backward, but you will be ten feet below the ground if I am not released from this inappropriate position. You are the reason I wish my illness was contagious."
"See? This is what happens when you isolate yourself all the time, easily panicking. I’ve caught you today so we will go to the garden and select your herbs together."
"Kill me instead." Duncan silently pleaded.