The Velaris Palace

"Magnus!" King Esmond was shocked to see his third son in the palace. "What are you doing here?" he asked with a bewildered gaze. 

"Your Majesty, I've shifted permanently to the capital. From now onward, I'll live in Velaris," Magnus answered. 

"Is Prince Magnus alright?" Queen Margaret asked as she entered the seating area. She stopped after standing in front of Magnus and placed her hands over his arms. "I'm glad you finally returned to Velaris." Her smile widened as she was overjoyed to find that Magnus would now live in the palace. 

Esmond asked his queen to sit beside him and even asked Magnus to take the seat. After they both were seated, Magnus continued. 

"I have found a bride for myself," Magnus suddenly announced to them. 

"Prince Magnus is full of surprises today," Esmond stated. "Who is this woman, who won your heart?" He was curious to know. 

"Alora Wilson," Magnus pronounced. 

The colors from the King's and Queen's faces faded away. "Isn't Alora the woman, who always wears the blindfold because of her cursed eyes? Correct me, if I'm wrong," King Esmond stated. 

"Absolutely. I'm talking about the woman on whose father's request you sent a message for me in Elmswood not to trouble the humans," Magnus responded with a taunting tone. 

"You cannot marry Alora," Margaret promptly opposed her son's decision. 

"I never asked for your opinions," Magnus clarified to her. "Tomorrow Alora and I will marry. So, the palace's every corner be decorated well," he pronounced. "I can look into her eyes, so Alora's eyes are definitely not cursed for me," he explained to them. 

"How did you even find out about Alora? Also, out of so many women among the vampires, you found a human who's not normal," Margaret complained. She was angry at his son for choosing such a woman to be his wife. 

Magnus brushed his finger on his temple before lowering his hand down. "I shall take some rest. I'll see you tomorrow in my marriage," he pronounced and stood up. 

"Magnus, how about you reconsider your decision?" Esmond asked his son. 

"I don't wish to. When I say I'll marry Alora tomorrow, then I will," Magnus affirmed. 

"No one can look into Alora's eyes. Then, how could you do that?" Margaret was slightly puzzled. She wondered if it was an indication of something bad that could happen to them. 

"Fate," Magnus answered and he bowed to them. "Mother hasn't aged much in all these years," he muttered and walked away. 

Margaret asked him to stop and rethink his decision, but he didn't pay any heed to her and left their sights soon. 

"Your Majesty, converse with Magnus. He cannot bring Alora to the palace as his wife," Margaret requested her husband. 

"You know that Magnus will not listen to me or any of us. It's strange that he could look into Norman's daughter's eyes," Esmond muttered, wondering how was that possible 

"Then, we should let a human become his wife!?" Margaret inquired.

"Do you think our decision even matters to Magnus? Also, let him get married. At least, he finally is ready to have a woman," Esmond pronounced. He called in for the Chamberlain and asked him to bring Norman to the palace as he wanted to converse with him. 

"I want the queen to make the rest of the arrangements," Esmond pronounced. 

"I will ask the servants to decorate the palace then along with the other arrangements," Margaret said half-heartedly. She was aware of Magnus's attitude. If he wanted something, he would get it by either hook or crook. 

~~~~~ 

Magnus settled on the recliner as he finally got to rest. He was thirsty and it quenched as soon as Tobias handed him the glass filled with the blood. Magnus drank it, but he no longer would enjoy the taste. Alora's blood had a different taste. 

Tobias took the glass from him and placed it over the tray that the maidservant had taken away. 

"When I asked the Prince if he liked Miss Alora, he refused me," Tobias said. 

"I thought you would lecture me unnecessarily," Magnus replied. 

"I wonder how Miss Alora will stay among the vampires all the time," Tobias remarked. "Here, she has to wear the blindfold," he added. 

"Not around me," Magnus answered. 

"Are you marrying a human?" A feminine voice echoed in the chamber, who was none other than Magnus's sister, Lillian, his younger sister asked him as she sat in front of her brother. 

"Will you let me rest?" Magnus asked and waved his hand at her, signaling her to leave. 

"Can I see your bride? Where does she live?" Lillian was curious to know. 

"Sure. If you wish to die at this age, then go and see her," Magnus replied with amusement. 

"What?" Lillian frowned to hear him. "Brother, do you have to say this to me after such a long time?" she complained. Though, a few days ago Magnus had been to the palace, but it was for work and then he left. 

"Your Highness, the woman Prince Magnus will marry has special eyes. I am sure you've also heard about Miss Alora Wilson," Tobias explained to Princess Lillian. 

"Are you serious, Brother? How could you decide to marry Alora? Have you not heard about her eyes?" Lillian was confused thinking what Magnus wanted. 

"Strangely, Prince Magnus can peer into Miss Alora's eyes. He is attracted to Miss Alora, that's why he decided to marry her and it will happen tomorrow," Tobias explained to Lillian. 

"And what about Scarlett?" Lillian asked Magnus. 

"Who?" Magnus didn't recall any such woman. 

"The woman who loves you," Lillian replied. "She is in the High Council and decided not to marry anyone except you, Brother," she asserted. 

Magnus chuckled. "I'm already taken, Lily. Tell your dear friend Scarlett to not eye me anymore. Alora has reserved me for her," he pronounced with a smile. 

Lillian was astonished to hear such words from her brother's mouth. He appeared to be head over heels for Alora. But, why?