Chapter 198 Dress and Ruby

Chapter 198 Dress and Ruby


"What on earth possessed you to drink poison?!" Kysten suddenly exclaimed.

"Your King... do you really think he would have believed me if I'd told him his glass had been poisoned by an invisible necromancer?" the young woman replied, finishing her drink.

The alcohol had no effect on her, but the burning sensation soothed her. And the taste... rich, powerful, fragrant, still made her feel better. It calmed something stirring deep inside her.

What, exactly?

The vampire elf had to admit she wasn't wrong. But still...

Under Argy's surprised gaze, her bodyguard rushed toward Blanche and pulled her into his arms. He had finally cracked beneath the splendor of the young woman, still lively, still radiant.

He had almost lost her—and was only now realizing that he loved her, in his own way.

The elf did not give his heart away easily, nor did he often show affection. Reserved by nature, he nevertheless made no attempt to hide how essential Blanche had now become to his life.

Argy, who hated being left out, delighted that his brother-at-heart finally appreciated his mother, joined the embrace.

"Group hug," he murmured as he squeezed his way in.

Time passed, and eventually they pulled apart. Kyst placed a hand against the young woman's cheek.

"Never do anything like that to us again," he demanded.

Blanche smiled and promised not to drink any more deadly poison until her skill was fully maxed out.

That reassured both men.

Finally, Argy and Kyst led her into Seb's wardrobe—even though, technically, she had visited it the night before.

"Take whichever dress you like best. The King's orders," the elf repeated.

Blanche smiled, delighted.

Then, setting Saphir's jacket aside, she gazed at the wonders hanging before her.

As though the King had inspected them recently, they had all been taken out of their protective covers.

There were dresses of every color.

Bright reds, with neither collars nor sleeves; deep blues and heavenly blues; emerald and forest greens, embroidered or decorated with lace.

They all smelled wonderful, fresh and immaculate.

Fascinated by the fabrics, Blanche reached the end of the collection, nearly fifty dresses in total.

The last one was by far the most beautiful.

Dark red, almost burgundy, it shimmered beneath the light. Black lace framed the neckline and spread across the shoulders, leaving the upper part of her body bare, while puffed satin sleeves completed the design.

At the waist, a framework of black arabesques over the red fabric reminded her of Kiyan's own clothing.

The skirt was full and voluminous, ending in the same lace as the upper portion.

It was both simple and regal.

A dress made for her.

"Guys?"

"Yes?" they answered in unison.

"Out."

Kyst and Argy exchanged a smile before leaving.

"Ash?" she whispered, having sensed his aura from the very beginning.

The Pixie emerged from his hiding place and flew toward her. Purple and green dust swirled through the air.

She raised her hand, and he landed on it.

"I'm sorry," the player murmured awkwardly, rubbing his hands together almost pleadingly.

"Why?" Blanche asked.

"I didn't detect the necromancer."

Blanche smiled.

He was simply too cute.

"Of course you didn't. You're not a dark mage, Nicky. Even Uncle D couldn't distinguish him."

"Really?" the little creature whispered, his mind suddenly lighter as he beat his wings.

"I'm telling you!"

Asher flew up and kissed the young woman on the cheek, deliberately choosing the exact same spot where Kyst had kissed her.

"All right, now off you go. I need to get changed," Blanche said, embarrassed.

"I'm glad you're here," the Pixie replied before disappearing. "I'm going to miss you terribly."

Finally alone, Blanche slipped out of her dress and reached for the one she had chosen.

The silk was soft and cool against her skin.

She hadn't noticed it before, but at the back, the lace extended into a train that rose all the way to her waist.

She put it on.

There was just one problem.

It fastened with a row of buttons running all the way down her spine.

"Argy!"

The young man entered, his eyes widening.

He stared at her for a moment without saying a word, then stepped forward to fasten the buttons.

They both looked at themselves in the mirror.

It was an antique full-length mirror, freestanding, dotted with a few black stains and surrounded by a thick copper frame weathered to a green patina.

Yet it revealed every detail of the dress's beauty—and the young woman's.

"It was made for you."

Blanche smiled at her son.

The compliment pleased her far more than she would have expected.

"You're missing something..."

Argy walked toward a dresser overflowing with jewelry and opened a box that required a code.

Blanche turned slightly, watching the reflection in the mirror.

Inside a red velvet case lay a necklace.

Its almost pure-gold setting held a diamond-cut ruby, roughly the size of a thumb, mounted inside a perfect oval.

If Blanche was captivated by the beauty of the jewel, what struck her most was the power contained within it.

Something dark and burning danced beneath the stone's brilliance.

Yet the tiny-linked gold chain was intertwined with something she knew intimately.

One of her scales.

Her Drakion magic.

She stepped closer and gently caressed the chain.

There was no doubt.

She had made it...

Or rather, she was going to make it.

When she brushed the stone with the tip of her index finger, a jolt shot through her.

Before she could recover, the necklace rose on its own, moving away from her and hovering suspended in front of her.

"Looks like it likes you," Argy murmured.

"A magical necklace? Isn't that a bit much? Your father mentioned a dress. He didn't say anything about—"

"This necklace is mine," Argy interrupted.

"I've never found the opportunity—or had the desire—to wear it. I think it's too feminine. It was a gift from my father. I'd really like you to wear it tonight. You can give it back to me tomorrow."

Blanche smiled and agreed.

He placed it around her neck, and she turned toward the mirror to admire herself.

The stone matched the dress perfectly, while the gold echoed the color of her red hair.

"Perfect," Argy murmured with a smile.

Blanche smiled back.

"You're setting the bar far too high, you realize that?" he added lightly.

"Is that why you're always single? No one is ever good enough for you?" she teased.

"You'd scare them away in thirty seconds!"

They both burst out laughing and left the wardrobe arm in arm.

What Argy hadn't noticed was the necklace.

It shimmered briefly before disappearing, fading from reality—and from his memory.

No one but Blanche would see it again anytime soon.