A Bastard's Allure-Chapter 100: Andrian’s Bastard Son

A woman in her mid thirties walked into the hall. She was slightly taller than Elena but much paler. On a closer look, her eyes were sunken and filled with a void like one who had nothing to cling to in life. Elena’s brows creased. How could Andrian let a woman who once carried his child to be in such a condition?

The woman stood at the far end of the circle, her gaze fixated on the floor and nervously picking on her nails. She casually threw a furtive glance at the little boy and smiled, the only thing she had mastered from the moment she walked in.

Elena stood up and walked closer towards where the woman stood. He noticed her turn stiff as he neared.

"What’s your name?" She implored.

The woman lifted her eyes fast before casting them again on the floor. "Lilith, Your Highness," she replied.

Elena pursed her lips before taking another step closer. Slowly, she reached out and held the woman’s hands in hers, compelling her to look at her.

"It’s okay," she assured with a smile. The woman nodded faintly.

"Do you know that boy?" Elena asked, tilting her head to look at the little one in Lord Atticus’ side. The woman followed her line of sight before their eyes locked again, each one expectant.

She nodded softly. "He’s my son," she said with a slightly wavering conviction.

Gabriel leaned on the wall, his hands crossed over his chest. His golden eyes studied the whore’s reaction to every question she was asked. For a start, her heart was racing. Who would be nervous to declare some boy as their son?

He noticed her lips trembling and she’d cast a glance at Lord Atticus occasionally before giving an answer, as if seeking approval.

"Who’s the father?" Elena continued with her interrogation.

The woman looked at Lord Atticus, and when Elena followed her line of sight, the old man stepped into the scene with an ice breaker.

"No one’s going to hurt you. You have my word and that of princess Elena." He assured with a thin smile.

Elena tapped her shoulders gently. Was she afraid that someone would hurt her for speaking the truth? "No one will lay a finger on you. You have my word."

The woman seemed conflicted for a while but she eventually opened up, her eyes avoiding Elena’s all the while.

"A knight came to me one afternoon and said someone in the palace is in need of my services. I thought it was some Lord or a Lord’s son so I didn’t hesitate. But it was..." She lifted her eyes, tears already collecting in the brim of her eyes.

"It was the king," she moaned the words before turning into a crying machine. Elena held her hands to comfort her.

Gabriel rolled his eyes from his corner with a ’spare me the act’ phrase in his mind. Were all these humans too blind to see this woman was using her emotions as a defense mechanism?

But Elena was an unreadable one. Her actions since the meeting started could not be placed as cunning or foolish. Was she sympathizing with a whore or just playing the fool with her claim in line?

"You may leave," Lord Atticus said when she mellowed down. She walked towards the little boy and kissed him on the forehead before embracing him tightly.

"I’ll be waiting for you my boy," she whispered, caressing his silver hair. And looking at Lord Atticus, she said, "Please bring him back to me."

"I will," Atticus assured before the woman was escorted outside. The double doors were closed before silence reigned the hall once again.

"You’ve seen and heard from the horse’s mouth," Lord Atticus continued. "I believe this council will be wise enough to choose the right ruler and safeguard our tradition." He sat.

The herald stepped in the middle of the circle. "I will now invite the candidates to make their pleas."

Lord Leonard, who had been silent through out the meeting, was the first to rise. He walked into the center of the circle and let his eyes settle on all the court officials.

"The tragic death of my nephew, the late king Andrian, has left a gap that neither of us will ever fill. During his reign, for the first time in the history of mankind, the vampires and humans made a peaceful pact. We wouldn’t have a bastard standing amongst us as kin if not for him, and for that I am grateful."

He could have seen the look on Gabriel’s face.

"But with the king gone, the gap must be filled. As was custom during the reign of my father and those before him, the law stated that were the king to die and he didn’t have any son, the eldest male in the family would naturally assume the throne."

"But there’s a son," Lord Atticus voiced.

"A bastard," Leonard corrected. "A son born out of wedlock is an illegitimate child and is never acknowledged as the true heir, unless the law changed."

And turning to face Elena, he said, "As for my niece, I doubt she’ll make any better ruler with two males laying claim on the throne."

Elena’s jaw ticked as she watched her uncle sit by her side, a victorious smirk planted on his face. She had grown up to admire him but she never knew a simple shift in power would change him so drastically.

The hall fell silent for a fleeting couple of seconds before Elena stood up. She walked into the center, her eyes searching Gabriel’s from across the room. It was his golden orbs that gave her the courage to start this in the first place. In him she saw a flicker of hope buried underneath his stoic appearance. A simple nod from him was enough to relief the tension clouding her every nerve.

"My brother was taken from us in the most unexpected ways. Murdered in cold blood by a prince who’s now in our custody. My first act as queen will be to bring to justice the man who killed my brother, despite their status." Her eyes searched swept across the circle, settling randomly at the almost dead ones of the court officials.

Gabriel stirred from his corner, kicking a chair to catch everyone’s attention. If they were going to have the Mysthaven throne, then the hard way it would be.