My Perfect Revenge: Flash Marriage With My Vampire Tycoon-Chapter 156: – You Are Jealous –

Loredana chuckled sadly. "The beauty of love consumes us. It blinds us. So when we love someone so deeply, we find ourselves irrational and reckless. The logical way of thinking is no longer a thing."

"You are very special." She caressed her hair. "It’s cruel, but so beautiful how one could give up their life willingly to see that you lived. Even if the world, fate or whatever is harsh on you, know that at least in all of it, there was one man who loved you beyond life."

"So, don’t lose hope just yet."

She stood to her feet.

"While the chance of him waking up is like being delusional, have faith in him. I’m having fate in my son. I refuse to believe he would die just like that. You love him, don’t you?"

Viviana slowly nodded her head, biting down on her trembling lip.

"Then believe in him no matter how long it may take. Have faith that one day, he might return to you. I have a feeling he will. Hm?"

She nodded again.

Loredana reached out her hand. "Come. We have to put him to sleep."

"What?" Viviana snapped up her blurry eyes at her.

"We can’t leave him this way. He must be locked inside a coffin. That way he will be preserved forever, that is until he possibly wakes up. When he does, he’ll come out himself. There is nothing to worry about. This is a necessary thing."

Viviana hesitated, but she wiped at her teary eyes, setting her feet on the floor and grabbed the woman’s hand.

Loredana led her out of the room, and they headed to the underground room again. There, Viviana found that Nikolas had already been transferred into a coffin. Lucian was in the room, and so was Francesca and another more middle aged man that she’d never seen before.

He was the butler Massimo.

Francesca looked at her with sympathy. She couldn’t help moving over to her and pulling her into a warm hug. "It’ll be okay," she whispered to her.

Viviana nodded. Her gaze shifted to the coffin that he was inside of.

"Is there something you’d like to give him?" Loredana asked.

Viviana looked at her. "Something... to give him?"

"Yes. I think it should help."

She glanced around and suddenly a little brightness flickered in her eyes. She reached to her neck. The ruby necklace he’d given her. She hadn’t lost it, not even in the middle of all that has happened.

She took it off, walked forward and dropped on her knees. She stared at his fac and reached out a hand to caress his forehead, brushing off the soft strands of his chestnut hair.

Viviana then grabbed his hand and wrapped the necklace around it, before closing the ruby stone in his palm. She kissed the back of his hand, dropped her forehead against the coffin and took deep turbid breaths. "I love you so much. Please... come back to me soon. I-I’ll be waiting for you. I won’t give up."

When she eventually stepped back, Francesca was quick to hold onto her.

Massimo moved forward and closed the coffin. He locked it on every side until it was tightly shut, impossible to be opened by anyone except Nikolas himself.

"It is done," he said.

The first to turn around and leave was Lucian. The man was fast on his feet, head lowered and hands clenched by his sides. He was a broken mess. And Loredana knew, therefore, why she was quick to go after him.

Francesca stayed a while with Viviana, but eventually she left as well, wanting to comfort her husband.

Viviana didn’t leave. Instead, she sat next to the coffin, resting her body against it and comforting herself with the knowledge, with the newfound hope that he might return to her. "I promise I won’t break. Because I know you’ll come back. I-I can feel it. And I don’t want you to see me as a mess at all."

She sniffled with a little smile.

But what she didn’t realise was inside that coffin, Nikolas’s fingers had moved, his grip around the necklace growing tighter.

————

— Let’s Rewind A Little Bit — [Hundred and Twenty Years Ago]

Nikolas chuckled at his brother where he sat on the dinner table.

"You are most unfortunate."

Lucian adjusted his bowtie, arching a brow as he blew off the strand of his long hair that fell over his face. "And what exactly is that meant to imply, Nikolas?"

Nikolas crossed his legs. "At mere twenty, brother, I have found my mate. Whereas you... ah, your situation seems rather... less fortunate."

Lucian laughed. "You ridiculous cute little brother of mine. Was that your idea of an insult?"

"Little?" Nikolas cocked a brow. "You are merely a minute older than I. Hardly something to boast about."

Lucian picked up a fork, wanting to throw it at it. Nikolas however narrowed his eyes on him. "I dare you. Let’s see what our dear mother will do about it."

"Mama’s little boy," Lucian jeered.

"Fuck you," Nikolas shot back.

"MOTHER!" Lucian shouted. "Nikolas has just used foul language!"

"NIKOLAS!"

Loredana’s scream came from the other side, causing Nikolas to jolt.

"Do not let me catch you over there!"

"My apologies." Nikolas swallowed, body shivering for a second in fear. He glared over at Lucian.

Lucian smirked at him. "Insult me again and I will prove I can be every bit as childish as you."

"Oh, undoubtedly," Nikolas rolled his eyes. "Naturally. We are twins. Equally matched in years and, it seems, in folly."

The look that emerged on Lucian’s face made him break out in laughter and he leaned in saying, "I shall be going tonight to the royal house to see my mate."

"The king is aware?"

"Why not?" Nikolas arched his brow. "He enjoys the great relationship he has with mama. And truly, who resists the lure of advantage. They may have no clue of what we are, but our family is an influential one. He wishes me to wed his daughter, my mate. A great deal, would you not agree?"

Lucian frowned. "We have never even seen his daughter."

"Beacuse he keeps her hidden. She is a princess and of considerable value to him. That king is a fucking businessman, make no mistake."

"May I ask why you’re letting me know of this arrangement?"

"Because I want you to accompany me. Mother is too busy with her business affairs."

Lucian grunted. "No, thank you. Enjoy your grand introduction."

"You are jealous."

"I will beat you, Nikolas."

Nikolas only laughed, slipping a spoonful of rice into his mouth. But inwardly, he was worried.

Heavily so.