Valerian Empire

Chapter 52: Detour- Part 2

Reaching the town she headed straight to the park where they had decided to meet, away from the busy street.

“Anna,” Katie called out her friend’s name looking at her friend facing her back. She stood near the cemented seats talking to a man who must be one of her guards Katie presumed.

“Katie!” turning abruptly her friend Annabelle gave her a wide smile and that is when Katie noticed the large bump on her friend’s belly and her mouth fell open speechless.

“Y-You’re-” Katie asked shock and excitement laced together.

“Yes,” Annabelle nodded her head with a girlish smile and Katie hugged her with joy.

“I am so happy for you. You’re going to be a mother!”

“And you’re going to be a God mother,” her friend said making her blink.

“Really?”

Despite the fact that she was excited, Anna had an elder sister who would have probably liked being the God mother of her sibling’s child.

“You’re the only one I could think of. My family weren’t thrilled but were rather upset when they heard about it. Josephine too,” Annabelle said sadly, resting her hand on the baby bump, “Although my parents were the one to marry me off to a vampire, they hate to know that their daughter has conceived a vampire’s child.”

“They’ll come around one day. They love you dearly and will do the same to their grandchildren,” Katie patted Annabelle’s back gently and they went to sit on the cemented seat under the tree.

The town’s people in the south empire weren’t welcoming when it came to accepting these kind of things, they would instead prefer and wish for a miscarriage of the baby than produce more foul creatures that didn’t belong in the world.

“Hmm,” her friend hummed, “It has been so long since we last met. I am sorry I couldn’t meet you soon after what happened after the winter’s celebration. None of us knew that you were alive because the newspaper said that the entire town folks were killed but Tobias saw you at the day of Hallow here. I am so glad you are alive,” Annabelle said picking one of Katie’s hand, “I wish I could have been there.”

“I know,” Katie whispered softly, “You would have fought with Donovan to come to my aid even after knowing you were pregnant.”

“Damn right I would!” her friend said affirmatively, “I have been pestering Donovan to bring me here so that I could meet you. And here I am finally. Malcolm, could you fetch my husband for me?” she asked turning towards the man who dutifully bowed his head and left.

Seeing him leave Annabelle said, “You’ve lost weight, where and what have you been doing here than coming to the south empire? You do know where I live now, don’t you?”

“The Valerian Lord took me in his mansion,” hearing this her friends brows shot up in question, “After the Winter’s celebration Lord Alexander offered me shelter and food in the mansion and he said Ralph might still be alive.”

“I see. It appears that the Lord is compassionate than what people have pegged him for or…” she drawled the words, “Has Ms Welcher caught the Lord’s attention,” she asked teasingly making Katie laugh.

“Lord Alexander is very kind. He saved me from a man and he took me to the theater. Recently he arranged a feast for the staff in his mansion. People should stop spreading rumors that aren’t true,” Katie stood up taking two steps and frowned thinking about it, “Not all vampires are same, there are some bad and-”

“-there are some good,” Annabelle completed it, “So have you confessed to him?”

“Confess what?”

“Your feelings for him of course. I knew that previously you wanted to meet him and you were interested in knowing about him but it is as clear as day that you are falling in love with him or you already have.”

“There is nothing to confess,” she shrugged her shoulders.

“You already did?” Annabelle asked surprised.

“‘Course not! Only an idiot would do that.”

“So you do agree that you love him,” her friend confirmed.

Did she? Katie thought to herself. She had never fallen in love before, and the only reference she had were people around her and the books in library where she used to work.

She believed that love was undefinable. The only thing she knew was that she could trust the man with her life. A connection that had started years ago, making her feel safe. Her chest sometimes felt unbearable, like a sweet pain when he was around as if any moment it would explode.

Annabelle who was sitting on the cemented seats looked at her friend who was lost in thoughts. It was evident that she had strong feelings for the man.

“I am not sure but it is fruitless to have empty dreams. I heard Lord Alexander has a fiancé and she’s very beautiful, I have seen her by hand. They make a beautiful couple.”

“Are you sure he has a fiancé? With what I have heard he’s very much single and a lady killer, including reputations that he is merciless and cunning,” Katie narrowed her eyes making Annabelle raise both of her hands, “Rumors darling. I just want to point out that what you heard might be a rumor too.”

“Anna, he is a lord and-” she started to only stop seeing Annabelle’s husband in view as he walked towards where they were with the guard trailing not far behind him.

Noticing this Annabelle got up and Katie was quick to give her a hand.

“I don’t know about this fiancé but I know you and I think you’re no less than any elite woman suitable for him, that is if he is a good man as you say. You never know if one’s dream will be granted. Until and unless you won’t chase it, you will never know the outcome,” Annabelle said with a smile, “But if he isn’t right and if he does have a fiancé then it would be for the best that you let go of whatever you feel for the man.”

“Yes, Milady,” she bowed her head making the woman in front of her chuckle, “When did you start talking like this,” she asked jokingly.

“When you have a protective man, you tend to stretch in all possible ways to get the man to say yes. You will know,” her friend grinned at her.