BLOODLINE

Chapter 4 - Shadows of Fate

As the day melted away in a haze, the entire Kingdom buzzed with preparations for the most scandalous wedding of the century. True to his word, Byron endeavored to be as involved in the arrangements as possible, much to Ratih's delight, who was pleased to see his newfound dedication.

Yet beneath Byron's charming exterior and seemingly carefree attitude, he was plagued by sleepless nights, tormented by the thought of lurking monsters. Perhaps it was his strikingly handsome visage that kept Ratih oblivious to the exhaustion etched in his features.

"I believe a vanilla flavor would be most delightful for the cake." Ratih proposed as they sampled an array of pastries. "Vanilla is quite agreeable to me." Byron concurred, a broad smile lighting up his face. 

Yet, everyone knew that vanilla was his least favorite, for Byron had always harbored a fondness for the more indulgently sweet flavors.

It appeared that Byron's sole contribution was his mere presence, as he continuously concurred with Ratih's every suggestion. Unaware, Ratih believed their tastes harmoniously aligned by chance. 

In truth, Byron harbored no desire to contradict her, wishing only for their grand day to be everything she had ever dreamed of.

"And for the wine?" Ratih inquired as they approached a selection of vintages from various regions. "What is your preference?" Byron asked, poised to acquiesce to her choice once more. This time, however, Ratih found herself at a loss, not being an avid connoisseur of wine.

"I must confess, I have no knowledge when it comes to wine." she admitted. A spark of excitement flickered in Byron's eyes, knowing that at last, he had the opportunity to make a decision of his own.

"Well, as it happens, I am something of a connoisseur. In fact, half of these bottles are from my own collection." he declared with a hint of pride, gesturing toward the wines. Ratih's jaw dropped in astonishment. "It is?" she exclaimed, hardly able to believe his revelation.

"I had quite the reputation before ascending to the throne. I could drink several bottles without succumbing to drunkenness, as I savor the richness of each rather than indulging excessively." he explained with a certain pride, as if this were one of his finest talents. Ratih, a touch concerned for his well-being, offered a half-hearted smile.

"You are still young, if you continue in such a manner, you might never see yourself grow old." Byron's smile faltered, worried that he might have given her cause for displeasure. The servants exchanged uneasy glances, fully aware of the King's reverence for his wine collection, treating it as if it were fine art.

"I shall bear that in mind." Byron replied, choosing to agree rather than argue, much to everyone's surprise. Given his known temper, it was unexpected for him not to defend his cherished pastime with fervor.

"He must truly love her, always agreeing with whatever she says." one maid whispered to another. "Or perhaps he is under her spell... He is known for his stubborn nature, and no one changes overnight." the other maid countered, finding it peculiar that Byron wasn't standing up for his own preferences, especially given their markedly different tastes.

"Well, then, allow me to present a wine so light you wouldn't even notice you're drinking it." Byron said as he walked to the end of the table, where his least favorite selections were placed. He picked up a bottle of white wine. 

The maids struggled to stifle their murmurs, noting that he had chosen a bottle from the very end of the table, a clear sign that he was reluctantly opting for something so unremarkable.