The Bride of the Immortal (27 page)

“I’m not done yet. There is more.”

“More?”

“Like I mentioned before, the device doesn’t work if you aren’t willing to give up your life force. That is why a strong bond is required. Even if you decided not to come close to me anymore after the wedding night, you would have to sleep with me at least once.”

Mairin frowned.

“That’s ridiculous. I could simply promise to follow your rules.”

“How can I trust that you will give up your life to save mine if you aren’t even willing to fulfil my request?”

“This and that are-“

“It’s part of the contract.”

Mairin fell silent. If the whole story was made up then he had put some thought into it.

“Are you certain you’re over 700 years old?”

Vivian sighed. “Wouldn’t it explain a few things?”

The way he was knowledgeable about a vast amount of subjects and the fact that he seemed to be skilled at everything he did supported the theory.

“I guess it would,” she replied hesitantly.

“I don’t expect an answer from you right away, but I’m planning to take a trip to
Traumstadt
with you and would ask you to act as my bride for the time being. Due to the recent conflicts in the area I believe it is necessary to demonstrate presence.”

“I will try.”

“Well then. Enough about me. You are probably more concerned about Adrijan’s reaction anyway.”

Mairin felt found out. As important as it was, at the moment it was difficult for her to focus on a future that seemed distant and unreal to her. Hadn’t she promised herself that she would have courage and try her best to get closer to Adrijan?

“He didn’t want it,” she mumbled.

“I don’t agree.”

“Hm?”

“Have you considered his feelings properly? Do you even know the person you believe to be in love with?”

Mairin blushed. The immortal’s words felt like salt in her wounds.

“Being in love for the first time is a curious thing. You’re not only confronted by your obsession with the person but also with your fascination about that feeling.”

Vivian was staring into space and Mairin wondered if he was remembering experiences he had made with Magdala.

“Love makes you frightfully prone to oversight. But what point is there in loving a mask instead of the various facets of the person behind it?”

The immortal turned to her.

“Won’t you give it another chance and try to find out more about him?“

It felt strange to be encouraged in this matter by her own groom.

“I would like to. Will you tell me about him?”

Vivian shook his head.

“There is no point in learning about his past if he doesn’t tell you on his own. Tomorrow he will travel to
Traumstadt
to prepare our visit. Time is scarce, but perhaps you will find an opportunity to talk to him before he leaves.”

Mairin was confused and unable to cope with everything she had learnt today. How would she even be able to face Adrijan again?

“Let’s head back. Or did you want to stay here on your own a bit longer?”

It was going to get dark soon and the thought of remaining in the winter garden with the statues all by herself scared her enough to quickly get up from the pillow bed.

“I see,” Vivian said with a grin on his face.

“I’m not like you, who was able to forget about his past so easily. Stop meddling. I will not go to her. Not after what happened…”

The punch hit him hard in the face. Adrijan fought the anger that dwelled up inside him as he wiped away the blood from his lips. Vivian looked at him with cold, unforgiving eyes.

“Stop being such a fool!” he grunted. “I know what you have been through, but it was a long time ago. There is no salvation for those who dwell in the past. Get a grip and don’t pass up on the chance.”

“What chance...?” Adrijan muttered. He was annoyed at himself, knowing very well that his brother had never forgotten Magdala. The cruel words had escaped him nonetheless.

Vivian ignored him and massaged his fist. “You will travel to
Traumstadt
tomorrow to prepare Mairin’s and my visit. It’s time that I reminded the people that the immortal is more than a fairy tale.”

“Do you think that’s wise?”

“It might be dangerous, but I believe it is necessary to lure out the culprit.”

Adrijan nodded. “I will go in the morning.” He took a deep breath and let it out loudly. “But I won’t follow your request to see
her
.”

Vivian rewarded him with a glare.

“You will go to Mairin, not by your brother’s request but by your king’s order.”

Adrijan flinched. The past few centuries his brother had not once made use of his authority over him.

Upon her return Mairin had slipped into the nightgown that had been prepared by Hilda and told the maid that she was going to skip dinner. Usually she would have protested, but today she had only nodded and walked away. Had Alfred told her what had happened?

The luxurious bed was warm and comfortable but it was still too early for her to sleep. Mairin stared at the ceiling and tried to collect her thoughts. Vivian had suggested to her that she talked to Adrijan before his departure, but it seemed absolutely impossible now.

“Can I come up?”

Was that Adrijan’s voice?

“Oh… oh… of course,” Mairin mumbled and repeated her answer more loudly. In a rush she got out of bed and wrapped the shawl she used in the mornings around her shoulders. There was no time to get dressed. In her excitement she walked here and there, ending up next to the stairs and suddenly Adrijan stood in front of her, gazing at Mairin in surprise.

“You didn’t have to get up,” he said shyly. “I apologise for disturbing you. I will just leave you alone so you can rest.”

Adrijan turned around and Mairin panicked, grabbing his arm.

“No, don’t go,” she requested. “Won’t you take a seat?” Mairin almost dragged her guest over to the chairs at the fireplace. The fire was still lit and spread its warmth.

“I have come to apologise,” Adrijan said once he was seated.

“There is no need for you to do that. I am sorry for bringing you into such a situation.”

Her visitor forced a smile, making Mairin feel awkward. It was difficult to share her thoughts.

“Actually, I’m not sorry for doing what I did.” Her voice was thin and she cleared her throat. “I just wish you wouldn’t have rejected me.”

Adrijan didn’t answer and continued gazing at her. What was she saying? It wasn’t right to force herself on a priest. Could the situation get anymore awkward?

“For a moment I forgot about your profession,” she explained. “And I had to fulfil the bet after all.”

“The bet?”

Mairin realised that nobody had told him about it and made up for it now, hoping that he wouldn’t leave right away after hearing the story. Against her expectations he waited patiently until she had finished.

“Why did you suggest something like that?”

“I didn’t want to take music lessons and after the past weeks I was certain you wouldn’t show up.” Mairin paused. “It was silly, but I thought that in case you did come anyway I’d at least be comforted by seeing you again. That was… before Vivian added the kiss to the conditions.”

“And you decided to choose me for your punishment.”

“But it wasn’t a punishment anymore after Vivian gave me the chance to choose you.” Mairin blushed. “At least it wasn’t until…” She left the sentence unfinished.

The girl was trying hard to convey her feelings to him and even though he was so much older than her he couldn’t get himself to talk to her openly. It was pathetic.

“I’m sorry,” he said once again.

Several strands had loosened from her neatly braided hair and he couldn’t help but notice that Mairin looked pretty, blushing in the scarce but warm light of the fireplace. What would spending time with her be like now, if he had accepted her kiss? She couldn’t possibly know how sorry he really was.

Mairin slightly inclined her head to the side, looking as if she were trying to read his mind. After a few moments she leant back in the chair and started to talk, gazing into the flames.

“I have two younger brothers and an older sister. Our family was never wealthy but we also weren’t poor. Mother and father loved each other very much and Renga and I were happy when they told us that we would gain another family member. I was only six years old when my mother gave birth to twins.”

Telling him about her past had turned her eyes watery. Mairin continued to speak, but her voice was trembling.

“Mother died that night and everything changed. Renga was twelve then and with the help of a friendly woman living next door raised the twins as if they were her own. Of course I tried to help as well but I was too young to do much.”

Adrijan continued listening, keeping from her that he knew most of what had happened in her youth.

“Father often got drunk. Sometimes he beat us when we tried to protect the boys. I think he despised them, blaming them for mother’s death and perhaps he hated us as well for reminding him of her. Still, he supported us financially at least.”

Adrijan only knew part of this story, but also some things Mairin wasn’t aware of.

“I knew your father,” he admitted in a low voice.

“How? Were you one of his students?”

Adrijan shook his head and decided to be honest with her. If she had feelings for him then they would be crushed by what he was going to reveal to her.

“I caused his death.”

He could see on her face that she had soon dismissed the possibility that he was speaking the truth.

“How would you have done that? Father died of natural causes. He never got over mother’s death and in the end his dark mood and the drinking must have been too much for him.”

“Mairin… has Vivian showed the hourglass to you?” Adrijan was careful with his questions.

“Mhm, today in the winter garden after you had left. But what he said can’t possibly be true!”

The girl was getting agitated and Adrijan was afraid he had said too much. Still, the truth wouldn’t become better just by keeping it hidden.

“Do you remember a priest visiting your father?”

“Hmm…vaguely. I only remember because I thought he looked scary. You see, his hair was-” Mairin’s eyes widened. “He had the same peculiar hair as you,” she whispered. “But the priest was a grown-up.” She shook her head. “It couldn’t have been you then.”

“Mairin…”

“It couldn’t...”

“I’m a lot older than I look.”

Mairin gazed at him unbelievingly. “How…?”

“I’m almost as old as Vivian. I think I may be only two or three years younger than him.”

Mairin tensed, clutching at the armrests of the chair.