Page 82 of The Princess In A 'Prince' Disguise

A butler opened the door, and Emeriel explained his reason for being there before a maid emerged to lead him further into the house.

"The master will see you shortly," the maid said before leaving him in a waiting area with a wooden bench, directly across from a large oak door.

Emeriel grew increasingly restless as he waited. He felt anxious, almost hopeful in his thinking that Lord Herod had forgotten about him. But, the door opened, and Lord Herod stepped out.

"Come in," Lord Herod ordered, retreating back into the room. "Emeriel, is it?"

"Yes, my lord."

Lord Herod stopped in the center of the library, turned to Emeriel, and gave a small smile. "I have been expecting you."

"I apologize for answering your summons late, my lord."Why was he smiling when Emeriel was about to jump out of his skin with worry?

Lord Herod nodded. "Do not be so frightened, Emeriel. I did not summon you here today to harm or threaten you. If I wanted Urai to know about an incredibly beautiful girl disguised as a male in the Ravenshadow Citadel Fortress of Great Power, the grand lords would have already taken action against you. But that is not my intention."

"Oh... Thank you, my lord." Emeriel didn't feel relieved.What was the catch? What would this lord do to me?

The lord scrutinized him carefully with his eyes. His lips curled up again, and he spoke, "Come. I want to show you something."

Emeriel followed him out of the study, and together they walked down the hall. The house servants were nowhere to be seen, and the atmosphere was eerily quiet.

As they turned a corner, a large painting of a woman caught Emeriel's attention. When they reached it, Lord Herod stopped.

"This is Rivera, my bondmate. She passed away thirty years ago," he said, a tinge of sadness in his voice.

"I'm so sorry to hear that," Emeriel offered.

"We bonded four hundred years ago." Lord Herod’s eyes filled with memories. "I felt like the luckiest Urekai on earth when our bond was established after the seven days of bonding ritual. When our souls connected, I was so elated that I felt like I could move mountains."

Emeriel had no idea why Lord Herod was sharing this with him. But it was clear—

"She was human," he revealed.

—he loved his wife deeply. Wait, what?

"Huh?" Emeriel looked up at him, bewildered.

Another smile graced Lord Herod's handsome face, and he nodded. "Rivera was human. I attended the birth ceremony of Lord Festus's child, and there she was, serving drinks. She was severely malnourished but incredibly beautiful. I couldn't stop thinking about her for days. When I suggested to Festus that I wanted to purchase his slave, he agreed. So I bought her and brought her here. She worked in this household for years. Then, we fell in love. I loved her even before I discovered she was a syren."

Emeriel's head snapped up and her eyes widened. Did he know she was Syren?

However, the lord seemed lost in his memories, his gaze fixed on the painting.

"But when I discovered her secret, I knew it was fate. The centuries we spent together were the happiest of my long life. And when she passed away," he paused, his voice filled with sorrow, "she took all the light and joy with her."

"I offer my deepest condolences, my lord.”

Lord Herod seemed to return to the present. "I share all this with you in hopes that your fear would diminish, young one. I still mourn my bondmate deeply, even after all these years. I attended the banquet because I had already missed several festivals, and I would have faced consequences if I missed that one, too. I never expected to meet you there. You know, Vera was just like you. She lived with Lord Festus, disguised as a male."

Emeriel was taken aback. "Really?"

"Mmm. They were unaware of her true identity, but with just one glance, I knew it. When I discovered your secret, memories of Vera came rushing back."

Despite the lord's explanation, Emeriel remained confused. "I don't understand what you want from me, my lord."

Lord Herod's gaze bore into Emeriel's, his eyes filled with intensity. "I want you to feel safe. I want you to know that you can be yourself in my presence.”

A door opened, and a human maid—perhaps a slave—hurried forward. "Dinner is ready, master."

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