Adrian had emptied his cup two times after refilling and now stared at Eden's cup that was still filled with the initial wine.
"Little one, why don't you have a drink with me? Don't you like the wine? Or...?"
Little one? Eden glared at him. He was just 25! Only three years apart!
"Or do you think it's poisoned?" Adrian chuckled, amused.
Eden hesitated. He really couldn't predict what was running through this mad man's head. All he could do was think fast.
"Not at all" Eden sighed as he picked up the cup and stared at it "It's just that... I feel like drinking this way is old-fashioned and boring" he pouted.
Adrian raised an eyebrow "Old-fashioned? Interesting. What new method do you have in mind? I'm curious to hear"
Eden stared at him. Their eyes locked. Tension running amidst their fiery eyes.
"Well it'd be sweeter if I drank directly from your mouth My Lord" Eden raised the cup, offering it to him the cup of wine.
Adrian paused, staring at the drink Eden had up to him and also staring into his eyes. He smiled.
"What's wrong My Lord? Don't you wish to try it out?" Eden was the one smiling more now.
Adrian hesitated for a while and then laughed. A soft laugh that left Eden confused for a while.
He didn't say much. Adrian had just taken the cup off his hands and drank it up.
Eden stared at him, surprised. Adrian had just taken the drink casually. Wasn't it the poisoned drink?
What the hell was happening. What the hell was this mad man plotting?
Eden stared at Adrian who had just drank the wine. And now leaned very closely to his face.
Eden stiffened, Adrian's face was really close to his face. He could smell the alcohol.
"Now that I've taken the drink, why don't you have a taste of my mouth instead?"
He wasn't making a request, rather it was a declaration. One that was followed by action as Adrian leaned into Eden, his lips parting to break into Eden's mouth.
"My Lord!" A messenger had knocked on the chamber's room.
The heat of the moment was broken. Adrian's eyes were now open, staring at Eden's face.
They paused for a moment, still in the same position as the knock came again
"Come in" Adrian said. Eden could tell he was pissed from the distraction.
A man walked In. One who made his way to the table and placed an invitation card on the table. A golden invitation card designed with profound calligraphy.
"The King invited you to a Royal Banquet that holds in two days time. It's a special invitation" He informed.
Adrian casually stared at the invitation "Okay. You can go now"
"Yes My Lord" The Messenger left.
Eden had his eyes on the invitation which sat on the table. A banquet? He wondered what that was about now.
He was trying to figure out what part of the storyline had a Banquet in it. Which point of the storyline were they currently in.
But he couldn't think fully. Adrian had distracted him by picking up the invitation from the table and getting up with it.
"I lost my appetite. I don't feel like drinking anymore. So you can go to bed. I'll summon you when I need you again"
More like I'll summon you when I want to kill you again. Eden thought.
He sat there watching as Adrian made his way out of the chamber. Soon the maid was back to pick him and send him off to his room.
Eden walked past the two guards that stood guard on his room's entrance. It was clear that he was being kept hostage from escaping.
"They're there to protect you from any harm" The maid said when Eden had asked her.
Bullshit. Eden knew they were guarding against his escape. Eden couldn't imagine how many more guards were hiding around in case he escaped.
*******
"That snake" Adrian hissed furiously as he tossed the invitation on the table besides his bed.
"What happened My Lord? Did he drink it?" Mr Hugo approached Adrian who sat down on his bed.
"Get me that remedy pill" Adrian demanded.
"....." His butler could tell that His Lord drank the drink instead!
He didn't ask further questions but rushed to get the pill from the wardrobe.
"Here my lord" he handed Adrian the pill with a cup of water. Adrian furiously gulped it all down.
"He knows" Adrian said "He knows that I want him dead. And he's certainly cautious"
"At least it's a good thing My lord. Now you're aware of a next step to take. After all, this was just a preparatory plan. The main plan is yet to come" The Butler explained.
"Of course I know that" Adrian hissed, not impressed "And I could have at least done something if not for that stupid messenger. Get that bastard expelled from my Residence before tomorrow"
"Yes My Lord. I'll do that" The butler nodded.
"He just solidified my claims. He isn't one to be easily fooled. So I'll need to play harder if I want to take him down" Adrian said.
"He better enjoy his smiles while he can. Because I'll have his head soon" Adrian added.
"What about the invitation..." The Butler pointed at his table. Adrian's eyes met the invitation card on his table.
"And for that, it's probably the king seeking a means to appeal to the nobles after his fatal humiliation at the beheading ceremony"
Adrian scoffed "I'll see if I'll go based on my mood on that day. Just leave it there"
"Yes My lord" The butler bowed
Immediately they heard a noise from outside the window.
"What's that?" Adrian demanded alert, he felt that someone was eavesdropping on his conversation from the window.
It was a grave crime that he had killed people for. And he was ready to take another head he would find eavesdropping on his conversation.