Vampire's Veil Of Obsession-Chapter 175: The Fight…

Lilia let out a shaky breath, trying to stifle the gasp rising in her throat. Was this man seriously doing this to her? Was he trying to tease her? It seemed she had been wrong for attempting to stop him—especially when he spoke.

Zethan’s hand slowly caressed her thigh, trailing upward with deliberate slowness. Lilia clamped her legs together, forcing her focus onto the plate before her. But she wasn’t even eating—just staring blankly at the food, her cheeks flushed with heat.

Oh, what was he trying to do? Was he trying to tease her? He knew exactly the kind of way he could make her feel—and right now, sweet shivers ran down Lilia’s spine. Her lips parted slightly as she tried to think straight.

"Lady Lilia, don’t you like the food?" William asked, a note of concern in his voice. He had noticed she was not eating, just staring at the meal.

But little did he know, it was an entirely different reason why Lilia wasn’t eating.

Lilia blinked and inhaled and exhaled deeply, attempting to calm herself.

’Stay calm, speak calmly’ she soooe to herself.

"Oh, I love the meal," she replied quickly, shifting as she picked up her fork and knife. She began to cut her food, trying to seem composed.

Zethan’s lips curled into a knowing smirk.

William lowered his gaze, returning his attention to his meal. Lilia, on the other hand, snapped her head toward Zethan, her eyes wide with a silent plea for him to stop. She didn’t want anyone to notice, and she was trying her best to hold back the sound that was about to slip from her lips.

But Zethan’s eyes pointed with dark satisfaction.

She turned back to her plate, lifting a piece of meat to her lips—only to gasp again as Zethan’s hand rested lightly atop her... her—

Oh, this man.

William glanced up just as another gasp escaped her. Lilia quickly tried to cover up her reaction.

"This meat—whoever prepared it did a fantastic job! It’s so tasty and... mouthwatering," she said, her face burning.

William smiled softly. "It was prepared by our best royal chef. I’m glad you’re enjoying it."

Lilia nodded quickly, eyes dropping to her plate again. Meanwhile, Zethan calmly ate his meal, clearly enjoying every bit of her flustered reactions.

Lilia moved her hands under the table, reaching to push his away as her body tingled with sensation. What was Zethan trying to do? Her thoughts spun in confusion and surprise.

But before she could act, Zethan suddenly withdrew his hand. Instead, he gently took hers, his large fingers softly entwining with hers beneath the table. Lilia’s eyes widened slightly, her breath catching.

Just as she parted her lips to say something, Zethan pulled away again—this time more gently. He dabbed his lips with a napkin before speaking, his tone cool and casual, like nothing had happened a few moments ago.

"I’m guessing you must be quite the glutton, Prince William. But allow me to give you a little advice—" He paused, his eyes glinting slightly. "The less you eat, the stronger you fight. You wouldn’t want to go into battle feeling full, would you?"

He leaned back slightly in his chair. "But it doesn’t matter what you do. I’m just giving a tip... in case you’re planning to fight someone next time."

He then turned.

"Mrs. Zethan, I will be taking my leave now, as I need to get ready for the fight—and claim you as my own."

’Mrs Zethan once more’

Lilia’s cheeks flushed lightly at Zethan’s words as she nodded. She rose quietly from her seat and spoke with a gentle tone, "Prince William, I shall be taking my leave as well."

William gave a small nod as he stood to acknowledge her departure.

*

*

The field buzzed with anticipation, filled with people from different villages and regions who had all gathered to witness the duel between Prince William and Lord Zethan. Lilia sat at the highest seat, where she could see everything clearly—after all, she was the one they were fighting for.

For reasons she couldn’t fully understand, her heart began to throb in her chest. This was the only way to settle things—without further arguments from the prince, without chaos. But still, her heart pounded loudly, refusing to calm at the gravity of it all.

Then, at last, a soft bell rang. Ding! Ding! The signal. It was time for the fighters to step forward. The buzzing field silenced for a moment.

At the center of the open sparring grounds—dry, flat, and rugged, rather than grassy or soft—two figures emerged from opposite ends: Zethan and William.

A faint smile tugged at Zethan’s lips as his eyes immediately sought out Lilia’s seat. The moment his gaze found her, her breath caught. Her heart skipped slightly, trembling at the intensity in his stare.

And in that moment, all Lilia could do was pray—pray that he wins.

Zethan stood tall, dressed in a black royal garment paired with fitted pants that enhanced his powerful stance. In his hand, he held a gleaming sword—its deadly shine catching the light, a clear warning of how sharp it truly was. The kind of blade meant to kill. Just the thought of it twisted Lilia’s stomach with unease.

The field echoed with the sound of voices, a rhythmic wave of chants and murmurs that filled the air like a pulse. Surprisingly, the crowd was made up of more women than men—though there were still plenty of men present. No one had dared to tell Lilia why so many ladies had shown up, but she had her suspicions. After all, standing at the center of the sparring ground were two of the most handsome men in the kingdom. And she wasn’t exaggerating—not when it came to her husband.

On the other side stood William, dressed in a regal blue garment, a sword resting casually in his grip. He looked... almost bored. That was what surprised her the most. Despite the tension in the air, despite the seriousness of what was at stake, William’s expression was unreadable, almost detached.

Lilia frowned slightly, wondering when he would finally take things seriously. This wasn’t just some casual spar. This was a real fight—one people had traveled far and wide to witness. A fight that would determine more than just victory... it would determine who truly stood a chance against Prince William.

And from the size of the crowd, it was clear—this was no small challenge.

Back on the sparring field, a soft smile tugged at Zethan’s lips. But there was something unsettling about it—so calm, so quiet, it was more chilling than any cold, cruel grin. It wasn’t rage or arrogance. It was control. And that alone made it all the more eerie.

William’s frown deepened as Zethan stepped forward and spoke, his voice low and steady.

"Prince," he began, "I’m giving you one last chance. Do you want to back away? Would you like to withdraw?"

He repeated the question with the same calm precision, as if genuinely offering mercy—or perhaps taunting him with it.

William’s eyes narrowed. "You place a lot of trust in yourself," he said coolly. "Don’t be too quick to conclude."

Zethan chuckled softly. The sound wasn’t loud, but it cut through the tension like a blade.

"I wouldn’t mind a word of wisdom from you," he replied, his tone almost mocking. "After all... you are the prince."

The mocking lilt in his voice only deepened William’s frown, his grip tightening slightly on the hilt of his sword.

Zethan chuckled quietly, his gaze locked on the prince.

"You know," he said, voice low and deliberate, "it would be quite a shame for the people of this kingdom to witness their prince fall at the hands of a stranger... a powerful stranger, at that."

He tilted his head slightly, the glint in his eyes both calm and dangerous.

"So, I’ll give you one last warning. Either we keep it playful—entertain the crowd with a friendly spar—or we take the other path. The serious one."

Zethan’s smile faded just slightly, replaced with a firm tone.

"After all, my wife is my wife. And I won’t let anyone take her from me."

Another deep frown etched itself onto William’s face as he responded, his voice sharp.

"As I said—you put too much trust in yourself... whoever you are."

Zethan’s eyes narrowed slightly, and a soft, amused chuckle escaped him.

"Whoever I am?" he echoed, the words rolling off his tongue like a quiet threat. "That’s what should concern you most."

From where she sat, Lilia could only watch. She couldn’t hear their words, but she didn’t need to. The look on William’s face was more than enough. Tension lined his brows, while Zethan’s expression remained unreadably calm—too calm. It was clear this wasn’t just a casual exchange. Whatever they were saying, it was deep... and personal.

Then finally—DING!

The bell rang. The match had officially begun.

Without hesitation, Prince William launched forward.