Chapter 214 - Return Of Dead

"I have been looking for you," Santiago said, panting. "You scared me, Red." 

His gaze then fell on Giselle and nodded in acknowledgement. The latter smiled and walked away. 

It had been more than half an hour since she left his side to go to the washroom and hadn't come back. 

Although he knew that this palace was the safest place in the whole country, he couldn't help but worry about her. 

What if she fell? What if she fainted? All these thoughts were troubling him. 

Now that he saw her alright, he felt he could breathe now. 

They returned to the ballroom and bid goodbye to everyone once the pastry ended. 

"What were you talking about?"Santiago had said when he opened the car door for her. It was quite late and now they were going back home. 

"Nothing special," Persephone whispered. "Just discussing the crazy king and his wicked schemes." 

Persephone still couldn't help but remember the words Giselle had told her. She couldn't understand one thing why King's fiance would try to warn her against his schemes? 

All she could say was that her first encounter with King Leonardo was very memorable. However, not in a good way. 

If she could, she wouldn't meet him again. 

"Red, he might not be a good man but he is an excellent king," Santiago said, sliding next to her. He could understand the thoughts running in her head. "And a good king can't be a good man." 

For someone like King Leonardo who saved his country from the brink of destruction several years ago knew better than anyone else that goodness couldn't take him anywhere.

He has to be shrewd and devious all the time. Recognising the chances and turning them into profit. 

King Leonardo could see his future. He knew the position Santiago would hold in the country's economy in the years to come. So, he was trying to use this opportunity in his favour. 

But Santiago didn't reach where he was today just like that. He couldn't be schemed against so easily. 

"I am telling you once for all, Santiago, my child will have nothing to do with the Royal family," Persephone said seriously. "I don't care if you work for him or not. But he will not come anywhere near the king." 

Giselle said Santiago was indebted to King Leonardo and she could understand why. Still, no child of hers could pay for his father's debt. 

King Leonardo might have Santiago once. This favour would be repaid by Santiago only. Not by her children. 

"I understand," Santiago sighed out. He could see where she was coming from. His debts would be paid by him solely. "I promise you, Persephone, No one could force my children to do what they never want to do. They will have the reign of their lives in their own hands. I will support them no matter what." 

She took his word for face value. If he said that he would always protect his children, it meant he would protect them, no matter what. 

"Thank you," Persephone whispered, hugging his arm. She felt relief hearing him treasure her. 

"It's something I have to do as a father," Santiago said. "You don't need to thank me." 

He shouldn't be thanked for doing his duty. 

Persephone placed her head on his shoulder and waited for the car to reach home. She was surprised when Santiago stopped in the car hallway. She asked him why he stopped the car hallway when he got out of the car but he merely smiled at her. 

A while later he came with two cups of ice cream. She was surprised by his gesture but happy nonetheless. 

"Butterscotch ice cream with lots and lots of choco chips?"Santiago smiled. 

Persephone laughed in enthusiasm. He guided her to follow him and stopped when she saw a bench placed near the beach view. 

Night beach view was surreal. 

And enjoying ice cream while relishing the beach was a joy she didn't ever experience. 

"Ah, you are being romantic," Persephone said as she occupied the seat next to him. 

Santiago smiled and passed her the cup of ice cream. 

"I thought you would like a romantic husband once in a while?" Santiago asked, raising his brow. 

Persephone chuckled at him. "I like any type of husband as long as he brings me ice cream."

Santiago caught his heart in a dramatic manner. "Ah, you hurt my romantic ego, Wife." 

"Romantic ego?" Persephone laughed at his cheekiness. "What's that?"

"Just like people have manly or womanly egos. Similarly, I have a romantic ego that's just hurt by you, " Santiago replied. "Well, you can just kiss me to lessen the pain that I felt when my ego crumbled." 

"You are crazy, Santiago, "Persephone said, hitting his chest shyly. 

Santiago burst into endless laughter seeing her flustered. 

"Have you thought about baby names?" Persephone asked him as she took a bite of her ice cream. It was a topic she has not discussed before. 

"Let's call him Arthur?"Santiago suggested and Persephone turned to look at him with a wrinkled nose. Of course, she didn't like his suggestion.

"Nah, it's a medieval name," Persephone said. How could she give her boy such an old name? Instead, she suggested, "Let's call him Lake." 

It was Santiago's turn to give her a dirty look. "Why not just call him Pond or perhaps tap water." 

"You are no fun, Santiago," Persephone groaned. Lake is such a beautiful name. Seems like Santiago had no taste of good names. 

"Landon?"

"Too American."

"Sullivan?"

"Too fancy." 

"Archie?"

"Too short." 

"Why can't we just call him Caro?"Santiago seriously asked. Why was choosing a name for a baby such a difficult feat?

[Caro means dear]

"Imagine the horror he would experience in school for getting named as Caro," Persephone shuddered as she imagined the scene where everyone would be teasing her baby calling Caro. "Don't even think about it." 

Santiago sighed. "If it was a girl, I would have just called her Eleanora." 

"Too bad it's a boy," Persephone snorted. 

…. 

Santiago placed Persephone's asleep body on the bed. She fell asleep in the car on the way home. It was past her bedtime and naturally, she would be asleep by this time. 

He felt his phone ringing in her pocket as he removed her shoes and arranged the blanket on her body. 

Seeing that it was Killian calling him, he left the bedroom to take a call in his study. 

"Killian, I wonder what happened that you have to call so late," Santiago said as soon as he picked up. 

"Santiago, Lucian Marino might be alive," Killian immediately said. 

"What did you say?"Santiago felt as if he had heard wrong. 

"You heard me right, " Killian said, panting. "Before Richard Costa's death, he had tried talking to Don Marino but his call wasn't connected. However, he left a voicemail for Don Marino saying Lucjan Marino is alive and it was him who poisoned him. He also said that the demise of the Scuderi family might be related to Lucian too." 

"But we know that it wasn't Lucian who killed the Scuderi family but someone else," Santiago said. He had heard from Killian that it was his person in New York who killed Scuderi, giving him a slip. "And how can a dead return, Kill?"

"Santiago, just like us, "Killian replied. "In people's eyes, we were dead too. But look at us? Rising from ashes. We were normal beings and still survived. It was Lucian. One of the best geniuses the world had produced. If we can survive, why can't he?"

Santiago was quiet for a while and then he sighed out. "Killian, it wouldn't be peaceful in New York anymore. Make arrangements for Valencia, Santiago and Cameron to send here. I don't want them implicated in any sort. I can see a war getting started. If you don't mind, you can try talking to Emma and Alicia to stay here for a while. They would be safer here. We have to protect our families." 

If their families would be safe, they would feel less anxious. New York was no longer safer for them. It was better if they all came here to stay with them. 

"I will try talking to all of them," Killian said. He paused for a moment and then asked, "I heard you attended a dinner party at the palace today. How was it?"

Santiago snorted. "His Majesty being himself once again." 

"I wonder what he did to get on your nerves," Killian mused. 

"He suggested a marriage alliance between our children,"Santiago said bitterly. "As much as I know him, he is probably thinking of ways to trap your children now." 

Killian laughed. "Too bad I have no kids." 

"You have a niece, Killian, don't you?" Santiago reminded him. 

"Shit, "Killian cursed out. "I will not let him succeed in any of his schemes.. And I didn't find Emy after great difficulties just to give her up."