"I don't think you are terrible, but can you stop looking at me like that? You look at me like you want to swallow me whole. I really hate being stared at with such a stupid and perverted gaze," Lavelle said later.
"Okay, sorry, I didn't mean to look at you with such a stupid and perverted look. I was just so mesmerized by your beautiful face," Theophile replied then, immediately shifting her gaze to another direction, although occasionally still trying to steal glances at Lavelle. "I also want to tell you something that you may not know before."
"About what?" asked Lavelle then.
Theophile took a deep breath, then said, "I am not a human like you, Lavelle."
Lavelle choked, holding back a laugh. "Obviously, you're not like me, and I know that."
Theophile chuckled then grabbed Lavelle's hands quickly, causing the girl with silver-blonde hair to pause and her laughter to fade. "Listen to me. I was… so mesmerized when I first saw you and not because your sweet, sweet blood tempted me. I can't stop imagining your beautiful and charming face. But… we're different… you're human, and I'm not…."
"Theophile, what do you mean? If you're not human, then what kind of creature are you?" Lavelle lowered her voice.
"I'm serious this time, and I'm not lying. I don't want bad people to touch you, even if it's my own brother, let alone Euphorious, who managed to inhale the tantalizing scent of your blood." Theophile sighed.
"Euphorious?" Lavelle repeated in confusion.
"Euphorious is a clan of vampires known for their cruelty, and they used to be an offshoot of Pack McLaren. However, somehow the Elders of McLaren threw them all away, and in the end, they built a new empire called Bighitlon Query, and they had seven handsome but very cruel princes. They are the leader of a city called Purple Town. They are very famous because they are handsome. However, everyone also knows that they have no feelings, and that's why I brought you here. They are quite a dangerous clan for you," Theophile explained in detail to Lavelle.
Lavelle wrinkled her forehead in confusion. However, she really couldn't say anything because she didn't understand what Theophile really meant at that time. She could only guess whether this man before her was sane or not, but once again, Theophile tried to emphasize that he was no ordinary human.
"I'm sure you must be very confused," said Theophile.
"Of course, I feel confused. If you're a real vampire or something, were you the one on the news a while ago? Then how can I meet you in the morning? Can't vampires get sunburnt?" Lavelle began to issue her main move to ask a lot of questions like a detective.
"As expected, you must be so confused when I tell you the truth. I can only speculate that it wasn't us that was covered but from another clan. After all, I've never ordered that many people out of here," Theophile said with a faint smile that even looked like a curved line on his pretty face.
"This is weird to hear," Lavelle pressed.
"We use a special liquid that protects our skin from sunburn," said Theophile.
"Can you explain it so briefly, concisely, and clearly? And why can you visit us? Or maybe you've been spying on us since the first time we were there?" Lavelle insisted, then seconds later, she remembered that a book once said that vampires couldn't read your mind when you sing a pretty boring song over and over again. And in the end, Lavelle intends to sing a song that has a boring riff.
"I'm not spying on you. However, the scent of your blood, which is so sweet and fragrant, made me instantly look for you. What's more, you built the cabin on my territory," Theophile replied.
"Umh… I don't know if it's your territory," Lavelle said. "By the way, can you stop singing that weird song? I don't know what song is so boring, you repeatedly hum side to side, and it's almost five stanzas you hum. I think Mark has taught you a lot about that."
Lavelle stammered. "Y-you can hear me?"
"My senses as a vampire are still functioning well even though I've lived in this world for a hundred years," Theophile said later.
"So, you really are a vampire? I can't believe that I could meet a vampire like this. This is absolutely insane," said Lavelle. She still couldn't believe that the handsome man in front of her was a vampire. Maybe even at first glance, Theophile doesn't look like a vampire. Lavelle even thinks that Theophile has an albino disorder that causes his skin to be so pale. But the fact that he has beautiful brownish-black eyelashes and eyebrows makes it clear that he has to believe that Theophile is a vampire.
"I already said it, and I don't want you to run away from here without my supervision. Euphorious could catch you at any time and finish you off," Theophile said.
"Then what about my friends? I couldn't have left them in the cabin," said Lavelle.
"They're safe there because there's nothing to lure Euphorious there," Theophile retorted.
"You… why are you acting like you—"
"I'm not just saying nonsense, so you don't get out of here. I'm just giving advice, so you don't recklessly get out of here without anyone's supervision. You are a special human being who can invite many things," Theophile cut in.
"I can't leave my friends there," Lavelle replied.
Theophile sighed, then he quickly got up from his seat, and then he stood on the side of the balcony railing while watching Hendery sleeping curled up in the silver prison. With a slight grin. "I won't be willing if someone else hurts you."
"But you—"
"I'll make sure they stay safe there," Theophile cut in.
"Okay, why don't you let your little brother go? Maybe he really doesn't know that you've met me and caught me," Lavelle said with a slight pout of her full lips.
Theophile turned his head immediately, and then he looked at Lavelle, who was now behind him with her arms crossed over her chest. "Wait, sweetie. What are you saying?"
Lavelle rolled her eyes in anger. "Just a moment ago, you said that your sense of taste as a vampire is still working fine but, why are you acting like you're' deaf?"
Theophile laughed, then replied, "I just don't understand what context you're talking about. I didn't catch you, but fate brought us together. And as for Hendery, leave him there until he is there, until he learns not to be reckless and careless."
"Isn't he your brother?" Lavelle then asked, "You don't have to lock him up like that."
"Forget it, do you want to come with me to a beautiful place?"
+++
Lavelle spun, tiptoed this way, and that when Theophile took her to a garden in the kingdom, Lavelle seemed to really enjoy the beauty of the manicured flower beds there. Roses, jasmines, orchids, tulips, and allamandas welcomed Lavelle so beautifully into the garden. The garden was really well-maintained. Not even a dry leaf was in the garden. Lavelle inhaled the scent of a bunch of French roses in front of her.
"Beautiful!" cried Lavelle enthusiastically.
Theophile could only shake his head in disbelief.
"Ow!"
Theophile became so sensitive as Lavelle let out a small scream. Theophile swiftly took Lavelle's hand and noticed a drop of blood on Lavelle's middle finger. It seemed that Lavelle had just tried to break the stem of the rose with its beautiful petals, causing a thorn to pierce it. Theophile took a deep breath, and then, without thinking, he licked the drop of blood.
"Why didn't you say that you wanted to have the flower? I can ask the gardener to prepare it for you," Theophile said later.
"That's too much, and I just want a sprig. By the way, where did you keep my phone?" Lavelle retracted her hand immediately when she also remembered something important that she had to do with her cell phone.
Theophile frowned. "Is that thing that important to you? We can be even more free without using it."
"Does a vampire like you never use a cell phone? It's the 21st century, and you don't use a cell phone? Sounds so strange. Cellphones don't only bring bad effects if you use them wisely," Lavelle said later.
"I'll use it later, and even then, if I feel it's necessary. You look so beautiful among these flowers," Theophile said.
Lavelle scoffed, "How could that be? They've been beautiful since they were seedlings. Don't make fun of me like that, Theophile. I fully understand that I am not perfect."
"I'm telling the truth," Theophile said.
Lavelle was stunned when she heard the sound of a horse neighing from a corner of such a vast and majestic kingdom. Theophile only smiled faintly. Then immediately find out about what made Lavelle feel so curious.
"That's our pet pony. Are you interested in riding it?" asked Theophile.
"You guys keep horses too? Can't Vampires fly, so what are you guys raising horses for?"
Hearing Lavelle's ridiculous question, Theophile couldn't help but laugh out loud and slowly walked away from Lavelle's presence towards a small gate leading to a hidden place behind the wooden door.
"Is there something strange about my question? Why are you laughing like that?" asked Lavelle, half annoyed.
Theophile didn't look up but still answered Lavelle's question, "Sure, this makes me unable to stop laughing. My question is really funny. What are you thinking, huh? Do you think Vampires shouldn't be riding?"
"I'm just asking. After all, why do Vampires ride when they can fly faster?" Lavelle muttered a little.
"Are you interested in horse riding?" asked Theophile then.
"I have no talent for riding horses. I've never even met a horse," Lavelle replied, shrugging. "I can teach you," Theophile said.
"No, thank you. You had better accompany me home this afternoon. I'm worried if Daniela and Mark look for me then meet the Vampire group you said earlier," Lavelle said.
"They won't be able to enter my territory, because I have got a marker on the border," said Theophile. "Don't worry."
"I'm not worried about that, however, I'm worried if they look for me around the forest," Lavelle said.
Theophile nodded in understanding, however, didn't reply to Lavelle's words just now, which seemed a little harsh-instead, he took Lavelle's right hand and led her to a place across the garden-a very luxurious stable with several employees who were doing routine maintenance on the four-legged animal.
Different horses are there, eighteen horses. There are some ponies that are exquisite and even really like animals from the land of Fantasy. Theophile pointed to a white pony with slightly pink hair. Theophile quickly asked some of his employees to prepare horse riding equipment and this was immediately fulfilled.
"Come on up," Theophile's orders.
"No, I'm scared!" Lavelle pushed back a few steps.
"Um ... you are safe with me," said Theophile.
"But ...."
"We will go around the kingdom only." Theophile reassured Lavelle again.
After being forced several times by Theophile, Lavelle gave in and immediately took Theophile's right hand to carefully ride the horse.
"This horse is named Napoleon, you can take it," said Theophile, then rushed to accompany Lavelle, who looked very agitated at Napoleon.