Natalia saw the duchess sitting on the table, her eyebrows crashed together, hair tied in a tight bun on the top of her head. She kept her hand near her face almost covering half of the face, her eyes were red similar to the rings shining in her hands.
Natalia walked toward her without any hesitation, looking directly into her eyes.
"Greeting to the duchess", Natalia said bowing her head.
The duchess closed her eyes once and then opened them again.
"You came. I hope you didn't have any trouble coming here.", the duchess said placing her hands on the table.
"No, I have already decided on taking some trouble after coming here."
"For whatever trouble you will be facing during your stay you will be paid handsomely for that.", the duchess said getting up.
"It's better to keep things as a deal, no personal feelings involved from either side.", Natalia said.
She walked toward Natalia.
"Then what is the reason that the duchess needs me.", Natalia said as she found herself standing just in front of her.
"The Dragomir house needs someone with the Dragomir blood, and the only person that exists to fulfill this requirement is you."
"I was told that I am the only grandchild you have.", Natalia said.
"That's right you have to tell everyone that you are my only grandchild. And address me as a grandmother in front of others, even in the Dragomir mansion. Except for Mr. Roerig, no one knows the truth between us. You have to keep everything a secret and you being a hybrid too should be kept a secret from others.", the duchess explained.
For a mini-second, Natalia felt bad that she will call her a grandchild outside but will not ever consider her as one.
"I understand.", Natalia said.
"Mr. Roerig will be your guard from here on, keep him by your side wherever you go. There are some important events you have to attend and prepare for, Mr. Roerig will tell you from time to time. You will be trained as an heir of the Dragomir family."
"I will follow whatever is said."
"Now, what do you want in return for helping us?", the duchess asked.
"First I want to know, why you need my help at all. I understand that you need Dragomir's blood but why now I was told that father died years ago, then why I was called here just now not before.", Natalia asked the duchess.
"Is that the only thing that you want to know?", the duchess asked.
"For now, yes."
"There will be soon a scared event called crimson night, you must've heard of it. Conglomerates and aristocrats from all over the Orlean will be there to attend. This is the second time it takes place after your father's death, we were able to dodge the last one taking your father's death as a reason, to protect the Dragomir family from ending we lied that there is one heir remaining who is kept far away since birth but now we can't avoid it anymore."
"Then I can leave from here after that?"
"Most probably. It can be better if you can give us a legitimate heir after mating with a vampire, but I can't force you into that. We will find some other way."
"Wha... What do you mean by giving you an heir?", Natalia said all flustered.
"We aren't considering this as an option."
"Never consider it one."
"Is there anything else you want to ask?", the duchess asked.
"For now, there is nothing. But please keep in mind you have to answer everything I ask.", Natalia explained.
"Except if that's related to something you don't have to know.", she said.
Natalia remained silent for a while.
"Okay, then."
"Now, I am asking you again what you want in return for helping us?", she asked one more time.
Natalia already have something in mind she wanted.
"It's not money or something expensive I want. You must know who my mother was and if you don't I want you to find out about her.", Natalia said.
"That's impossible. You knew that your mother was a werewolf. And this is the Vampire kingdom.", the duchess replied.
"With Dragomir's family name, I don't think it's going to be difficult. I do not want anything else, I just want to know who gave birth to me."
It was strange for Natalia too, that she doesn't remember anything to be called a memory regarding her mother, she remembers her father, her grandmother, and even those who work in the mansion. At first, she used to think that she was too young when her mother left her at the Dragomir's mansion, but recently in her dream, she found it strange why her mother's face was blurred while her father's face was all clear in the dream.
After that, she realized that she doesn't know anything about her mother except for the fact that she was a werewolf of some upper class and it was even weirder to her that she never tried to remember her face.
That's what made her come with this demand.
"I do not intend to taint my family name just to look out for your mother.", the duchess said.
"That's why I want you to do this in secret. Dragomir family has enough power to run an investigation or search under their name without letting it known by others, I guess I was found similarly.", Natalia said with a sarcastic smile.
Duchess took a great sigh before speaking.
"I never met her, I only know her first name. I can't guarantee you whether I will be able to fulfill the promise or not, but I will use every source to look out for mom."
"That will suffice, thank you for excepting my request."
"You can leave from here now. Have some rest for a while, a maid will guide you to your room"