That speech from Lucille left Eros with uncertainties and worries; is she pushing him away? He knew very well how that would affect his plan, so he had to act to counter it.
Even so, he must still bear her request in mind. Thus, he volunteered to help the young maid prepare their dinner.
"You're good at this, Sir Lucas." Anne's eyes sparkled as she took notice of him peeling the vegetables.
The crown prince is not accustomed to household chores, but using the knife is one thing he is definitely skilled at.
"Beginner's luck, I guess," he chuckled.
"That reminds me, did the lady finish her meal this noon?"
Eros recalled knocking on her door to deliver her meal, but instead of opening it, she slid a note that says:
Tonight
"She took my key to her room from me. I haven't entered since. And I almost forgot," he said while reaching for the note inside his coat.
Tonight, she says, what does it mean? He initially assumed that she meant to say that she would be skipping lunch and eating at dinnertime next. However, Anne's surprised reaction made him confused. Is there another meaning to it?
"Oh, that means... but isn't it a bit too early?" Anne's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"How do we deliver her dinner anyway? Do you have a duplicate?"
"She'll be asleep the whole day. I'll meet you at the staircase by 8 p.m."
This entire thing had been boggling his mind, and regardless, he is quite sure that he will get to find out the answer tonight.
Until. . .
"Alright, I'll be—"
"Did you just get a cut?"
Eros held his left hand tight as he felt the stinging pain on his palm and hid it from the anxious young maid's sight.
"It's nothing, not that deep," he reassured her, but surely he knows how terrible it is.
"Then you can't come with me tonight."
His suspicion grew stronger.
"It's fine. I can still—"
"Have you forgotten about the contract, Sir Lucas?"
That contract again.
What on earth is happening here—to you, Lady Lucille?
"Of course not. I was simply saying that I don't want to be a burden to you and the lady," he reasoned, but it seems the young maid has already made up her mind.
"It's alright. Oh, the grass needs a little trimming. I'll leave that to you, then you may go rest after. And also, I'll bring your dinner to your room after the lady's, so please just stay there."
***
Eros is not at all going through all these troubles as a butler working for a living. So, regardless of Anne's desperate plea for him to stay out of her way, he cannot simply let this chance pass. After all, the main reasons for this venture are to know the truth behind the lady's disappearance, bring her back, and figure out if these shady affairs would lead him to the duke's secrets.
He has been observing Anne's activity for half an hour, and since then, nothing strange has ever occurred to him.
For a short while, Anne left the kitchen. This prompted Eros to act with haste and open the stainless steel covers of the foods on separate carts. One was the dinner he helped prepare earlier, which was supposedly delivered to him, as he had requested a glass of grape juice with it. Meanwhile, the other . .
"This is... fresh meat and a glass of...blood? Just what on earth are you hiding in this mansion, Matthews. . ."
Still in a state of shock, Eros quickly and carefully switched the plates and went back to his room.
Something about his cut bothered the young maid; with that in mind, he decided to leave it bare and leave a fresh cut on his arm.
***
On the other hand, Lucille's eye twitches as she glares at the wild bear roaming several meters from the veranda. Her breathing was heavy, and her throat felt dry.
Realizing she wasn't being herself just now, she brushed her hair from one side of her face and held it tightly. With the strands of her hair away from her face, the crimson-red glow of her original purple orbs became more vibrant, thereby overpowering the latter. As she suppressed her persistent thirst, she bit her lower lips, showing off the sharp fangs that were becoming more prominent.
The striking glow of the full moon was revealed when the dark evening clouds moved away from it.
It's time.
Lucille's heart clenched tightly; her thirst had grown worse, and her eyes were burning. Anne is running late, but she could not blame her at all; she knew how hard it is to acquire what she needs.
"Lady, I came here to bring your food."
At that signal, Lucille turned around to find her holding a gas lamp and the handle of the cart.
But that man, where is he?
"A-Anne? I can't take it anymore. Help me," she cried. She could not let herself act with haste despite her urges, as she might be distracted and attack her.
"Come this way, my lady. I'll leave this open and—no way."
Anne panicked as she realized what she had brought with her.
"Is there any problem, Anne?" Lucille asked while taking careful steps towards her.
"I'll be back, my lady."
The door creaked and opened wide; it was Lucas. He came despite Anne's restrictions.
"Miss Anne, I came here to—"
"Sir Lucas, don't come here!"
Lucille has grown more aggressive and apprehensive at the smell of fresh human blood. Her urges have grown more intolerable.
Eros knew he was stepping into something dangerous, yet he took the risk in order to know the truth.
However, what's before him is beyond outrageous and dreadful.
His life flashed through his eyes as his eyes locked into the pair of flaming orbs that came straight at him.
The next thing that happened left him at a loss for words. It was the maid who was lying down on the floor instead of him.
Ah, yes, she shielded him.
Regaining his senses, Eros saw Lucille on her knees, staring at nothing. The red glow of her lenses faded and went back to its original hue. After a brief moment of ferocity, she has finally gone back to her usual self, with her restless, innocent face taking over as if nothing ever happened.
With her completely tamed, Lucille immediately checked on her faithful maid and gently shook her barren body. "Anne? I'm sorry, I did it again," she cried as she hugged her.
"You've made it this time again, my lady," she smiled before falling into a deep slumber.
Lucille wiped her tears away and recomposed herself.
"Take her. Don't let her work tomorrow; tell her that's an order."
"I will."
***
"What do you mean you're staying, your highness?" George burst out, worried and frightened upon hearing a terrifying testament from Eros, followed by a perilous declaration from him.
"I told you not to call me that outside the palace."
Fortunately, the town closest to the mansion is not inhabited by many people, and it's still too early for the tavern to be crowded.
Eros continued. "The maid is still recuperating."
"And you feel responsible enough to take over?"
"I'll use this as a chance to get close to her."
"What!? You've seen what she's become, your—I mean, Lucas. Come on, is it really worth risking your life for?"
"I cannot afford to lose the throne to any of those bastards. No matter how ridiculous my father's condition is, I cannot simply disregard it."
"B-but--"
"Do you not trust me enough to think that I must have a plan on hand?"
"Are you sure you're not merely going through so much to be with her?"
Eros fell silent.
"You've seen her around with the man rumored to be her lover; have you forgotten about that?"
"That rumor was spread by the Matthews themselves, the maid admitted herself."
"What? Why would they. . ."
"Well, it's better than the truth itself."
"But wouldn't that be bad for the lady's image?"
"It's only meant to distract everyone and satisfy their nosiness. After all, I don't think he gives a damn about the King; he'd push through this marriage no matter what or how long it takes."
"What made you think so?"
"The duke has him in the palm of his hand; now I must do the same with his daughter. My father never once dared defy him; whatever the reason is, it is something I must uncover soon."
"Sounds like a good plan."
***