Raymond just sat on the ground holding his flaming hot face. Even after a very long time, he still couldn't get his face back to normal. He knew not to like a human but… his heart couldn't help it.
His eyes fell on the white corset that was lying innocently on the ground. Spilled wine had already soaked it red.
Raymond secretly pulled it close and stuffed it into his back pocket. A slight hint of her delicate scent still lingered in her inner cloth along with that pungent smell of tree sap and blood wine.
He... he really couldn't help his pounding heart.
Eloise had that reaction on him.
She was just an enigma.
She was like a flame that is burning up his whole body and soul.
he couldn't stop thinking about her.
He really tried his best to keep away from her. But now that she seems to like him…
"Maybe it's my time to…. Finally, fall in love." He gazed up at Fred who was standing silently by his side. "I can love her, right?"
Fred helped him up and onto his chair. "I would very much like to cheer you on, but Raymond… your blood cravings have gone out of control. Lately every night you turn…. Miss Eloise is a delicate lady with a bright future." He didn't explain much further.
These words were enough to quell the flame burning in his heart. His flaming love had turned to ashes in just seconds.
Duke massaged his head. "C-can I have a moment please…" he whispered in a defeated voice.
Fred patted his shoulders and walked out closing the door after him.
Standing by the door, Fred sighed out loud. He had been under his highness the duke for as long as he could remember, but he had never seen the man show such an expression.
A man who was unable to face the sun and unable to live without blood could never coexist with a human.
Their love was bound to be a disaster waiting to happen.
One day Raymond might lose all his rationality and even... all that would be left would be bones and blood…
He had seen such a sight before.
Fred really didn't want an exceptional lady like Eloise to fall into such an underworld. 'I must nip this love in the bud.' With a determined heart, he went out to find the young lady.
To his surprise, he saw the lady standing by and talking to someone with an awkward smile on her face. a crowd was slowly forming around her and it seemed to have overwhelmed her
Fred went to her rescue. "Miss Eloise. The duke wants to see you regarding the new project,"
Eloise gazed at him with visible relief. "I'll be there." She pushed past the crowd and ran to him.
"This way, please." Fred led her to the other side of the duke's study.
Noticing this, lady Eloise just gazed at him questionably.
"I'm sorry miss, I noticed that you were feeling awkward in that coed so I wanted to bring you out of that situation. If I had done something imprudent, please accept my apology."
"Nah it's okay," she waved at him. "So…. The dude didn't call for me, did he?"
"No," Fred smiled softly. "actually, I wanted to have a chat with you…. The duke. He is special. his constitution is different from us…He is I'll…. I'm not implying that he is sick. Just... his constitution is not normal."
Eloise frowned deeply and moved close to him. "so, he is sick? Mister Fred what illness is ailing our duke.' She had a bit of knowledge from her past life. Maybe she could be of help.
"Its… it's something I cannot share with you, miss. I apologize."
Eloise did not give up, though. "You can tell me anything you know that, right? I'm your confidant. I will never reveal this to anyone."
"I know you are trustworthy miss, but our duke doesn't want anyone to know of this," even Fred was frustrated. No one but the royal family is allowed to know of his highness's special constitution. That was what te emperor had ordered.
Only he was a special exception because the duke had personally asked the emperor to allow him to be by his side.
He so wished to explain everything to this exceptional young lady so she could find a love match with someone else. But….
Fred shook his head with a sigh. "it's... I'm sorry miss."
Eloise pouted slightly. "You can't tell me anything I know, but just tell me if he is healthy. He is not dying right?" her heart rate went up slightly at the thought.
"No, the lord duke will never die." he said in a grim tone.
Thinking that it was just a small sickness, Eloise decided to push it back to her mind. After all, in ancient times, even a common cold was considered a deadly disease. It was not such a big deal.
As she was thinking of this, she heard a soft sob from somewhere close by.
"Do you hear that?" she looked around. The rooms nearby were well decorated but the corridor itself was very deserted. She moved to the room where she heard the sound from. "it's coming from in here."
"Let me," Fred came up to the door and knocked. "Is someone in there? Is everything okay?"
"Go away." A sobbing voice whimpered.
Frowning, Fred gazed at her. "excuse me miss I'll check what is wrong," he opened the door slightly and slid into the room leaving her out there.
Inside, he saw the young prince sitting on the floor sobbing. The moment he noticed someone had entered his room, the boy's blue eyes went wide as saucers.
"y-you! What are you doing here? Get out... don't come close." He crouched down and hid his face between his bent knees.
Sighing Fred walked up to him and squatted down close by. "Why are you crying?"
"I'm not crying! It's just… some kind of infection, maybe."
"Let me check on you then," he pulled at his chin.
The young boy pushed his hand away. "don't touch me… get out right now. I order you to!" he pushed him away.
Fred gazed at him deeply. "Your highness… the duke's gift is not for everyone… living forever is a curse."
"You don't know anything! Just get out of here!" he screamed tossing the candle stand his way.
Fred dodged it and walked out of there.
Eloise, who was waiting out the door, looked at the defeated posture Fred had. "What happened? Who was in there?"
"Someone who needs his space. Let's give him that," he said with a small smile and walked away.
But Eloise stood at her place.
She slightly peeked into the room to see a familiar blond-headed kid. "oh, it's him.' She entered the room and stood before him.
The boy raised his head and glared up at her. "I'll kill you. Just you wait."
Eloise folded her hands and gave him a glare as well. "Okay, you can kill me."
The boy looked flabbergasted. "I'll really kill you. Do you not believe me?"
"Yes, I believe you. You can kill me, but what will that achieve?" she squatted down next to him. "Are you crying cuz I called you a child?"
The boy clenched his jaws tightly. "I'm. Not. A. child."
"So it was that comment that hurt? Tsk I'm sorry. But I was just saying the facts. Didn't realize it would hurt you." She scuffled up his curly blond hair. "I know how you feel."
The boy just looked up at her, shocked. "You don't know anything."
"I know. You feel small… like no one taking you seriously. Everyone just looks down on you, literally. I have been there. It's a feeling I never liked. Even I used to shout that I'm not a child so many times." She thought back to her past life.
She was just an orphan with no one around. She barely had any food to eat making her frame so small. She got bullied so much in school that she drank gallons of milk to grow tall.
It only ended up causing her to have a deep aversion to milk.
"It's not the height that matters but the confidence. You seem like an awfully confident boy. I'm sure you will grow up to be a handsome and cool-headed man." she winked at him.
The boy's face turned a visible shade of pink. "y-you really think so?"
"I know so. I'm here, aren't I?"
The boy wiped the tears off his face. "How did you grow tall?"
"I worked out and ate a balanced diet. There are a lot of workouts to help your growth., but before all that, I need to know one thing. Are your mum and dad tall?"
The boy nodded. "Very. Even my younger brother is taller than me."
"Hmm, that means you were just a bit late. Eat your greens and exercise every day. I bet you will grow taller than the duke." She cheerfully smiled at him.
The boy gazed at her for a second. "What exercise? Is it difficult?"
"No I'll teach you right now." She taught him how to starch the muscle and also taught him how to do pulls up and push-ups.
She did not even realize that she had spent the whole evening with him until she saw the setting sun. "Shit, my mum will be waiting for me. I'll get going. See you later. Don't be mean to the duke, okay?" She glared at him slightly and ran out the door.
The boy gazed at the open door with a slight smile. "I can see eh appeal. My uncle's choices have never been wrong. How will he feel if I steal her…"