Raymond stood by watching Eloise warm her hands on the burning embers of the jacket he had lent her. It was like watching his heart burn as well.
'What did I expect out of this? she has no intention of marrying anyone… but the only upside of this is that she doesn't know it was me who spend the night with her. So technically she is not averse to my advances. but the thought of marrying a stranger that is her is pushing her away.' He mentally consoled himself.
"Well, I've done what I came to do." Eloise smiled up at him. "Farewell mister Raymond.
"Make sure to keep yourself warm. It's getting colder outside." She said with a small smile.
"Will do. Oh, and make sure to wear some sunscreen if you are averse to it." she winked at him and walked away leaving the young duke extremely confused.
As soon as she left, he gazed at Fred. "What is a sun screen? A screen of some sort? is this a new trend?"
"I can't recollect hearing of such a weird device." Fred mumbled softly.
"hmm..." Raymond walked back to his study, his thoughts full of a certain silver haired maiden.
She had been occupying his very being since last night.
He could not sleep. He could not do anything without being reminded if her.
Raymond plopped down on the sofa and laid his head down on his table, gazing at the blood wine on the table. His stomach did not rumble as it would usually.
Last night he got a simple taste of her blood from his fingertips.
He had to admit, it tasted heavenly with a tinge of saltiness. It was addicting.
It scared him how addicting the blood tasted.
his fine fingers popped open the blood wine bottle and sniffed it. the sour smell filled his nostrils and along with it a bloody scent as well.
Raymond chuckled softly. Even the sight of a bottle reminded him of a certain young lady who danced weirdly last night.
'I understand... I understand why my dad was pulled toward a human…'
All his life he had hated his dad subconsciously. A pure vampire who fell in love with a human. Back then the vampire population was vast and if his father had wanted, he could have married a vampire and lived forever.
But he chose his mum. A young human with auburn hair and shiny green eyes.
And they gave birth to him.
A half-human
An abomination.
He was neither human nor a vampire.
He did not have a beating heart like a human would nor could he satiate his blood lust with a simple sip of blood like a vampire.
His whole existence had been such a disadvantage.
He was a freak.
Raymond had hated his dad for all of this. if his dad hasn't married his mum, he wouldn't have been born. If his dad hadn't died with his mum, he wouldn't have been left alone to lie a life of agony.
But now he understands why his dad made the decisions he did.
"Eloise Ayles…. you're swaying my heart..." he mumbled, taking a small sip of the wine.
his pounding heart was pumping heated blood all over his body.
This miraculous woman can make his heart beat like a drum.
The door opened right then and Fred walked in. "so how was your night with the young lady?" he raised a brow.
Raymond softly blushed at this. "it's not what you imagine. We danced and talked."
"And…." He gestured for him to continue.
"Nothing more. We just danced that's all." He tried to sound as nonchalant as he could.
"You left the drunk young lady all alone on the balcony on a cold night? Why is that?"
Raymond sighed loudly. "I thought she would have gone back to her room. It was entirely my fault. I should have escorted her back. what if something bad had happened to her? what if she had toppled over and fallen off the sides?" He mumbled with a dire look on his face.
"She wouldn't have,"
"You don't know that. she has a very clumsy person when she is drunk. She topples and stumbles everywhere she steps." He shook his head with a chuckle. "She is quite an adorable sight to see.
"You fell…"
"I beg your pardon?" he looked up at him in surprise. "I can assure you I didn't trip last night. Even though the ship was rocky I made sure to keep steady,"
"You fell for her." Fred sighed. "oh, Raymond what are you even going to do?"
Raymond froze... His pounding heart froze over like a frozen lake. He couldn't marry her. If he did, the children born would be just like him. An abomination. And he would not be able to accompany her on walks she loved. And he won't be able to accompany her during dinner or lunch or breakfast…
He lowered his head with a painful scoff. "What was I thinking? how can I live a normal life?"
"You can tell the lady."
Raymond laughed at his ridiculous suggestion. "Why don't I just step on the sun and burn myself? I don't want her to know the monster in me fed! Never in a million years! It's not what I want."
"Then how are you going to proceed with this feeling you have for her? Raymond, I can see that she is swaying for you. Don't play with a young lady's heart. If you want to proceed with this relationship then you have to tell her the truth. If not, stay away. Far far away from her. This is what I suggest as a friend." He said and walked out of there.
Raymond took a swing at the bottle. dark thoughts ran around in his mind.
At the same time in the small suit in the ship, Eloise Ayles gazed at her mum and at Odette who seem to be giving her the silent treatment.
"I said I'm sorry." She smiled at them cutely. But her usual cuteness did not win them over.
She narrowed her eyes. 'Maybe I should try a different approach.'
"I found him."
Their eyes fell on her simultaneously with a hint of curiosity in them. Yet still they didn't utter a word.
"I might have killed him and burned him."
Her mum's eyes widened in horror. "Eloise, w-what. whatever do you mean?'
"ahha! Now you are talking to me! I didn't kill anyone. In fact, I just burned that coat. nothing else. Can you please stop this absurdity and talk to me? I feel so sad and anxious when you guys ignore me like this." she actually was feeling dressed.
In her past life, she had no one to call her own family but now she had Odette and her mum. When they ignored her its like a part of her soul was missing.
"Don't hate me…."
She felt wounded.
Madam Ayles stood up and walked over to her.
Eloise had expected a hit in the back. but when a pair of warm hands hugged her, she froze.
"I would never hate you. Never, not in a thousand years. I will always love you, Eloise. always"
Eloise hugged her delicate waist tightly. "I'm sorry... won't stay out late. I won't drink. Please don't ever get angry at me."
Madam Ayles sighed loudly. "We have ourselves an agreement. Don't ever drink with men alone, it's not safe. What If you got pregnant? But on second thought that does sound like a good thing. I would have a grandchild to play with."
Eloise looked up at her dully. "As if I could let any man near my cooch."
madam Ayles chuckled. "Your choice of words is always so baffling." She gently cupped her face. "You ran out without your breakfast you must be starving. Come. Odette made you some cookies."
"yes~" Eloise rushed up to the tea table and chomped n the delicious cookies. "Thank you, Odette. And sorry I made you run around last night," she pulled at her maid's rough hands.
Odette simply smiled at her. "it's okay miss. I'm glad you are safe and well. Don't you ever do something like that again. You could have gotten a cold from the weather last night. And right now, your hair is soaked with a bit of mildew. We must make haste. you need your clothes changed right away." She pulled her to her room.
Madam Ayles watched them both with a small smile. in fact, she had a clue who this mystery man was. But she refused to talk to Eloise about this.
It's better to talk to the preparator himself.
Taking a deep breath, she sought out the duke in his study.
Seeing her the young duke seemed surprised and shocked. The man's breath held a slight hint of wine.
"Madam Ayles. I didn't expect you here. Please come in. sorry you had to see me in this state." He mumbled trying to get his messy hair manageable.
The old madam simply peered up at him wordlessly.
awkward silence preceded after that.
"You spend the night with my daughter." She said softly.
Raymond almost fell off the sofa hearing this.