That very evening the news spread, duke Raymond was courting young miss Ayles. The most eligible bachelor was going to now snagged. But at the same time the gentlemen aboard the ship started to gain a bit of interest in this said young miss.
The duke was a man who was closed off and never appeared in public much. Even if he did he never communicated with anyone. The first time he appeared in public view he danced with young miss Ayles. The second time he actually appeared in the celebratory ball where miss Ayles appeared/ the very next day they got the news that the young duke was enamored with the young lady.
Which came as a surprise to many.
Curious men started to line up in front of the young lady's room in order to get an audience. Even if they don't win her hand in marriage if they create an impression on the future duchess, they would be able to gain a lot in the future.
The most disturbed about this was Eloise herself. She locked herself in the room hiding from the bunch of gifts that were piling up in the parlor room. 'Did I make a mistake accepting this deal? I thought it would put me out of my misery it only aggravated my headache,' she massaged her head.
"haha that's so hilarious, lord Ramsey." Her mum's cheery voice was heard in her room.
'At least she is having a lovely time. If she is happy so am I,'
So Eloise decided to pretend to be sick and stayed in her room.
Madam Ayles though gazed at her room with a slight frown. She then motioned for Odette to come close. 'is she really rich?" she whispered softly.
Odette shook her head. "She is just scared by them all."
"I guess…. it's okay... she finally accepted a man as her husband. That was all I need." She then faced the young lord with a smile. "My daughter has just come down with a cold please do excuse this rudeness"
"It's okay, madame." The gentleman bowed and left.
Right after he left another one entered the parlor room.
"We're going to have a long evening, prepare more tea, Odette," she hurried her along and invited the next gentlemen in.
***
Raymond sat in his study with a bright smile on his face. 'She accepted me... I can't believe it... she accepted me…' he gazed at Fred who was drinking from the bottle. "Fred…... she likes me…"
"mnn hmm…" Fred gave him a soft smile.
"I can't believe it. its... it's amazing,
"Did you tell her?"
These words doused his flaming heart. Raymond calmed down and thought about how he was going to tell her the truth. Madam Ayles knew he was sick and can't face the sun, but they both don't know that he can't even have a proper human meal.
He anxiously bit his lips. "Do I have to tell her?"
"Then do you plan to hide it forever?"
"I can if I try." He thoughtfully gazed at his hand. "If I can pretend to eat and puke it out and drink a bit of blood wine no one would be wiser about my secret. It's a great plan…"
"Raymond!" Fred stared at him. "You can't hide it from her! You have to tell her the truth!"
"I don't want to!" Raymond shot up. "For once in my life I get to experience love and happiness…can't I hold onto it? she… is eighteen summers old. I just have to hide it from her for a few more years….then she…" he sat back down holding his face. "What will I do? She is human. She is bound to die. should I make her into my race too?"
"Raymond!"
Raymond shook his head. "I love her so much Fred. I can't bear to lose her. I can't."
"You can't turn her without her knowledge. Nor can you hide your identity from her for a very long time. Tell her the truth. If she really loves you, she will accept you." Fred placed a comforting hand on his shoulders. "didn't I accept you?"
Raymond chuckled. "I remember you running away after I told you the truth."
Fred had an embarrassed flush on his face. "I didn't run...I needed to relieve myself.
"I saw you puking behind the tree." Raymond smiled up at him.
"Ugh just forget about that. Raymond, you must tell her. It's not healthy to start a relationship with lies. Just tell her."
"I can't just tell her I drink blood and burn in sun!" he anxiously shook his head. "at least not right now...I will tell her… in time… just give me some time. I want her to trust me competently just as I did before I tell her the truth. Just… don't force me to come out before I am comfortable."
The door creaked opened right then and behind it stood Eloise.
Both of them froze in shock.
Eloise awkwardly waved at them. "I... I didn't mean to eavesdrop. There was a crowd in front of my room and it was getting loud and obnoxious... so I thought I could hide here for a bit... I… ill get going."
"Please come in," Raymond desperately ran to her and held her hand. "please…"
Eloise walked in after his insistence. "I relay didn't mean to hear that…"
Raymond's hand started to tremble in fear. 'she heard me... she knows what I am… I can't hide it. what will she do? Will she run? Will she puke?' his anxious eyes fell on her.
Eloise looked quite guilt-ridden and nervous standing in front of him. "I…"
But there was no hint of fear in her eyes.
"don't you fear me?" he whispered ever so softly.
Eloise's head snapped up. "Why would I fear you lord. You are just you…. Whatever your preferences maybe you are still you. Its illogical to get scared of that,"
He gently gripped her handed pulled her close. "Do you mean that? you don't find my 'taste'… repulsive?"
Any normal human would feel scared and repulsed when they find out someone near them would drink blood for breakfast lunch and dinner…
Any sane person would run.
But Eloise didn't.
She just smiled up at him with a beautiful twinkle in her eyes. "I don't. Raymond… I support you." She held his hand ever so slightly and gave Fred a look. "I support you." She whispered.
"y-you do?"
"yes~ yes I do." Eloise gently patted his trembling hand. "You can trust me, for your secret is safe with me."
Raymond could not hold back any longer. He dragged her close and hugged her tightly. "Do you really mean this?"
Eloise stiffened up slightly but soon she melted into his embrace. "Hmm... I do. I will always support you." She gestured for Fred with a thumbs up.
Fred just awkwardly imitated her hand gestures. "I'll give you both some time to talk. I'll be right out."
"You don't have to,"
"But I want to." Fred walked out and closed the door behind him.
Eloise pulled away from the hug. "He looked angry,'
"no, no, he is just as shocked as I am. I didn't expect you would accept me so quickly. Are you really okay with me like this?" Raymond once again peered into her beautiful blue eyes.
"I am glad you are like this." she said cupping his face. "Aww you cutie pie you don't have to be nervous in front of me." She pinched his cheeks. "You look tired. Take some rest. And drink less wine. It's not good for health."
"But that is my sustenance."
"oh, we can work on addiction therapy after a while then," Eloise nodded to herself.
Raymond was left confused. "Eloise about my identity I hope you won't tell your mother."
"of course not. She would throw a fit and break this marriage if she knew. I will never ever tell her."
Raymond let out a loud sigh of relief. "Good, good… please, come sit." He led her over to the chair.
But to his embarrassment, he found a few wine bottles littered on the couch.
"I'm so sorry." He ran to pick it up.
But Eloise got a hold of them before he did. She walked up to the window, and opened it, letting the beautiful golden sunlight in. her white hair shone golden and her blue eyes turned a molten shade of brown. "I'll clean this place up for you," she tossed the empty bottle out into the ocean. "Shit I should have left a secret message in it right? I got too excited and tossed them out."
"a secret message?"
"Hmm like pirates. We can write out secret letters and send them off into the ocean. The people who find our letters in the future can know what our exact thoughts were at this exact moment. Don't you find this exciting!"
"I do… let's do that. I seem to be abundant with empty bottles as of now."
Eloise chuckled. "Corks too?"
"Yes, I save them... weird habit of mine.
"Great. let's write our letters. You wrote your own, and I will write mine. We shall toss it in at the same time,"
Both of them sat in comfortable silence writing their respective letters. when they were done, they stuffed them into the bottles and tossed them out.
What they didn't know was that a hundred years into the future a young couple found the capsulated bottle covered in barnacles. And inside was a small letter dated back to 1700.
"Eloise, you are my everything and feared I might pull you into my dark world. but at this moment I know. I know that you have to have a beating heart until the moment you leave. and like my father shall turn brave and walk into the sun. let's live and die together."