"I'm an archaeologist," she stated proudly, drawing a smile from Salviana, who admired Jean's self-assurance.
Alaric scoffed. "And?"
"I've seen you help Princess Rose without touching her," Jean pointed out.
Alaric narrowed his eyes. "Maybe I just have magic, like any last Wyfn-Garde witch."
Jean leaned forward, her tone matter-of-fact. "You walk under the sun and teleport. That's not witchcraft."
'Pumpkin,' Lucius drawled in amusement, 'have you been cheating on me?'
Jean rolled her eyes. "How so?" she asked dryly.
'You've been watching another man,' Lucius wailed.
"Anything unusual interests me," Jean retorted.
"You already have a handful of ghosts, Jean," Salviana interjected, her tone teasing but firm. "Stop watching my husband."
Jean pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. "It wasn't intentional. He's either careless, or I have keen eyes."
Salviana huffed and moved closer to Alaric, who wrapped his arm around her with a contented smile. He loved the display of possessiveness from his wife, cherishing the moment despite the tension surrounding them.
"So my husband is a vampire who might have demon abilities, Jean is an artifact collector with keen eyes, and there's a ghost in the castle," Salviana summed up with a raised brow.
'I honestly don't like being called a ghost,' Lucius interjected with a dramatic sigh.
Salviana chuckled. "An invisible presence, then?"
'Yes, that's much better. We'd get along just fine, Princess Alaric,' Lucius said, his tone playful as if clapping his hands in approval.
Alaric groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "My wife is not making friends with an old ghost."
Salviana ignored him, her curiosity bubbling. "What else should I know?"
Alaric hesitated, then confessed, "I took you to the jelly lake because I thought if a divine lady stepped inside, a portal to another realm might open."
"You used me?" Salviana feigned a dramatic wail.
Alaric leaned in and kissed her cheek. "I promise to never do it again. I'll always ask for permission first."
Jean hesitated before adding, "I volunteered to brush your hair the other day because… I needed some of it for a little something to open a book."
Salviana gasped, pouting as she placed a hand over her chest. "Oh, Jean! I had a feeling, but I genuinely thought you adored me."
Jean mirrored her pout and slid closer to her. "Salviana, of course I adore you! You're so pretty, and I'm honored to be allowed to touch your hair." She reached out and placed her hand over Salviana's.
Alaric's eyes zeroed in on the contact, his jaw tightening. "Touch you?" he bellowed, pulling Salviana's hand back into his possessive grip.
Jean blinked, startled. "I meant… be with her!"
"You're not with her. I am," Alaric growled.
Jean nearly rolled her eyes. "I know, I know! I'm just saying—" She cut herself off, exhaling. "You know what? Forgive me, Salviana, for taking your hair for that… suspicious task Lucius dragged me into."
"It's fine," Salviana replied, her tone soft as she patted Jean's hand. "But next time, let me know beforehand."
"Of course, thank you," Jean said with a relieved smile.
Alaric leaned in closer to Salviana, his voice dropping to a possessive whisper. "I alone am allowed to be yours."
"Shh," Salviana shushed him, glaring. The audacity! she thought, remembering how he'd left her half-naked in bed earlier, and now here he was, acting possessive. She huffed, her irritation bubbling under her calm exterior, but Alaric pretended not to notice her glare.
'I opened the bathroom door your first night here,' Lucius suddenly declared.
"What?" Salviana's shocked gaze darted to Alaric.
"I thought it was you," she said.
"I thought it was me," Alaric echoed, frowning.
'Both of you were busy overthinking, so I had to intervene,' Lucius said with a burst of laughter.
Salviana's eyes narrowed as she shifted to face her husband. "He comes into the bedroom?!"
"No, he doesn't!" Alaric denied quickly. "He's lying!"
Salviana folded her arms. "Then how does he know the door opened by itself?"
'Lucius!' Alaric roared internally, his frustration boiling over.
'I'm sorry!' Lucius cried, though his tone sounded far from apologetic.
The room fell into a heavy silence until Jean cleared her throat, breaking the tension. "Your Grace, if it's that easy for you to hear him, then maybe you can see him too," she suggested.
"I should probably try," Salviana agreed thoughtfully.
"Go on," Alaric encouraged, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"I want to see him too," Salviana declared. She waited expectantly, but nothing happened. "Nothing," she finally admitted with a shrug.
'Damn, I had been posing for the reveal!' Lucius whined, his voice laced with disappointment.
Alaric frowned. "Maybe it's because you said 'too.' No one else is seeing him here," he reasoned.
"You're right," Jean nodded in agreement, while Salviana glanced into the empty space.
"What's your name?" Salviana asked into the void.
Lucius cleared his throat dramatically before responding. "Lucius Drake, sweet Princess Alaric."
Salviana laughed softly, charmed by the title. She cleared her throat and said, "I want to see Lucius Drake."
The moment the words left her lips, it was as if a bolt of electricity surged through her. She shook violently in Alaric's arms, a sharp scream escaping her mouth.
"Salviana!" Alaric's voice was sharp with concern, his grip tightening around her trembling form.
'Why are you screaming? Do I look that hideous?' Lucius asked with mock offense.
Salviana's wide eyes darted around as she stuttered, "You… he—he's in a coffin."
'Oh, thank Nature's mercy, I was preserved at least,' Lucius remarked dryly.
Jean leaned forward, intrigued. "Where's the coffin?"
"What?" Salviana was disoriented, her hands trembling in Alaric's calming grasp. His cold palms, bare today, worked soothing circles over hers.
"Where do you think the coffin is located?" Jean pressed gently.
"I barely know anywhere around here. I don't even know Wyffellon," Salviana confessed, her voice shaky.
"Can you look again?" Jean urged.
Salviana turned to her quiet husband. "Alaric, you're not saying anything."
He gazed at her with admiration. "I'm simply amazed by you—the things you can do leave me speechless. Do you want to try again?"