Vivian was given a break by Ali who said she would call for her later. Without wasting any time, the maid hurriedly went to the kitchen, where the girls were just finishing their lunch. The ones who had pending tasks to finish were already on their way out. Sitted by the long bench were the head cook, Fiona and Jane who were engaged in a chit chat. Fiona and Jane did most of the talking while the head cook was just chipping in a little.
Vivian was amused because everyone knew how formidable Maggie looked but it seems the two little daredevils in the form of maids had discovered her to be a softie on the inside. They are the only one, daring enough to play around her. The resigned look on Maggie's face as Vivian watched them clearly showed she had decided to put up with their shenanigans this morning.
"There you all are" Vivian spoke as she took a seat across them, sipping a cup of blood which she took from the jug.
"Lovely day, isn't it?" Fiona smiled brightly at Vivian who was way older than both her and Jane.
Vivian agreed with a nod and smile of her own, "indeed, it is"
"then why do I detect a line of worry which is about to form on your forehead?" Jane added, squinting her eyes like she could actually see one, the rest of them did the same, looking for a thin line of worry.
Vivian sighed and the ladies moved closer, "is everything all right with lady Aliona?" The head cook asked, everyone knew the only one to evoke such level of concern from Vivian is the Lady Aliona.
"She's fine but I can't help but worry about her and lady Josephine" Vivian narrated in low tone what happened in the garden and the secretive smile of lady Josephine's maid.
"I know she's up to something. I can just feel it in my gut" furrowing her brows till her eyelids thinned.
"I wish they could leave as soon as possible" Jane mumbled solemnly,
"only the gods know what those two are up to this time around" Fiona spoke angrily and Jane quickly covered her mouth in alarm, also earning a glare of warning from Maggie.
"Remember how lady Josephine sneaked in on us the last time she was here. You wouldn't want to have a repeat of what happened afterwards, do you?"
Fiona's eye widen, recalling how she was punished by the vampire when she thought she had long gone and hissed. She would have died if not for lady Aliona but her punishment had been a grave one. It took months for her to be properly healed thanks to Jane and Maggie who constantly cared for her.
Vivian spoke, "I want you all to keep your ears and eyes out for anything suspicious." Looking them in the eyes one after the other to emphasize on the importance of her speech, "be discreet and make sure you aren't caught by either of them." Both girls nodded vigorously, showing how committed they were to looking out for their mistress.
******
Josephine listened as she heard the heartbeat of her sister- in-law approached. Most vampires can identify people based on their heartbeat once they had listened to that person's heartbeat before- they have the uncanny ability to tell heartbeat apart. She smiled and settled herself graciously on the bed. A knock was heard and she told her to come in.
"I need to talk to you about something" Ali informed her, Josephine smiled inwardly, knowing what she wanted to ask.
She had heard from her maid that everything had gone smoothly as planned.
"of course, darling. I hope everything is all right?'
"yes, I overhead your maid sharing how you fell pregnant after drinking a portion."
Josephine faked a smile, "oh that" she waved her hands casually, "I was lucky to meet a woman during one of my evening strolls. We became fast friends and during one of the times I shared my concern with her about having the fruit of the womb, she gave me a portion to drink every night. I was doubtful at first but it worked, clearing my doubts"
Ali felt hopeful, with eagerness she asked, "do you know how I can see the woman?"
She hesitated, with a pitiful gaze she spoke, "I have also been thinking of the right time to suggest meeting her if you don't mind" she took Aliona's hands in hers, "I'm glad you asked, there's no point in having a child alone if my sister-in-law doesn't have" feeling grateful to her, Ali nodded and thanked her.
"I will send my coachman to look for her, she doesn't stay in one place you see" Josephine explain.
"Thank you, I will appreciate it" Ali left.
Both women felt their mood lightened; one with the hope of having a child soon while the other for a plan which was going as smoothly as she had imagined.
At nightfall, as Ali and her husband prepared to attend a party organized by one of the council members, her mind kept gnawing her on the discussion she had with Josephine.
Deep down, she knew she wasn't supposed to believe most words from Josephine but she wants to make sure she leaves no stone unturned in the course of trying to conceive.
Besides, she won't just follow her blindly, she would weigh her options and determine if Josephine's intentions were genuine or not.
As she styled her husband's hair the way they both like it to be styled, she asked about his brother's relationship with the Demon king again.
"just what I want to discuss with our host when we see tonight. The demon king is looking for the eyes of Phemerah" Ali sighed. "So the rumour could be true? He has the eyes now?" she placed her hands on her waist.
Nikolai nodded, "yes. The demon king believes his specie should be blessed with the eyes and if any other species lay their hands on it first, it will be taken by force. And no, he didn't. It was just a rumour, remember? It's just been confirmed that he is looking for it. If he already has it, he would've used it"
"Is that possible? I mean taking it with force from whoever it's been blessed with"
"Don't underestimate the power of a desperate man. People tend to act blindly, damning all consequences when they're desperate."
Aliona swallowed, feeling guilty because she was threading on the path of desperation herself.
Nickolai continued, "seeing the desperate demon king's closeness with my desperate brother, anything should be expected from those two but nothing good. I bet they can go to any length to posses the eyes"
Ali sighed, now could've been the time to bring up her conversation with Josephine but decided against it, she will do so at the next right time.
Far down in the opposite wing where Lord Richard and his wife occupy, they were also getting ready for the same party, it's an opportunity for Richard to strengthen the alliance he had formed with the few greedy Upper House members he could convince to join him. He watched the mischievous grin on his wife's lips as she cleaned the top of her lips which had been smeared by the blood she sucked from her maid.
"Why do I feel like you got your hands on a goose which lays golden eggs?" Richard sat on the bed, waiting for his wife to finish getting ready. She dismissed her maid and waited to ensure no one was within a listening distance before revealing her plans to her husband.
"imagine how disappointed the members will feel when they find out their leader is dealing with a tainted witch! Isn't that enough ground to convince the other members supporting him to replace him with the other twin?"
A smile of approval appeared on his face, "I blessed the day I met you" feeling pleased with his wife's plan, he kissed her thoroughly. Josephine who was not thoroughly comfortable with making a reference to the day she met Richard quickly faked a smile and dismiss the thought.
She still felt that she got the shorter end of the stick by ending up with Richard. Nickolai would have been a better candidate, at least, she wouldn't need to go to any extra mile to convince anybody for any position. All the more reason she blamed Aliona for snatching Nickolai from her.
But looking at the brighter side of things, if she had ended up with Nickolai, she might be barren, desperately looking for a child as Aliona was doing at the moment.
Unaware of his wife's thoughts, he continued, "so you used your maid to make her approach you and you intend to lure her to a tainted witch, who will confess to have been aiding Aliona and my brother in doing evil deeds." Scratching his chin as he thought about the plan, "Do you have a a tainted witch for that?"
Josephine moved close to him, a wide smile plastered on her face, "husband of mine, do not fret, I have a little deal with a witch I know years ago. Time to call in a favour." She rubbed her husband's cheek.
"I knew we were meant to be, the moment I laid my eyes on you"
"Time to go unless you wanna be late" she snapped, putting an end to his talk.