Blood Pact: Elvesmore and the Duke

Volume Two: recollection No.6

When I saw Margaret, I finally understood why Robin always blushed and stuttered in front of Lina. This was as fresh and strange as flowers blooming in winter. I couldn't fully describe that feeling in words.

Margaret Rhodeslight.

She gently told me her name while holding a silk fan. I had never stuttered in front of a woman, but when looking into her eyes as clear as sapphires, I almost forgot my own name.

Margaret was like my mother, a mature and charming woman. But she was younger. She always spoke softly and was a cultivated lady.

I spent an afternoon with Margaret and had afternoon tea together. She was knowledgeable and knew many interesting things. I promised to show her all the sights of the manor. Maybe I should introduce her to my friends.

I felt like it was a dream. Everything here was getting better and better.

Before leaving, I picked some roses for her. We made an appointment to take a walk by the small river on the hillside tomorrow.

On this day, I canceled the bedtime story time with the duke. I jumped onto the bed and said to him, "I want to go to bed early, sir." I lay down and smiled happily. "God, I can't wait for tomorrow to come quickly."

The duke covered me with a blanket. His palm brushed the bangs on my forehead and made me look at him.

"Is there anything good? Child." The duke was also happy for me. The corner of his mouth was slightly raised. I thought of the beautiful blond girl, which made my face burn red.

"No... nothing." I grabbed the blanket and covered my face. "Good night, sir."

The duke didn't ask me further. He sat quietly by the bed. I didn't know when he left. Maybe it was after I fell asleep. However, I could feel that his hand was always stroking my black hair. Maybe he also secretly kissed me - just like Mrs. Memia, secretly kissing my forehead. She said she was casting a spell to give me blessings.

Oh, I missed Mrs. Memia a little. Just a little.

During the day, I got up very early. The duke had already left, but I didn't care much. I had too many things to do today.

I had breakfast and told Old Ona about my schedule for today. Old Ona seemed very surprised, but she still prepared some snacks for us to take and enjoy together.

"Oh, you have to be careful." Old Ona straightened my collar for me - this was what the duke often did for me. I always couldn't tie my collar properly. The duke would open his eyes suddenly when I woke up and changed my clothes. Maybe he wasn't fully awake yet, but he would get up and fix my collar, then softly say to me: Elvesmore, good morning.

Old Ona handed me the basket of snacks. Avril beside her asked, "Oh, does the duke know about this? Does he know that you, this little naughty one, are going out to play with the countess?"

"I'm not a little naughty one." I said, looking up.

"I'm a gentleman. I'm already fourteen years old." I emphasized.

"Little naughty one." Avril gently pinched my nose. "You're still too young."

Oh - they had never regarded me as an adult.

This made me feel a little frustrated. But before, I enjoyed all this very much. Especially in front of the duke. When he hugged me, I even hoped that I would never grow up.

But it was different now.

I took Margaret. Well, and her complaining maid, Ferra, outside the manor. I told them all the stories about the small town of Canbona and the manor, just like what Old Ona had told me before.

We walked down the hillside and reached that small river.

We came very early today. The girls from Canbona hadn't come here to wash clothes yet. The trickling small river flowed quietly. The riverbank was full of colorful little flowers.

"This place is very charming." Margaret happily took a few steps forward while holding up her skirt. She seemed to like this place very much. Her maid Ferra followed her. Margaret spread out her hands. "Oh, this place is so beautiful."

She turned around. Her golden curly hair glistened slightly in the sunlight. "And you, Elvesmore. You are like an elf in the night."

I couldn't help blushing and lowered my head, grinning foolishly.

"And a naughty elf." Ferra pouted. She was still remembering that I had scared her before.

This made me feel ashamed. I looked up at Margaret and stuttered, "I... I'm very sorry."

I think my face must be as red as a tomato.

"This is nothing, my dear boy." Margaret squatted down by the river and put her hand into the clear river water, sighing. "I really wish I could stay here forever."

"You can, Margaret." I told her. But when she looked at me, I started to feel shy again. "No... I mean, I hope you stay."

Forever. I said in my heart.

Margaret chuckled. "Thank you, Elvesmore. But..." She looked a little lonely. A butterfly landed on her parasol.

"This is not something we can decide." This sentence sounded a little sad.

I wanted to ask her what was going on, but a shout interrupted the question I was about to ask.

"Look! That's Elvesmore!" It was Julian's voice.

We looked over. All my good friends from Canbona were gathered there. They curiously stretched their necks towards here, as if they wanted to know who the beautiful girl by my side was.

"I'll go and see." I said to Margaret, looking back. "They are my friends."

"Go quickly. They are all waiting for you." Margaret looked at them and said gently.

I ran towards Julian and them. Robin was also there, but when he saw me coming, he deliberately turned his head away. Julian caught me in time and asked in a low voice, "Whose girl is that?"

"She is a guest in the manor." I glanced at Margaret and told him, "She is a lady from a count's family."

Julian let out a surprised sound. The others all looked at me enviously. Enzo, who was always lovesick, said blankly, "She is so beautiful. Much better than the shrew in Canbona."

Of course. Margaret was so gentle and graceful. She was like a fairy in a book.

"Lina is much cuter than her!" Robin suddenly shouted. He folded his arms and said to us, "Hmph! Elvesmore! Coward. Don't forget what we are going to do tonight! At that time, don't hide back in the duke's arms and act shamelessly! Elvesmore who loves to act shamelessly! Do you still want the duke to give you candy when you are scared and cry?"

"Stop talking, Robin."

"No! I won't! Elvesmore, you are so arrogant. That's because the duke has spoiled you, this monkey! He lets you act shamelessly! Let you be a crying baby!"

Although I had always hoped to make up with him, Robin really made me angry.

"I won't act shamelessly. And please be on time, Robin. I will definitely come."

I turned my head and ran back to Margaret.

"Oh? What happened to you?"

"... "

Margaret took out the cake from the basket and gave it to me. I took it, but I lost the interest to taste it.

We returned to the manor at noon. The one who came to greet us was Feblen. As soon as he saw me, he jumped up in shock. "Oh my god, where did you go!"

He took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat. When he saw Margaret and her maid, he was slightly stunned. After that, his expression became even worse.

"Miss Rhodeslight," Feblen coughed. He gave me a sideways glance and then bent down to the lady and said, "I'm very sorry. But on behalf of the duke... Oh, His Grace the duke must not want anything to happen to you here. If you want to go out, please allow me to send someone to follow you."

"We just went for a walk by the small river." I replied unhappily.

"Oh oh, you don't know anything, kid." Feblen sweated even more. Margaret and Ferra looked at each other. They seemed a little embarrassed.

"I'm not a kid!" I roared at him.

Feblen was startled. Margaret showed a surprised expression. "Elvesmore?"

This was so embarrassing.

She must think I was an uneducated child. I lowered my head sadly and ran up the steps.

"Oh, did you bump your head? Let me see, Elvesmore -" Feblen shouted downstairs.

When I stepped on the steps, my foot suddenly slipped. Before I could even scream, a pair of hands caught me. It was like an instant.

I opened my eyes and saw the duke.

Everyone exclaimed. Feblen shouted worriedly downstairs. He thought I was going to fall and had already spread his arms to catch me.

"Your Grace..." I heard Margaret's cry. She walked to the steps and looked up at us.

Duke Celestine was holding me. My eyes wandered between him and Margaret. An uncomfortable feeling grew in my heart. I clenched my fist and said in a low voice, "Put me down, sir."

The duke seemed not to hear me. He still held me and turned around as if he was going to walk back to his room.

"Put me down, please." I knew I was being temperamental, but I couldn't control myself. "Sir, please put me down."

In the end, I almost shouted.

The duke looked at me. My eyes reflected his delicate face - expressionless. I didn't know what he was thinking. But I already regretted it.

Duke Celestine slowly put me down. He waited until I stood firmly before letting go of my hand.

I seemed to be telling myself, "... I'm not a child, duke."

The duke looked at me. He seemed to want to say something, but he still turned and left.

Today was the worst day since I came to the manor. It was terrible.

I had never hated myself more than at this moment.

...

I didn't forget Robin's provocation. His words were like a thorn in my heart. I cared very much.

I originally wanted to apologize to the duke at night. But Feblen told me that the duke was still resting - he was still sleeping. He got up in the afternoon, so he needed some time to catch up on sleep.

I didn't know if this was good or bad. But I remembered that this way I could sneak out more easily.

"Feblen." I called out to that short man. "I'm sorry about this afternoon." "Oh?" He touched his big nose and shook his head. "It's a small matter. This is a small matter. Child." Then he yawned. He blinked and complained, "But I have to go to sleep now, Elvesmore. You should know that since you came, I haven't had a day of rest at the right time..." I stood outside the duke's room for a while.

I didn't dare to go in.

He might be angry. He was pretending to sleep.

Sneaking out of the manor was not a difficult thing for me. It was very simple. I knew many shortcuts and paths that others didn't know.

The night was like a thin veil. It covered down and made everything seem strange. I almost tripped over stones more than once. But I pulled up my cloak and restrained myself from looking around. This would make me think of some things that I had already forgotten.

I walked down the hillside holding a lantern, carefully watching my feet. Maybe Feblen was right. There would be wild wolves here - hopefully I was just being overly cautious.

"He's here! Oh! We are here!"

I saw a glimmer of light at the end near the small river. I murmured a word of thanks to God and quickly walked over.

"Julian -" I called. There were very few people who came. Only me, Julian, and that annoying stingy Robin.

Robin raised his chin and snorted. "I thought you weren't coming." "You're disappointed." I raised my eyebrows. "After the adventure, I hope you take back what you said before. I am not Elvesmore who loves to act shamelessly. I won't hide in the duke's arms and ask for candy either." "That will be said later."

"Shh! Alright, let's go quickly." Julian stood between us. He grabbed our hands and pulled us in one direction.

"Where are we going?" I asked him in a low voice.

Julian said, "The cemetery. Go to the cemetery. Old Levart and them will also go there. Just tonight." "They are going to drive a wooden stake into Beth's heart." He added.

Robin said, "Was Beth really bitten? Will she become a vampire?" "Maybe."

This was impossible. There were no vampires at all.

I said in my heart. I knew they wouldn't believe me.

The cemetery of Canbona town was in a very remote place. We walked for a while. The night wind blew on my face. I pulled up my cloak. Robin let out a snicker. I glared at him.

"We're here." Julian made us hide in the grass in the cemetery. It was very gloomy and cold there. I almost shivered.

"Old Levart and them will come." When Julian said this, we heard movement ahead and could also see a faint light.

"Oh, they are here." Julian and I shrank back to a hidden place. But Robin insisted on pulling us forward a bit. He said that only then could we see clearly.

"Are you afraid? The duke's little tail." I never knew Robin's mouth was so mean.

"No, of course not." I moved forward with him. Julian had to follow us.

"Shh."

We became quiet. The movement ahead became louder and louder. After a while, we could see Old Levart, the mayor of Canbona, and several men. They were carrying a wooden coffin together.

"That's Beth inside..." Julian whispered. "She disappeared two weeks ago. When she was found, she had already become a mummy - without a drop of blood on her body. Her neck was bitten. Old Levart said that according to the old rules of the town, they had to drive a wooden stake into Beth's heart." I stared wide-eyed at the front and slowly clenched my fist.

They stopped not far in front of us. We were at a relatively higher place and could clearly see what was happening below.

Old Levart instructed the men to put down the coffin. Then they pried open the nails and lifted the coffin lid.

"Oh..." Old Levart raised his lantern and shone it right on the coffin.

They let out a strange sigh. I peeked over.

God - I murmured silently.

Robin almost slipped down. Julian and I quickly grabbed him and covered his mouth.

Was that Beth? Beth from the tailor shop? Oh, this was simply terrifying. It didn't look like a person at all. It was like a dried - up foreign object. Its mouth was wide open. Its hands were still stiffly spread out. Its two eyeballs protruded.

"Good heavens..."

The people below shook their heads. I heard Old Levart say, "... It's a vampire. Those damn demons."

"Hurry up. Before this poor girl becomes a slave of the vampires..." I saw one of them pick up a thick wooden stake and aim it at Beth's chest. Old Levart picked up an iron hammer. They looked at each other. Then mercilessly raised the hammer high - I closed my eyes.

Robin was so scared that he huddled with us.

The wooden stake pierced Beth's chest and firmly nailed her to the coffin.

When I opened my eyes again, I was already soaked in cold sweat... The three of us looked at each other. Robin was shivering. Julian seemed calmer.

He said, "This is true."

"There are vampires, Elvesmore. There are vampires here."

"Do you know why none of us go to the manor?" Julian said seriously. "... Because there are vampires there, Elvesmore. This is what Old Levart said. But we have no proof."