"Would you like some tea after your bath, Your Highness?" the butler asked Lauren after the servants prepared her bath and night clothes.
"No, I'm fine."
Oswin nodded and took his leave, leaving Lauren alone in Alec's spacious yet cold and dimly lit room.
Stepping into the huge tub filled with warm scented water, Lauren felt her cold body relax. She didn't have the energy to confront Alec about his sudden leave on their wedding night. She didn't mind what his servants would think of her, but she didn't want a word to ruin her plans. A groom leaving his bride on their wedding night… should the public know, they would surely doubt their marriage.
The initial part of her plan was to have a strong foothold in the royal family by getting her father's favor and she couldn't do that without making him believe that she got the influential Everston lord wrapped in her fingers.
While Lauren was having her bath upstairs, standing in the dark underground dungeon of Everston estate, Matthias asked his master,
"Is it alright to leave Her Highness alone on your wedding night, my lord?"
Even when Alec didn't tell any of his subordinates about his arrangement with Lauren, Matthias knew their relationship was not a normal one. He had never seen his master and the princess spend time together before nor had he seen Alec look at anyone with the eyes of an affectionate man.
The Everston lord never spared any woman special attention and even though he had put a ring on the princess' finger, Matthias could sense no love between the two. What his master's intentions were still unclear to him, but he was sure the lord wouldn't do anything he couldn't reap benefits from.
"Why, do you wish to accompany her?" asked Alec, his steely eyes prominent in the dark.
"I dare not, Lord Alec," Matthias spoke, a little nervous. "It is your wedding night. I just thought you would want to accompany her."
"No need. As a married couple, we have a lot of nights to spend together in the future. She would not mind my absence tonight."
Matthias just shut his mouth, refusing to delve further into the topic. His master may have allowed women to go near him for a few purposes, but he knew little to nothing about relationships. There was no point in talking to him about it.
"Where is the bastard?" asked Alec in a serious tone.
Matthias led the way to the deeper part of the dungeon where a shirtless man was on his knees and shackled. The traces of the whip on his body were evident.
The man who looked exhausted from hours of beating raised his head to see who came, hoping for someone to save him from the monster that caged him. But when Alec's face came into his view, his eyes widened in horror and wanted to back away but he was chained.
"Hello again, Lester. How have you been?" Alec's chilly tone gave off an eerie atmosphere.
"Y-you devil!"
One of Alec's lips curved up on the shadowed side of his face.
"Indeed, I am a devil. But I don't see how different you are from me. Now instead of admitting your fault and begging for your life, you are showing your arrogance. Do you think your nitwit of a master can save you from my claws?" Alec clicked his tongue and shook his head.
The man named Lester was a subordinate of Raoul, the half vampire councilman who didn't like Alec so he sent Lester to spy on him. But with Alec whose eyes couldn't be fooled, he caught Lester in less than a day.
"Did you seriously think I wouldn't notice your prying eyes watching me on the sideline? Unless you have the power to hide your soul, I will know," Alec said silently and the more silent he gets, the more dangerous he becomes.
"Alright. Since you got your fair share of punishment and I don't find this talk with you entertaining enough, I shall grant you freedom."
The man was surprised and relieved, but before he could realize what kind of freedom Alec would grant him, his head was ripped off his body by Alec's own hands.
"Now you shall have your freedom in hell."
Matthias gave a white handkerchief to Alec to wipe off the traces of blood on his hands.
"Take care of this. I will go to the council and talk to Dr. Bentley about the bodies of the black mages," said Alec before walking out of the dungeon calmly as if he didn't just brutally murder a man.
Light raindrops fell from the sky the next morning, making the ladies who usually had their morning stroll in the town stay in their houses. With the winter season coming in the land of Evardin, the town's atmosphere had grown even colder.
A carriage came to a halt in front of Everston manor. The footman immediately stood in the rain to hold out an umbrella for the middle-aged man who went out. The man wore a thick leather coat that only the upper class could afford.
"And where is my umbrella?" the high-pitched voice of the lady who was left inside the carriage made the footman jump.
"M-my lady, there is only one-"
"You idiot. Go to the guards and ask for an umbrella for my daughter. Don't you have a brain?" said the man.
Hurriedly, the footman went under the rain and informed one of the guards about the arrival of Lord Everston's relatives. The guard went inside to get an umbrella, informing the butler on the way.
Meanwhile, Lauren was having her breakfast when she heard the guard and the butler's short exchange. She didn't finish her meal and went to welcome the guests. She wasn't a very hospitable person, but with the lord of the manor's absence, the wife should welcome his important guests, shouldn't she?
Besides, she had been meaning to know what kind of people Alec's relatives were.
A lady of Lauren's age went inside first, followed by a middle-aged man with a beard. The lady wore a dress and jewelry of high quality. She looked around with arrogance until her gaze dropped to the only thing she was unfamiliar with, the woman with blue eyes.
"Who are you?" The lady who was born a vampiress didn't care to hide the hostility in her tone.