The butler who saw the maid with a glass and knife heading to the tearoom stopped the maid to ask her what the knife was for. The maid who was in the tearoom with Samantha and Lauren told the butler what she heard. Knowing what the vampiress was up to, the butler wondered if he should get involved with it and tell his master.
But then his master was on the study and talking with Mr. Hendricks. They must have important matters to discuss and would not likely want to be disturbed. Thinking that the vampiress was a close relative of his master and the lord didn't seem to care much about his newly married wife, Oswin decided to not make a fuss about it and get back on his tracks.
In the tearoom, Lauren took the knife without hesitation. Samantha leaned back crossing her arms while watching the princess do what she asked.
Cutting her wrist, Lauren let her blood drip into the glass. The vampiress' eyes glimmered in satisfaction, not letting Lauren stop until the glass was full, which made Lauren feel a bit dizzy afterward.
Holding the glass of blood, Samantha said smugly, "I appreciate your sincerity, Princess Lauren. I'm surprised you really did what I asked."
Lauren pulled her handkerchief from her pocket and tied it to her wrist to suppress her wound from bleeding.
"It's a small thing, Lady Samantha. You are my husband's dear cousin. I'm sure he would not like it if I treat you poorly," Lauren offered a smile, one that didn't reach her eyes. As she watched the vampiress drink the blood, her smile vanished and her lips were pressed in a line.
After Samantha drank the last drop of blood, she licked her lips and smiled viciously at Lauren.
"Your blood is tastier than I imagined. Should I ask for another glass next time?"
"How greedy you are, Lady Samantha," replied Lauren which made the vampiress' eyebrow raise. "But if that would please you, I dare not refuse."
"Now I think I'm starting to like you," the vampiress nodded with arrogance and rose from her seat. "I still have to meet a friend in the town. I shall excuse myself, Princess Lauren. Until then."
Samantha left the tearoom in a good mood, proving once again that as a pureblooded vampiress from an elite family, no one would dare go against her word, not even a mage princess.
Lauren watched the vampiress walk away, an unreadable expression on her face. She then dropped her eyes to her wrist and to her dress which was stained with some drops of blood.
The waiting maid asked if she would like her wound to be tended but after refusing coldly, the maid who noticed the chilly air around the princess backed away without another word. The young maid wondered what was with the sudden change in Lauren's demeanor. From being a patient and submissive lady in front of the vampiress just a while ago, the expression on her face had turned hard and unforgiving, her eyes turning icy which was enough to freeze a whole town.
The butler who saw Lauren pass by the hallway noticed the handkerchief on her wrist and knowing what happened, he wanted to ask if she was alright, but the look the princess had stopped him from doing so.
Thinking that Alec was still in the study talking with Mr. Hendricks, Lauren went to Alec's room to change since it was where her clothes were stored. However, when she went inside she saw Alec near the bed, taking off his coat.
It only took Alec a second to drop his gaze to Lauren's wrist. Tasting her blood allowed him to identify the smell of her blood and hers happened to have a more potent smell than most people do, which made him know the moment she entered that she was bleeding somewhere.
"I thought you were with Mr. Hendricks. You can have the room by yourself. After I change, I will leave."
She was about to head to the closet and change so she could leave right away but Alec's authoritative voice stopped her.
"Stop. Come here."
Lauren's brows were knitted. Looking at the bed near where he stood, she spoke sarcastically, "What? Do you want us to consummate our marriage right now? It is early in the morning, milord."
Alec's face darkened. Lauren didn't move an inch from where she stood, thinking that the lord must want to drink blood from her and she couldn't allow it at the moment. She just donated a glass full of her blood to his arrogant cousin and her body could not take it if more blood would be taken from her.
"How did you get yourself cut?" Alec asked seriously, not buying her sarcastic words. With a few strides, he reached her in a blink. "Did Samantha do it?"
"Why, does it make your heart ache to see your dear wife wounded?" Lauren's tone was playful but there was no hint of humor on her face. "Don't worry, I'm not someone so careless to get myself cut by accident nor I can easily be harmed by anyone. I cut myself."
Alec's brow raised. "You cut yourself?"
"I had to give your cousin some satisfaction. Of course, I need to pose as your good wife, shouldn't I?
Narrowing his eyes, Alec wondered what happened. After a moment, he realized what his spoiled cousin must have asked Lauren to prove her superiority as an elite vampiress.
"You gave her your blood?" This time, the look on Alec's face had grown darker.
"She asked for it, I couldn't refuse."
"You can't just offer your blood to anyone, princess," he said icily and Lauren couldn't help but feel a little anxious with the way he looked at her as if she deserved a punishment.
Stepping into her breathing space, he crouched and let his knuckles run over the delicate skin of her cheek softly.
"My wife, let me make it clear to you since you seem to be a little lost. You offered yourself to me to make our deal possible, remember? It means as long as we are in this agreement, every part of you is mine, your blood especially. You are not allowed to give even a small part of you to anyone. My possession is only mine to touch… mine to consume."