In the Moriarty mansion's dining room, Allie ate her breakfast and craned her neck to look at the table as if searching for something. Lady Annalise, who caught sight of it, asked her,
"What do you want, child?"
Allie pursed her lips as if she hadn't meant to get her mother's attention. She whispered, "The steak sticks..."
Lady Annalise stared at her daughter before she said, "All you have to do is ask and the maids will bring it for you."
Marceline, sitting next to Lady Annalise, stretched her hand to get the plate for herself near her. But just when her hand almost reached for it, her mother picked up the plate that had the meat chops and served it to her younger sister.
Vincent behaved as if he didn't notice this, licked his fingers, and remarked, "Today's meat chops is more delicious than the other days, isn't it?"
Allie nodded to her brother's words and quickly started to eat it as if they would be stolen from her and heard her mother's gentle voice, "Eat it slow. There's no one chasing you," shaking her head, the older woman went back to eating her food.
Eduard said to Vincent, "I will be accompanying your mother and Allie to the Woodmore's mansion and won't be here after an hour. Do you have all the signatures on the parchments from me?"
"I do," Vincent hummed and asked, "Marceline isn't joining you?"
"I have something else to do," Marceline said, feeling a little left out.
"Visiting a certain town or meeting someone, are we, sister?" Vincent raised his eyebrows at her.
"Stella and I are visiting Hollow Valley to shop. Anything else?" Marceline asked her brother, who offered her a crooked smile.
Marceline's eyes then moved to look at her mother, and she noticed her engrossed with what Allie was doing. Since her younger sister's fangs had returned, Annalise had stopped paying her attention. It was as if she didn't exist and wasn't important anymore, making her wonder how did Allie get her fangs back when no one in history could.
"Alfie, bring one more serving of the meat chops," Marceline ordered the butler.
Her little sister could eat the cold meat, while she would eat the warm and freshly cooked ones.
The butler bowed and replied, "Milady, those were the last meat chops for this meal. The meat needs to be brought in today."
Marceline's jaw clenched.
Since her father married Annalise, Marceline believed that the vampiress was her true mother. That she would love her the most. With her being the eldest daughter, with Allie bringing shame and Vincent never acknowledging the older vampiress as his mother, she received all the love and attention from her mother.
The worst was that they had accepted the lowly human into their mansion and had allowed her inside the dining room! It was because of the governess that all these things were happening. Soon her mother would ignore her completely. It seemed like she would have to do something about it.
Genevieve Barlow would have to stop working in this mansion. And if the human couldn't do it on her own, then Marceline would help her stop working here.
A few minutes later, Eve arrived in front of the Moriarty mansion, ready to start her day's work so that she could bury herself without thinking about Vincent. But it was easier to think than to do it.
[Music Recommendation: Mary Meets Percy: Amelia Warner]
Eve walked through the hallway of the Moriarty mansion. When she neared the long and wide stairs, her eyes fell on the silver-haired vampire. He stood on top of the first flight of stairs, talking to the butler of the mansion.
It wasn't Vincent's striking appearance that had made Eve fall for him. The person he was deep within, that many weren't fortunate enough to witness or hear his thoughts, made him who he was for her.
As Eve climbed the stairs, she couldn't help but look at him. Looking at him made her chest full, and at the same time, it ached. She heard him talking to the butler about preparing his carriage and fixing something. Missing a step, she lost hold of her umbrella. She quickly caught it before it could slide down.
Eve cursed herself for not watching where she was going and looked in the direction where Vincent stood. But not once did he look at her, and the butler turned to see what the sound was about.
Vincent said to the butler, "... papers delivered to Clayton directly in his hand. He will be coming in late to the Council..."
Reaching the top of the first flight of stairs, Eve turned to the right and took the second flight that led to the piano room, without waiting to talk or look at Vincent.
Once Eve turned her back to them and disappeared at the end of the corridor, Vincent turned to look in her direction, staring at the deserted corridor with a grim look.
Reaching the piano room, Eve was greeted by Allie, "Good evening, Allie."
"Evening?" The young vampiress blinked and corrected her, "It is morning."
Eve awkwardly smiled, "Pardon me. Good morning, Allie."
Allie smiled and greeted back, "Good morning, Ms. Barlow. I want to show you something!"
"You do?" Eve asked the young girl, who eagerly nodded and pulled out the scarf that she had completed. Allie looked at her for her praise.
"Wow, that is a beautiful scarf and you finished it sooner than I expected," Eve praised the little girl, who leaned forward as if not done in receiving the praise.
They stared at each other for a few seconds before Eve realised. She quickly placed her hand on Allie's head, and the little one smiled. When they sat at the table, Allie said, "Brother Vincent told me that we will be going out at two in the noon."
Somewhere, Eve realised the person who enjoyed annoying people was now ignoring her. She was unsure if she should feel grateful that he was drawing lines or feel hurt that their journey of friendship was short.
