Music Recommendation: Stone- Jaymes Young
When Eve's eyes met Vincent's as she continued climbing the stairs, the faint smile on her lips started to grow. She saw how Vincent looked at her as if she was the only thing that was true in this world. His hand stretched his right hand forward when she got closer. Once her hand slipped into his hand, he raised it to his lips and kissed the back of her hand.
"Ready to have the first and last dance with me, my lovely wife?"
Vincent was the kind of person who brought butterflies in her chest with his words and actions. Eve, who was yet to step down from the last step of the stairs, leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips, "I am ready."
When they reached near the ballroom, Alfie, who stood outside the room with a smile, watching the newlywed couple walk towards him, he quickly stepped inside and loudly announced,
"Mr. Vincent Moriarty and Mrs. Genevieve Moriarty."
The musician seated in one corner of the ballroom soon started to play soft tones of music that elevated the mood of the joyous occasion. Not a moment later, Vincent and Eve walked inside the ballroom, hand in hand, with a smile on their faces.
Viscount Eduard Moriarty proudly said, "We would like to congratulate the newlywed couple and invite them to open the dance floor. Their first dance as husband and wife. Vincent and Genevieve."
The lit candles in the chandeliers hanging on the ceiling brightened the place without bothering about the dull weather that the snow had brought along with it.
Vincent led Eve to the dance floor, while the music continued to play in the background. When they came to stand face to face, he placed his other hand on her waist, while she placed her hand on his shoulder. The newlywed couple didn't look away from each other and drowned in each other's presence.
"I hope it was everything you imagined to be, Mrs. Moriarty," Vincent crookedly smiled at Eve as they swayed their bodies to the music.
"It was more than I could have ever expected to be. You allowed me to dream, Vincent," Eve smiled, and she would forever be grateful to him.
Vincent and Eve took a step diagonally, while their hands continued to face each other. He said to her, "You are everything I wanted. I promise to love and cherish you, share your burdens and protect you."
"I promise to do the same," Eve responded.
"Partners in crime," Vincent grinned, excited about their future. "Let us look forward to burying things together."
"Why did I already know you were going to say something like that," Eve asked him, and the grin on Vincent's lips broadened.
Vincent brought her close to him and replied, "Because you are the one who holds my heart."
Lady Aubrey, who stood along with the other guests, watching the couple dance, murmured to herself, "You did good, Eve." Finding the right man who would stand next to the young mermaid no matter what storm would come her way.
The older woman took out her handkerchief and discreetly dabbed the corner of her eyes. To see and know that Eve had found the person who loved her, Lady Aubrey exhaled the heaviness that had built in her chest. Her eyes then moved to look at Eugene and Rosetta, who stood only a few steps away from her and they seemed happy.
When the newlywed couple finished dancing to one full song, one of the guests urged others, "Everybody, please join the floor with your partners to dance with the newlyweds now."
One by one, people started to join the dance floor. This included Viscount Eduard and Lady Annalise, Eugene and Rosetta, who was pushed by Lady Aubrey.
On the other side of the ballroom, Allie looked excited and eager to join the others on the floor. But no one had offered to give her company, and she stood there, waiting and waiting. The boy of her height was busy talking to people she didn't know across the room. When Timotei grazed his tail near her leg, her eyes lit up. She exclaimed, "Timi!"
Swooping the black cat in her arms, she quickly ran to the dance floor, while Timotei replied in a low voice, "Now make sure you treat my precious body delicately. I took a lot of time to groom myself."
Allie, who had caught Timotei talking before, was less shocked about the talking cat and nodded her head with a big smile and danced with the black cat, who at first looked all high and mighty, before humming the music played in the ballroom.
The servants served snacks and drinks to the guests who had gathered in and around the ballroom. While some guests were on the dance floor, some stood and watched the others dance, and a few talked to each other.
Lady Aubrey held the second glass of wine in her hand, while watching the children she had raised under her roof now with their partners. While she enjoyed the time, she noticed Viscount Moriarty's elder daughter step out of the room. She walked towards the room's doors and stepped out of there in time to catch the vampiress, who struggled to walk.
"Marceline," Lady Aubrey called the vampiress, who stopped walking and turned to look at the lowly human with a look of disgust in her eyes.
"What do you want?" Marceline didn't hide her distaste towards the old woman. Did she just call her by her name?!
"You seem to be piling up with debts without apologising," Lady Aubrey calmly looked at the vampiress, who glared at her.
"What are you talking about?" The haughty vampiress demanded.
Lady Aubrey took a step forward and said, "I don't think I have to recollect them for you, dear. I am sure you know what you did with your hands now covered in blood, that belonged to my dear ones." The colour in Marceline's face turned dull because she doubted this human was talking about her stabbing him. She quickly fixed her expression.
After all, the servant was doing perfectly well in health, even though Marceline had seen him lose blood and be on the verge of death. The older woman continued,
"I won't take those actions of yours into account this time. Because it is the very same thing that has led them towards happiness. Sometimes it isn't too late to turn into a new leaf, then wither away." Saying those words, Lady Aubrey turned and walked back inside the ballroom, while leaving Marceline gritting her teeth.
Marceline was angry to be talking in such a manner by a woman who was lower than her in status. She took one step forward in a rage and heard a crack in her wooden leg. When she tried to take a step forward, the wooden leg broke, and her eyes widened.
The vampiress quickly picked it up, but a couple had caught sight of it. In embarrassment, she demanded, "What are you looking at?"
The couple murmured to themselves, "What happened to her?"
"Didn't you hear? She was always like this. It's just that we didn't know."
Marceline wanted to hit the couple with her wooden leg, but instead, she hopped her way to her room so that she could start packing her luggage. She couldn't wait to leave this place and the uncaring people behind!
