The excitement drained out from Marceline's eyes, and her gaze hardened.
Eve subtly turned to look in the other direction as it seemed like walking away from here would only gain her more attention than standing here still.
Marceline's expression didn't change, and she said, "If it is from you, I shall take it, brother. After all, what matters is the thought. The cactus are said to be independent and resilient."
"I am glad that you think the same, Marcie. The cactus is indeed a representation to you. Prickly and be quite a…" he paused as if trying to find a word, while Marceline's eyes shifted to dark red, "Care to help me here, sister?"
Marceline's jaw clenched before asking, "A compassionate sister?"
"It is good to see that your sense of humour has improved. The cactus is a gift for you from the bottom of my heart," stated Vincent with a chuckle. He then said, "Seeing how you used to drink blood from our governess, let me explain it for you. Quite means a lot, and when added with you and the word you said," he clicked his tongue, "It quite doesn't fit, does it?"
Marceline stared hard at her brother and then called the butler, "Alfie, take this. You can plant this in the back garden of the mansion, it isn't every day that a brother gives his sister."
The butler looked back and forth between the siblings before he replied to Marceline, "Lady Marceline, the cactus won't grow more than the size it is now."
"Isn't that wonderful, sister dearest?" Questioned Vincent, with a smile that tugged on both corners of his lips. "Aren't I the most thoughtful brother?"
Marceline gripped on the little pot and said with a smile, "Very well then."
She stepped inside the hallways, and then walked through the corridors. When she came to a deserted corridor, where there was no one, she stopped walking. Her hand continued to grip on the little pot before she threw it at the wall, smashing it into little pieces.
Back at the entrance of the mansion, Eve silently stood in front of Vincent. She took a look in the direction of where Lady Marceline had disappeared into and soon the butler disappeared from next to his master.
Eve bowed, and took one step towards the mansion to get in, when she heard Vincent speak, "I don't remember telling you could leave."
"Is there something that you wanted to speak about, Master Vincent?" Asked Eve, meeting his coppery eyes and she found him staring at her once again. "Did I do something?"
"That is something you will have to tell me, isn't that right?" Vincent questioned her back, and Eve tried to recollect what she must have done. He said, "I don't care whom you talk to as I do not care. But what I do care about is what happens in and around the mansion. Do you like people talking about you?"
"Excuse me?" Eve's eyebrows furrowed.
"Dearest sister mentioned that you came with someone who caught her eyes. Maybe you could keep a little low profile when you are around the Moriarty family?" He asked her, waiting for her to answer.
Eve nodded, "I was running late today, and the Duke offered to drop me here."
"Doesn't coincidence things like these make you wonder if it is perhaps fate that brings you both together?" Questioned Vincent, his eyes lazily moving to look at the things that she carried in her hand.
"I never pegged you to be someone who believes in fate," responded Eve, and Vincent turned amused.
"No? Then what did you peg me to be, Ms. Barlow? Don't tell prickly cacti's brother," he smiled, showing his perfectly aligned teeth.
Eve pursed her lips before replying, "I think you are someone who likes to make your own fate."
Eve said it because Vincent didn't seem like a person who liked to follow the rules. He seemed to be someone who made the rules, while the others followed it. What he told a moment ago wasn't completely wrong, where it had made her wonder if it was fate that had made Noah decide to meet her today, while she had missed her carriage.
"I shall give you a raise for the right yet obvious answer, Miss Barlow. How does a penny sound?" Vincent asked her with a serious and straight face.
"That is very generous of you, Master Vincent," replied Eve, where her response lacked any enthusiasm in it.
"Seems like things are finally progressing well for you. Lunch in the inn, dropping to work," he remarked, his eyes holding a wicked gleam in there.
Eve slightly glared at him, and asked, "Why do you insist that there's something going on between us?"
"Because I am terribly bored after seeing the dull faces in the council cases, I have decided to look for some excitement," chimed Vincent with a smirk on his face.
"My lief isn't exciting and is mundane. You will be bored before you know it. Maybe you should get married, Master Vincent," Eve was quick with her response.
Somewhere she came to understand why Lady Annalise was partly the way she was. It was because anyone who stayed near Vincent was turned into his personal amusement before they wanted to drive their head through the wall.
"My my my," sang Vincent, and Eve noticed his fangs slightly peek from his mouth. He said, "I was talking about the possibility of you marrying the Duke, but here you are trying to hit on me, Ms. Barlow? Having eyes on two men, how scandalous!" he tilted his head.
Blood rushed up Eve's neck. She clarified, "I didn't mean me, but someone else."
"So easily flustered," Vincent chuckled letting her know he was joking. He stared at her, as the smile on his lips died down. "Women I have met are terribly clingy and whiny, it is only good to have them for short time or I might have to open a coffin shop," he ran his tongue over his fangs and then said, "You aren't too smart when it comes to people, are you? Especially with men."
Eve sighed, and said, "You are no expert."
"And you know everything, little girl?" questioned Vincent, looking at her with his intelligent eyes. He put doubt in her mind, while enjoying the expressions on her face. "It looks like you are need of some lessons yourself."
