The Duke's Passion

"I want to see it."

Samael raised a brow at her request. Tilly put down the book and stared at him squarely. He felt a bit strange that she looked determined to see the portrait as if she was curious. 

"Well, alright..?"

With that being said, Samael led the way while Tilly followed him from behind. The bell tied around her silver long hair rang at each step, resonating across the hallway to one of the study rooms at the end of the west wing. When they reached their destination, Samael turned his head to her. 

"It's in here," he said, pointing at the door. Tilly nodded lightly, his cue to open the door. 

The study room wasn't used, as it was far away from everything. So, the furniture and mostly everything were left covered with a white sheet. When Samael first reached this place, there were more dusk and cobwebs. But now, it was clean. 

The two of them stood in front of the portrait hanging behind the desk. Samael shoved his hands inside his pocket, cocking his head to Tilly, who stood beside him. She was staring at the family portrait of six. Their mother and father had the same color of hair and eyes, but with pointy ears. 

Their children, Tilly, who looked like around ten, sat between her parents while staring ahead expressionlessly. Amara, Samael's mother, who appeared to be around fifteen, stood behind the chair. Beside her was a young man who also shared similarities in appearance. And then, a toddler on their mother's lap. 

It was a family portrait that lacked in smiles. Just one look and anyone could tell it wasn't just a simple, happy family. They all looked intimidating.

"That's me." Tilly pointed at herself, making Samael glance at her. "And that's your mother." Her finger veered at the fifteen-year-old Amara, the only one who had this smile on her face. 

"Mhm. I know my mother's face so well. So, even though she looked young and healthy, I can tell." Samael studied the portrait he stared at for a long time when he stumbled upon it for the first time. "But Mother didn't tell me she has more siblings — actually, she didn't mention anything about the Grimsbanne."

"Because there's nothing to mention," Tilly replied in a weak voice, still staring at the faces on the portrait. "Just like Amara, my little sister also eloped with a man a year later after this portrait was drawn."

"Huh?" Samael quirked a brow as he gazed at the toddler, who seemed to be around two. "Eloped? Or did you mean she was kidnapped?" 

Tilly's lips parted, then closed, to reconsider her words. "No. She ran away from home."

"That child?" Samael pointed at the toddler, just to be sure. He saw Tilly nod without taking her eyes off of the portrait. 

"Tilly, there's a limit to a person's bluffs. How can that child run away from home? I bet she can't even eat on her own without making a mess."

"Don't cross her in this lifetime." His brows knitted at her warning uttered in the same distant tone. "That little child, I mean. She's dangerous. Don't meet her in this lifetime."

"It's not like I am planning to."

"I mean, don't cross the same street as her," she added as her white eyelashes fluttered ever so tenderly. "Don't ever show your face to her. She likes handsome men."

Samael chuckled as he found her words ridiculous, setting his eyes back to the portrait. "You sound like she's really dangerous. That child."

"Because she is." Tilly let out a shallow breath while staring into that harmless-looking child. "If Amara is the kindest among us, one will question if she was truly a Grimsbanne. That child is the complete opposite. Even I will not stand a chance against her."

This time, Samael's interest was piqued. He studied Tilly's side profile curiously. 

"She's that dangerous, huh? Does that mean running away from home is a good thing in this land?" he asked out of plain curiosity. 

"I don't know what other people's opinion, but it's better that she's not here. I will have to leave if she stayed behind. She's the only person I cannot stand."

"Tilly, were you, perhaps, jealous that your parents' affection shifted to the new child?"

"Mother and Father weren't the most affectionate. What you and Lilou show to your children is something a Grimsbanne will never do. Well, if it's Amara, I guess it is possible." This time, Tilly peeled her eyes away from the portrait to look at Samael for a moment. "You have to promise me to never meet that child and that brother of mine."

"Uh... alright?" 

"If you hear their name, turn around and change your route. They're not on the mainland, but just in case you have to go somewhere else, remember my warning."

Samael frowned as he exchanged gazes with her until she looked back at the painting. If she was this persistent in warning him, that only meant these other two were more dangerous than he thought. She might not show it obviously, but this was the first time Tilly sounded a bit concerned than usual. 

"I see." He breathed out as looked up, staring at the child and then at the young man beside Amara. "So, what's their name? I need to know their names so I can avoid meeting them in this lifetime."

Tilly pointed at the young man with sharp red eyes. "That's Abel," she said while staring at his face. "He left home because he admired Soran and was fascinated with humans. Whether or not that fascination is a good thing is something I am not sure."

"Abel." Samael rocked his head as she etched the man's face deep in his mind. The more he looked at Abel, the more Samael thought he didn't seem like a good person. If anything, he seemed to be a very complicated one. 

His eyes then shifted to the child. "And that child? What's her name?" 

Tilly also looked at the child and took a deep breath. "Marsella," she answered in a quiet voice. "Remember their name. They're original vampires who can also do what I can — perhaps even better than that."

"I see." He nodded while darting his eyes at the faces of the portrait. "Abel and Marsella... Amara and Mathilda."

"Also, it seemed the house likes you." He snapped his eyes at Tilly's remarks. "This family portrait is something one will not see. Only I can see them... the portraits in this house, I mean."

"Huh?"

Tilly just cast him a quick look as she spoke. "They're blank. Ask others aside from your son and daughter, who had the blood of Grimsbanne running through their veins. You'll understand what I mean."