The Vampire's Bride

"What do you want for dinner? I'll ask them to cook it."

"I-I'm fine with anything, Master Orpheus."

Mallory and Leo walked besides each other and entered Leo's house. The moment they entered, Leo froze.

"Master Orpheus?"

Leo looked at Brian and asked, "He's back?"

"...Yes, Young Master."

Leo's teasing aura disappeared. He suddenly became serious. "Take her to my room. Lock the main door of her room and leave the key inside my room. Don't let him near her."

"Yes, Young Master." Without another word, Brian guided Mallory to Leo's room. Mallory quietly followed, wondering who came to visit. Then as she walked, she smelled a scent.

It was the same scent she smelled when she first arrived but this time it was stronger. "Umm... May I ask who came?"

Brian glanced at her, "Young Master's father came back earlier."

Father? Master Orpheus's?

Worried, Mallory mumbled, "Is it... a bad thing that I'm here? I mean, am I not allowed to stay here?"

Brian did not answer, instead he motioned Mallory to enter the room. He left the key of Mallory's room on the table and ordered the staff outside to bring something to drink. Guarding the door, he finally replied, "If I may be honest, Master is, indeed, angry that Young Master brought in another vampire."

Mallory slightly flinched. I knew it... I gave him more troubles...

"But..." Observing the girl's reaction, Brian continued, "It was Young Master's decision to bring you here thus he told me that he will solve the problem and you shouldn't worry, Miss."

"Even if he told me not to worry, I'd still worry." Mallory looked at her fingers as she played with it, "Ever since that night, Master Orpheus has been protecting me. From my family, my classmates, from Aldo... so I can't help but think that I'm always bringing in trouble."

Brian was slightly surprised. "I think, it was Young Master's will to do so."

"Even if you say that... The first night I came, my family suddenly barged in, hurting Master Orpheus in the process. Then you and the other staffs were also asked to deal with them. A-Aldo also came here, destroying some things." Remembering the incident last night, Mallory suddenly shivered. "By the way, Butler Brian..."

"Brian is fine, Miss."

"H-H-How much?" Mallory mumbled.

Brian was confused, "I'm sorry?"

Looking as if she was on the verge of death, Mallory asked, "H-How much was the vase and the glass that broke last night?"

Brian raised a brow. How much... "Since the vase was something from Young Master's ancestors, I believe it's around..."

Hearing the price, the last bit of soul left Mallory as she silently repeated the price. She could suddenly saw zeroes circling around her head. "T-That much?"

"Yes..." Brian tilted his head, "May I know why?"

Mallory snapped from her trance and mumbled to herself, "How am I going to repay Master Orpheus? It's only the vase but it's already that expensive. If I take normal part-time jobs, I'd take a lifetime — no more than a lifetime to pay for it. Since I'm a halfling, I'm not sure until when I'm going to live. It's not like I feed on blood, so my lifespan is one of a human. Other than the vase, there's also the window glass..."

Hearing her talking to herself about nonsense, Brian could not help but laugh. This stopped Mallory and she slowly looked at him, dumbfounded. T-T-The butler is laughing?! Did I say something wrong?

"Miss, you don't have to worry about that. Besides, it is not your fault, it is the uninvited one who broke it," Brian said with a smile.

"Ah... I see." Mallory relievedly sigh. Then she paused for a moment before asking, "Umm... did you know where they are talking? Master Orpheus and his father?"

"Why, Miss?"

Looking down, Mallory explained, "I think I should clear the misunderstanding. If Master Orpheus' father thought that I am here because he pitied me, then I think I should tell them that I'd leave."

"I can't just take advantage of Master Orpheus' kindness. He already helped me a lot and I'm thankful for that but I think it's too much for me. I don't think it's good if he and his father had a disagreement. So if I will be asked leave, I'll leave. Actually, no matter what reason, I should leave, right? I'm not supposed to be here."

Brian was dumbfounded as he listened to her continue.

If it was another person, they would not hesitate to use Young Master to their advantage but this girl just keeps on rejecting Young Master's help. She even wants to repay the broken vase that Aldo broke.

Indeed, she was different.

"Miss," Brian called, interrupting the girl.

"Yes?"

"Miss, please continue to look after the Young Master."

Out of nowhere, Brian thanked her. Startled, Mallory did not know what to say. "W-W-What? Eh... i-isn't it the other way around?"

Brian did not reply and only gave a small smile. He turned around and opened the door. The staff outside was surprised but handed a glass of juice and water to Brian who put them at the table, offering them to Mallory. "Miss, I'll be leaving for now. You can just call my name and I'll immediately come. Please stay in this room until Young Master allowed you to leave."

"Y-Yes... thank you." Confused, Mallory watched the butler leave the room. Soon enough, she was alone. She held her hand on her c.h.e.s.t. Cold sweats formed on her forehead as she slightly panted. Dear God... it was nerve-wrecking talking with the butler!

With nothing to do, she laid on the bed, thinking of their conversation.

No matter how she think of it... it was clear that she have been taking advantage of Leo's kindness. And instead of repaying it, it appears that she kept adding more problem for him.

Mallory closed her eyes and exclaimed, "What should I do..."

I'm still the same coward girl from before. Even after meeting Master Orpheus... it appears that I'm still weak.

Should I really stay this way?

...

"I want an explanation. NOW."

"I have nothing to explain. You've found out about everything. What else is there to say?" Leo coldly said.

Rayner Chaser, whose demon name is Draven, is Leo's father. In public, he owns a couple of business with a couple of international ones. Aside from that, he also had a higher ranking in the vampire world. He was included in the top 10. Based on strength, he was stronger than Leo. Everyone had huge respect for this man.

But... this man that they respect was a father who forgets his own child. He would always leave the house for months, sometimes years, then return only for days before setting out again.

As young as he could remember, Leo would always chase after him, trying to catch his attention. But never did he look back.

Never did he become a father-figure in Leo's mind thus Leo rejected him being his father.

"You brought in a vampire?" Rayner asked.

"Is there a problem with it?" Leo asked.

Rayner leaned back on the chair as he spoke, "This is my house. My rules."

"This is also my house. There's no rules about not being able to bring a vampire in," Leo said indifferently.

"There is. I just added it."

"Oh? Well, then there's none now. I just removed it."

"..."

Rayner frowned. "Why do you keep her? A human who only have half the vampire blood? What's so special about her?"

"Why? 'Cause she's my partner," Leo said.

Slamming on the table, Rayner exclaimed, "Nonsense! You're a vampire! The son of Draven! Why will you settle with a halfling?!"

"Why do you care?!" Leo shouted, catching Rayner by surprise.

"Wh-What do you mean?"

"What do you know?! You travel all over the world, ignoring your son, leaving him alone for all his life and now that he brought in a vampire, you're going to meddle in his business?"

Startled, Rayner lowered his voice, "Don't use that tone to speak with your father!"

"Father? Don't make me laugh," Leo sarcastically laughed, "Since when did you recognized me as your son? Unless it benefited you, you never looked at me."

Turning around, Leo said, "I'm leaving."

Just before he exited, Rayner's voice travelled across the room, "You only want her because of her blood. You'd regret it one day. Listen to my advice. Why are you so protective of her?"

"It's none of your business."

"Is it because she looks like... her?"