When A Ghoul Falls In Love

Why are they not here yet? 

Duke Balthier Sanguine glances at the sky. He folds his arms, creasing his brows. It's been two hours since he sent his attendant to them. What are they doing? The duke taps his foot on the ground impatiently. It's the sixth hour of the day already. The guests are here. But Eli and his human aren't here yet.

Among his thirteen children, only ten of them are seated around the table in the garden along with his wives and the guests. Ark and Ephraim will arrive tomorrow. Eli is with his human in the mansion. Even Eli's fiancee is here. 

Duke Balthier glances at Carmine Highmore who is sitting diagonally across him. His second wife is chatting with her. Anyone can see that Carmine has no interest in chatting with Judith. Judith's lowly origin must have been a bother to the idiotic girl.

The title of the duchess still belongs to his first wife, Nilora, who belonged to the royal bloodline. When a woman marries, she has to abandon her last name. It's a law of this kingdom. 

That human's words keep ringing in his eyes. Why did he marry Judith? In reality, Nilora couldn't have children even after four hundred years of their marriage. She was the one who insisted that he should take a second wife. He didn't want to marry someone else. 

But Nilora stopped eating. She always had a weak constitution. He had no choice. But he didn't want anyone who could exercise more power than Nilora had. That's why he chose Judith. 

She wasn't a ghoul and she belonged to a common family. Her bloodline didn't matter. If Nilora ever had children in the future, her children would have more power than Judith's children. 

And Nilora became pregnant too. But that pregnancy killed her. 

Duke Balthier's eyes darken. Does he still have Nilora in his heart? In truth, he used to hate Eli. There was a time when he couldn't look at that child. Because of him, Eli had been neglected.

Eli's eyes reminded him of Nilora. He still can't look at Eli without remembering his duchess. He did marry Tamara and Victoire, but nobody could ever replace Nilora. Nobody ever will. 

But if he could choose again, he would not let Nilora have Eli. However, he knows too well that Nilora would have chosen Eli over him if she was given the same choice.

His son shouldn't suffer like him. 

It's ridiculous to even consider that human for the position of the next duchess or the queen of this kingdom. If his son marries that human, he's going to suffer.

That human is weak. She won't live long. And even if Eli can control his urges, what about the heirs? A human and a ghoul can't have children. Even if a miracle happens, the ghoul child will kill the human mother. 

If his son truly loves that human, he will be in pain after that human is dead. 

That's why Eli should marry a woman who is equal to him. And if such a woman can't be found, his son should marry a woman who is close to his equal. Carmine Highmore is perfect for Eli. 

She's a second-ranked demoness and the favourite daughter of the prime minister who is a powerful figure in the kingdom. Apart from that, she's intelligent and popular among the nobles. Even the king favours her. 

"Fourth Brother is here!" Belinda chimes. "Sister-in-law is…"

The Duke gives her a dark glare. "Belinda, who are you calling your sister-in-law?"

"I am sorry, Father." Belinda sinks into her seat, bending down her head. She mumbles something inaudible. The Duke ignores her and turns his head in the direction she was looking at.

The human female is dressed in a golden suit that's tight enough to enunciate her curves and loose enough to make her look like a woman of noble origins. Her back is straight. Her braided hair dances loosely on her shoulder as she steps toward them. 

Duke Balthier can't look away. 

The clear look in her cool hazel eyes reminds him of Nilora when he first met her. But Nilora was never aloof. When they met for the first time, she was trying to act like a detached lady. A small smile appears on his lips. His duchess was quite clumsy. Her cold look was melted by her blush when he kissed the back of her hand. 

The human is perceptive, but it's not enough. He peers at his son who is grinning ear to ear like a fool. Is he his son? Duke Balthier wrinkles his nose in disbelief. His son is wearing the same clothes that he wore yesterday. Does he have no clothes? How could a commoner human look better than his noble son? 

Duke Balthier gasps. Did he think that the human looks better than his son? "That's impossible!"

"What's impossible, Father?" Cyan questions him in a low tone. 

He ignores his son and takes a sip of his tea. There's no one more beautiful than his and Nilora's son in this kingdom except for Nilora herself. 

Duke Balthier isn't the only who is thinking along that line. Carmine Highmore studies the human just like a tigress. The human looks so fragile. She can break her neck with one hand. She notices that the shade of gold matches Eli's eyes. Is this a proclamation? Carmine wants to laugh, but she holds herself back. 

She gazes at Eli. It's been so long since she saw him last. But he hasn't changed at all. Same long black hair and ivory skin. Crimson lips. Unique golden eyes with a hint of mischief. But she didn't fall for his looks alone. If he hadn't come to save her that day, she would have been… Carmine doesn't even want to imagine her fate.

Why did he fall for that human? She stares hard at the human female. What's special about her? Her looks are average. Her hair is not as shiny as hers. Her skin looks dull. And the woman's personality seems to be closed off. How can that human make Eli smile like that? 

Anyway, the human female won't last for long. The place beside Eli belongs to only her. 

Eli and Nell reach the table. Both of them know that there's going to be a test. But it looks like a tea party instead. Since the entire family except for two people are present, it can't be a normal tea party.

"You are late," Duke Balthier Sanguine mutters, annoyed. 

"I forgot about the summon, Father." Eli places his hands on Nell's shoulders. "My darling looks even more beautiful today. I forgot about the tea because I was busy staring at her."

"Drooling." Nell corrects him, "You were busy drooling."

"I can't help it." He pecks her cheek. "You look savoury today."

The off-white lacy gown with bell sleeves makes her look like a bride. There's a certain fragile but determined aura around the woman. If she had been a man, she might have fallen for Carmine Highmore at first sight. Nell throws a condemning look at Eli. 

"Is something wrong, Wife?" Eli tilts his head, smiling dazzlingly. 

"Nothing." What can she say to this ghoul? Even in this strange world, Eli Sanguine is the odd one. How did this creature land in her lap? She used to work in a bookstore and mind her own business. And she had never paid any attention to her looks or clothes back then. It's not that she has never found him attractive. There is something about him that has always stood out. So, she is fully aware of Eli's beauty. It's natural that beauties would have admirers. Eli is popular in both worlds. 

She has to control herself. There's no way that she would act like her past self. Evie was human. Carmine is a demoness. 

The fact that she's considering ripping Carmine's hair out is frightening enough. Nell inhales sharply. There's no reason for her to feel jealous of that woman. If Eli ever wants to leave her, she won't stop him. However…

The thought of Eli next to Carmine makes her furious.

Nell keeps a poker face. If this ghoul finds out that she's both angry and jealous, he will start running around while screaming with happiness. Life is hard enough.