Eve stood there frozen, feeling Vincent's breath on her skin, which brought goosebumps all over her skin. His fingers let go of her neck, and he took one step backwards to look at her.

"Not everyone, but most will get the memo. I will take the rest of it later," saying it, Vincent walked away from there to meet Clayton.

Eve didn't dare to look around lest meeting the people's eyes who had seen Vincent bite her neck. But then again, a vampire biting a human wasn't a big deal here as the High Society were used to seeing it.

On the other side of the room, Noah's eyes had moved to catch what happened, and he couldn't look away from Eve, not since his eyes had fallen on her. But it was the shock that Vincent had bitten her that had him clench his jaws while his face barely changed.

When the couple excused themselves, Lady Anaya said, "I heard there was a fountain..." her voice trailed when she saw the Duke staring at the human she had met in Hollow Valley. She said, "Isn't that Ms. Barlow? We should go greet her."

Not wanting to stand idle, Eve picked up a glass of wine from the passing servant and took a sip before frowning at the bitter taste.

"The wine wasn't to my liking either," came a woman's voice from behind her. Eve turned and found it was Lady Anaya accompanied by Noah. They quickly greeted each other with a bow.

Eve couldn't help but wonder if they had seen what had happened a while ago. That would be embarrassing, even though the vampire's intention was to keep possible harm from falling upon her.

"There was another drink being served, which you might find to your liking. Something sweet with a hint of citrus," Lady Anaya said with a smile. "It is good that we met here again, now we can talk more. Isn't that right, Noah?"

Eve looked at Noah, who looked at her and how she looked this evening. She felt a slight unexplainable nervousness and he smiled. He agreed,

"Yes. But let me warn you, Genevieve, that Lady Anaya has the habit of bleeding a person's ear," he lightly joked.

"Surely, she must be a good company," Eve replied in politeness. She wasn't looking for company, but with Vincent not next to her right now and Mr. Hart still not in view, she didn't find any harm in enjoying their company.

"I feel like I like Ms. Barlow more than the Duke," Lady Anaya looked at Noah before smiling. She then said to Eve, "For a second I couldn't recognise you, but seeing Noah stare so long it took only another second to realise it was you," she laughed.

Not picking up Lady Anaya's words, Eve laughed, "I must look unrecognisable. I usually don't dress like this."

"I think it suits you very well. You look pretty," Lady Anaya assured Eve. She then said, "The man you have come up with must be delighted to have you next to him."

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Eve laughed at the thought and nodded, "I think he somewhat is." If not delighted, he was definitely amused to have her around. Eve's heart was put to ease, believing Lady Anaya and Noah didn't see what took place between her and Vincent a few minutes ago. "Did you enjoy the Carnival?"

"I did, I bought some lovely looking trinkets to take back to my place," Lady Anaya's words were polite.

When a servant carried another tray near them, Noah stopped the maid and picked up a glass from the tray. He said to Eve, "This is the drink, you can return the wine if you aren't going to drink it."

"Thank you," Eve murmured, exchanging the glass.

Lady Anaya noticed how the Duke was attentive when it came to the human, not just that, but he was at ease by calling the woman by her name, while he used the status when it came to her. And though attentive, Noah hadn't shared a single word of compliment with Eve. Noah turned and asked her,

"Would you like to have another glass, Lady Anaya?"

"Of course, how can I refuse when you asked," Lady Anaya smiled before taking one glass for herself.

Eve took a sip from her glass and agreed, "This does taste much better than the earlier one. Thank you."

While they stood there talking, Lady Anaya took a step back to make her dress proper with her free hand. But at the same time, a gentleman walking in a hurry collided with her, for the drink in her hand to spill on her hand.

"My apologies, milady!" The man quickly bowed. "I should have watched myself!"

Lady Anaya wasn't happy with the spill, but she smiled at the man and said, "That's fine. I shouldn't have stepped backwards." She then turned to Noah and said, "I will go visit the powder room."

Eve asked the young woman, "Would you like me to accompany you?"

"Oh, I will be fine. I will be back soon," Lady Anaya smiled and walked from there. When she reached the room's exit, she turned back and looked at the Duke and the human before leaving for the powder room.

Though Eve had met Noah earlier this morning, the Duke seemed a little different, as if something occupied his mind. She asked him, "Were you able to find the person whom the council was looking for?"

"Yes," Noah offered her a smile and said, "We found the person four-five hours after I dropped you at Skellington. I hope you had a ride back home?"

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Eve nodded, "Mr. Moriarty arranged a carriage for me to get back home. Thank you again for the ride this morning."

"You don't have to thank me. I was going that way, and it only seemed fair that I drop you," Noah responded to her, and his eyes lingered on her delicate face. Her bright blue eyes looked nothing less than the ornaments the other women wore. He asked her, "How is your neck?"

"My neck?" Eve's eyebrows furrowed before her eyes widened. "It-uh, it's okay." She unconsciously touched her neck before lowering her hand to her side.

"I see," replied Noah before silence fell between them.

From Eve's reaction, Noah deduced that it wasn't the first time her employer had directly drunk her blood. On the other hand, Eve wondered what Noah might be thinking of her offering her blood to a vampire. Before she could say something, he asked her,

"He's not blackmailing you, is he?" On seeing Eve shake her head, his face turned serious, "Then it is with your willingness."

It was hard for Eve to explain the deal she had with Vincent, and she replied, "He's not hurt me."

For the first few seconds Noah didn't react, but then he said, "That's good to know. I would be sad if something happened to you," and he smiled.

Eve was glad that Noah didn't question her further on it.

Noah stared into Eve's eyes that still held the same innocence since the first time he had caught sight of her. He knew Vincent Moriarty was the kind of person who didn't bother about anyone. But he also knew the pureblooded vampire's thirst for blood in more than one way. The vampire wasn't one to involve himself with anyone, but he had involved himself in Eve's case last time she was sent to the dungeon.

Looking at one side of the room, he lightly laughed, "It seems like I am turning into many people's envy."

Eve noticed two men looking their way and turned back to Noah with her cheeks slightly pink. She replied, "They are being envious about nothing. Once they know where I come from, they won't spare another glance."

"Beauty isn't what appears, Genevieve. You hold the beauty of grace, a look of kindness that goes far beyond a person here can reach," Noah remarked, and a smile appeared on Eve's lips.

"You are too kind with your words, Noah," said Eve, and then said, "They don't even know that we are good friends."

Noah agreed, "Indeed," and asked, "We'll always stay good friends, won't we, Eve?" There was a hope in there that was camouflaged with the smile.

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Eve nodded with a smile, "Yes."

Vincent stood above the floor watching his little mermaid and the Duke talk, while Clayton spoke to him. On noticing Vincent looking at the floor below, the head of the Inner Circle asked,

"Vincent."

"I am listening," he turned to Clayton, who stared at him blankly.

Clayton turned and noticed the woman who had undergone a degree one trial in the Council. He questioned, "She seems important," and a wicked smile appeared on Vincent's lips.

On the ground floor, a man in his fifties walked towards Eve and Noah, who wore refined clothes like the others in the room and spoke to the Duke of Woodlock,

"Zachary was asking where you are. He said Clayton and a few members of the Inner Circle have rejected the hand picked members," the man then paused before noting Eve's presence. He asked, "Who is this young lady? Where is Anaya?"

Noah answered the man, "Anaya has gone to visit the powder room. This is Genevieve Barlow, a friend of mine." He turned to Eve and said, "This is my father, Jeffrey Sullivan."

"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Sullivan," Eve offered a bow, and the man gave a nod.

"The pleasure is all mine, milady," the older man held the same demeanour as Noah, but he smiled less than his son. He turned to Noah and said, "I want you to talk to Clayton when you see him. We don't want the Circle rejecting without any consideration."

"I will talk to him once I meet him," replied Noah before his father continued to speak to him while Eve's eyes wandered around to look at the guests. Her heart suddenly sped when her eyes fell on Mr. Hart, who was talking to a woman.

"Ms. Barlow," Senior Mr. Sullivan spoke to Eve, and she quickly looked at him, "I hope you don't mind me borrowing my son."

"Not at all," Eve smiled at Jeffrey Sullivan and then turned to Noah, who smiled at her. He said,

"I will see you around. If you see Lady Anaya, do let her know that I am with my father."

Eve gave him a nod, "I will."

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Seeing the two men leave, Eve turned around to find the woman talking to Mr. Hart, leaving his side.

Eve started walking to where the man stood to get the answers from the man, who held an illicit relationship with her mother while she was alive. When she neared him, she brought in a smile and greeted him,

"Mr. Hart."