Music Recommendation: Prelude- Olivia Belli

Eve walked with the servant, who followed her from behind inside the mansion. While walking in the corridor, some of the guests she met on her way turned to look at her. And as beautiful as she looked, no one dared to try to talk to her.

She gave off an aura as if she was someone who came from a wealthy family and belonged to a status that was superior to them, even though she appeared to be a human.

"This way, milady," the servant let her know when she was about to step into the main standing area where most of the other guests were.

"Who summoned me?" Eve asked the servant as they continued to walk. The place they had entered was slightly darker because of the lack of candles there, and not much light passed through the windows as the moon was hidden.

But before the servant could answer, Eve noticed Vincent standing not too far from where she was and smiled. Vincent ordered the servant, "You can leave. Don't mention a word about this."

"Yes, Master Vincent," the servant offered a deep bow to Vincent and Eve before turning around and leaving the place.

"What are we doing here?" Eve walked to where he stood and noticed him raise his hand towards her.

Eve placed her hand in his cold hand and felt him enclosing it with his fingers, "The soiree is going to end soon, and the purpose of it is complete. I don't see a reason for us to stay here when other interesting things can be done," Vincent stated.

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"But Lady Aurora and Marquee Hooke are still in the mansion and there are other guests in here. Won't it be rude to leave abruptly without seeing them off?" Eve asked him with a slight frown.

Vincent pulled her close and placed his other hand on her waist to hold her firmly. He said, "The Hookes aren't in the mansion anymore as they have other important things to deal with," his eyes sparkled.

Eve's eyebrows raised in surprise. The Hookes had left the mansion so early? She asked him, "What did you do?"

"Just reminded them that they had some past accounts to settle and focus on than us here," Vincent tilted his head and stared at his beautiful mermaid. Tonight, she didn't look like a delicate snowflake but similar to a coal that burned brightly. Letting go of her hand, he tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear before letting his fingertips gently brush the side of her neck. He said, "They won't be returning to the mansion anytime soon tonight. We are free to do whatever we wish," Eve caught sight of the darkness in his eyes, and her heart fluttered.

"What about the maid? She's not given up on following us," Eve reminded him. With the wedding in just a week, she knew it would get that much difficult to be near each other, and Lady Aurora would try to make sure nothing would go out of her already planned path.

But Vincent had taken control of the situation with the Hookes, where their plan would collapse.

"Alfie will keep her busy. What did I tell you before? Stop worrying about others and just focus on me. Just like I have been focussing on you," Vincent said this while looking deep into her eyes.

Footsteps were heard approaching in the direction where they stood, and Vincent quickly pulled her to the side and behind one of the large pillars attached to the wall. A shiver ran down Eve's back, and she murmured,

"It's cold."

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The cold wall touched her bare back as her dress dipped right above her back. Their position now reminded her of when he had come to meet her at the Lowe's house in Berkshire after she had left Meadow. The kiss they had shared was fresh in her mind, and it was a day she would never forget, even if she turned into a ghost.

Even though the corridor was dimly lit, Eve could see Vincent's face in front and close to her. He whispered to her, "You will be warm soon... in front of the fireplace."

Eve felt her miss her heartbeat as it skipped, and her throat went slightly dry at the pause in between his words. It was because the look in his eyes suggested something as if inviting and seducing her.

The footsteps belonged to the guests, who were taking a stroll, and the guests were engrossed in their conversation that they didn't realise Vincent and Eve were standing in the corner.

"You look breathtaking tonight, Eve," Vincent praised her, and he said, "Every day that goes by, you turn stunning and stronger than the day before it. Have you noticed it?"

"If that is something that you noticed, I cannot be any happier than I am now," Eve smiled at him and leaned forward for their noses to touch.

"Also..." Vincent drawled, "You don't have to be nice to people if you don't want to. I know you don't like conflicts, and you try to do things in a way that doesn't attract attention, but certain people don't get the message."

Eve stared at him, and after a moment, she said, "You heard the exchange between Henry and me."

Vincent hummed, "I cannot resist not following your voice or your breath. Would you find it odd, if I said I feel troubled when I can't see you?"

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Eve shook her head, "No. Though following my breath would be nothing less than being stalkerish."

"It does, doesn't it?" Vincent asked in a thoughtful tone, but soon a grin followed his serious expression.

Eve couldn't help but smile along with him. She then heard him ask her,

"I am sorry that you had to witness and hear things you didn't want to. If it makes you feel better, my hand is still free and only for you. You can talk to me about anything, you know that, right?"

The music from the ballroom could be heard faintly in the quiet corridor they stood in. Eve's eyesight lowered, staring at his dark purple shirt, and she said,

"I know it was just a sham, and I thought it wouldn't affect me. But... it didn't make it easy and the wedding was going to be held in a week, it just caught me off guard." She then sheepishly smiled, "I am not so strong, not yet."

Vincent leaned forward and pressed his lips on Eve's forehead. It was a tender kiss, where his lips lingered longer than it was meant to be, and she took it with her eyes closed, absorbing every second and moment of it.

"I think you are plenty strong already. I am sure many will agree that, considering you will be my wife in a week," Vincent said after pulling away and looking at her.

"You know, you are a little too confident about this," Eve whispered, a frown ready to jump on her forehead. But Vincent pecked her forehead and assured her,

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"If things don't go according to our plan, we shall elope and wed each other," he joked before turning serious and he said, "The blood seal has been taken care of."

"What do you mean?" Eve asked him.