"I think I am fine, thank you," Eve looked at Vincent with a weary expression.

A grin appeared on Vincent's lips and he said, "Don't tell me you plan to live a sad life of being a governess throughout your life."

"I am getting late in teaching Miss Allie. Please excuse me," said Eve, stepping aside and making her way inside the mansion.

Vincent Moriarty, who took joy in exposing people's weak points, today seemed like he enjoyed picking on her, thought Eve as she continued to climb up the stairs. It wasn't that she planned to spend her life as a spinster, but her mind had been occupied in being a governess, and now that she was a governess, she did yearn to share her life with someone.

But only if that was possible, thought Eve.

She was a creature that humans sold, vampires drank from and the werewolves ate from. Marriage was a far away thought as it wasn't safe.

Knowing how her kind didn't live long to see their hair turn grey, Eve didn't know what was written in her fate. Though Lady Aubrey and Eugene didn't mind it, she knew the constant danger she put them in. Was the walk of her life meant to be alone?

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While some like Vincent chose it, she felt she was forced into it. Like she hadn't been given a choice.

The rest of the day, Eve's head had been left muddled thanks to Vincent after what he said about her and Noah. Since some time ago, she had tried to brush away the thoughts, especially after how Noah had claimed them to be friends.

"You are getting better with the first verse, Miss Allie," Eve praised the little girl. "By the night of ball, you will be ready." When Allie turned to her, Eve offered a smile, and the little one turned a little relaxed before nodding.

While Eve was returning home that evening, to make her feel worse, she noticed a bride wearing a white gown, standing next to her husband, while the couple climbed the cart. A soft smile appeared on her lips on seeing the couple, and after a moment the smile died down.

That night, Eve tossed and turned in her bed, more than upset about the fact of never being able to marry, she was annoyed that Vincent had picked on her unmarried life of loneliness.

The following day, Eve borrowed Lady Aubrey's pocket watch, while leaving hers to be repaired. Her feet were quick against the ground, so that she wouldn't miss the local carriage like she did yesterday. But when she was almost near the local carriage, Mr. Humphrey appeared in front of her out of nowhere.

"Good morning, Ms. Barlow. You seem to be in a hurry," Mr. Humphrey greeted her with a bow.

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"Good morning, Mr. Humphrey," Eve offered him a polite bow and she said, "I am indeed in a hurry, and I have a place to be at. If you will ex"

Mr. Humphrey raised his hand to the side, stopping her from walking past him, and he said,

"I will only take two minutes from you. There's still a good five minutes remaining before the carriage leaves. Please" He dropped his hand and said, "I have been invited somewhere posh, and I was wondering if you would like to accompany me there. Many women already asked me to take them along with me, but I said I have saved my guest to be as you Genevieve Barlow."

By telling the others that he was planning to take Eve with him, it was one of his tactics in spreading word to the other men and women around that Geneveive Barlow was taken by him and the men who were trying to pursue her should stop it.

"Thank you for your kind gesture, Mr. Humphrey and I wish I could but I am busy. My employer wants me to work extra this week."

"Your employer seems to be inhuman to make you work that hard. A woman like you should be worshipped and not made to work. Forgive me for saying this, but he seems cruel," said Mr. Humphrey, not liking the fact that Eve wasn't free.

Eve only smiled and said, "You should pick the woman whom you like and go, Mr. Humphrey."

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"That is why I am asking you. It is two days from now and in the town of Skellington. In the evening when you are free, which would be possible for you to come to. You must have heard about the ball," Mr. Humphrey pushed the side of his hair backwards. Taking a relaxed stance, he said, "It is not everyday that you get to visit a ball like this, lest step foot in a mansion that belongs to one of the high society families."

""

The Moriartys ball?

Eve doubted that Mr. Humphrey was invited, because he was a man from Meadow. And even if he did get an invitation, it didn't come directly from the Moriartys and through someone else.

"That is indeed a generous invitation," replied Eve, and Mr. Humphrey turned pleased.

"I told you, it is something no one would want to pass. What time would you like me to pick you up that day?" Mr. Humphrey had finally found a way to impress Eve by taking her to see the wealthy town and also let her enjoy a ball.

But Mr. Humphrey's smile fell from his face, when Eve said, "I will have to refuse as I am occupied to be able to accompany you. Thank you for asking me again, Mr. Humphrey." She offered him a polite bow, and left him standing there speechless.

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Eve dropped a shilling in the coachman's hand and got inside the local carriage. Taking a seat next to the window, she looked outside and saw Mr. Humphrey had disappeared from there.

At first, she had only been worried about being surrounded by creatures who would want her dead. But now a little anxiousness filled her chest, and she only hoped to return home safe from the night of the ball.