"How do you like the food, Ms. Penelope? We got some vegetables in here if you aren't comfortable," Elliot offered the bowl of salad which had beans in it.

"Thank you," she responded back. 

"There was another dish I asked them to prepare," the man started to look around when the lady who was sitting next to him advised,

"Let her eat it first," the lady's name was Sylvia who was another helper of Lord Alexander when it came to managing work in the land, "She's not some goat for you to give her vegetables," the woman turned to look at Penny and asked, "Is there anything in particular that you like? We can ask the cook to make it," she offered polite words. 

"No, I am fine," Penny smiled at them and heard Lord Alexander say, 

"Don't mind Elliot. We don't have humans over for meals," she nodded her head. Everyone except for her was vampires at the table now. 

"We would but Alexander doesn't like to entertain the humans and even if he does it is only men and women who belong to the higher society but for his own reasons," Elliot went on to speak without pause, "The last time we had someone over was the Barton. Quite annoying I would say who even gets on Alexander's nerves," Penny couldn't help but look a little surprised that Elliot had not bothered to add the t.i.tle before Alexander's name while addressing. 

"It has been a while since his wedding now," Sylvia placed her voice a little low in the quiet dining room which could be heard by everyone. 

The woman went to reach for the pepper when Elliot quickly took it and started to add it to his meat. His movements slowed, which annoyed the woman sitting next to him who pa.s.sed a silent glare. 

Lord Alexander didn't bother with the two of them, ignoring their little childish display and he asked Damien who was rather enjoying the food right now, "How long do you plan to stay over? I will have Martin ask to s.h.i.+ft your room to the right-wing if you both plan to stay long."

"We planned to sightsee at Valeria. Penny doesn't find much time to go out as she has been busy herself and I have council work to attend to," Damien used his knife to make a thin slice of the meat of the animal that was placed in front of him, "I thought what better place than here to have a little getaway."

"It's good that you both will be staying here longer," Sylvia responded pleased to have a woman's company in this mansion. The only people who visited here were the elites who didn't stay for a too long time and even if they did they weren't pleasant people. Lord Alexander was usually busy with his own which left her stuck with the man who now sat next to her who enjoyed to irk her since the first time they had even met. 

"I am already sad that I won't be able to see much of Sylvia now that Ms. Penelope is here," Elliot received a glare at his remark and he chuckled before looking back at the couple, "Are you preparing for the council's examination too?" Council's examination? "The one where you write the exam if you want to enroll yourself to work in the council."

She chewed her food before gulping it down, "No, Mr. Wells. I think I am happy where I am without being involved with the council or any other law," she answered. 

Damien said, "It is better she doesn't get tied with the council or any other elder councilman. It would be troublesome. She's been helping and studying in the church to learn more about the white witches and even created two weapons against the black witches," Penny could tell by Damien's voice that he was proud of her that she had achieved it in such a short duration. 

"That is impressive," Lord Alexander agreed, "It is very rare for Damien to praise anyone. Makes me wonder if the weapons were excellent or if he is only being partial for who you are to him," she could feel his eyebrows slightly raised with his lips, "I have a workshop right here in the grounds of the mansion. If you are willing to try…" he trailed.

Once their meal was done, Sylvia had taken Penelope to tour the mansion where Elliot had stuck along with them, leaving Alexander and Damien to talk. Standing outside one of the guest rooms' patios, they smoked the cigars which were in each of their hands. Damien let his back rest against the railings. His hand had the cigar resting next to him. 

"Why do I have a feeling that you brought her here not for vacation," stated Alexander looking at the forest which was dark yet white because of the snow. 

"She needs guidance."

"I don't have materials to teach her. You forget that unlike the others, I don't practice the art and lifestyle of the witches but live the life as a pureblooded vampire as that is what runs through my veins and what people know me of," Lord Alexander took a drag from the smoke before releasing it through his lips, "Isn't the church enough? They have good services..."