"This is truly the last time."

Master didn't give me reason to doubt his words and I was grateful for that.

At first, I was uncertain since he kept on replacing the roses in his study with fresh roses every few days. But when I found out that he picked them together with Alvena, it all didn't seem to matter anymore.

I was happy watching him hold her tiny hand in his much larger one as they toured the garden maze every morning together.

I like hearing Alvena laugh when Master talks about his friends. I like it more when Master looks at Mistress with gentle eyes that sparkle and doesn't seem to look anywhere else.

I don't know what happened, but it was like Master changed overnight.

Morwenna explains to me that it's "love." She say that in the past few hundred years that she served him, Master was never so genuinely and openly affectionate and happy. Master is truly in love I hear her tell Adrian and London who agree.

Lucien, who's here almost every single day, also agreed when he overhead us talking. Since they all agree, I should too. Right?

So on one occasion when Master was out with Alvena in the village and I, ordered to be in the distance, decided to consult Lucien.

"How does everyone know for sure Master loves Alvena and no longer cares for Valerie Rosegarden?"

Lucien's green eyes shimmered gold and delighted in my boldness with him.

"He's known Val for centuries. How can he not care for her?"

Lately, Lucien gets on my nerves. He pleasures in asking me such difficult rhetorical questions that I can't hope to answer.

I once asked him why he couldn't just give me answers straightforwardly. He told me he was still trying to get me back for last time. He told me I offended his sensitive vampire heart. I slightly regret offending him now.

"I'm sorry for my lack of empathy. Would you be as kind to forgive me and simply feed the answer?" I ask with a little less monotone than usual for Lucien might complain about that too.

He grins. "You can tell that Alek is very fond of your Lady Mistress. He lets her call his name out in public. Now that is a rather bold statement."

I look at him with disappointment. "Master allowed her to do so before...he seemed to forget about Valerie."

Lucien shakes his head. "Someday, I would like you to call me by my name."

"I do call you by your name." My eyes slant. "If you can't give me a solid answer, then don't pretend like you know. It gets me confused."

I think he scoffed at me.

"It is you, Eve, who doesn't understand," he says as he waves off the topic. It annoys me when he acts like I don't understand.

Maybe it is true that I'm confused. But I think I understand—I think.

"What are you so lost in thought about, Evie?" a jubilant voice interrupts me in my mid-daze.

I squint a little at the mischievous grin playing on Alvena's face.

"Nothing important. You called?"

She grabbed onto Master's arm as if urging him to say something. Master shook his head with feigned disinterest from his seat at the garden table.

"As of late, a very desperate Lucien has been extremely persistent in pestering me about giving up one of my favorite servants," Master stretches.

"Niko," Alvena whispers as she tugs at his sleeve, obviously wanting him to be a little more serious.

Master lets out a laugh. He seems to enjoy annoying Alvena.

Male vampires are so strange. Master and Lucien alike.

"Does he want Morwenna?" I ask. She is so hardworking. I can understand why.

Master and Mistress look at me dumbfounded.

"No," Master finally answers, but barely manages to hide a laugh.

"Adrian or London?" I ask. Crossing my fingers that Master doesn't approve of this transfer.

Alvena shook her head. "Nope, not them."

Honestly, I do not understand why Master and Mistress wish to torment me with guessing games. They only always end up laughing at my inability to catch on. They're terrible...much worse than Lucien.

Master clears his throat. "Lucien wants someone much younger and newer to my household."

"Irina?" I ask, almost sure I was right with the extra pieces of information.

Master turned to ask Alvena, "Am I wrong to humor in this?"

Luckily, Mistress is much nicer than Master when it comes to these teasing games.

"Evie, Niko and I were wondering what do you think of marrying Lucien?"

My eyebrows furrowed. Had it been Lucien posing the question, it'd be much easier to answer. He seems to be much more understanding of my expressions than everyone else I've met up to now.

"I think," I start, scanning Master for hints. He didn't give any. "Lucien is a high noble. I'm a Disabled. It does not match."

"I'm a human and Niko's a high noble vampire...and the Commander of the Army. We're far more mismatched."

"Am I not to be Lucien's wife but mistress?" I ask, a bit confused at her example.

But perhaps I spoke out of turn.

Alvena's face immediately flushed red, undoubtedly embarrassed by me speaking out of turn.

"Um..." Mistress fumbled with her words as she picked up her dress. "I forgot I need to talk to Morwenna about something. I'll see you inside," she said as she excused herself, leaving me and Master alone in the garden.

Master looked at me with an apathetic look.

"Master is displeased with me," I voice my guess aloud.

He exhales a deep sigh. "Evelyn," he calls as I walk closer. "You just humiliated your Mistress." He shakes his head, not in disapproval, but of pity. "As the Master, I should be mad at you, but somehow I can't be."

"If I have offended Mistress, I should be punished." I lower my head in apologies. "If you wish to give me away to Lucien, I am deserving of such punishment."

I did not expect Master to laugh out loud when I so candidly tried to make amends. Strange enough, I feel this heat rush up to my face. It doesn't feel comfortable.

"Master, do you not take me seriously?" I interrupt, but he continues laughing nonetheless.

It seemed like forever before he finally settled down. But when he finally did, he looked at me with all seriousness.

"I never once considered giving you away," he said, his voice cold and eyes dead still. "I was quite perturbed when Lucien asked this of of me." But then his tone softened, "...but seeing as Lucien doesn't usually ask things of me, this is vexing to say the least."

I looked down, a tiny bit satisfied. How insensitive of me to feel at ease when Master is vexed, yet I remain quietly pleased.

Master looked up to the sky and got lost in his own world. He does this ever so often when he's thinking. I find it amusing when he blocks everything out. One time I witnessed Adrian and London taking turns calling out to Master like twin chimes. It took them around a few minutes before Master even acknowledged them.

So I stood still and simply waited on Master. After all, this is what servants do.

At moments like these, I'm very thankful to him—this golden-eyed high noble—who chose to keep me, a Disabled, by his side.

"Don't you find working under me burdensome?"

I look at him astonished. "No, Master. Not once."

Master stood from his chair and made his way over to me.

"Don't you dislike having to call me Master?" He leaned even closer. "The Lord of Emberwind has asked for your hand. You can be a high noble and be my equal." Master's eyes scan my face for any reaction. "Does this not sound good?"

Is Master testing me? If he is, then...I'd best tell the truth.

"Master, I've never fancied anything in life. Being a servant to you and Mistress is already a blessing for the likes of me. As for the Lord of Emberwind, I dare not think for I have not the need to."

I find myself speaking so confidently lately. These aren't words of flattery nor guarded speech. These are all words from my heart—word for word. It is because of Master that I can ever voice my opinion.

It isn't that I never had opinion so I learned. It was just that I never learned to value them. But somehow, whenever I'm around him, I feel that my thoughts and feelings suddenly gain a lot more meaning.

Still, I do not understand why Master cares so much as to listen to the words of a servant. From the time I've been here, I nearly forgotten I was a Disabled.

If Master gives me away, will I end up like back then?

"Evelyn." My name sounds so beautiful in his velvety voice.

To think I used to hate my name. Being called 'wanted child' yet bringing disgrace to my family. I once believed it better to be called 'furniture' instead.

Another thing to thank my master for...

"Lucien doesn't plan on taking you as a Mistress. He wants you as a wife." Master clears his throat as if hinting to me the importance of this decision. "It will be a good thing for you," he says. "He doesn't mind your eyes nor your status. Not many vampires I know can see past either of those things. May I also throw in, Lucien isn't your average vampire. He's a high noble. You won't have to work another day as a servant. And-"

"Master, I thought you weren't planning to give me to Lucien?" I asked abruptly, completely disregarding that I interrupted him and addressed Lucien without proper titles.

But more importantly...I think my heartbeat just wavered for a tiny second.

Master looked at me in surprise.

Despite trying to hide it immediately, I caught sight of his toothy grin.

The muscles around my face began tugging at the corners of my mouth before a misplaced smile formed my expression.

I just offended both my Master and Mistress and now I'm smiling. I must be crazy.

"No one," he growled as his slender fingers tilt my chin up to look him in the eye. "No one," he bites through his teeth, "has ever...embarrassed me like this."

The smile on my face vanishes instantaneously as it returns to its usual thin line.

"I'm sorry, Master," I say as I drop my head low.

But as fast as I lower my gaze, he lifts me up to look at him again.

"And yet..." He releases his grip and begins slowly pacing a few feet away.

Suddenly, he paused and turned to me. I looked forward, sure to not cut off any eye contact. He doesn't like it I'm assuming when I don't meet his eye.

But it felt strange. Before I knew it, my lips fought its way to curve upwards.

Master gave up his cold pretense and graced me with a gentle smile. "Do you know what you've just done?"

I looked at him and nodded.

A vampire's fangs only protrude out when they deliberately show them. But in rare instances, they can naturally appear without him controlling it to. It's basically a tiny slip. It isn't a harmful thing, but vampires, especially nobles, do not ever like showing anyone anything that isn't perfect and refined.

This tiny slip is no different than accidentally being caught naked in front of a crowd of people. That's how a normal vampire sees such a slip.

I don't want to imagine how it must be for Master right now. But to think that it was triggered by the likes of a Disabled. If anything, this might be the grandest moment of my three months here yet.

"If you know, then I must make sure that you don't say a word to anyone about this." Master looks at me sternly. "And in return, I will grant you a request."

The way he looked at me was enough to keep my silence. But something is telling me that Master just wants to grant me a favor.

"Master, if it isn't too much...Evelyn's humble wish is to serve you and the Dietrich family for as long as she lives."

And without any hesitation, I was given an answer.

"Granted."

Before either of us had the chance to exchange anything more, a panting Adrian made his way towards us.

Adrian whispered something to Master and he was off to the castle in the blink of an eye, leaving the two servants behind. I look curiously at Adrian.

"You are excited," I fish.

He gave me a grin. "Alvena is pregnant."