The Vampire Court (Part 6)

Despite being the daughter of a prominent noble, Rebecca had never attended many balls or parties in her life.

She was only ever allowed to hold hollow birthday parties in which her parents would show off their wealth and influence, and would push her to one side.

They only allowed her to attend to help her find a suitable marriage partner.

No matter who they chose, whether they were handsome and kind or ugly and crude, they all made Rebecca’s skin crawl the same way.

Gingerly, she sipped from her wine glass and sighed. I wonder if I should be happy that those days are long gone.

Over two hundred days ago, when the Demon Emperor had arrived at her home, her life and the fate of Themis had changed forever.

For her, it was for the better.

She shook her head. Why am I still thinking about this even now?

“Lady Rebecca, is something wrong?” Jessica asked beside her.

“…I’m fine.” She smiled thinly. “The wine was just a bit stronger than I expected.”

“If you think this is strong, then clearly you haven’t drunk enough in your life, milady,” Cain chimed in, finishing his own glass. “This stuff’s far too weak for me to enjoy.”

“Well, you always went for the hardest ales when we were adventurers, so it’s hardly a surprise this doesn’t faze you a little. I have to admit.” Lucy sipped her wine again. “It’s got quite a kick to it.”

“Not enough of one.”

“Cain, this is a formal ball,” Jessica reminded him. “They aren’t going to have strong ales and drinking contests.”

“I know, I know, it’s just…” Cain looked troubled. “I don’t really know what to do at these sorts of things.”

“You could always ask Lady Rebecca for advice. She’s had by far the most experience.”

“Only as a decoration, I assure you,” Rebecca said softly. The adventurers gave her pitying looks. “You don’t have to make those sorts of faces. I’m fine now. Ever since his majesty took control of the castle.”

“I heard from the kitchen staff that he was very scary that night.” Cain shivered. “I can’t even begin to imagine how terrifying that must’ve been.”

“You’ve seen him angry before.”

“Not like what they described, milady.”

“It wasn’t as bad as they said, I’m sure.”

“They said he was so furious he could’ve gutted the lot of you.”

“He…could’ve, but didn’t.” Rebecca smiled. “Not after he learned what my parents did.”

“…Right.”

“…Could I ask you three something?”

“Of course, Lady Rebecca,” Jessica said.

“Do you all know what’s…happened to you?”

The three adventurers shot her a confused look, then looked to each other and then back to Rebecca.

“What do you mean?” Cain asked.

“I mean, you know.” Rebecca glanced over her shoulder and saw that no one else from their party was nearby. “That you’re Awoken?”

At that gentle whisper, Cain burst out into laughter and the two women smiled warmly at Rebecca.

“Of course, we know, my lady,” Lucy replied.

“And you’re okay with this?”

“Okay with what?”

“Being a part of his majesty’s forces.”

Cain stifled his laugh. “Why wouldn’t we be happy?” His eyes changed to a deep purple colour. “Thanks to Lady Mania, we’ve awoken to the greatest truth of them all; his majesty is the future of Aangapea.”

“That’s how we all feel, Lady Rebecca,” Lucy added; her and Jessica’s eyes became the same colour as Cain’s. “It’s thanks to his majesty that we’re still alive now and that we’re able to help guide Aangapea into the Demon Empire.”

“…Even after knowing what they did to you?”

“Lady Rebecca, are you-?”

“No! Of course not.” Rebecca grasped her arm and shut her eyes. “I just…”

“You’re still conflicted, after all this time?” Jessica gently asked; Rebecca nodded. Jessica wrapped her arms around Rebecca and brought her into a soft embrace. “I know what you mean to say but, I promise you, we don’t hate who we’ve become or what’s happened to us.

“I still have my old memories of our team and Roland, but all that does is remind me of how weak we used to be. We were naïve, foolish and had it not been for Lady Mania using us in her experiments, we would either have died that night or in pointless rebellion against his majesty.

“We are nothing but grateful to be standing here today.”

“Milady, with all due respect, you should be happy for yourself and those you helped,” Cain added. “Because of you, all those people at the Dread Keep are alive and safe. You helped protect the people of Black Port too and, I’m sure, you’ll do nothing but your best to look after the citizens of the Demon Empire.

“You have a right to happiness and you should be.”

Rebecca nodded and held Jessica back. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, Lady Rebecca.”

***

After half an hour of introductions, David and Lilith were finally alone, allowing him to relax a little for the first time since the ball had begun.

“I’m sorry, Lord Allaric, I didn’t think that there would be this many people wanting to introduce themselves to you so soon.“I hope they didn’t upset you.”

“Far from it. They all seem like promising allies. Still, I didn’t realise just how great the Court’s influence was.”

Lilith smiled proudly at him before looking out at the hundreds of guests in the hall. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? My father made the Court what it is today almost single handily. If it wasn’t for his guidance after the fight against Themis, our kind would have long since died out.”

“Then, I must offer my sincere thanks and gratitude to Lord Ruthven the next chance I get.”

“I’m sure that will make him very happy, Lord Allaric.”

“Lilith.”

“Yes?”

“You can just call me Allaric when it’s the two of us.”

“Ah.” Lilith smiled bashfully and looked away from him. “But that would be far too forward before we’re married.”

“Yet I can address you without saying lady? Doesn’t seem fair, does it?”

Lilith giggled. “I guess not…A-Allaric.”

David smiled. “Thank you, Lilith.”

Out of the corner of his eye, David saw Lord Ruthven snap his fingers at the orchestra who, after a few moments, began to play an elegant song.

“Allaric, may we share our first dance?” Lilith asked, holding out her hand to him.

“Of cour-”

Shit.

“Lord Allaric?”

David started to sweat.

I don’t know how to dance!

Not once had David ever danced in his life, not at weddings, at his school’s discos, or even when he’d gone to friend’s houses for parties.

Hailey often used to try to make him dance, but he would always stubbornly refuse. Even when she did drag him up to dance, David only moved his arms a little unless Hailey ‘helped’.

“…Is something the matter, Lord Allaric?” Lilith asked too softly for anyone else to hear.

“…I don’t know how to dance,” David mumbled in shame.

He thought, for sure, that Lilith might laugh at him for that proclamation but, instead, she just smiled as sweetly as she always did.

She took his hand in hers and led him out onto a balcony, shutting the doors behind them.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologising, Allaric?”

“Well, I mean, you seemed like you really wanted to dance and-”

“Would you like me to teach you?”

“Huh?”

Lilith placed both of her hands on his hand and repeated the question.

“You…aren’t disappointed or disillusioned with me?”

“Of course not. If anything.” She giggled tenderly. “It just made me fall for you a little bit more.”

David’s face suddenly felt hot.

“Really?”

She nodded. “Really. I’m sure that there are many things that you can do that I cannot, Allaric, so I will no doubt have to rely on your abilities moving forward. You give off such an aura of invincibility that I feared that I would be nothing more than dead weight dragging you down.

“I couldn’t be happier to know that I could help you in some way, even if it’s just as simple as teaching you to dance.”

David smiled at her and lovingly embraced her cheek with his free hand. She was startled at first, Lilith closed her eyes and nuzzled against his palm.

“…Thank you, Lilith. I would love for you to teach me.”