Allure Of The Night

Noticing Eve leave the ballroom with her face completely flushed, Marceline said to her company of vampiresses with a sweet smile,Â

“Excuse me, ladies, I need to go and check on the gift that I have arranged for my mother. I hope all of you are looking forward to it.”

“We loved the gift that you presented your father last year. We can barely wait for it anymore to see what you have arranged this time, Lady Marceline,” said one of the vampiresses.Â

“It will be here within a short time and it will be worth the wait,” replied Marceline, and she turned away before stepping out of the ballroom. She wondered if Eve was leaving, but then she noticed the human’s gown disappear on the far left corridor. Seems like she was going to the powder room to freshen up.Â

Eve had reached the grand powder room of the Moriarty mansion. Stepping inside the room, she heard the door close. Walking toward the oval-shaped mirror, she stared into her reflection. Mrs. Russo’s gown was breathtaking.Â

“I want to bury myself,” Eve muttered to herself while standing in the deserted powder room.”The next time you see him act normal,” she told herself while nodding.Â

How could she forget that she wasn’t fortunate when it came to matters concerning feelings? Not to mention, she was just a governess and he was a Duke. And while Eve’s mind raced through, the door to the powder room opened.Â

“May I?” Came the sweet voice from Lady Marceline.

“Of course, Lady Marceline,” replied Eve, and she put on a polite smile.Â

Eve made her dress proper, smoothening the front, while the vampiress entered the room and the door closed behind her. She couldn’t help but think that even though Noah told her that it was Lady Marceline who had asked him for a dance, that it was possible that he found the lady to be a far more better fit for him than Eve herself.Â

“You have danced wonderfully well, Ms. Barlow. Most of the people including me could barely look away from you, especially that gown,” complimented Marceline, walking from behind like a ghost sweeping across the ground with less movement. She came to stand in front of the oval mirror now. “Where did you learn to dance like that?”

Hearing the vampiress’s words, Eve wondered if she had caught Noah leaning towards her face before changing his mind. She responded, “I learned it from my coachman, milady. We picked it up by looking at others.”

“How interesting. To think that people don’t actually need classes to learn such things,” the sweet smile and the calm expression on Marceline’s face didn’t leave. “I hope you are enjoying your time here. After all, I invited you so that a governess as yourself needs a break from the usual mundane life.”

Eve offered a bow, “Thank you for your kind gesture by inviting me to such a grand ball, Lady Marceline.”

Marceline offered a slight nod, and she said, “I am glad that we two were able to catch each other alone here without anyone eavesdropping on our conversation. I absolutely despise such women. How about you, Ms. Barlow?”Â

Eve wasn’t sure if this was a trick question, and Marceline tried to ease her by saying,Â

“You don’t have to think too much in my presence. Feel free to talk with me, Ms. Barlow. We appear to be around the same age, not to mention my shoes fit you perfectly well. It would only be right that we appear to be sister-like, don’t you think so?” She let out a girlish laugh, making the vampiress appear naive and carefree.Â

“People have strange hobbies, Lady Marceline. It would be hard to question it,” Eve replied vaguely.Â

“You are right. It would be wrong to judge people,” murmured Marceline with a subtle frown on her face. “As I was saying earlier, the Duke is a handsome man. What more do you know about him?”Â

“He’s a humble man, who doesn’t use his position with his status of being a Duke. He comes by Meadow to take a look around the condition, and we run past each other. He’s not boastful or shows off to people,” Eve replied to the vampiress’ curiosity briefly.Â

“That’s the exact kind of man I was looking for! How strange that I have met someone of my match,” Marceline placed her hand on her chest in disbelief. “Someone who is humble and not boastful. Someone who is kind, and can match my character. What do you think?”

“Milady?” Asked Eve, not knowing what Marceline actually intended.Â

“Do you think Noah and I are suitable? You are his friend, so you would know about him better, wouldn’t you? Thankfully it didn’t seem like he had his eyes on anyone,” Marceline said in a soft voice and then added, “Secretly we have been stealing gazes from afar, and I cannot tell how glad I am that he’s here.”

Eve nodded, “If you both are meant to be, I don’t see why not,” she softly laughed.Â

Marceline’s eyes fell on Eve’s hem, and she said, “Oh, it looks like there’s a crinkle in your dress,” and she stepped in front of Eve. Before Eve could bend, the vampiress surprised Eve by bending down to fix her gown.Â

“Lady Marceline, you don’t have to do that! I can do that myself,” protested Eve because a woman of Lady Marceline’s stature never bent in front of someone like her.Â

“Oh, hush now,” Marceline raised her head from where she sat while her hands held the hem of Eve’s gown. She said, “Did you think those were empty words that I spoke of earlier? I really do consider you to be someone close, and I want to take care of you. Let me help now.”

And while Marceline was speaking to Eve, she placed the broken glass piece that she had been holding onto until now on the ground, next to Eve’s feet. She placed the glass piece’s sharpened edge to face up before getting up.

“Why don’t you turn around, so I can check if your gown needs any fixing and you can check mine after that?” Offered Marceline, and Eve wondered why the vampiress was being helpful. Seeing no harm in just turning around and helping each other, Eve’s foot moved around.

 The vampiress’s eyes quickly moved to the ground, where the glass piece she had earlier placed was missing and she smiled, “It’s all fixed and good.”

“Thank you, Lady Marceline,” replied Eve with a small bow, and she took a look at the lady’s gown which didn’t need any fixing.Â

“I should get going before my mother or father wonder where I have disappeared to. Don’t stay here too long, Ms. Barlow,” Marceline gave her a look before stepping out of the powder room.Â

After spending two more minutes in the powder room, Eve took a deep breath and decided to head back to the ballroom. With the mansion and the rooms being carpeted, Eve failed to notice the bump at the bottom of her shoe and subconsciously believed it was her feet being wobbly again.Â