Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 610: Initiative

Had it truly changed that much? Evidently, yes.

The scent in her room was essentially unrecognizable. It was as though a century had passed, wiping away every last trace of her ever inhabiting that space.

Colder than the rest of the manor that room was... So, unwelcoming to its old owner.

That bluish hue coating the walls followed the same pattern as in the rest of the house. Arabella hadn’t even gotten to pick the colors in her own room... Not ever.

The shade clashed harshly with the dark brown of the furniture that Reubon had furnished the space with and as for the sheets, their white paled in comparison to the ones that covered her beds back in Umbraria. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"I kept it clean," the older maid’s voice trembled as she fiddled with her own hands, "Just in case you’d ever returned, I thought you should have a clean room to come back to," her lips fought so hard to display a smile, but they shook just as hard as her words.

"For that I thank you, Helen," the young woman turned around, exposing her teary eyes.

"I prayed I’d see you again in my lifetime but... A big part of me believed you’d never step foot under this roof again and I frankly could never blame you for it," Helen ripped her gaze away, making sure to avoid Arabella’s.

"The biggest part of me never wanted to leave you behind, but I felt I had no other choice," she nodded solemnly.

"No, I understand, of course!" Helen rushed forward and took Arabella’s hands, "Oh...," her tired eyes studied every inch of Arabella, "Your mother would have been so proud,"

Arabella’s lips quivered, her throat tightening around the words she had gotten ready to utter. Eventually, neither woman said a thing, opting to simply enjoy each other’s faces as a view.

It was Silas that came along to cut that moment short, prompting Helen to excuse herself, but as the maid reached the door, Arabella’s voice rose again, stopping her dead in her tracks.

"Helena!"

"Yes, dear?"

"Thank you for being there for me all those years," After a short pause, she added, "Know that I will forever be grateful to you,"

"There is no need, my dear. Seeing you healthy and happy is the biggest reward you could have given me,"

With that, Helena left the couple alone.

Silas walked around the room, eying every corner very intently. Once done, he finally turned back towards his wife but said nothing.

She stood there for a moment before asking the question that gnawed at her inner self, "So, what can you say about my room?"

The vampire looked around again as though unsure the conclusion he had reached needed to be heard.

"Please, speak your mind. I won’t take it the wrong way," she smiled meekly.

After a long sigh out of his lungs, he neared her and stopped right in front of her, "I... Couldn’t help but notice it has no personal touch to it. Nothing that reminds me of you. Not even the scent,"

"That is because I had no say whatsoever in its making," she chuckled, holding his hands and swaying them from left to right, "I can’t recognize my own smell,"

"I am sorry to hear that,"

"I am sorry to say it," she chuckled again, "Have the others settled in their rooms?"

"I know that Arthur has been taken to his room, and I can only assume for the others as I did not pay much attention to them,"

"What about the room they prepared for us? Is it to your liking?" she brought her chest to his, listening in on his steady heart.

"It is more than comfortable. Yes,"

The paintings framed against the walls stared back at her. They never had any soul to them or at least, so she thought...

Still paintings of beautiful mansions. Her father’s choosing, of course. One had to wonder what coursed his mind to pick such a theme.

However, right then and there, something in them had shifted. It was as if they had more color to them. Like their quality had somehow heightened.

So odd...

"What are you planning to do for the rest of the day?" his voice rumbled her chest.

"I will first go check on Arthur and Ada then consult grandfather about matters of the funeral," she looked up at him, "There might be something I can help with,"

"Why don’t you rest? I’ll speak to your grandfather and see if there is anything that needs to be done,"

The young woman paused for a moment, just observing the light in his eyes. The reflection of her own which those beautiful diamonds returned so graciously.

"Thank you," her lips drew a bright smile.

"Do you need my presence for now?"

"No, I believe everything is in order and I feel just fine," she nodded.

Silas cupped her cheeks then leaned in to kiss her forehead after which he left the room.

The sole of her shoes clacked the familiar flooring all the way until Arthur’s room. Nothing had changed in that place since her departure. Not a single vase had been moved...

It struck her nerve endings with a perplexing mix of warm and cold tingles that her brain failed abysmally at translating.

Her knuckles tapped Arthur’s door twice for no response to come.

Waiting a few seconds, she grabbed then twisted the knob to find no one sitting inside.

"Arthur?"

Arabella made her way towards the washroom connected to his room and knocked again only to receive no answer again.

"Lord Arthur is not in his room, my Lady,"

The young woman swirled around to find that a maid stood behind her, carrying folded sheets.

"Where might he be then, Alexandra?" she smiled.

Alexandra hesitated, flinging her eyes to the side, "He... He’s gone to see Lord Reubon and Lady Eleanor’s chambers,"

A breath hitched in her throat, "Why would anybody take him there? I don’t think he’s ready to go in their room yet!" Arabella hastened past the maid.

"But nobody took him there, my Lady," those words stopped her right by the door, "He’s taken the initiative himself,"