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nShe couldn’t see the person’s face as the woman had her back facing towards her and when stepped closer, the shoe made a sound with the floor making the woman turn around to see who it was.

n“Forgive me. I didn’t mean to intrude,” Heidi apologized ready to leave but the woman stopped her as she stood up.

n“I must have lost track of time,” she smiled looking at the little pocket watch in her hand and something seemed to dawn on her, “Do you need to go the parlor room? You will find it on your way to your second left,” the woman looked to be around her age.

nHer mossy green eyes a little anxious and her unruly blonde hair parted from the center to let it settle below her shoulders. She was the woman Warren had mentioned just before they had reached the mansion. She was Mr. Meyers human wife and like the vampiress in the mansion she was a woman with a small frame and her wrist that she had raised to show the direction towards the parlor room was thin and fragile.

n“No no. I was only looking at the mansion. I am sorry again for intruding your time.”

n“That’s okay,” she replied staring at Heidi for a good few seconds before her expression relaxed, “I am Lettice Meyers.”

n“Heidi Curtis.”

n“I haven’t seen you before, Heidi. Are you from another city of Bonelake?” Lettice asked her, “Oh! Would you like to sit inside and talk?” she asked realizing she was making the guest stand in the corridor and talk to her.

n“I think I am fine sitting here, outside,” Heidi went and sat next to where she had found Lettice sitting which brought a smile on the woman’s face, “I am actually from Woville and came here with Lord Rune and his cousin Warren Lawson today.”

nLettice had heard about a truce that was going to take place from her husband but she wasn’t aware that the council would pick a human to match their Lord’s cousin. Though her husband loved her even though she was a human, he rarely entertained humans lest invite them into their mansion unless it was something to do with his work. True that there were human maids and servants but a vampire’s wife getting friendly with the maids was frowned upon by outsiders due to which she usually kept to herself.

nShe was surprised and a little happy to find a human like her, to spend a little time with people she could get along with than walk stiffly with airs around her like many people who were in the hall now. Her husband Rhys Meyers was a loving yet a protective husband which went to extreme conditions.

n“I see,” Lettice replied nodding her head, “The weather must be a little hard to adjust. How do you like the land here?” she asked.

n“I haven’t found the opportunity to walk on the streets since it’s been a week since I arrived in Bonelake,” After what Heidi witnessed in one of the town when she was out with Warren, she was a little cautious and worried to step out of the mansion.

n“If you ever need someone to accompany you out in the town please feel free to let me know. I would be very happy to help you if needed,” the woman said making Heidi smile.

n“I will keep that in mind. Oh, and happy birthday,” Heidi had forgotten the reason they were invited to and she was glad she remembered to wish the lady.

n“Thank you,” the woman thanked with a small smile, even though it was her birthday she had been sitting here alone while the rest of the guests were in the hall. They exchanged few more words and like Warren had said to her, she did enjoy the company of the woman sitting in front of her. After they had spent some time the lady spoke, “We must go back before my husband comes to find me.”

nBoth the woman got up and began to walk towards as if on cue, hurried footsteps could be heard and a tall man came in view. Not far behind stood Lord Nicholas. Seeing the unknown woman next to his wife, Rhys Meyers narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Thankfully, Lord Nicholas spoke before the man could question her,

n“This is Heidi Curtis, Rhys. Warren’s fiance. Happy birthday, milday,” Lord Nicholas wished Lettice to which the woman murmured her thanks.

n“Good day, Ms. Curtis. I am Rhys Meyers. Thank you for making it to my wife’s birthday. We are glad you came to celebrate with us,” Rhys greeted her and she bowed her head, responding,

n“Thank you for having me here.”

nRhys turned to his wife and spoke,

n“I was worried where you disappeared. Are you feeling alright?” Heidi saw the man whisper something to his wife to which she nodded and said something, “Okay. Let’s go back, shall we?” One hand on his wife’s back he led the way back to the hall.

nHeidi hadn’t moved from where she was and when she began walking Lord Nicholas joined her like a true gentleman who was waiting for her.

n“Why did it seem like he was going to frame me as a thief if you hadn’t introduced me,” Heidi asked looking at the husband and wife disappear at one end of the corridor.

nLord Nicholas chuckled, “Don’t take it personally. A man like Rhys who doesn’t like humans will find anything and everything suspicious especially when it comes to his beloved. Every person has his or her own way of projecting emotions so don’t dwell on it.”

n“Okay...”

nHeidi took a deep breath as she tried getting enough amount of oxygen in her lungs. To keep her facial expression neutral and to divert her mind she dug her fingers in the palm of her hand. At the same time unexpectedly she felt the Lord suddenly pull her into an embrace startling her to no end. Her eyes wide with shock.

n“W-what are you doing?” She stuttered as one of his arm went around her waist to place it on her back.

n“Helping you out,” came his simple answer.

n“What do you mean help me?! Let me go!”

nThis wasn’t helping her instead even the remaining amount of air in her body had disappeared due to shock.

n“Shush now,” he scolded her softly when she tried stepping away. His hand moved across her back and stayed there before letting her go, “There. It should feel better now,” he commented, not waiting for her this time he went back to the hall leaving her standing in the corridor.

nHer brows furrowed at what he meant. It was after a few seconds that she realized she felt less uneasy as she breathed now. Lord Nicholas had noticed it and she didn’t know what he had done, but he had helped her ease the discomfort she had been feeling all this while.

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