A Tour of the Town

"Care to explain, Captain Raymond?"

"I…have no excuse. Please forgive me, Sire."

"I know you misunderstood because of his ethereal beauty but this man is really a mortal who is married to me. Please treat him better in the future. You, who are able to sense a demon, couldn't use your better judgement. You need to be less envious and more appreciative."

"Yes, Sire."

"And here I thought you got my message. Either way, we are here for a tour of the town. He's the lord now so he has to know his territory well."

"The…lord?" They both reiterated, confused.

"Yes. My duty is to guard the crimson divide and protect the town. You really can't expect me to also be the lord. Lead the way, Captain."

Back in the castle, Fabian poked his head out of the door. He looked left and right, stepping out when he didn't see anybody. Behind him, Wren napped on the table, a puddle of drool forming beside his face. Fabian quietly closes the door and stretched. He was hungry and running into either Aretha or Conan could ruin whatever sanity he had left.

He strolled to the kitchen, a wretched expression on his face. Reaching the back door of the kitchen, he knocked three times. The door was quickly opened by a pudgy man with a scowl. The scowl faded when the pudgy man saw it was Fabian.

"Lord Renfield. I have it right here."

"Is there possibly more? Wren is asleep."

"There isn't any more," he replied, frowning. "The Duchess really finished it all this morning."

"I'm not surprised. I'll take it.";

Fabian balanced the trays in his hand and began walking back to the office, as he turned the corner, a face appeared in front of him, startling him.

"What the-! We should put a fucking bell on you."

"A bell? Would that make you feel at ease?" The young man replied, smiling.

"What do you want, Taylor?' Fabian asked, regaining his bearing. He kept walking and the young man trailed after him.

"I need your genes."

"…excuse me?"

"I heard the rumors that your father was a demon king. I need your genes for my experiments. You'll be working for a good cause."

"Does this cause involve overthrowing the Duchess?" Fabian asked with a frown.

"No. That is far too time consuming. I was thinking something like…healing the lord's legs perhaps?"

Fabian came to a halt and turned to the young man, suspicion heavy in his eyes. It was hard to trust someone just off their words, especially with something so sensitive.

"We have many paraplegics in the town. Do your experiments on them first before trying to heal the lord's legs."

"I don't think I am capable of regrowing a limb," he mused, lost in thought. He snapped his fingers with a glow in his eyes. That scared Fabian once more.

"I'll see what I can do."

"…great."

"I still need your genes. A pint of blood perhaps."

"Why not hold a dagger to my throat?" Fabian mumbled, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, I can't do that. She has marked you with her scent. You're her prey. Just your blood would do. But if you'll allow me…" his eyes glowed scarlet, portraying a hunger he usually saw in Aretha. Fabian took a step back. "…I'd really love a taste, Lord Renfield. Being around the lord all day makes me…thirsty."

The bloodlust of the 'humans' that belonged to the Lothbridge Duchy, the Quire family, was a tricky thing to manage. There was a hidden history of bloody massacres in the castle disguised as demon attacks. The real demons were the members of the family with their peculiar thirst for life force. Demons have unlimited life force, stained by mana while humans had very limited life force, untainted by mana.

Demons thirsted after humans for their pure life force and half humans like the ones in the Quire family thirsted both after humans and demons. However, it wasn't the best of both worlds. Some were lucky enough to not bear any thirst like Fabian but young breeds like Taylor had enormous thirst.

"The lady forbade you from feeding on humans."

"You're not human, Lord Renfield."

"…I will give you my blood but this had better work."

"Oh, it will."

Caspian looked around while Aretha collected the freshly baked pastries from the cheerful and loud baker who stopped them as they walked past. When she said there was a decent amount of paraplegics, she wasn't joking. The roads were comfortable and he didn't have to physically lift his wheelchair to go over a certain portion of the road because she could do that for him.

"I really should be more assertive in rejecting things. I'll have much to carry before I even realize. Did I make you wait too much?"

"No, it's alright. I was just looking around. This place is really beautiful."

"I know, right? I did this."

"Really?"

"Technically, you can thank Fabian for this too and the townsfolk but if you're feeling generous, maybe you can thank me in the bedroom," she leaned in, smirking.

"I have never done it before. Are you sure you'd be alright with me?"

"I…"

"My lady? Oh, it is you! I have the clothes you ordered right here. Is that the new lord?"

They turned around to see a dainty black haired woman waving at them. But on hearing her voice, it was like the entire street turned to face them.

"Is that really the lord, my lady?"

"The lord has come! Come see the lord!"

"I did NOT think this through. Okay, everyone! Stop right there. Today's not the day to crowd your new lord. I know you're excited but he is MY husband. You hear that? MY Husband."

"There exists a man that can stand our lady? How bizarre."

"Excuse me? How dare you? I am your lady! The best you've ever had."

"Yes my lady, we all know you are amazing. Let us see our new lord. Word is, he is more handsome than an angel."

"Hmm, words of flattery. You're lucky I'm in a good mood today."

Caspian didn't know how to explain how he felt. Whenever people's gaze focused on him like this, it was to mock him. But the eyes of the townsfolk were filled with awe and curiosity. It was like he was finally a man of honor in front of all these people. A sense of fulfillment welled up in him.

"If you're uncomfortable, I can get rid of them easily," she whispered to him.

"I'm not uncomfortable. I just haven't felt so...seen in my life. Thank you, Aretha."

He easily rendered her speechless. Not only did he call her by name, but his eyes were also soft and kind. She blushed and took her face away, pushing him until they were out of the market.

"What do you think?"

"What do I think about what?"

"As I said, I did my best to rebuild the town. We're approaching the townhouse, a place that should become your office if you wish. The Baron in charge is a rather...strict person. She would be most curious to meet you though."

"I have a feeling she's a family member."

"Hmmm, correct. Our family tree is quite huge. Come on."