Chapter 84

Both Katie and her cousin Ralph sat in front of the graves of their families in the cemetery.

It was a quiet morning, with the birds in the distant chirping and the sun shining bright in the sky. Katie caught hold of her dress when a breeze swept past them picking up the dried twigs and leaves along with the dirt of mud with it.

She caught sight of a woman with a little girl at one side of the cemetery. The little girl had her hands joined near her chest, eyes closed as she prayed for the one in the grave. As they passed by the woman bowed to which Katie did the same from a far distance. Though she didn’t know them or hadn’t striked a conversation before, there were some people she often met in this place to offer their thoughts and prayers whom she had got familiar with as months had passed during her stay in Valeria.

Her prayers were quick and therefore she walked towards a particular grave while giving her cousin time and space to mourn his parents.

Death was quick. And the loss lead to emptiness, she thought to herself.

Taking the white hand kerchief, she cleaned Malphus’ grave. Though the owner of the grave himself didn’t bother to maintain it, Katie would make sure to tidy it once in a while. She didn’t do it to be appreciated. It was something she felt she wanted to do when no one was seeing.

The previous night she had questions to ask where only few were answered while the rest remained unanswered as she hadn’t raised them with Lord Alexander. She could ask Malphus too but she hadn’t seen him in a while.

Now that Malphus had a body that was living and breathing, did that mean there was no body lying down here? Or was the same skeleton used to revive him back from a semi ghost and semi living creature now? The question was if the grave was empty or not but she doubted it was.

Once they were out of the graveyard, they began walking towards the mansion slowly by taking a small detour in the forest.

Katie told him about the Hallow’s celebration of how grand the celebration and how they had a masquerade ball in the mansion. She skipped little details of the mishap that had taken place since she arrived at the mansion not wanting to worry him.

As they came to the topic of the Lord of Valeria, Ralph asked her, “So what have you planned to do next? Are you staying here?”

Katie scrunched her brows thoughtfully as she replied, “I guess I will be.”

“Does he love you back?”

“I don’t know,” hearing this Ralph rose his brow.

“Don’t tell me you are planning to live as a maid when you aren’t sure if the man loves you,” Katie could already see the displeasure forming on her cousin’s face as he spoke, “Do you know what you are saying?”

It wasn’t like Lord Alexander to say a thing. The Lord and the word love didn’t exactly float on the same boat, thought Katie.

“It’s not like that,” Katie tried explaining.

“Sister, I wish nothing but for your happiness but the higher class vampire’s live their life differently,” he said with concerned eyes, “And Lord Alexander’s reputation isn’t a clean slate to begin with and you know what I mean.”

She knew how the Lord lived his life like and it was like any other vampire.

“I know that,” she whispered lowering her eyes before looking up again, “But...he has been nothing but kind to me this entire time. He has- I don’t know how to put it in words but been there for me, like a hand that was always there to whisk me during my darkest hour. I know he shares the same affection and that is enough for now,” she smiled softly.

“Have you considered the possibility that he might marry someone for political reasons?”

“What happened to you being supportive of me picking the man-”

“You marry? Yes. But not someone who isn’t sure of you. Na-ah, not happening,” Ralph folded his arms across his chest.

“You sound just like Elliot,” Katie muttered under her breath.

“What?” he asked her to which she shook her head.

“She said you sound just like Elliot,” someone said behind them and Katie turned around to see Malphus few steps away from where they were.

“Malphus! When did you arrive?” Katie asked enthusiastically seeing the blonde man there.

“Just when you finished cleaning my grave,” he replied with a dull tone making Ralph give a puzzled look at them.

“You must be Katie’s cousin, Ralph. I’m Malphus Crook,” when Ralph took his hand he felt as if he was shaking his hand with a block of ice.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Was your errand successful?” Katie asked him.

“It was. The council isn’t a pretty place to live in but definitely interesting in some ways. There’s someone leaking information inside the council and manipulating the events taking place in all the empire,” Malphus covered his eyes with his arm when he looked up at the sky, “Lord Alexander wanted be to confirm about it and it’s done.”

“So you don’t know whose done it?” She asked and he shook his head.

“It wasn’t easy to find the rat and will take few more days but I believe the Lord already has his suspicion on some of them. Now that I think about it, I’m pleased with my decision of opting out of duties,” he said the last line mostly to himself.

Once they reached the mansion, Katie caught sight of the Tanners who with the Barton’s and other members were present in the hall with Lord Alexander and others.

“Today seems to be a full house,” Katie commented as they passed through the hall and as she walked by her eyes met Lord Alexander’s for a fleeting moment.

She smiled to herself at that. These little things were the ones that brought her happiness.

“What are you grinning about?” Ralph asked as he coughed, touching his forehead with an exhausting sigh he said, “I’m catching a fever.”

Katie placed her her palm on his forehead to feel it burn hotly, “You’re burning. Come on.”

After she got Ralph settled in bed with a change of clothes, Katie brought him lunch to his room. She scolded him for being irresponsible by going out today instead of taking a good rest to recover his health. Leaving him in his room Katie was walking across the floor when she caught sight of Mr. Travers.

“Good afternoon, Mr Travers,” she wished the young man as he came out of the hall with his half sister Lady Caroline, “Good afternoon, Lady Caroline,” she wished the woman politely to which the woman walked ahead like she hadn’t uttered a word.

Not minding it, she smiled when the man came to stand in front of her.

“Good afternoon indeed. I was hoping to catch sight of you here,” he said scratching the back of his neck as he smiled at her, “How have you been?”

“Very well, Sir,” she answered to which he nodded.

“By the way don’t mind my sister because I don’t mind her myself,” he said with his brows furrowed.

“I don’t, but thank you for saying it. There seem to be a lot visitations today. Is everything alright?” she asked him.

Looking around first to see no one was around, Quill spoke, “A murder took place last night in the county hill. It was one of the council jury. Someone found his head near the river. Though the news hasn’t been let out yet as the officials are still gathering on what actually happened. My father and the others have come to discuss the same with the Lord,” he said.