323 Iris night
âIs my lady back safe and sound? Where is my lady? I need...â Maid Xu panicked after not only Vincent entered alone, but his arm was injured, and Lilithâs skirt was used to cover the injury.
âAhem.â Vincent cleared his throat. âLilith didnât get hurt. And as for her current location...â *cough* âletâs say the others are asking Lilith where we went.â
âBy the way, we talked to Fabio. He told us he was your previous employer. I donât know what exactly passed through his mind, but he suddenly called Lilith his muse after seeing her face. Additionally, he will provide the five wedding dresses for free, so please inform Lilithâs parents if they want to accept his services and cut down the costs. Weddings are always pricey no matter where you go.â Vincent sat on the chair and drank a cup of water Sofy brought with a pleasant smile on her face.
âMuse?â Maid Xu appeared to be more confused than panicked regarding Lilithâs whereabouts. âFabio will? Did the stingy man turn a new leaf after all these years? By why announcing my lady as his muse... â She mumbled a question.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âLady Lilith has is beautiful like her mother, lady Teresa. Fabio couldnât find a muse since the last time I saw him years ago. Fabio never saw my lady as a muse when she was a beautiful young maiden, but why now?.â Maid Xu tried to figure out what changed in Fabio.
âWhat is a muse?â Sofy asked after she sat on a chair. It didnât look like she had heard the word muse in her long life. Sofy raised a cup and placed it on her lips. Then she took a sip with a smile.
âA muse is an important matter for artists and designers. They will end up placing the orders of the chosen person to inspire them above everyone else and sometimes offer to work for free...â Maid Xu looked bothered when she couldnât understand the reason. âBut why now?â
âWell, Fabio praised her young skin after it remained young because of the curse. Then he said she was an angel and something. â Vincent reached for the cup, and his hand grabbed nothing. âHuh? where did my cup go?â He thought before noticing Sofy was holding his cup.
[Now you notice your missing cup. Sofy is one seductive mistress, hehe.]
.....
-...-
*Bam* The kitchen exit door connected to the garden abruptly opened. Iris entered, and she looked worried. Her eyes searching for Vincent stopped moving as they found the target of her worry.
âYour arm!â Iris quickly paced to Vincentâs side. âLet me apply this pain-relieving balm. I heard how you lost a lot of blood.â
Iris swiftly placed a small jewelry box on the table and started removing the piece of blue skirt wrapped around Vincentâs arm.
[I know the skill made your blood so thin it was like running water, but I wonder what Lilith explained, and up until when did Iris run here. Maybe she didnât see how Lilith stopped you multiple times to rest and check your wound.]
âThe wound... it isnât big.â Iris blurted out in surprise. She had worse imaginations in her mind.
âI lost a lot of mutated blood and not human blood. It made me tired, and a little anemic, but Lilith was exhausted because I wanted her to leave her home, so I pulled the cart even if I wanted to rest.â Vincent glanced at Maid Xu, and he saw her slightly raise a smile.
Iris tended to Vincentâs wound with the balm. Later, she crushed a herb, placed it between the wound, and wrapped a clean bandage around his arm.
âI heard you were here.â Yula entered the kitchen. She went to the pot, opened the lid, and the fragrant smell of a chicken stew made Vincent hungry.
Sofy helped Yula after hearing about Vincent losing a lot of blood. She saw a lot of slaves die from common illnesses or injures. Sofy hoped Irisâs first aid would help Vincent get better.
Vincent ate three bowls and felt satisfied. Later he went to the guest hall with Iris walking beside him as if she was a nurse and he was her patent.
âI am fine, Iris. â Vincent sat on the sofa and felt relaxed. âSit here.â He continued while patting the cushion beside him.
Iris nervously nodded. The boldness to help disappeared after she noticed they were alone. âServe Vincent well.â The words Lilith told her flashed in her mind. She blushed afterward.
âLetâs go on a date tomorrow.â Vincent broke the silence. âI will buy you vegetables to grow a farm in the garden. The kids will have fun helping you.â
âY-yes. â Iris replied while fiddling with her hands.
[Look at Iris all nervous and embarrassed, hehe. Did the girls tell her about tonight? Hehehe.]
âTonight?â The moment this question slipped from Vincentâs mouth, Iris froze solid like a statue.
âDo not worry what the others do and say.â Vincent rested his head on the sofa and continued, âI told you I will make you happy.â
*Gulp* âThank you.â Iris also rested her head on the sofa, and both looked at the ceiling in silence.
*Two hours later*
âMister, wake up.â A young voice said while a small hand shook his shoulder.
âBig sister, Iris, wake up.â Another young voice said.
Vincent and Iris opened their eyes. It was dark, and the chandelier was now lighting the room.
Leah and Clara ran to Sofy and said, âWe woke them. Are we good maids now?â
âYes, you are. Go find the others playing in the other guest hall and tell them it is almost time to sleep.â Sofy gave the two little girls a head pat before running away with a beaming smile on their faces.
[Vincent, you were sleeping so soundly I didnât want to wake you up.]
-Thanks. But I wanted to talk to...-
âMy mate. I waited for you, but you didnât come.â Lupa appeared. Soon, Ester and Sakura appeared behind her.
âSorry. I was tired.â Vincent held Irisâs hand, got up, and then helped her. âStaying in a quiet place made us tired, haha.â
Iris nodded and blushed, yet she remained to hold his hand.
âVincent, thank you for telling the humans not to look at me as if I am a vicious monster dead set to kill them. The humans looked uneasy at first, but Ester and Lupa helped me. The design was made in the end, and they will start tomorrow.â Sakura was thankful to Vincent for not meeting with humans that hated or persecuted demons. Or at least none of them tried any funny business.
âEverything went fine today and the first date as well. Vincent, we will leave you with Iris. Good night.â Ester said. She glanced at Iris and winked at her when their eyes met.
Ester grabbed Lupaâs hand and dragged her out of the guest hall. Sakura smiled at Iris and left. Sofy winked at Vincent and left as well. Only Vincent and Iris were in the room now.
*Sniff* Vincent raised his arm. âI will need to get cleaned.â He looked at Iris and said, âGo to sleep in Lilithâs bedroom. I will go to sleep later.â
Vincent took a step. âHuh?â Iris held his hand tightly. She didnât let him leave her alone.
âI-I w-will wash you...â Iris stuttered.
[Oh~ my~]
âWhat?â Vincent asked in surprise.
âClean... body... wound... treat...â Iris nervously said in a wavering voice.
âIris must have mustered her courage to say these words. I canât let her continue making advances alone. I wouldnât say I like seeing her nervous. I want to see her happy and smiling.â He thought.
Vincent pulled her hand and spun her as if they were dancing. He lowered and raised his other arm lifting the surprised Iris like a princess.
âLetâs go then.â Vincent carried Iris upstairs.
âBig sister, Iris. â Olive said.
âI wanna grow big and lift big sister Iris too. It looks fun, haha.â Lian enthusiastically said.
Yula patted the two demigoblinâs back and said, âLetâs go to sleep. Tula is waiting for you.â
âHave a good night, you two. â Yula guided the kids inside and closed the door.
Vincent kept heading for the bedroom, and there they met with Plow in the middle of the corridor. She was resting on the carpet, but she immediately raised her ears and opened her eyes.
âVincent Vincent is back!â *Pho* âPlow wants to sleep.â
âPlow...â Vincent felt guilty to tell the excited little fox that her bed was out of order for the night. âI will bring you a pillow to sleep on here.â
[The poor Plow will sleep alone here then? I didnât think you were that heartless.]
-I was getting to the next part.-
âUse your tails to open the door and sleep on me like usual after you hear us sleeping. What do you say?â Vincent offered a win-win deal.
âWill bed be very very warm?â Plow asked. Her eight tails wagged livelily.
âSure. â Vincent replied. He entered the bedroom, placed a pillow for Plow to wait on.
Later, Plow raised her ears. âPlow hears Vincent Vincent snore. Bed is ready.â *Pho*
Plow controlled her tails to open the door. She climbed on the bed and went on Vincent. âVincent Vincent is warm. Plow is happy. Plow will wait next time.â
Kazumi watched Plow happily sleep on Vincent.
âAnother day passed. I hope the days remain peaceful like today.â She thought.
*Day 71*
Vincent felt his arm sting. He opened his eyes and saw Iris applying the pain-relieving balm.
âGoo~f morni~f.â Iris mumbled with a clean bandage held by her mouth. She applied the bandage and said again, âGood morning. You were asleep and I wanted to help, so...â