The Demon’s Bride

Elise looked away then looked up to see Ian's broad back facing her, she couldn't see his face and wondered what expression he was wearing now. She tried not to be too aware of the eyes that gathered from the guests and looked down to the floor, keeping her sight as little as possible. But even when she did that, she could feel well the gazes in her and her back straightened like a wood with the attention she never felt before.

Once they had entered a room where all the guests were present in, a man dressed fancily like all others strode quickly to the Lord once he had seen the man. With a deep bow to offer the greeting, the man greeted, "Milord, good afternoon. It is the greatest honor to have you come to the soiree in my manor." 

"Good afternoon, Count Gerald." Ian replied back. Elise who didn't notice someone had stopped in front of Lord Ian, lifted her head just fairly for her to see a man with a beard covering his face which held a streak of black and gray, beside him was a beautiful woman she could guess as Count Gerald's wife alongside with their daughter and son who stood beside them.

"Good Afternoon, Milord I'm very delighted to be grace with your appearance." said the daughter of the house who Elise knew who she was by looking at her face. The girl had a bright blonde hair, her eyes were in the color of light brown. The lady looked at Ian with the sweetest smile she had on the store, a subtle color of pink blushes as she met the Lord. When she met Ian's gaze, the girl bashfully looked back at him.

It was the lady who was called as Monica by the Countess, her mother who she had met in the thread shop. The land of Warine was vast and wide but at the same time, the world was was much smaller that Elise could never expected them to meet again after what had taken place in the shop in less than four hours. Seeing how Lady Monica blushes, Elise couldn't help but darted her eyes back and forth to Ian's expression she could see as he was standing before her.

Elise then saw the man beside Lady Monica bowed and the countess called him by the name Elijah. "Milord, I could never expect you will grace us with your presence. I hope you will enjoy your time in the soiree." it was Count Gerald who spoke.

"I was thinking that it had been a long time for me to be absent with the party that kept around the land and thought of giving my people a little reminded." Smiled Ian that made Count Gerald almost broke a nerve. To the people, Lord Ian's smile was never a good sign but a death bringer and this one in particular was full with mirth which made it worse.

Ian continued, "There had been an ongoing news that someone had claimed my lands under the pretext of securing the place from dark sorcerers. It makes me wonder whether they had forgotten my existence or perhaps they were just a foolish fools who fears for their lives to end in the dark sorcerers's hand. Perhaps they just want to die in my hand instead?" his chuckles bubbles up and had the people who heard his words closed their mouth tight afraid to comment on anything they should not if they treasure their lives.

"They must have been blinded, milord and forgot about your prowess. Surely there isn't any dark sorcerers who would dare themself to fight against you." humored Lady Monica and the laughter made it better for people to take Ian's words as merely a joke despite knowing how genuine he was with all the words he breathed out.

Ian smiled, not saying anything which Lady Monica took as a good reply. When he moved a step to the side, Elise who had been hidden behind him had her presence finally noticed by Lady Monica and her mother who stayed right on the side where she was before followed by Elijah and Count Gerald.

Lady Monica narrowed her eyes at the red headed girl. She would often forget of the common people she met in the market but Elise's bright red hair led much impression to people who have seen her, making it hard for one to forget her especially when Lady Monica has just seen her a few hours ago.

But why was the girl here, with the same dirty clothes she had wore from the market? Her mother, Countess Grace who saw the red headed girl drew her brows at the sight of the poor girl inside her house and called, "Who allowed you to enter the manor?" with Grace raising her voice, the attention Elise tried to lessen now was pointed at her. "I didn't remember ever giving an invitation to someone like you." added Grace.

Elise looked up at the woman who first looked at her before seizing her dress like the time in the thread shop. She could tell how they didn't look forward to her appearance, the anger was visible in their expression even though she had done nothing. Elise then heard Lady Monica supported her mother, "Mommy, she must have trespass the gate. The guard must have been blind to let her in with her attire." frowned Lady Monica. She felt disgusted to see the girl entering her house.

Count Gerald first stared at the girl who looked dirty before hearing his daughter's words and waved his hand to the servants, declaring, "Bring this woman out of the manor, now." he hurried. With Lord Ian had come to the manor, he can't have the lowly woman to stain the atmosphere.

Elise saw how the two male servants who was taller than her had moved from the place they were toward her and looked at them alarmed. She took a step back and her lips part to speak, "I didn't trespass, sire. It is a misunderstanding, I-"

"Silence." said Countess Grace, not letting her to speak.

But before the male servants could drag her out of the manor, Ian spared only little warning glance with his red eyes to stop the men who when saw his red eyes glared at them quickly stay rooted in place out of fear. Elise then felt her hand was pulled closer and moved toward Ian's left side in surprise. This small action didn't only surprise Elise but to all the guests and especially Lady Monica.

"Silence? Its my first time to hear such a greeting." Ian spoke, his voice cut all attention at him. Even without speaking, attention was all at him and now, it doubled. "I never knew there would be greeting such as this for the companion of the Lord." stated Ian. His words were brief but enough to silenced people who tried to drags Elise out.

It took a good two second for Count Gerald and Countess Grace go process the words he had uttered. "I-Is this girl your companion, milord?" asked Count Gerald as if he couldn't believe what his ears had just heard.

"Have your ears gotten old with the age, Count Gerald? They do say age could affect hearings." Ian replied, and Elise could see the way Lady Monica and Countess Grace looking at her with a baffled look. "To dare and call my companions with words she doesn't deserve and demanded her to leave. I wonder how should I punish you all?" A chuckle passed his lips that send shivers to the Count Family.