The Duke's Passion

There weren't many people who existed in the world, or people Fabian met in his life, whom he couldn't read easily. Fabian was perceptive and an observer. He had been observing people, so he could tell if one bore malice or innocent. But Tilly baffled him the more he interacted with her. 

He had been in the mansion for four days now, as the forest was still surrounded. So, he thought of treating his wounds in here first before going out to investigate. After all, it seemed no one planned to approach this place.

During his stay, Fabian cleaned the house in his free time. Cleaning and doing house chores had been therapy to keep his head calm and clear. Also, since he was stuck in this place, it would help him kill time. 

"I brought you tea," Fabian knocked on Tilly's room. As usual, the ringing of the bell was what answered him as he headed in to serve her some tea. His service was his way of repayment to this woman because she let him stay without bothering him. 

When Fabian entered, she was already sitting in the same spot near the window. He didn't speak while serving her tea. The last time the two talked was during his first day in this place. After that, she didn't speak, nor did he try to strike a conversation with her. 

Tilly was ringing the bell with a fork this time, and Fabian didn't even bother asking her what was fun in ringing that bell. After serving the tea, he stepped back. This time, Tilly didn't wait for him to leave as she picked up the teacup to her lips. 

After sipping, she placed the teacup back and spoke. "One month."

His brows rose as he looked at her in puzzlement, waiting for her explanation. What did she mean by one month?

"They will only be there for one month before they leave and recuperate," she explained vaguely, glancing up at him. "After a month, the security will weaken."

Fabian raised a brow. "Why would they need to recuperate after a month?"

"Sit." She motioned her hand to the chair across from her instead of answering. "My neck hurts."

A shallow breath slipped past his lips and sat down across from her. He looked at her in silence, studying her pale complexion as if she would die soon. 

"Will you please tell me why they need to recuperate after a month and why no one is entering this place?" he smiled until his eyes squinted, trying to be nice so she would answer. 

"Because they can only stay in the forbidden land for a month, else, they will die."

"Forbidden land?" Fabian furrowed his brows, intrigued by this new information. 

"The forbidden forest weakens vampires if they stayed for too long. That is why it's forbidden." Tilly turned her head in the window, staring at it as if she could see further than anyone could. "If you don't go out for a month, they will have to retreat."

Fabian's gaze remained on the side of her face. "If this place is a forbidden land for vampires, why are you here?"

"Because it's my home." She turned her head back to him without a change of her expression. 

"Your home, huh?" he rocked his head lightly. "A place that sucks your life and puts your life in danger is not a home."

Tilly blinked twice, staring at him in silence. She didn't smile or frown at his remarks. If anything, it seemed she just didn't hear it — no reaction at all. Instead, she picked up the teacup to her lips, eyes over the teacup as she looked at him.

"So that means I have to stay in here, huh?" he muttered, leaning back against the chair as he looked away. He thought that Charlotte must've heard about him being the forbidden forest through word of mouth. 

'I hope she investigates while I'm stuck here,' he thought, thinking that Charlotte was quick to catch on. 

After some time, Fabian snapped his eyes and shifted it to Tilly. The latter already stood up from her seat, walking away without a word.

"Where are you going?" he asked with a raised brow, staring at her small back. 

She looked back with the same straight expression. "Sweep." That was all she said before she walked away, leaving him alone in her room. 

Fabian opened his mouth, but he just watched the door shut behind her. He didn't come after her and stayed seated, propping his jaw against his knuckles while staring at the window. 

"A month," he whispered, thinking that living here for a month wasn't a bad trade. Tilly was strange, but living with her wasn't bad. It almost felt like he was living with himself, if not for that ringing bell.

"Did she say she will sweep the floor?" he wondered as he cocked his head in the door's direction. He already cleaned a few areas of the mansion; mostly the way he would take and the lobby. While cleaning the place, Fabian figured Tilly never tended the house.

So, how come she said she would sweep and clean? Fabian furrowed his brows as he planted his palm on the armrest, pushing himself up to see what she was planning to do. He followed where he could feel her presence and soon caught up with her. 

'Is this what she thinks sweeping is?' he questioned, watching her just walk while letting her long hair sweep the floor. Tilly just walked around the mansion leisurely while Fabian followed behind her. 

Deep down, Fabian was hopeful she would actually get a broom or grab the feather duster to clean. But Tilly didn't. She just walked around at the same pace, heading to an area he was never been to before. He kept a distance from her and stopped when she halted, pivoting on her heel as she looked at the portrait hanging on the wall in the hallway. 

Fabian furrowed his brows curiously, stretching his neck to see the portrait she was staring at. From his vantage point, he could barely see a portrait, but it was blank. 

'A blank portrait?' he approached her out of plain curiosity to see the portrait up close. He wasn't mistaken when he saw the portrait was a blank canvass. 

"That's me," she said, making him glance at her and saw her pointing at the blank canvass. "That's what I look when I wasn't born yet."

"...."