My Most Precious Human novel Chapter 20

Martha told me that I could go wherever I pleased around the castle. She even drew me a simple map, so I wouldn't get lost in case I decided to take a walk. Luckily, after wandering through those corridors all day, I could now at least find the dining room, where I had eaten breakfast with Sariel, and the patio, where I could get some fresh air. Additionally, I could go back to my chamber afterwards without getting lost on the way. That certainly was progress.

Even though the castle was huge, it took me only several hours to find this place boring. Everyone except me had something to do, and the one thing I always hated was doing nothing at all. I thought that taking a break from work would do me good, but the more I had time to think, the more I kept finding this free time devastating to my sanity.

I heard that when people face something traumatic, they visit a shrink or some therapist to help them deal with their inner demons. The only person I could talk to was Martha… a half-vampire that I was yet to trust. For now, it was safer to diagnose my mental health by myself than to share my problems with strangers. The problem was, based on the knowledge from psychology books I read once or twice in my life, I was far from being "normal". I was more angry than grieving. Perhaps all those years of running without engaging emotionally with people made me broken to the point it was unfixable. Sometimes I even wondered if I wasn't turning into a sociopath. Now, each time I thought about what had happened, I felt guilty, because I didn't know how to cry over it anymore…

Sitting alone in my room was killing me. I decided to get some fresh air. I took my laptop and wanted to sit at the patio bench and read about stock markets and current financial reports, pretending I wasn't working. I found a nice spot under a magnolia tree. I sat on the bench, took a deep breath, and planned to enjoy the peace and quiet.

"Who the hell are you?!" I heard some rude, squeaky voice, which ruined my precious silence.

I raised my eyes over the laptop screen and saw a busty, tanned, blonde woman around twenty-five. She was wearing a short white dress with a deep neckline, desperately screaming for attention. She was clearly human and judging from her attitude, she was clearly some rich daughter who came here initially hoping to become the Duchess. Normally, I wouldn't care less about her, but this was the day I needed any kind of distraction.

"Hi! I'm Lilith. Nice to meet you," I called out with a nicely glued grin on my face.

"I didn't ask for your name! I mean, what the hell are you doing here?!" she fumed.

I chuckled, then gazed straight into her eyes.

"First of all, don't yell, lady. You are standing two meters away from me, and I don't have trouble hearing, so lower your voice. Second of all, it is considered polite to introduce yourself before starting a more advanced conversation," I stated with a cold smile.

She pouted, then frowned. I guessed that she was looking for words inside that mildly functioning brain of hers. It took her a while until she decided to say something. Certainly, I waited for that moment impatiently.

"I'm… Stella, Stella Hackleman. Now, tell me, what are you doing here?"

Her voice calmed down, but her arrogant attitude stayed unchanged. She looked like she was going to throw a tantrum if I confessed that I ate breakfast alone with Sariel. My presence on that patio was enough to make me her enemy.

"I am staying at the castle as the Duke's guest. I will be here for a while, so I guess we might see each other often," I replied casually.

I could see her eye twitching out of anger. She was boiling inside, ready to explode at any second. I wondered if I should stoke that fire within her...

"And you must be one of the donors?" I asked with an innocent smirk.

"I am much more than that! And soon… Soon, I will be…!" She paused while gasping and ineptly seeking the rest of her argument.

I stared at her, pondering if I should help her finish the sentence. I was truly curious if she was really aiming for the Duchess title, but perhaps I shouldn't be this cruel. If having an unrealistic dream helped her keep this contract longer, I surely shouldn't break her bubble. I even felt sorry for her.

"Oh, I see…" I nodded, pretending to acknowledge her superiority.

"Then… now you will know that I am someone important here," she said, raising her chin.

I could barely hold my laughter, but I had to thank her. She improved my mood a lot. I thought that it would be better to work while sitting in my room. I stood up and wanted to say goodbye to "her highness", but then I saw Mr. Gotha walking into the patio…

"Hey, blood bag! Why are you disturbing Duke's special guest?" He mocked her.

She glared at him, then burst into tears and ran away towards the east wing.

"Look what you have done! You made a child cry!" I clicked my tongue, looking at Mr. Gotha.

"A child? She is older than you!" he called, chuckling.

"Still… her mental age must be around ten," I smirked.

"Don't pretend to be kind. You are as vicious as me," Mr. Gotha stated.

"I will take it as the highest compliment, Mr. Gotha." I bowed my head in admiration.

Mr. Gotha looked at me and ostentatiously clicked his tongue as if he was trying to show me his disdain no matter what. Then he cleared his throat and started walking back towards the main building. I took my laptop from the bench and followed him, but when I did, he suddenly stopped and looked my way.

"I think human women are pathetic and much too arrogant," he stated, out-of-the-blue.

I stared at him curiously, wondering what the meaning of this new insult he had come up with was.

"All of those who had signed the contract with the Master boldly assumed that they would become at least his concubines in a royal harem," he continued, conveying his thoughts in a tone filled with mockery.

"Can you blame them? The Duke truly looks like a Prince Charming. I bet that it was one of the reasons they decided to lock themselves in this castle and give him blood. They all hope for something more," I said, entering the castle's corridor.

"How insolent of them!" Mr. Gotha burst out while matching my pace. "Master is a noble! He could never get into a relationship with a lowly human!"

Unknowingly, I clenched my teeth. No matter how degrading Mr. Gotha's words were, I already assumed that as a noble vampire with the ability to have children would have to engage in a relationship with another noble vampire to continue the noble bloodline. It was yet another reason for me to leave this place before I developed more incomprehensible emotions. Nonetheless, humans tend to have unreasonable hopes that won't die, even if everything around screams that we hope for something completely impossible. Perhaps that was why I had to hear it out loud…

"Does the Duke plan on getting married?" I asked hesitantly.

"The King wanted Master to marry his daughter, Princess Elora Grimoard, but Master has never acknowledged their engagement. However, it might become unavoidable at some point. There aren't too many options, and the Princess is currently at the best age to conceive a child…" he sighed.

Hearing those words hurt, even though I expected to hear something like that or worse. Additionally, I found my emotions incredibly annoying. They kept getting stronger by the hour, and I couldn't understand them. Why would I feel hurt? I barely knew Sariel. Moreover, I had no reason to think that he would be interested in me as a woman. It felt like the longer I stayed in that castle, the more I wanted him as if I kept inhaling some kind of drug that was slowly poisoning my brain. I had never behaved so illogically and immaturely in my life. That felt embarrassing.

The rest of my meals that day were served in my room, and Martha was my only company. It made me regret not working on any assignments even more. Sariel was out the entire day. When I woke up, I heard that he had arrived at the castle late at night, but even then he locked himself in his study to work.

Breakfast was another meal I ate alone in my room. It wasn't about the fact that I was yearning for his attention, but that I started to become lonely. I had spent most of my life living alone, but now another hour without having someone by my side was getting unbearable.

Suddenly, Martha came to my chamber, looking more pale than Mr. Gotha. Her hands were shaking, and I had to wait until she calmed down to hear what had happened.

"T-the Duke c-calls you to the audience hall," she stuttered nervously.

"Fine, I will go there, but why are you so frightened all of a sudden?" I asked.

Martha gazed at me worryingly, then grabbed my hands.

"A group of werewolves came, and they claimed to be looking for you!"

I froze.