Chapter 3

Valerius

I quickly covered Vanessa's mouth and pulled her back.

My heart was racing, cold sweat breaking out all over.

Seraphina walked toward us arm-in-arm with Lucian.

"Vivienne? What a coincidence running into you here." Seraphina raised an eyebrow.

I pressed Vanessa close to my side, whispering urgently, "Remember what Mommy told you?"

Vanessa's ears drooped as she shrank back, voice tiny. "I remember... I can't call you... can't make His Grace mad."

Lucian noticed us too.

"You guys here for the show too?" His Adam's apple bobbed, voice hoarse.

"Yeah, Vanessa loves ballet." I forced down my emotions, keeping my face calm.

Seraphina laughed lightly and crouched in front of Vanessa. Her sharp white rose perfume made Vanessa instinctively hide behind my skirt.

"Well hello there, little one." Seraphina lifted a curl of Vanessa's hair with her fingernail, tone casual. "You had your mouth open just now—what were you gonna say?"

Sweat broke out on my back.

Vanessa glanced up at me, then turned toward Lucian standing to the side.

I could feel Lucian's body stiffen, hands clenched into fists under his cloak, staring hard at the child.

But Vanessa just let out a soft breath, took a small step forward, and performed a perfect low-ranking vampire curtsy.

"What I wanted to say was... nice to meet you, Your Grace."

"Your Grace"—those words hit Lucian like a punch to the gut.

He froze.

"What... what did you just call me?" Lucian stepped forward.

He'd coldly warned this child countless times: "Don't call me father," "Remember your place in public." But when this five-year-old girl actually treated the high-and-mighty lord with such distant, fearful respect, panic he'd never felt before crashed over him.

Vanessa looked up calmly. "Your Grace. You ARE the Duke of Valerius territory. That's how I'm supposed to address you, isn't it?"

Lucian pressed his lips tight, unable to say a word.

Seraphina didn't notice the strange undercurrent. She stood up, studying Vanessa curiously, then looking at the shocked Lucian.

"That's weird..." Seraphina frowned, examining them both. "Lucian, look closely at this mixed-blood girl... her eyebrows and bone structure are identical to your childhood portraits."

The words hit like a hammer blow. My blood seemed to freeze.

Lucian shuddered, frantically looking away, not daring to meet Seraphina's eyes.

"I... I don't think so." His voice was low and urgent in denial. "Low-ranking mixed-bloods all look similar. Lots of kids look like this."

"Really?" Seraphina stared at Vanessa's red opal eyes—identical to Lucian's. "But this eye color is definitely pure-blood only..."

To cut off her suspicion, Lucian turned his attention to me. "You brought her alone? Where's the child's father?"

I looked up at him, almost amused.

"Dead. He died a long time ago."

Lucian's face grew even uglier.

Seraphina pressed her hand to her chest dramatically. "Oh, how tragic... sorry for bringing up painful memories."

"It's fine. I'm used to it." I took Vanessa's hand, preparing to leave.

"Wait, Vivienne!" Seraphina called out, enthusiastically linking arms with Lucian. "Since we ran into each other at the grand theater, why don't we grab dinner at the Royal Restaurant? Consider it the estate treating its servants."

Lucian frowned, instinctively protesting. "Seraphina, that's not appropriate. And there's estate business—"

"Oh come on, it's just dinner. Won't take long." Seraphina shook his arm playfully. "Besides, I'd love to get better acquainted with your servants. After all, when we get married, I'll need to interact with them regularly, right?"

Lucian glanced at me nervously, but I showed no reaction.

"Lucian, you're not gonna refuse me this simple request, are you?"

Faced with Seraphina's charm, the high-and-mighty ancestral duke finally gave in.

He looked at me, eyes flickering, voice stiff and reluctant. "Well, since Seraphina put it that way... let's go together then. Just a casual meal."

I wanted to refuse, but Seraphina had already called for a bone carriage, leaving me no escape.

---

In the Royal Crystal Restaurant, the air was suffocating.

Lucian sat across from me, hands clenched under the table, eyes involuntarily drifting toward Vanessa and me with suppressed agitation.

Seraphina cheerfully held the menu, completely oblivious to the tension at the table.

"Sweetie, what would you like? The frosted blood bird's nest parfait is very popular with noble ladies."

Vanessa shrank in her chair, gripping my clothes tightly. "Thank you, Countess. Just regular bread would be fine..."

Pain shot through my heart. I stood up. "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."

In the bathroom, I splashed cold water on my face, trying to suppress the suffocating feeling in my chest.

But when I pushed the door open, a tall figure blocked my path.

Lucian waited in the shadowy corridor, gripping my wrist so hard he nearly crushed bone.

"Vivienne, we need to talk."

I yanked my hand away. "Let go! Don't touch me with hands that smell like white rose perfume, Your Grace!"

My attitude infuriated Lucian. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "What the hell are you playing at? 'Dead'? Is that how you curse me in front of the child? And what's with that kid's attitude—"

I leaned back against the wall with a bitter laugh. "Your Grace, isn't this exactly what you've always wanted? For six years, haven't you been reminding us not to cling to your precious bloodline, not to expose our relationship in public?"

"Now Vanessa gets it. She listens to you, respectfully calls you lord. But suddenly you're not satisfied?"

"I—" Lucian was speechless, face dark. "You know how sensitive things are right now! The vampire council's been looking for any excuse to take me down. If Celeste or the council discovers I married a mixed-blood servant and had a mixed-blood child, do you know what kind of disaster that would bring to the territory?!"

"So what?" I coldly interrupted him. "So Vanessa should be hidden away in that dark side hall? Should cry alone on every family day? Should be too scared to even acknowledge her own biological father?!"

Lucian closed his eyes, took a deep breath, his tone finally softening. "Look, I never said I wouldn't acknowledge her... Once the council review passes, I'll find a way to... properly make it up to her. I'll give her the best resources in the entire territory."

"Don't bother, Your Grace." I straightened my cloak. "Save your time for that countess with her 'agonizing ankle.'"

I walked past him straight toward the dining table.

Lucian stood in the shadows, punched the stone wall, then followed with a dark expression.

But when I turned the corner and saw the scene at the dining table—

THUD.

My bag hit the floor hard!

Seraphina held a gilded bottle, smiling as she sprayed something on Vanessa.

Vanessa, who had been sitting quietly, was now curled up in agony, her tiny body convulsing violently, throat making torn, painful whimpers!

Her rosy little face was rapidly turning deathly pale before my eyes, the veins on her neck bulging high, glowing an eerie silver-gray!

Holy silver rejection syndrome!

Seraphina had sprayed that "Holy Silver Velvet Fragrance" on my child!