Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Chapter 69

Dulce didn’t return to the fitting room in time, seated at his desk in his room when company came seeking him. He sealed up the last letters and stamped them, glancing at the doors to his bedroom when they opened.

Ruoxi drifted over to him, curiosity glinting in his eyes, "Who are the letters to?"

"Past acquaintances," Dulce said vaguely, showing little interest in speaking about the topic.

Without being told, Ruoxi could tell that the acquaintances in question were Vampires.

"What are the letters about?" The Incubus kept prying.

"To resolve the matter of our nonexistent funds," Dulce rose from the table, taking with him the stack of letters.

"You don’t have to owe more Vampires favors." Asael said quietly.

"I would rather not," Dulce grimaced, "I’m more calling in favors," He corrected, equally as displeased about the idea.

Previously, he had no use for extraordinary wealth, living peacefully without much, but not anymore. Now he had several mouths to feed and an even longer journey to make, money was no longer a luxury, it was now a necessity

"How far back in the past are these acquaintances?" Kath’tan asked with narrowed-eyes, not one to miss out on making demands.

Dulce paused on his way out, delayed by the endless questions. "Truthfully, I can’t remember any of them. They sent letters first, claiming to be acquaintances and I tossed the letters in a pile when I received them, but I’m afraid I now need their claims."

"I’m not begging for favors," He went on, needing to clarify at the disapproving expressions Asael and Kath’tan wore. "I’m an ancient Vampire, I certainly have wealth stashed away in several places, I’m merely asking to have what I own sent to me."

With that the Vampire drifted out, leaving with a promise of return like he always did.

Ruoxi sighed when Dulce left, "You are all so wealthy, what is a poor, commoner like me to do?"

"Maybe try putting your worthless charms to work," Kath’tan said without feeling.

Dulce didn’t stay away very long, the letters were sent off in no time. He returned to the room to find it as lively as he had left it, hope in his eyes. As disappointing as the truth about Queen Aylin had been, it had also solved one of his most pressing problems, the matter of being hunted.

Perhaps he could even return to his manor that he had been ousted from, which was in a boundary city in Alderth. But being so close to other Vampires was discomfiting, and one of them being recognized as the Queen of the country only worsened the appeal.

Now it was time to wait and see if any of the letters he had sent out would bear fruit. It might very well take several days to a week to get a response. He hoped it wouldn’t take so long, he would rather not spend any longer than was necessary at the royal castle of Alderth.

His hopes came true when scarcely a few hours after the letters were sent out, a servant came knocking with a letter of response, sent so soon. The new outfits had yet to be made when the letter arrived.

Dulce opened the letter and skimmed it, barely glancing at the well-crafted response. He only focused on important information and that was whether this acquaintance did have any knowledge of his vast estate.

At the bottom of the letter he found what he was looking for, and it was incredibly useful knowledge. His closest estate wasn’t that far at all, he was thoroughly surprised to find that he had an old estate in Marlen, one that was still kept by a faithful lineage of butlers.

It right away solved most of Dulce’s current issues, although it would be of very little use if it had been abandoned by him for so long that his coffers were now empty and brimming with spiders.

"I seem to have a manor in Marlen," He spoke up after going through the letter, tossing it on a side table with no intention of writing back. "It might be dilapidated and impoverished, so I will have to go take a look at it in person."

"Alone?" The first question came from Asael.

"It would be more trouble than it is worth to all go simply to have a look," He explained, undoing the loosening tie on his hair to redo it. "And it might be rather difficult to explain that I’m truly their master finally returned."

Kath’tan thought about how passive and soft-spoken the Vampire was. "And if they turn you away at the door?"

Dulce blinked like he hadn’t at all considered that outcome, "I won’t know until I go." He said easily, starting for the door. "If any letter arrives, could you keep them for me?"

"Not me," Ruoxi demurred, "I’m coming with you. I don’t mind trouble."

Dulce slowed to a stop, aware that if one Demon wanted to accompany him, the rest wouldn’t sit idly by. "Do you all also want to come along?"

"Don’t take the undressed Hellhound out with you." Asael was quick to remind him.

Caedos listened closely with a straight face, only gleaning information from what was being said. "I can simply shift," He procured a solution that had worked once before.

"I’m afraid not, you wouldn’t fit in the carriage." Dulce said fondly, "You will have to wait behind for us, I can have the kitchen bring you food."

Caedos thought about it, it was a decent trade, and his reservations about other Demons aside, he could trust them to protect Dulce when it was needed.

"Very well," He easily agreed, getting comfortable on the bed.

"How agreeable," Dulce murmured to himself, pleased all over again that he had gone through all the trouble to summon a Hellhound, leaving the room with a smile and a promise.

"We can also be agreeable," Ruoxi chimed in, "We can also accompany you and be agreeable." He repeated insistently.

Dulce wasn’t quite sure what he was expected to say to that. He didn’t think any Demon was more agreeable than the other, each was willful in their own way. He had just been pleased that a solution had been found to the journey they were about to make.

Their stay in the castle was only temporary and he didn’t want to take more from Aylin than needed. He had already summoned the coachmen who brought them from Fairwyn, he was already in Lord Rochefort’s debt, he would rather not add another to the list.

Only four could fit in the carriage, which meant that one had to be left behind, which would be practically impossible. But Caedos spared him the trouble by being agreeable.

The interior of the carriage was familiar, the past two days had been filled with so many new occurrences that it felt like it had been weeks since he had ridden in the carriage.

In no time, the coachmen were off to the address he had gotten in the letter. It felt too good to be true, Dulce thought, his luck was never this good.

He felt that even if the manor wasn’t impoverished, it likely didn’t belong to him but to another Vampire. He sighed and looked out the window, who knew that summoning Demons was such an expensive pastime?

The manor was surprisingly a few streets away from the castle, they could have very easily walked the distance. The manor took up an entire side of a street lined with large houses belonging to nobility and members of the court.

The manor was surrounded by orchards on all sides, an ancient sprawling mansion made in a different architectural style than the more modern houses built around it. Despite its age, it was well kept, its stone walls recently scrubbed.

Dulce peered out his side of the carriage window as the carriage came to a stop, anxious. "I don’t think this belongs to me." He admitted honestly.

Ruoxi was the first out of the carriage, looking around with the curiosity and enthusiasm of a spritely youth. "You can’t decide that by yourself." He said, ringing the bell placed by the gate.

The carriage had emptied out of its occupants by the time the bell was answered by a young lady in a stately black and white uniform, a frilly apron over her long dress.

"Who is it?" She demanded importantly, her impatience clear to see.

"Mr Monteserrat?" Dulce said uncertainly, "I’ve returned."

The lady paled, the side gate swinging open. She had been standing behind it previously with no intention of opening the gates, staring at the unwelcome visitors with distrust.

"Where did you hear that name from?" She demanded, terribly shaken.

"Is that any way to speak to the master of the house on his return?" Ruoxi cautioned, eager to get into the manor and explore.

"It is my name, Dulce Montesserat," The Vampire explained kindly, "Do I have the right house?"

The lady stared at him intently, her face giving nothing away. "Please come in sirs." She invited, stepping back.