Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Chapter 73

Dulce looked up at the question, making mental notes to ask Amelia to fill the compartments with treats when they were leaving. "I highly doubt it does." He mused, thinking it over. "And it is in use by the Bodwyns, unlike the treasures collecting dust in the desert."

Asael fell silent after that, it felt like time was running out. He perhaps didn’t have to leave but he had no reason to stay, even though simply asking Dulce was all he needed.

The castle soon came into view, the guards standing in front of the drawbridge calling them to a halt.

Dulce was about to step out of the carriage to explain his presence when one of the guards came around to peer into the carriage.

The guard took one look at the noble and blanched. "I apologize for the wait, Milord," He said hastily, gesturing to the other guards to let the carriage through.

The description of the Queen’s special guest was well known, a handsome noble with striking pale features. It was difficult not to recognize him on sight.

Dulce sat back down in relief, they had returned in a different carriage from the one they set out in, so he had expected to have to deal with the inconvenience of getting back into the castle.

But after the stop at the drawbridge, the carriage was let in just like the first time they arrived at the castle, all the guard gates going down before they even approached.

There was little to be done at the castle, they simply needed to collect Caedos and the clothes that had been tailored for them, there was no reason to let the tailors’ hard work go to waste.

The Hellhound was in Dulce’s room where he had been left, it was strange not to find him curled up on the bed like he often was, he looked to have been walking around before the doors opened.

"I apologize for startling you," Dulce said, lingering at the door for a few moments before walking in. "Did the kitchens bring you food?" He asked right away.

Caedos glanced past the Vampire to the Shadow Demon behind him, if just the two of them had returned, it meant that they had met good news. "They did. The new clothes also arrived and a letter," He held up the envelope that he had been carrying around with him. "From Aylin."

His last words caught Asael’s attention but not Dulce who it was addressed to, the Vampire completely ignored it, more interested in other important matters. "The clothes are all done?" He repeated with a pleased expression, looking around the room for them.

His searching gaze settled on a large trunk just a ways from the door, drifting over to it. "Do you know how to put them on?" He asked without judgment, peering into the trunk which had four different compartments.

Caedos had been too occupied with other things to take a gander at the trunk, freely exploring the room in the absence of the others, and he had done it all while walking upright.

"I’ll learn." He said seriously, walking over.

His movements were noticeably more natural, his long legs easily eating up the distance, the letter still held in a hand.

Dulce took the letter from him to free up his hands, letting him take out the set of clothes himself. Only one outfit had been made for each Demon, for Caedos that means he had no change of clothes, he would remedy that.

He tossed the letter on a nearby table and promptly forgot about it, having no intention of reading the Vampire’s letters. Having wealth was truly a privilege, he didn’t have to worry about getting more clothes for Caedos, how convenient.

He watched the Hellhound inspect each piece of clothing, occasionally glancing at him like he was figuring out where and how each piece of the outfit was worn.

"I’ll give it a try." Caedos said when he had observed his fill, sauntering to the bathroom where he had previously explored to get changed.

Asael had quietly remained in a corner all this time, the Shadow Demon had an unsettling habit of standing unnaturally still. Easily blending into the background when he wanted to.

His gaze drifted from the discarded letter to Dulce’s beaming expression as he carefully closed the trunk. Curiosity about the uncertain was a flaw to Shadow Demons but he couldn’t help but be.

Despite Aylin’s attempt to have them sent back to the hells, she had been as genuine as she could be to Dulce, her intentions harmless even despite her romantic inclinations.

But Dulce didn’t even acknowledge her, even a dusty shelf would elicit more interest from the Vampire. It was all very curious to Asael because in the time he had known Dulce, he doubted that the Vampire had the ability to feel intense negative emotions.

Anger and hate were unfamiliar to him, even when he had found out what Aylin and the Vampire witch had tried to do, his concern over the well-being of the Demons he summoned had trumped every other emotion.

It didn’t even seem like he had been deeply angry, the cold look he had given the Vampire witch the most emotion she elicited out of him. And then he had gone back to ignoring her presence completely.

It was all very curious - and the deeper it drew Asael in, the more danger there was. Curiosity would only lead to uncertainty and even worse, attachment.

Caedos soon stepped out of the bathroom, filling the silence with his presence. He had worn the clothes perfectly, the formal outfit at odds with the furry ears sticking out of his short hair.

"You somehow managed it better than the Fiend." Asael said with grudging approval.

The overcoat went down to his knees, his dark green dress shirt neatly tucked in and buttoned in all the right places. Even the cravat was neatly tied, it was a little frightening when one realized that he had perfectly replicated Dulce’s style of dressing after a brief look.

"Is it comfortable?" Dulce asked, hoisting the large wooden trunk with ease.

Caedos tugged on the tailored black waistcoat that highlighted his narrow, powerful waist. "There are too many layers." He complained, keeping the clothes on despite that.