"I hope you have a prosperous marriage that lasts for eternity, my lady," the butler, Harrison, said as he handed Lilith a small ornamental box.
"Thank you, Uncle Harry. Please, come in—it's been a long time since we've talked," Lilith smiled, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
The guest room was big. Stupidly big. And just as beautifully decorated. A double king-sized four-poster bed stood proud in the center, the intricate wood carvings so breathtaking they could make a human apologize for breathing the same air. All the furniture shared that olden charm—crafted by human hands in an era long gone.
A massive red chandelier hung from the ceiling, bathing the room in a warm, royal glow. One side of the room held an extravagant set of couches and sofas that screamed luxury.
"Yooo, Mr. Butler, thanks for the gift," Vespar called out, sprawled lazily on one of the couches. His tie was ripped to shreds, a victim of his quiet tantrum.
" You've got quite the casual tone, sir Vespar." Harrison mentioned with a faint chuckle as he sat down on the opposite side of the couch while Lilith settled beside Vespar.
He sat up as well " come on, drop the formal tone, will ya, think of me as your son, but you look really ancient, maybe think of me as your great great great great great grandson." He laughed, trying to lift off the heavy mood.
"So what's the problem with your master he's very, on the edge, if i say so, is he suffering ED, or something." He jokingly whispered as he leaned close.
" You surely do have a peculiar tongue son, or should I say great great great great great grandson, but no, it's something else that's troubling him." Harrison continued Vespar's joke ."Something else, huh?" Vespar mused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "He doesn't seem the type to be troubled by anything that doesn't bleed."
Harrison chuckled, a bit softer this time, almost wistful. "Oh, he bleeds, son… just not the way you're thinking." He glanced at Lilith, who leaned into Vespar's side, her expression unreadable, but her fingers were gently playing with the frayed edge of his sleeve. "Your lady used to be the only one who could make him smile without effort."
Vespar tilted his head. "Huh… really now? Didn't take him for the sentimental type."
Harrison gave a small nod, his eyes distant. "When she was small, she would run through these halls barefoot. Muddy feet, wild hair, dragging me out to the garden just to show me a flower she liked. Master Orpheus used to wait in the study, pretending to work… but I'd catch him peeking through the curtains like some overgrown shadow."
Lilith didn't speak, but a tiny smile ghosted her lips.
"He even used to read her bedtime stories," Harrison continued, resting an elbow on the armrest. "Wouldn't let anyone else do it. She had this one book—some fairytale about a vampire prince who got turned into a frog or some nonsense. She made him read it at least a hundred times."
"I knew he had a soft side," Vespar said with mock astonishment, clapping a hand on his own thigh. "So what happened? Did she grow out of frogs and he couldn't keep up?"
Lilith finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "No. He just… stopped coming to my room one night. And then the next. And then the next. I waited. I tried knocking on his door once. He told me he was busy."
A moment of silence settled like a weight in the room.
"People change," Harrison said gently, his voice laced with that tired kind of sadness only time can teach. "Or maybe… they bury themselves under duty and forget how to come back up for air."
Vespar glanced at her, his teasing grin fading into something softer. "That's stupid. If he buried himself, he should've at least left a ladder for you."
Lilith let out a soft chuckle, her head leaning on Vespar's shoulder. "I used to make up stories after he stopped. Told them to myself in the dark. Uncle Harry caught me once and said my voice was better than the book's."
"I still believe that," Harrison said, a fond glint in his eye. "You gave every character their own voice—even the squirrel general."
Vespar blinked. "There was a squirrel general?"
"Oh yes," Lilith said, snickering now. "He had a little acorn sword and everything."
Vespar leaned back with a hand over his heart. "I can't believe I married a woman with squirrel propaganda in her bloodline. I feel betrayed."
"You'll live," Lilith said dryly.
Harrison let the laughter linger before he stood up. "It's good… seeing her smile like this again. The castle's too quiet these days. Too polished. We need more muddy feet."
Vespar smirked. "Guess I'll have to drag her to the garden barefoot then."
Lilith rolled her eyes, but her smile lingered.
As Harrison turned to leave, he paused at the door and looked back at them—specifically at Lilith. "I still have that book, you know. It's a little worn, but the frog prince is still inside."
Lilith blinked, the shimmer of old memories catching in her gaze.
"Goodnight, my lady," he said softly. "And to you too, my great-great-great-great-great headache."
Vespar grinned. "Night, Uncle Harry."
And with that, the old butler disappeared into the hallway, leaving behind the warmth of a memory rekindled.
Just as Harrison closed the guest room door, loud thumping step of metal erupted in the whole castle, a maniacal laugh echoed, soon the door opened, Harrison immediately appeared infront of Lilith, " Hide him quickly, she's coming." He said with a worried expression.
" Wait, it's HER?" Lilith's eyes widened.
" Who is coming, and why are you both so scared, like you saw some demon?" Vespar asked with a confused expression as he heard the metal thumping too.
The doors flung open of their room, a tall woman,long majestic black hair, chiseled face, with a red full body armour that had streaks of black, even though her body was clad in armour, one could tell she was fucking packed with muscles, she walked in with a wide smile, like she found a toy, " Little sister, you brought someone really interesting with you." Olivia Bloodrose, the first daughter of Orpheus Bloodrose, spoke as ahe immediately appeared infront of Vespar, " you've got potential young man, let's see if you can fight or not." She said as she gave a single hit on his nape and
*Thud*
He fainted.
A/N: this won't go the harem route, never ever, Lilith will be the only woman(•‿•) in Vespar's life.
Future Vespar: See, so easy, i didn't have to even threaten you, * removes the big ass sword from author's neck * see you later alligator.
[Vespar you forgot to tell him to add me in the next chapters.]
Vespar: don't worry, he won't forget, some asshole is always threatening him , so he is a bit tense, but he'll add you in the next chapter.( He is the asshole)