"Is it odd that the first thing I noticed about him was his abs?"

"Keep your perverted thoughts to yourself, lady. It's obvious."

The guy teased me while smirking. I touched my lips at dun ko lang napansin na naglalaway na pala ako.

"Shit!! Nakakahiya!"

"Wait, wait. Sino muna 'to?"

"Pardon me for such a... disgusting display. Anyway, ako si Lunaria Lumiere, duchess of House Lumiere."

I introduced myself while curtsying, hindi lang kita sa mukha ko ngayon pero onti na lang sasabog na ako sa kahihiyan.

"I'm literally still on the floor."

It sounds like he's trying to intimidate him, pero my intuition says he's just teasing me.

Tumayo na siya sa wakas at pinagpagan yung pantalon niyang nadumihan dahil nga napaupo siya lapag. He cracked his neck side by side then looked at my eyes.

"Arxis De Lune."

Napalunok ako ng laway sa sinabi niya.

"Isa siyang De Lune?"

«The House of De Lune»

The house of De Lune is a duchy as well, they have the same status as the house of Lumiere. In contrast to the Lumiere's family earning its title by doing benevolent doings, the De Lune family had a very dark history, sa bawat gera na sinasalihan ng pamilyang ito-they always won. Dahil dyan, they were widely known as predators in the battlefield.

"What kind of business does a De Lune have with me?"

Hindi ko alam kung bakit, but I had a bad feeling about this.

"I'll be direct, bakit ako nandito?"

I asked him firmly, I tried my best not to frown but it still showed.

"Hm. You were kidnapped."

He answered my question straightforwardly, kumulo yung dugo ko sa kanya. For some reason, hindi ako natatakot.

"Para sa kinidnap na tao ang kalmado mo."

Nakangisi na naman itong hayop na 'to.

I do get where he's at though.

"I don't think you have any ill intentions towards me."

Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit hindi ako natatakot sa kanya ngayon, it's probably because I don't sense any bloodlust from him na katulad dun sa napapaginipan ko gabi-gabi.

"Thick-skinned, huh? Pero totoo naman, kung may tanong ka then go ask the other guy later, tinatamad ako magsagot ng mga tanong ngayon."

He told me with a lax posture, tapos bigla na lang umalis ng kwarto.

"What the fuck? Siya yung weirdo na nag stay dito tapos biglang aalis?"

Yup, yan lang yung naisip ko.

Napairap na lang ako sa ginawa nung hayop na yon, abs lang yata yung datingan niya.

I then decided to investigate this room, tumayo ako dito sa inuupuan kong higaan at tumingin tingin ako sa bawat banda ng kwarto at napansin ko na walang bintana rito. The room is decorated in gothic furniture.

"Totally not my style."

"Hello there."

Napatingin ako sa direksyon ng pintuan, what I saw there was another handsome man. The guy had a black side-parted medium hair, and yellow eyes. He wore sweaters and pants, at nung nakita ko siya, alam ko na agad yung identity niya.

The first young master of house De Lune, Welt Royce De Lune.

For some reason he's frowning, kaya hindi ako naging komportable.

"Anong business nito sa akin?"

I cleared my throat, sa kanya ko na lang itatanong yung mga gusto ko sanang itanong kay Arxis.

"Why did you kidnap me?"

Sinigurado kong hindi nanginginig yung boses ko nung tinanong ko yan kasi ayaw kong maramdaman niyang I was intimidated by him.

Umupo muna siya sa higaan since walang kahit anong upuan dito sa loob.

He looked at me while pointing on the spot beside him, he's signing me to sit there.

Since wala naman akong problema dun, sinunod ko na lang siya.

"Have you heard of vampires?"

I was confused by his question, but I just answered honestly.

"Oo, are you referring to those immortal & powerful beings that lurk around at night? The bloodsuckers?"

Vampires truly exist in this world, kahit ang mga common folk alam yam which is why people often avoid going out at night.

He nodded then continued.

"You were being hunted by those beings last night."

hen I heard what he just said, I was appalled. Flashbacks of my men's lifeless bodies came rushing into my memories.

"So dahil sa akin, they-"

Pakiramdam ko gusto kong magsuka, but I didn't dahil I need to uphold my pride as a noble.

"Huwag kang mag-alala, you're safe now."

His voice had a hint of concern, pero nalilito ako... kahit kailan 'di kami nagusap in a friendly manner at hindi rin close ang pamilya ko sa pamilya niya.

"Kung ganun, bakit mo ko tin-"

Itatanong ko na sana kung bakit nila ako tinulungan pero may napansin ako, paano nila nalaman na may 'naghuhunt' sa akin na bampira?

"Bago pala yun, how did you know a vampire was hunting me?"

He's very suspicious, parehas sila ni Arxis, actually, the De Lunes are suspicious.

"Ah, siguro kailangan kong sabihin ito 'no?"

Napakamot siya sa ulo, at huminga ng malalim.

"The entirety of the De Lune family are vampires."

"Wait. Hindi yan magandang biro."

"Come again?"

I made him repeat his statement, baka sakaling mali ako ng pagkakarinig.

"The ENTIRETY of the De Lune family are vampires."

His tone was stern, seryoso siya sa sinasabi niya. Now, wala na akong rason para pagduduhan pa siya.

I am still dumbfounded, pero kailangan kong tanggapin na totoo yung sinabi niya. It makes perfect sense.

Ang De Lune family ay bloodthirsty warriors, hindi sila kilala sa pagiging righteous, at yung insidente kagabi...

"Anyway, balik tayo dun sa itatanong ko dapat, bakit niyo ko tinulungan?"

"Pinoprotektahan ng pamilya De Lune ang Empire from rampaging vampires, we heard of intel saying that there were vampires planning to murder you for blood."

I felt the acid from my stomach rise up to my chest, just the thought of being murdered for my blood makes me nauseous.

Bigla akong nagalala sa mga maids, at iba pang tao sa estate ko.

"Paano... kung namatay rin sila?"

Dahil diyan sa pagiisip na yan, tuluyan na akong nagsuka.

On Welt's lap on top of that.

"..."

The moment I realized what I just did, dahan dahan akong napatingin sa mukha ni Welt. Naririnig kong mag-creak yung leeg ko.

"Goddess Alectrona, please help me. I don't want to die yet."

When I saw his face, he was smiling. A smile that says "do you have a death wish?"

"Yep. I'm gonna die here. I had a good extra 3 or so hours in this life."

Hindi na ko gumalaw nun.

"Kung balak mo na akong patayin, please make it quick."

i have stated my death wish habang nakapikit ang mga mata ko.

Then, I heard someone crack up from outside the door.

"Arxis."

May bloodlust sa tono ng boses niya, pakiramdam ko mas delikado pa sitwasyon nung tumawa sa 'kin.

"Sorry, sorry."

Nakita ko ulit yung lalaking naka-topless kanina, ngayon may suot na siyang tank top.

"Sana 'di na lang siya nagsuot pa ng pang taas."

"Wait. 'Di ba dapat mas pinoproblema ko yung buhay ko ngayon?"

"Nakakatawa lang yung sinabi ni Duchess Lumiere."

Nevermind. Walang wala pala yung abs mo sa ugali mo.

"Tsaka, I'm sure you won't kill her over stomach acid, kasalanan mo rin naman na tinakot mo siya."

Nakangisi pa siya habang sinasabi yan, not gonna lie, but he IS right.

"I won't be doing that either way. Sige, aalis na ako. I look unsightly."

"..because of you, duchess Lumiere."

I finished your sentence for you, sire.

Naglakad na palabas si Welt, he still looks high and noble even though vomit is splattered through his clothes.

Arxis glanced at me with an annoying look.

"Now you're left with this bastard."

Pang aasar niya with that seemingly permanent smirk of his.

TO BE CONTINUED