"What did Lord Makai want to talk about?" Janein asks, one of the many maids of the estate that probably heard through the grapevine that I was suddenly called.

"I got a bit of a scolding for my cleaning job yesterday, but he let me off with a warning."

"Really?" Janein gives me a once over. "No broken bones or anything?"

"Has he done that before?"

"Yeah."

What?! Why would he do that?!

Janein never explains though, only goes on to say, "But I guess he's probably in a much better mood. The next few days he should be, at least."

"What makes you say that?"

"He fed."

My stomach twists at the memory that I definitely was trying very hard to forget because I haven't even thought of it.

"Does he...feed often?" I whisper, lifting the mattress to pull the sheets out.

Janein and I are cleaning one of the guest bedrooms that I doubt anyone has used in years, but Higra wasn't joking. There's no dust or dirt even in the unused rooms.

"I'd say around once every two months? Sometimes more, if something happened. If that man succeeded in getting away then Lord Makai would need to feed swiftly or the wound would take forever to heal. And he definitely needed it, otherwise that knife never would have reached him. Since he fed though, he's probably in a better mood. You can tell when he needs a drink." Janein leans over the bed to whisper, "He gets extra cranky and yells about everything."

"Thanks for the warning, but if it's once every two months, what—how does he?" I don't know how to phrase this, but Janein understands.

"Feeding doesn't kill anyone, not unless he wants it to. Usually a prostitute is called, y'know, so he gets a two in one deal."

"Wow, that's quite the way of putting it."

"How else was I meant to explain it?" Janein flushes with embarrassment. She brushes a few strands of green hair behind her ear. "Let's not talk about that. It's weird."

"You brought it up."

"You asked."

"You could have left that part out."

Janein groans. "Whatever, I need to take the linens to the laundry. Can you finish up in here?"

I nod and Janein leaves shortly after, leaving me to my own devices and thoughts.

So feeding doesn't kill the person? After what I saw, I can't imagine how. Then again, if I was stabbed in the back of the neck I'd be pretty pissed too.

And a prostitute is sent? Are they ok with that? I doubt it, but the pay is probably insane; that's the only way I can imagine one agrees to come. But thinking about it really is weird. He's our boss.

Yeah, I'm gonna forget I learned that.

Just as I finish up the room, Higra appears. "Wallace."

"Yes?"

"Your suit was ruined the other day, and a few others are in need of replacements so an order was made. Take this into town and pay for the new ones." She hands me an envelope that I peer into. It's full of cash; cash that no one in their right mind would attempt to take. "A carriage is already waiting for you out front. The driver knows where to go."

"So I just need to pick up an order?"

"Yes. When you return, Layne will tell you who to take them to. Now get going."

I scurry off immediately because making Higra wait is a crime that I rather not commit. Besides, I don't mind getting out of the estate. Having a driver rather than walking is a plus too. I've never been in a carriage!

It's much more spacious than expected. Although this clearly isn't the duke's, it's still a wooden carriage with cushioned seats. The ride is smooth all the way into town and I can look out the windows at passing shops. Although I'm nothing more than a butler, I feel kind of lord like in here. If only I had a top hat!

The moment I step into the shop, the keeper is at my side. Her golden hair is pulled back into a tight bun and she's smiling, but her eyes do not share the same enthusiasm.

"You must be from Lord Makai's estate. Are you here to pick up the uniforms?"

"Yes, I have the payment here."

"Wait one moment please. The order is in back." She scurries away, seeming so thrilled to retrieve the uniforms. Only she makes a mistake and leaves the backdoor open just a crack. From here I notice the scowl on her face when she picks up the uniforms. Something tells me she's grumbling about "that no good vampire," but then she smiles merrily once more and returns.

"Here they are!"

"Thank you so much." I hand her the money and she passes over the boxes.

"You must be new. I haven't seen you before," she says in a sweet tone so fake I almost question if it isn't and she's just terrible at her job.

"Ah, yes, my name is Wallie. I've been on the estate for almost two weeks."

"It's nice to meet you Wallie. My name is Beatrix and I wish you the best of luck. Please tell Lord Makai that we are grateful for his patronage and will happily give another discount for the next order."

"I'll make sure to pass it on."

Our interaction ends there. But I peer back into the shop once in the carriage. Beatrix is at the counter counting the money once more, but she's frowning again. Her shoulders slump forward and she shivers before taking the money to the back.

So the shops kiss up to Lord Makai but hate him as much as everyone else? Guess being a vampire is ok so long as you have the money. What a load of hypocrites, smiling like that—

"Don't smile."

All of a sudden, I understand that rule, and I desperately wish I hadn't found out.

Don't smile. In other words, don't kiss up to Lord Makai when you're actually scared of him. Don't smile like you enjoy his presence when you really don't. Don't act like a friend when you're just another that would stab him in the back if you could.

To Lord Makai, a smile is probably more of a threat or a cold reminder that no one really means it.

Thinking that makes my stomach hurt. The ache doesn't lessen even after I return and take the garments to their rightful owners. But it's not like I can do anything. The servants here are fearful of Lord Makai. I can't deny that I'm not either (just a little), even if I'm grateful for what he did. No one will change, not when His Grace is what he is, a monster they do not want nor understand.

Idiot, why am I even thinking about it? Of course a lowly commoner like myself can't help. Wallowing over it won't help either, it is what it is and I'm not here to be Lord Makai's friend anyways. I'm here to work so that's what I'll do, and I follow the rules because now I know the truth and I know it's for the best.

With my new commitment, the days turned into weeks then, in the blink of an eye, three months have passed.

I've learned what others mean by Lord Makai's mood swings. He certainly isn't the friendliest of people, although...to be perfectly honest, I certainly can't blame him.

There were further assassination attempts, which always shocked me. Once poison was slipped into Lord Makai's drink but a worker was unlucky enough to sneak a sip before Higra took it upstairs. The young man dropped almost instantly, convulsing on the floor until silence.

Then an arrow came through Lord Makai's window, or so I heard. The window had to be replaced and Lord Makai tracked down the perpetrator before he even left the estate. When he returned, he was once again covered in blood, eyes brighter than stars in the sky. It was quite the sight.

I started to understand why people left. With the attacks on Lord Makai, we are at risk too, but seriously, when will they learn? It's ridiculous!

Anyways, he does get really moody when he needs to feed. So much so that he randomly shouts at servants for something as simple as walking too loud. Once a girl dropped a tray of food just outside his office and she was fired on the spot (but I have a sneaking suspicion she caused trouble before because Higra kept saying she was waiting for it to happen).

Ah, I did witness a bone breaking incident. A butler had been stealing from the estate for some time. How Lord Makai found out, I don't know, but he showed up before the guy left and back handed him so hard his nose broke. Not gonna lie, I didn't feel bad for him. You shouldn't steal, asswipe.

We've also had one very weird, but also very powerful guest; the Head Priest of Aena, Lord Reiner Movell. Essentially, he's the right hand to King Baylor, which makes me believe what Hael said. King Baylor is keeping an eye on Lord Makai. The priest always smiled, even with Lord Makai cursing at him constantly. He stayed for a few days, but it ended with Lord Makai literally throwing him out.

I only knew because I was the one cleaning the High Priests' room on the second floor, which he insisted to be on. When I stepped out, I saw the office doors open and Lord Makai launch Lord Movell like he was shot from a catapult all the way down the hall. He ended up denting the wall! But all he did was laugh, dust himself off then leave with a smile. Honestly? It was a little funny, especially since Lord Movell didn't seem to mind and, by this point, I'm used to it.

And I haven't been bothered by Lord Makai since. He never asked to speak with me again and the only time I see him is when he happens to be out of his room or office, which is a rare sight. Little attention is paid to us servants (save for the occasions when one, y'know, dies⁠—or there's a crime like the thieving incident). From time to time our work is inspected and someone gets a good snarling followed by a heinous threat, but that's the extent of his interactions. He's a lot busier than I thought and does leave the mansion frequently to check in on business, but it seems I can't avoid him forever because, once again, Higra comes to me with new orders.

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