Date Night

Chapter 77

"Faya, don't sit like that. You know that a grand duchess shouldn't sit like that."

I stiffened at Mother's statement when she saw me slouching on the couch. This coerced me to sit erectly when she was behind me and gently slapped my arm.

"Mother..." I furrowed my brow. "I'm an adult now... You don't need to instruct me on what to do..." I remarked as she adjusted my hair, loosely tied in a bun, with a few strands framing my face for added emphasis.

"You don't act like one." Mother shook her head and approached me to check my face. "Now, any minute, your date will arrive." She wriggled her eyebrows.

I avoided my gaze, knowing she wouldn't stop teasing me because of what would happen tonight. It was also just in time when I heard the wheels of the carriage and neighs of the horses in front of the mansion.

"Well, what did I say?" she teased as she nodded to the butlers to open the door.

The door revealed Alucard dressed in his expensive tuxedo attire with a bouquet of iris flowers in his hand. I held my breath upon seeing him looking so dashing in that suit while his hair was brushed up to his back as he exuded charisma and exoticness.

"Good evening, Dowager Grand Duchess. I am here for your beautiful daughter," Alucard announced with an exaggerated bow.

Mother chuckled. Just before she could speak, we were interrupted by the tiny voices as they yelled, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!"

There, Luciana, Lumiere, and Liutrich came downstairs in their pajamas with their beaming expressions, running towards their father. My eyes pierced at Alucard, who suddenly melted, his expression softening before he knelt to the ground, not minding whether his pants might get dirtier.

"Oh, my brave pups! Come here!"

Our children giggled and didn't hesitate to be in their father's arms. My heart was gently tugged at how Alucard handled our pups with care and adoration.

For months that I was with him, he showed how caring he was as their father. He was holding on to his promise that he would be a better father for them and would make up for the lost time he was not with him.

And I knew that those past months, we had been arguing left and right as he kept on insisting himself to give him another chance. Also, we had been sleeping with each other, which was... quite not right.

And now, I wanted to give this a chance to see if Alucard and I could still make things right. I might not be able to hear his explanation, but the past is past. There was no need to discuss, and I didn't want to open the healed wounds.

Alucard glanced at me and smiled, making my heart leap. "Alright, my brave pups. Time for bed and return to your chambers. I still need to take Mommy out." He winked at them.

Waves of giggles emitted from our pups. I couldn't help but knit my forehead, looking like the four of them had some secrets they never shared with me.

"Good night, Daddy." They kissed their father's cheek before they turned to me. "Good night, Mommy."

"Good night, my little ducklings." I kissed their foreheads.

Mother chimed in with a smile. "I'll take them to their bed. And, please take your time with my daughter, Alucard. I don't mind if you are going to elope with her again."

I gasped and looked at my mother in disbelief. "Mother...!" I could have sworn my cheeks were tinted in red right now when she said that.

Apparently, she found out about it because she learned that her grandchildren were staying at Atticus' at that time. Though Mother Luna Queen Adeline supported Alucard's action, Grand Alpha King Apollo wasn't pleased and looked like he was silently blaming me for Alucard's action.

"You can count on me, Mother."

My eyes grew wider in shock from what I just heard about how Alucard addressed my mother. Did he really just call my mother as if it was his mother-in-law?!

When our eyes met, his eyes were full of mischief. I could tell that he was teasing me.

"Alright." Mother chuckled and turned to our kids. "Say, have fun with your mommy and daddy, my sweet grandchildren."

"Have fun, Mommy, Daddy!" My three children waved their hands together with their innocent smiles plastered on their lips.

Before Alucard and I could enter the carriage, he bestowed me the bouquet. "For you, my beloved dollface."

"Thank you, Alucard..." I said shyly, silently urging myself not to spit a spiteful remark against him.

It took a toll since I was used to being defensive when he was around. But since I told him that I would make a decision to decide whether I would give him a chance or not, I promised myself not to be a jerk towards him.

It might be hard to draw out my feminine side since I have had my masculine personality ever since Alucard rejected me. It was a coping mechanism since all I did was to be a mother and father to our kids for those years.

Now, it was time for my feminine personality to take over me... just like before.

"You never forget my favorite flower..." I initiated a conversation so it wouldn't turn awkward later.

As soon as I sat inside the carriage, I was expecting Alucard to sit across me, but I caught my breath when he sat next to me, making my eyes widen.

"Of course. Everything about you... I will never forget about them." Alucard took my hand and kissed it back while staring into my eyes. "I am finally having a date with you. Thank you for not declining it, Faustina."

His baritone voice sent chills down my spine. It wasn't hard to notice what he was expressing right now. His forest-green eyes were dancing in happiness... The emotion I was familiar with, just like the night he confessed he was already in love with me.

Gulping, I coerced a smile, unsure how to react to it. My stomach was somersaulting, so I was finding some words on how to respond to him.

Alucard must have realized my silence, or I could not respond immediately. "Your presence makes me happy, Faustina. I knew now that I was not dreaming."

The next thing he did melted my whole being. Alucard hugged me, leaning his face on my chest as if he wanted to be cuddled by me.

"I have been wanting to be with you for so long... I cannot wait to be with you every day..."

I could hear the beating my heart was right now. I was certain that he could hear it, too. My wolf urged me to touch him, and I followed her by caressing his back.

"Pudding..." I murmured the endearment I used to call him before.

His embrace tightened. "Faustina..."

Alucard took me to a fancy restaurant where he had made a reservation. As soon as my foot was set inside, I noticed no people inside, but I could see some servers in the distance.

"Why is no one here... but us?" I asked, full of uncertainty before I murmured a thank you to him when he pulled me a chair so I could take my seat.

I watched Alucard sitting across me before taking my hand on the table. "I want this night to be only just us. No distraction. No interruption. Would that be possible?" he asked, slightly tilting his head. "I want to get to know you more, Faustina, and compensate for the lost time we haven't been together."

The sincerity in his voice was enough for me to be swayed. Looking at him now, I knew by then that he was far from the Alucard I had known. He was more mature than he ever was.

And this date we had was the final level that I was prepared to take a risk. It was also the day that I would make my decision.

I hope that I won't make a wrong judgment here.

"Pudding." Alucard stiffened at that endearment. His attention was so full on me that it looked like he couldn't believe what he had just heard for a moment. "I want us to rekindle our mate bond," I announced, making his jaw drop.