Chapter 81
I stared at my hand, frozen with fear. After sitting motionless on the bed for what felt like an eternity, I finally rose and faced the mirror, as though I needed confirmation that I hadn’t physically changed. My human-like reflection offered some comfort, though it failed to completely quiet the unease swirling inside me. Taking a deep breath, I resolved to push the problem aside for now—or at least until I could discuss it with Caspian.
But the restlessness clung to me. Even the logical argument that this might be a temporary side effect couldn’t slow the frantic pace of my heartbeat.
Grabbing my purse and coat, I stepped outside. Elio was already waiting to drive me to the bank’s headquarters. It hit me then: I hadn’t been there since the kidnapping. So much had happened in that brief span of time.
I’d gone from being a simple employee to the Mistress of the House of Kessler—though I still had no idea what that title truly entailed. I couldn’t help but wonder if any of it would affect my status at work. Deep down, I wanted everything to stay the same. I was exhausted from having to constantly adapt to new and bewildering situations.
“Good morning, Miss Kessler!” Elio called out, waving like a maniac the moment I appeared in the doorway.
“Good morning, Elio...” I managed an awkward smile. “Please, just call me Thalassa like you always have.”
“But Miss Thalassa... aren’t you going to be the Lady Protector soon?” he asked, his voice brimming with excitement.
“Geez, you sound like Freya,” I muttered under my breath, then added more firmly, “I haven’t heard anything about Lord Protector Kessler planning to marry me, so stop saying such nonsense.” I shot him a pointed look.
“Fine, fine, Miss Thalassa,” he replied with a grin, opening the car door for me.
He spent the drive chatting animatedly about the weather, the chill of the autumn wind, and how I should bundle up in warmer clothes. I didn’t stop him—it was a welcome distraction from the anxiety gnawing at me.
When we arrived at the bank, everything seemed normal. That, perhaps, was why I let my guard down. I walked inside like I always had—and froze.
The moment I entered the hall, every single person stopped what they were doing, turned toward me, and bowed, as though I were royalty instead of just another employee. My steps faltered as I scanned the room, hearing murmurs of greetings as I passed.
“Good morning, Ms. Drayton.”
“Have a wonderful day at the office, Ms. Drayton.”
“G-good morning,” I stammered, barely managing a response as I hurried toward the elevators.
A small crowd had gathered, waiting for the next elevator. But as soon as it arrived, everyone stepped aside, allowing me to enter first. No one joined me. I turned to offer an awkward smile, but the group merely bowed again as the doors slid shut.
It wasn’t until the elevator began its ascent that I finally exhaled.
“What the hell is going on?” I whispered, my voice tight with unease.
The whole situation felt surreal, and I had no idea how to handle their sudden, exaggerated displays of respect. All I wanted was to retreat to my office and avoid any further interaction.
Unfortunately, I needed to see Lucian to thank him for helping with Hadrian, which meant enduring the walk down the hallway. It was no better there—every person I passed greeted me with the same odd formality as those in the lobby.
“Good morning,” I muttered repeatedly, quickening my pace as though speed could render me invisible.
When I finally reached Lucian’s office, I knocked and slipped inside as soon as he called me in. Closing the door felt like sealing myself inside a safe haven.
Lucian chuckled at the sight of me. “Mistress of the House of Kessler... what an honor to have you in my office.”
“I came to thank you for your help during the attack,” I said, a shy smile tugging at my lips.
“You’re welcome, Mistress of the House of Kessler,” he teased, clearly amused.
“Please don’t call me that,” I replied, smirking. “Warden Grimsby.”
“Oh, come on—it’s more fun this way,” he said with a snort. “Besides, you’re just one step away from becoming part of a noble family.”
I sighed heavily. “I think I’ll pass on that. After seeing the so-called noble families at the gathering, I’m not sure I’d want any part of it.”
Lucian laughed and gestured for me to join him on the sofa. “Being part of a noble family isn’t so bad,” he said, winking.
It was then, as I watched him, that a thought struck me—something I hadn’t considered before.
“Can I ask you something, Mr. Grimsby?” I asked cautiously.
“Of course,” he replied with a chuckle. “But you need to start calling me Lucian.”
I gave a nervous smile. “Fine… Lucian. But tell me, why weren’t you at the gathering? Aren’t you a noble of high status?”
Lucian hesitated, then began reluctantly, “The Grimsby family’s status is… complicated. There’s an old rumor that my great-grandmother was mixed-blood. She didn’t live long, and after her death, her body was burned to prevent any evidence from proving—or disproving—the claim. In the end, the family retained our title, but we were no longer considered pure-blood. The only family that stood by us during that time was the Kesslers. Our families were very close—so much so that the late Lord Protector of Kessler married my father’s sister.” He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
“So, Hadrian’s mother was originally a Grimsby?” I asked, piecing it together.
“I told you we’re cousins, didn’t I?” Lucian replied with a smirk.
“But if she wasn’t considered pure-blood, doesn’t that mean Hadrian and Penrose might have mixed blood too?” I pressed, curiosity tingling in my voice.
“I doubt there’s a true pure-blood left in this world,” he said with a bitter smile. “It’s all politics. King Alaric insisted on tracing noble bloodlines back six generations, but keeping reliable records from as far back as the fifth or fourth century is nearly impossible.”
“So, this whole ‘nobility’ thing is kind of a sham,” I said wryly, a bitter smile forming as I thought of Princess Selene’s haughty, superior demeanor.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about strength. Power and ability are what determine status in this world,” Lucian said, patting my shoulder lightly.
“That’s easy for you to say,” I sighed. “I’m just a weak human.”
“But you’re also a powerful vampire’s woman,” he said with a sly grin. “That gives you more influence than you realize.”
I shook my head, unsure. “I don’t know about that. I barely understand how any of this works. I feel like nothing more than his lover, claiming a status that doesn’t truly belong to me.” I gave a nervous laugh, but even to my ears, it sounded hollow.
Lucian’s expression shifted, his gaze sharpening as he studied me. “I’m guessing you don’t know much about vampire history, do you?”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Seriously? That’s not exactly covered in human schools, you know.”
“Fair point,” he admitted with a snort before clearing his throat, as if preparing to launch into a lecture.
“A few centuries ago, it was common for every noble vampire family to maintain a harem. Human females in the harem held the status of lesser wives or concubines, while the position of the main wife was typically reserved for a vampire. Of course, if the vampire wife died, one of the humans could rise to take her place and assume the status of the main wife.”
“And you’re telling me this because…?” I asked, still unsure of the point he was trying to make.
Lucian frowned, his gaze steady as he replied, “Every human in the harem was marked—just like you. Hadrian doesn’t want a harem, which means it’s only natural that you hold the status of his main wife.”
I gasped, my thoughts spinning. Until that moment, I hadn’t fully grasped the gravity of being marked.
“Wait… that doesn’t make sense,” I said hesitantly, forcing a weak smile. “So, every woman bitten by a vampire automatically becomes his wife?”
Lucian burst into laughter, shaking his head. “Of course not! Back in the old days, if a vampire didn’t care about a human, he’d drain her dry without a second thought. A human woman could only become a wife if the vampire wanted to keep her—to taste her again and again. These days, though, draining humans is a bit more… inconvenient. It’s not illegal to kill a human in the vampire world, but leaving behind bodies is bad for keeping our existence secret.” He shrugged nonchalantly.
“You’re really not selling this,” I muttered with a nervous grimace.
“Don’t worry, Thalassa,” Lucian said with a mischievous grin. “First, I’m sure you’re far too delicious to kill. And second, Hadrian isn’t the type for polygamy. He’s always been the kind of guy who wanted one and only one. And from where I’m standing, it looks like he’s found her.” He pointed teasingly at me.
I flushed, heat creeping up my face as I smiled despite myself. I wanted his words to be true. Each day, it was becoming harder to deny the feelings I had for Hadrian—feelings I didn’t yet know how to name.
It was dawning on me that for vampires, being marked was akin to taking vows in the human world. I had expected oaths written on paper, something formal and ceremonial. Instead, I carried Hadrian’s name—etched into me in blood.