I Can't Get the Vampire Rogue to Romance Me

Chapter 97 - Harrowheart's Side Story That May Or May Not Be Foreshadowing

"So it is true. You spent the night in a sewer," First Lady Enrichetta declared as she came down a grand staircase to greet her fiance at the door. Several household servants dressed in matching black and white trimmed in elegant gray were lined up taking their gear, which didn't make Evangeline comfortable giving up her pack of supplies with her quiver and bow, but it wasn't exactly polite to keep them.

Veridian furrowed his brows at giving up his daggers, but a small nod from Evangeline and he did it.

A grandfather clock ticked away to one side, its hands pointing to 1 AM.

At least we got most of the night going for us, Evangeline thought, glancing at Valerian. He showed no signs of discomfort, unlike Harrowheart, who couldn't be more out of her element in the elegant house. Hagor managed to keep a serene expression similar to Sigismunds. Artmond took point coming to the bottom of the stairs, his hands behind his back and his posture perfect.

To First Lady Enrichetta's credit, she did not wrinkle her nose at them. Her elegant gray dress trimmed with blue was a a huge contrast to their rough travel gear. Only descended the staircase until she was eye to eye with Artmond, perched one up on the final step. "On the road I could understand. When you wished to stay at the inn with your party, I made accommodations. This however, being pulled out of a sewer I struggle to..." She closed her mouth a moment, giving a little huff. "I simply struggle."

Artmond nods, taking her words in without a sign of defensiveness. "I understand, my lady. This is not the impression I had hoped to give you about me."

She nodded, a deeper understanding passing between them. "Will you be able to separate far enough from your compatriots for us to speak in private?"

Artmond didn't even look to Evangeline for an answer. "If they can be in a room below me, I believe we can speak in your office comfortably," he said.

She nods once, and turns to lift her skirt to walk back up the stairs. Artmond followed, ascending the staircase a step below her as smoothly as she was. Despite his rough clothing, he looked like belonged there.

They all stood there watching, but as soon as the pair had disappeared up the stairs a smart looking man in a clothing almost as good as First Lady Enrichetta cleared his throat. Without saying a further word, probably because that would be inefficient, he gestured to the side.

This time Sigismund is the one who took point, with the rest of the party following. For the most part, they didn't feel any tug on their collars from Artmond being above them as they were led into a room, they presumed was right below.

"As far as waiting rooms go, this is quite nice," Valerian noted, sliding into a cushioned chair of what Evangeline would call a living/gaming room but for faux-medieval people. There was a nice sized fireplace, already going, with cushy chairs in one circle and a round table nearby with more chairs around it. In the center of that table, cards and chips waited to be played. A chess set with its own matching chairs sat in one corner and a couple more chairs and table sets lined the other wall with various game boards waiting to be used.

"I could live in this room forever," Evangeline said as she beelined in and straight to a side table to one side of the fireplace that had been laid out with things to eat. Fresh fruit, little breads and cheeses, several meat slices and a million little cakes.

"So you're seriously not going to fight for him?" Valerian asked in an overly loud voice as he took a seat in one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace. He put his feet up on an ottoman, looking supremely satisfied.

"There is nothing for me to fight for," Sigismund said as she stood staring into the fire, her hands held before her in a formal pose that Evangeline recognized her adopting when they had been among the other clerics back at the Grove of the Two Trees.

Harrowheart came up beside Evangeline to help herself to some of the provided foods.

Evangeline leaned in to whisper. "I don't think I've ever seen Sigismund so... calm."

"That is a woman with a breaking heart," Harrowheart noted, then added, "Ooo brie!"

"You really think she has feelings for Artmond." Evangeline turned around to lean her hip against the table while talking to Harrowheart. It also disguised her further surveying the room. "I mean, I know Artmond has feelings for her. Even Valerian has to know that, but I guess I just thought Sigismund saw him as a burden."

"Well, how else would you act toward someone you like that you know you can never have?" Harrowheart noted, raising an eyebrow at Evangeline as she walked to one of the two chair tables that was empty except for a cup and some dice.

Evangeline joined her.

"Are you speaking from experience?" Evangeline asked, settling in across. She hadn't really gotten to talk to Harrowheart much and was glad to finally get to.

"Oy, I could really use a beer with this," Harrowheart said as soon as they sat. She twisted around looking for drinks when one of the footmen still standing by the door promptly came forward and bowed.

"May I fetch you anything, Mistress Harrowheart," he asked.

"Oh my, listen to him. 'Mistress,'" Harrowheart joshed, grinning from jagged ear to jagged ear at the title. "Yes, love, can you get me a beer. You want one?" She looked at Evangeline.

"You know, I would actually take some wine. Just sounds good."

The footman nodded, with no opinion on either of their choices and moved across the room to where a small bar was set up to prepare their requested drinks.

"And yes, I used to have a terrible crush on an elf boy," Harrowheart finished speaking. "Wanna hear the story?"