Through my Blood

Chapter XVII: Sudden Realizations

"The bedroom is right upstairs. If you want to wash up and launder, the washroom is on the left, also upstairs." Remus instructed Serana. "If you're going to do your laundry, I'm pretty sure Jordis has a set of clothes in the closet."

"She lived here?" Serana asked as she sat down to rest her feet. "Oh, yeah. You mentioned something about that back in Heljarchen Hall."

"Yeah. She was appointed housecarl after I became a Thane of Haafingaar." The man explained as he wrote down a list of supplies I had to get.

Serana's eyes darted across the room as if scrutinizing everything which made Remus a little conscious.

"This house of yours is... really something. How much did it cost?" she inquired. She got up and started walking around.

Crunching the numbers in his head, Remus replied. "Around twenty thousand septims?"

"That much?!" she blurted out, her mouth gaping.

"Come on, you don't have to act so surprised. That's pretty rich coming from a vampire princess." he scoffed.

"I'm not-"

"Yeah, yeah." Remus laughed as he cut her off. "Well, it's actually around forty thousand septims since I had the whole thing furnished."

"For- forty thousand?! How did you even had that much money?!"

"Well, for starters... I'm Guildmaster of the Thieves Guild, of course I get a good cut. And, after that I was-" Remus seemed a little conscious before he continued, "- You know what I'm talking about. After that, I took on bounties. Then, I discovered I was Dragonborn so I was mostly an adventurer." He paused for a moment, thinking back. "Hm. I'd say bounties on dragons and high-profile bandit leaders paid good."

Remus looked over his shoulder to see Serana. She just stood there, crossed arms, with a small smile on her face while staring at him.

"What?" he asked.

"Oh, sorry." Serana broke off before returning to her chair. "It's nothing. Kind of cute you're sharing intimate parts of your life with me nonchalantly." She was still smiling as the mortal groaned in disgust. "Hey, you know, I think you should follow that guy's advice. What was his name? Viarmo?"

"Yeah. What advice?" Remus answered before going back to organizing their things.

"He was right you know. It may be none of my business, but still that doesn't change a fact. You're hiding from people."

"Yes, you're right that it is none of your business, but go on." Remus sarcastically replied. After that remark, the man could almost feel Serana rolling her eyes behind his back.

"Alright, fine. But, look... how long has it been since you last went outside, not being all to conscious about having a hood over your head and a mask over your face? Disturbed that someone out there is going to recognize you?"

Remus went silent. Within him, he knows she was right. But, of course, it won't change the fact that he had his reasons. As he was about to retort, Serana aired her thoughts out first.

"How about this. You go out and restock our supplies for travel..."

"Yeah, that's what I'm planning to do in the first place."

"... And leave your hood and mask right here."

"Wait, what?" In an instant, Serana darted across the room and grabbed his hood and mask resting at an end table.

"Out of question. Give those back." he moved towards the woman, but the latter seemed to be serious about it, so Remus just took a step back and crossed his arms. His face slowly contorting into a scowl.