Herius stared right at Josef without faltering.

He was expecting a similar question sooner or later.

What an unfortunate boy.

Who knows what he kept in his bag to feel so confident.

He hadn't still understood whom he was dealing with.

Herius wasn't like that tacky that haunted people's nightmares.

He wasn't that crude and predictable.

He felt a slight tension in Maria, but they've already agreed on their line of action before the tailor's arrival.

And they decided they'd been daring.

"It's almost impossible not to know about this sad event, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?" Asked Josef.

Herius smiled.

"Gibergan isn't a big place, it seems everyone knows about everyone. Do you really find it strange knowing something that happened two months ago?"

"And that didn't prevent you from coming back?"

"And why should it have influenced our decision? After all, you're also there despite the murder. Shouldn't I ask you the same?"

His fingers lifted a chalice of wine, bringing it to his lips.

Josef observed him wary while he was drinking.

From the corner of his eyes he glanced towards Maria, trying to understand.

"It was a disgrace, sure. Grandfather always told us strange stories about this place." She whispered with an unmoved gaze.

The man swallowed.

"Also you knew about the stories from the past?" Asked Herius.

"I heard some rumours, but nothing that was really interesting."

That was true. He'd retrieved some information, but nothing was really useful for him.

"The most important thing for me is to do business. This is the only thing I care about while travelling."

"It sounds good, my dear Josef. We need more single-minded people in this world. And thanks to you Maria is going to have the best present I've ever given to her."

Maria glanced at her father.

I get that we have to flatter him, but isn't it too much?

"I thank you for your confidence. I'm honoured. Usually I give my drafts to my clients for some days to better understand what they really want. What do you think about it?"

Herius pretended to think about it.

He didn't have to decide.

He already knew which was his choice for Maria, but it wouldn't have been fun to be that confident.

"Yeah, it's a good idea, Herr Jaeger. But I find it impolite to send you away right now. Would you like to stay with us a little bit more?"

Maria seized her father's suggestion.

"Oh, yes, please! I'm waiting for Amalia for some tea. She should arrive soon!"

She spoke casually, but both her and Herius were studying his expression.

None of their actions was accidental at that moment.

And the dukes got the answer they wanted.

The man body's tensed.

Maria remembered with amusement the rumours she heard at the ball while they were dancing.

Who knows what those people would have thought if they'd known they were taking tea together.

The most interesting thing was Josef's answer.

Could he allow himself to refuse?

Or was he going to accept in order to avoid the turning of Amalia into a sacrificial victim for some wicked vampires?

She couldn't believe he really thought they could have been that forward.

Maria could clearly read in his gaze his horrid thoughts.

They disturbed her.

More than she thought.

I don't have to be always looking for someone to kill.

"Are you speaking of Amalia Reddam, do you really have invited her at the end?"

The vampire tried not to puff.

She thought it was pretty obvious who she was talking about.

"Yes, I've invited her for today. Knowing someone new is going to help me make my days better."

Josef hesitated.

He imagined himself, Maria and Amalia at the same table and was taken by despair.

In that way it could really seem that his hobby was to seduce younger women.

But he couldn't overlook Maria and Herius.

If he had gone away he could have left Amalia in the hands of two vampires.

Could he really afford this degree of frivolity?

Sure the first impression of them was good, but nobody could tell him if they were plotting something.

"Thank you for your offer, but are you sure I could be a good company? Maybe you'd feel uneasy with a man..."

It's just my body that stopped at 19, not my mind.

But she couldn't really say something like this.

Not now.

And she thought he was right, she also thought Amalia could feel uncomfortable with Josef.

"Oh, maybe you're not wrong, but what better company than you to discuss fashion, don't you think?"

Herius sipped his chalice, approving the daughter's dialectic.

He had him around her fingers.

She was almost forcing him to stay.

Yet another proof that spending centuries with him had made her a mastermind.

Josef's thirty years couldn't do anything against their centuries of experience.

Josef whispered.

"I can't blame you... but... you know... I thought you might also speak about something else..."

"Don't try to deceive me, Herr Jaeger, everyone knows you love to get favours from your clients and pretend to be a Don Giovanni without crossing lines."

"But I've already gained your favour. Amalia is already my client and now you're also my client. How could I ever benefit from enjoying tea with you?"

"So you're telling me you don't like our company? You're not courteous."

She smiled hearing a carriage approaching from afar.

She loved when she and her father drew up a plan together.

"You know, I have some work to do, but considering I've come here to discuss your dress; I think it would be fine to stay a little longer."

"I'm glad. I'm sure Amalia would be delighted to know you're with us."

Josef wasn't that sure about this.

He doubted Amalia could handle that situation, but maybe there were things Maria wasn't aware of.

Maybe she hadn't noticed how the girl looked at him.

"Honey, I think your guest has arrived."

Maria went to the window.

She had already heard the carriage, but she wanted to show her enthusiasm to Josef.

The play couldn't end for any reason.

Amalia looked at the landscape with a certain apprehension.

If she had to be honest, she'd prefer to find an excuse not to go to the Regulus, but she wasn't really tired.

She was pretty sure the father would have forced her to go there even if she was in convulsion.

The most important thing was to create a bond with the dukes.

She had heard him babbling something about the duke's son, but she had ignored every comment on the subject.

The less she knew about her father's plans and the better.

She really missed Dietrich in those moments.

He was the only person she could vent with in the four walls that kept nagging her.

Since his departure her life seemed sadder and darker.

And she couldn't really count on real friends.

She was a lonely soul.

Becoming acquainted with Maria couldn't cause her more harm.

She also had a good impression of her after the ball.

She was kind to invite her and she doubted there could have been ulterior motives if not trying to get over a boring day.

After all, she knew perfectly well what that meant.

She looked with astonishment at the gothic villa that was closer and closer.

It was an amazing view.

Even if it wasn't much far from the village she had never seen it. Maybe because it still was on the edge of the forest and she'd never walked that far away.

Not even when she was with Dietrich.

Also for that reason she thought of that visit as a magical adventure.

She thought of her friends again.

Or of whom she thought were friends.

After the rumour of Dietrich and Aloysa affair reached everyone, Amalia had tried to put in a good word, but she was made fun of.

They called her stupid because she thought a simple peasant could be with a noble just for love, they kept saying Aloysa was just pretending and that it was better if she opened her eyes and that she had to speak with Dietrich to make him realise it was all a joke.

She didn't budge.

She was on Aloysa's side till the very end.

Too late she realised that she was surrounded just by hypocritical people with no feelings.

Nobody paid their respects to Dietrich.

Nobody tried to understand him.

Everyone just said it was better like this.

Now the boy could start looking for a real partner and stop playing around.

In that moment she realised lots of her friends wanted her brother's hand since after Aloysa's death they had carte blanche.

None of them actually cared for her as a person.

The only one who tried to see past her being a noble was that girl.

Her death hadn't just shook her brother.

Amalia realised too late to have probably lost her only real friend.

She didn't want to find a substitute.

She knew Maria couldn't replace someone else.

She had her own personality, but maybe she could bring something new in her life.

Nothing could have prepared her for the surprise of seeing the young woman coming to welcome her.

She was astonished.

She knew no noble would have ever done something similar, even if she was doing it because there were no servants.

Also this was pretty strange.

How could it be possible that the dukes didn't have someone who looked after their house?

How could they go on like this?

"Amalia. I hope you won't mind it, but we won't be alone!"

The girl thought she had invited other girls, maybe someone who told her they were friends, but nothing could contain her amazement when they entered.

"Herr Jaeger!?!"

She exclaimed.

What was happening?

Has she missed something?

21/07/2023

See you next week for some tea together ☕☕☕