Red Diamonds

Chapter 5: The arrival of Aunt Jane

Ethan ate dinner and stayed alone that night. Malvia didn't go with him because she knew what Malvia was. Esther would ask why Malvia did not eat. Ethan said Malvia was a little traumatized by meeting people she didn't know and said she would deliver food to the guest room, the room Malvia occupied.

Tok tok tok tok

"Y-yes?"

"Miss, it's me. Can I come in?" ask Ethan politely.

"Surely, of course." replied Malvia. Ethan opened the door. She saw Malvia standing by the window. Ethan goes inside with a tray of food.

"Is everything okay?" ask Ethan. He put his tramp on the table.

"certain. Just enjoying the night. Tonight the moon is so beautiful." Malvia stared at the solid moon on her throne. Ethan's approaching. He could see the moon.

"You're right."

"Ahh yes, is there a problem sir?" ask Malvia. He looked at Ethan. Ethan turned his eyes to Malvia. Even with the light of the candle, she could see the beauty of Malvia. From the very beginning, Malvia was disheveled and seedy, both her face and her clothes. Now he was clean and wearing decent clothes. Even the moonlight that entered his room seemed to reinforce the beauty of Malvia. Although her skin was paler than most ordinary humans, it did not seal off her beauty. Yeah, Ethan admits it. Even his heart praised him.

Ethan cleared his throat to awaken himself from admiration.

"I'm sorry, miss, but Esther, I'd be suspicious if she didn't eat" Ethan said.

"Ahh right. I understand sir."

"You don't have to eat it. Let me just. I know if you-"

"Don't! No need sir. I know you ate earlier. Its alright. Just put it here." reject Malvia.

Ethan nodded. "Well if that's what you want. Ahh one more. I'm sorry I know this is so disrespectful but I have to give blood right out of his pocket. I don't want Esther to be suspicious of blood-stained glasses." explains Ethan.

"It doesn't matter either, sir. I understand."

"Alright, then please have dinner and rest." Ethan smiled awkwardly and walked out of the room.

Malvia breathed a sigh of relief when Ethan was out. He sat at the end of his bed. His feet felt weak. He's suddenly nervous around Ethan. Especially when Ethan looked at him with an intense gaze like that. She seemed to be dissolved in her gaze that was so soft and warm.

"What's wrong with me?" Malvia held her chest. "Don't tell me I like it. A Malvia Wycliff? Likes humans? No, that can't happen."

...***...

The next morning, there was a knock on the door in Malvia's room.

"Y-yes?" Malvia was always nervous when she heard that knock.

"Sorry miss, I'm Esther, Mr. Sanders' servant" said Esther from the outside.

"The sanders? Ahh that must be the man's name."

Malvia stood up from her seat and opened the door slightly. He tried to hide his pale face and neck by letting his hair run down.

"Sorry miss, do you want breakfast?" ask Esther kindly and politely. Malvua shakes.

"No, I'm not hungry. Thank you." Thank you."

"You sure? You'll limp in later. Said Mr. Sanders, you're in a time of healing. So you have to eat a lot" said Esther trying to persuade Malvia.

"I'm fine, thank you. Ahh right, wait a minute." Malvia goes into the room and takes the tray that was last night between Ethan to her room. The tray is empty now. Malvia ate all of her food. "The food is great, thank you."

Ester smile. He likes it best when people eat the food he cooks. "I'm happy if you like it." Esther took the tray and swapped it for another tray of food. "Keep in case you're hungry, you can eat this."

Malvia smile. "Thank you, you're so nice."

"Together ladies and ahh! There's a closed glass on top of that tray. Said Mr. Sanders there's mulberry juice he made master for you, maybe you don't have a taste for food."

"He shouldn't have bothered." murmured Malvia.

"Let's just relax, Mr. Sanders made it for everyone. I got it too. Excuse me, miss."

"Once again. Thank you." said Malvia still with courtesy.

"No problem, miss."

Esther left there feeling calm. At first he was nervous if his fear of Malvia was true. But seeing that Malvia was so gentle and polite, she became fearless again. He respects Malvia. From Malvia's attitude and also his words, Malvia is seen as coming from the upper class, like nobility.

Malvia sighed and leaned against the door still holding a tray of food. He was so nervous about facing Esther. It was not that he endured the lust of drinking Esther's blood, but that he was afraid of being discovered. Malvia put the tray on the table. He noticed a glass that was closed, not what it looked like but Esther said it was a mulberry juice made by Sanders. But why does Malvia smell blood?

Malvia opened the lid of the glass and sure enough, it was blood.

"Why did he say this is mulberry juice?" Malvia raised the glass and noticed the contents. The next moment he laughed. He understands now. The color is similar to blood, red. But if it smells and is noticed correctly, it is not a mulberry. Ethan purposely makes everyone mulberry juice so he can give blood in a glass to Malvia.

"He did this for me?" Malvia blushed. Ethan's small actions for her make her blush. Malvia bit her lower lip and smiled. The next few seconds he nodded quickly. "God! Why me?"

It's almost afternoon but Ethan hasn't come to see Malvia yet. Usually he will come even if he just checks the wound. But Ethan didn't come. Only Esther kept knocking on her bedroom door and feeding her. Malvia feels equated with cows because it continues to be fed.

...***...

The horse-drawn carriage came in the front yard of Ethan's house. The man sitting next to the horseman got down and opened the door. One middle-aged woman with tanned blonde hair was neatly carried on her head. The man had extended his hand, becoming a grip as the middle-aged woman got off the carriage. The woman stepped gracefully. It looks very if he is from among the nobility of the way he walks and his satin mix silk dress in ivory yellow, quite striking. Some people helped her lift the bag that the woman was carrying. The woman knocked on the door elegantly.

Esther quickly opened the door.

"Mrs." Esther bowed respectfully.

"No, madame Gardinar. You're going to check on the villagers" Esther said. The woman sat on one of the sofas.

"He always did that charity. Aren't you tired? Not getting any money but touching dirty and diseased hands." Madame Gardinar took off her gloves. "Ester, I want some tea and get my room ready. I'll stay tonight."

"Good, madam." Esther bowed respectfully and immediately left.

"Ahh right." said Mrs Gardinar, stopping Esther's steps.

"Yes madam?"

"What Ethan... Uhm... Close to a woman lately?"

"I don't know madam. As far as I know I don't. But even if it is, I doubt Mr. Ethan will tell me."

"Yes, you're right. So he never brought a woman home?" ask the lady again. His eyes were full of probing.

"Ear, mistress. Once."

The lady looked at Esther. He looked surprised and enthusiastic. "really? Who?"

"Say sir, you saved the lady from the bandits in the forest and brought her home. The lady's in the guest room right now and Mr. Ethan must've reported to the sheriff about the lady the bandits are after."

"really? I'll meet him." Madame Gardinar stands. "I have to see what he looks like and the truth of the news."

"Sorry madam, sir said the lady should not be disturbed."

Esther's refusal affixed a frown to the brow of mistress Gardinar. He stared dislikefully at Esther.

"Why is that?"

"Master said, it's possible that the lady was traumatized, madam. So he can't be found." Esther explained.

"I'm sure that's Ethan's only excuse. He must have hidden the girl." muttered mistress Gardinar.

"That's not true, madam. I met him this morning and this afternoon, delivering food. He looks very friendly but looks very nervous too. His hand has bruises. I'm sure Mr. Ethan is telling the truth."

Madam Gardinar sighed harshly. "All right, whatever. Quickly prepare my room and bath water. It's so hot."

"Good mistress."

In the afternoon before dusk, Ethan arrives with his beloved horse. He gave his horse to his workers and went into the house. He saw his aunt's horse-drawn carriage and immediately entered.

"Ethan.." call his aunt.

"Aunt Jane."

Ethan wants to hug Jane but Jane dodges.

"I've had a shower. I don't want to shower a second time. You stink of sweat!"

Ethan laughs. "Then Ethan will take a shower."

"alright. We had dinner together and don't forget to bring the girl to eat together."

Ethan's steps stopped. The girls?

"Come on, aunt wants to meet him and get acquainted. Maybe your aunt recognized him and could help him."

"I'm not sure that's a wise thing, bi. Considering she has trauma to-"

"He must face his trauma sooner or later, or he never recovers."

"That's true but not everyone can deal with that trauma. It can be short, annual even longer. We can't even equate it bi."

"Auntie doesn't understand medical ponakan. Just take him to dinner. If the trauma becomes severe, we return it to the room" Jane's aunt said as she passed. Ethan breathed. After the death of her parents, Jane's aunt took care of her, but not specifically because Esther was always there for her but she still could not argue with her aunt.

...***...

Dinner was awkward. Malvia accepts a dinner invitation from Jane's aunt, which surprises Ethan. What surprised Ethan even more was that Malvia could eat human food well and smoothly.

Aunt Jane certainly noticed Malvia in every inch of her body. She knew very well Malvia was not just any girl. Look how the attitude and ethics of Malvia when eating. Very classy and elegant. Although Malvia was a vampire, Malvia was still a royal princess. She has been taught how to speak, behave and be ethical as well as a royal princess. It invited awe and a smile full of admiration from a Jane Gardinar.

That admiration also included a considerable curiosity. Aunt Jane asked about all the personal things from Malvia. From name, surname, residence and many things. Naturally, Malvia could answer well despite having to lie.

But then came the talk about vampires. Issues and massacres of vampires and also the extermination of vampires. Now it's a hot topic in the city. That humans no longer need to worry about walking at night and are free to do anything without worrying about vampire terror.

"They must be destroyed, right? I mean, we're the food, but that doesn't mean it's supposed to scare us all the time, right? That really pisses me off. Feeling insecure among your own people. So they deserve to be destroyed!" said aunt Jane.

"After all.." he continued. "May their king allow and allow his people to kill, slaughter everyone. Thankfully they are dead."

"Bye..."

"What's? I'm right!"

Malvia squeezed her dress firmly. He held back his amarh which was beginning to flare up. Ethan knew that, so he tried to divert the conversation. Malvia who comes from the royal family has the ability to hide her red eyes. But that night her red eyes appeared and her face began to change. Fires of anger began to spread throughout his body. He kept telling himself to calm down, but it seemed like he couldn't. Not if it's about his family. He doesn't want to lose control.

"Excuse me." said Malvia then immediately ran out of the house. He really doesn't want to get out of control. Not in front of the man who had saved her.

...***...