Edward Harland couldn't be more proud as he knew he was an apple on the eyes of many women. As a vampire, he had defined features and he claimed he looked no inferior to the Warine Lord. He wondered what was better to Lord Ian than him. The look and his behavior had been gentle the way he knew Elise would prefer, then was it his wealth? 

Elise pulled a tight smile upon seeing Edward. After last time in the winter, she had begin to hold doubt against the man. Now seeing him when she had decided to distance herself from him make her feel awkward. "Pleasant morning for you Mr. Harland."

"It seems like you still don't allow me to be called as Edward," he pointed out. Elise knew that to call a man's first name without honorific should be done only when she has interest on the man and she doesn't have a single interest against Edward.

"Did you come here alone?" Elise then asked, finding the chance to then excuse herself and return next to Ian where she feel more at peace. 

"Yes I did. I heard about the upcoming marriage," Edward brought up with a hint of spite and due to how Elise had begin to doubt the man, she noticed it faintly. "Yours and the Lord's," Elise waited for the vampire to continue and speak but he didn't, and instead he appeared to be waiting for her words when she have thing. 

Edward sighed with frustration. In his life when he wanted to something it would become his. When he had targeted Elise, he thought that it would be an easy conquer the naive human. Who would have known that his trick didn't work. 

It was strange, Edward labeled himself as a person who know when to retreat. His rival was Lord Ian, and even he know that the man was one that he shouldn't cross yet after knowing it, he didn't back down, instead like a fire poured by oil, the desire to rob Elise from Ian came over him. He was suddenly intrigued of what would happen if he took Elise from the Lord who was known for his evil actions. He felt similar to how a person steal a forbidden fruit and the thrill exhilarate him.

"I have something to tell you," Edward said, his eyes looking at his surrounding to make it clear to Elise how he wanted to speak in private with her.

Elise noticed what he meant but she didn't play to his tune. She might be naive but not ignorant to not know that she shouldn't follow the vampire, "You can speak," she said as if she was oblivious to what he was trying to do and it might have been from Ian's influence

and how his slyness had rub off to her. 

Edward tensed his forehead, "I hope we can speak about this alone," he said, keeping his polite and gentle demeanor. "Just the two of us."

Elise quickly refuse in her mind and her lips open when they were both interrupted by a woman who placed her hand comfortably at Edward's shoulders. "Here you are, Edward," said Daphne, the woman who had suddenly appeared from behind Edward and Elise stared at the woman. She was a beautiful woman, perhaps even lovelier than Lady Ellen. 

"Daphne," Edward felt his frustration piled up once he saw the woman who had been chasing for his affection appear. "Why are you here?"

"To watch the hunt, though I like hunting better," Daphne whispered her preference, but Elise heard the words very clearly due to how her hearing had sharpened. "And this is... you must be Lady Elise, I have heard a lot about you," the woman smiled and Elise returned the smile, watching how Daphne's eyes were quick to seize her figure from the top to bottom.

Daphne wondered what hooked in her mind when she looked at Elise, finally noticing the red hair she has and Thomas' instructions to Esther. The woman was the Demon's Bride Esther had to find and the red hair belong to the same group of women that Edward killed after drawing the last drop of blood from their body. 

"My name is Daphne Harding, pleasure to become your acquaintance, milady," she introduced.

Being a sensible person, Elise could tell Daphne's interest lies on Edward. She pulled her skirt, returning the greeting, "I am Elise Scott, a pleasure to meet you as well, Lady Daphne."

"You can call me as Daphne," the woman was quick to say. Daphne wondered what kind of person the Demon's Bride was. To know she needed to speak and maybe bond with the woman so she could provide more service to the Dark Sorcerer Lord who had helped her achieve her greatest wish to once again meet her beloved soon when Edward cleared his throat aloud so he could snatch back the attention of the two— of Elise's.

"About earlier-" Edward had just started when another person had come behind Elise, the person who managed to turn all air still whenever he appeared. 

Ian placed his hand over Elise's shoulders, and her eyes looked at him as smile brushes his eyes but not enough to make his smile sincere as he looked at the vampire. "Talking with your friend, I see."

Edward's expression turn to one with menace when he found the Lord coming to the conversation. He had planned to bring Elise somewhere away from Ian but was a step too late as Daphne had interrupted his plan; not knowing that Ian had been watching them from afar since the moment Edward came up to them.

Daphne's expression was not too divergent from Edward's. To dark sorcerers Ian's existence was an eyesore they cannot remove. He was the fear of dark sorcerers as they know there was no chance for them to go against the Lord. When Ian:s gaze land on her, Daphne clenched her hand, putting a smile so she won't raise any suspicions.

"I don't know you, however, your dear lover, Edward?" Ian asked, and the vampire could tell the Lord was trying to pull his leg into trouble.

***

Don't forget to vote~