After news of the birth of a Pureblood spread, the wheel started spinning.

Parties and celebrations last for weeks.

Valerie Rosegarden married into the family during this time. All the servants now address her as "Lady Dietrich."

During these weeks, the Elders meet frequently. They don't even bother to hide that they are meeting almost every single day.

Lucien complains to me more about the meetings.

Niles was punished for trying to skip. He too thought it painfully boring and would much rather play with the newborn like everyone else.

While the baby was receiving endless attention from everyone, his birth mother was completely disregarded.

When news got out, Uncle Dietrich immediately took the baby from Alvena. He brought the young lord to Lady Dietrich and ordered the baby to be raised as her own.

The Elder Council agreed that it was best for the Pureblood to be raised by strong noble vampire parents.

Master didn't exactly agree, but he didn't wield much power in the council, especially not when Lord Killua, the veteran Pureblood, supported the Elders' decisions.

Thus, Nero is being raised by Lady Dietrich instead of Mistress.

Alvena misses her son very much, but she has bigger things to worry about. Currently, she is only allowed to stay in the house because of Master.

According to Lucien, Uncle Dietrich wanted to discard Alvena as she is of no further use. But Master hinted that she is still young and barely even eighteen. There could be a second Pureblood—an idea that Uncle absolutely was too greedy to pass up.

Of course Master was only saying that to please and persuade his superior. This was the only way to keep the human by his side. Fortunately, it worked.

So on the surface, Mistress and Master seem to be getting along. But in reality, she still hasn't forgiven Master for anything.

Though Master acts nonchalantly in front of everyone else to put up a good show, he secretly hurts. How do I know this?

Lucien tells me. After all, they are best friends and drinking companions.

And I can tell as well.

Master tries his best to "coincidentally" appear with Nero, both to see Alvena and allow her to see Nero.

Plus, Master was the one who ultimately convinced the Council to keep the name his mistress chose for their son.

Aleksandar Nero Dietrich.

Pureblood of the millennia.

Young Master Alek was indeed special. Everyone only awaits to see what special innate powers the child has yet to reveal. It's always exciting when a vampire is born with extraordinary power that an average vampire can only dream of.

Everyone hopes that he will be blessed with powers like Lord Killua. The former is one of the most revered Purebloods because he is versed in telepathy and memory manipulation.

Everyone but his mother.

Alvena fears that if her son is born strong, he'd be a "pawn" for the Elder vampires.

She's not completely wrong. The whole purpose behind conceiving the Pureblood is to prepare for the bigger matter. Purebloods—the strong ones—are leaders. They lead wars. They fight the werewolves. And they conquer.

So legend says.

No one really recalls the warring days except for Lord Killua, the sole living survivor of the Great War between the vampires and puppies.

With the growing vampire population and diminishing human counterpart, there are increasing rumors about a pending war with the enemies residing beyond the Border separating us and them.

In fact, everyone is just impatiently waiting for the young Master to grow up. And he's doing it pretty quickly.

Alvena didn't believe me when I told her that vampires grow twice to three times the speed of humans and seemed shocked to see how fast her son can grow. She doesn't get to see him everyday, but each time he is brought to visit, he looks different.

But she believed me soon enough when the young lord made his first sounds aside from crying at three months old. He began talking in short sentences at age one. And could hold a decent conversation two years after that.

So it comes at no surprise that now, five years later, he looks no different than a 10 year old human boy, except with much grander presence, wisdom, importance, and power.

"Evelyn."

My ears twitch in response to the quiet whisper coming from down the hallway of my room. It has been a while since I have been called by Master so I get up immediately and open the door.

Right in front, in all glorious excellence, he presents himself in a fine suit tailored to fit his growing body perfectly.

"Master Alek," I lower my head and curtsy.

"It's Nero," he corrects as he stealthily enters my resting quarters and I quickly shut the door.

"Your name is precious. A noble vampire shall only allow select people to address them by their unique name," I lecture the child.

My eyes meet his for a moment. They were completely golden, no trace of the red that I've seen when he first came about. Just pure gold—much to the satisfaction of Uncle Dietrich and the gossip of the vampire nobles across the four districts.

"I don't want father's name. It reminds Mother of him."

The Pureblood casually takes off his fitted clothing and changes into simpler attire that he had me keep in my room.

"Be careful who you call Mother. If someone aside from me catches you calling Alvena your 'mother,' you'll be in big trouble," I say, back to him. "As will she."

"I only acknowledge one mother," he talks back.

"Who's called Valerie," I teach.

"Valerie is only father's wife by title. She is nothing to me."

"People can hear you from the hallways," I whisper.

"Then they'll be hearing the truth."

"And Alvena and I will be hearing trouble, Nero," I explain quietly.

Nero immediately pipes down, embarrassed at his little tantrum.

He's a good boy. He thinks of his mother and cares for a simple maid like me. But he's still too innocent.

Giving him a little pat on the head and offering a crooked smile is what it usually takes to cheer him up. Looks like it's going to work this time too.

"Evelyn," little Nero whispers. "Can you take me to mother now?"

I look at the little boy in front of me, dressed in a plain urchin vest and baggy knee pants that seemed to big for him. His eyes were a dull blue with a tint of gold glowing from behind the contact lenses.

My hand reaches out and tousles his slicked back hair until it looks less perfect. But no matter how I try to ruin his hair, it just ends up looking good. Thus, I place a cap over his light brown hair.

He looked normal enough—I hope.

At the same time, I didn't want him to look too shabby when seeing his favorite person in the world.

"Now you're ready," I confirm after eyeing him one more time.

We carefully leave the castle unnoticed, with our trusted staff covering for us. Nero hides behind me most of the time while entering the town, but the minute we reach the corner bakery, he starts acting his age and flies to the woman sitting at the table with an umbrella. Her long, ash gray hair gives her away in an instant.

"Madam!" the young boy cries, throwing himself into the woman's open arms.

"Nero," she calls back, squeezing her son tightly. "Did you grow more?" she asks, spinning him around and giving him another long embrace.

"Just a little bit," he responds with a sharp toothy grin that brings a big smile to Alvena's face.

Mistress turns to me.

"Thanks, Evie."

I give her a small nod. This was all I could do for her—sneaking Nero out to meet with her in secret. The Elders would be furious if they found out that Nero had been seeing his birth mother all this time.

"Have you been good?" Alvena asks her vampire child. He nods. "Did anyone suspect anything yet?" she asks with more seriousness.

"I haven't shown anyone," the child answers. "Except you...and Evelyn."

Alvena is suddenly overcome with shock as she looks at me in slight panic.

I look at her with an unchanging emotionless stare.

"Evelyn...I can explain," Alvena starts, already searching for words to tell me something. "Nero...he's just playing around and..."

I wonder why she seems so nervous around me.

"I'm not Master. I don't demand answers," I say, hoping to ease her anxiety.

Nero curls his tiny hand in his mother's and gives her a reassuring squeeze.

"Evie, how much do you know?" Mistress finally gives up and asks.

I look at Nero and he gives me an encouraging nod.

"Nero can compel others and manipulate their memories."

"Did you tell anyone yet?" she asks frantically.

I shake my head. She doesn't seem to trust me.

"As long as Master doesn't ask, it will remain a secret."

Fortunately, Mistress doesn't make me promise anything. She knows I answer to Master first.

But I still care for Alvena very much.

The human woman has no freedom to do whatever she wishes.

But her Pureblood son has even less freedom.

"Lucien tells me the Elders are making fancy arrangements for the war," I throw out casually as I look out at the hustle and bustle of the village. "Lord Killua wants to start training Nero soon."

Alvena tightens her grip on the child's hand. "How soon?"

"This month."

Mistress jumps out of her seat in anger. I was surprised to see her with such energy. When around Master, she is like a human doll with the same expression plastered on her petite pretty face.

"No one was going to tell me?" she questions angrily.

"Master tried convincing the Council otherwise and they said they would consider it. However, Lucien says that they're just saying it to be courteous. Lord Killua is rumored to be visiting Argid this month, most likely to pay the two masters a visit."

Alvena turned to Nero in terror.

Nero looked helplessly at his young and even more helpless human mother.

"I'm sorry mother," he mumbles.

Mistress shakes her head and hugs him even tighter.

"It's not your fault, sweetie," she says as a tear rolls down her pale cheek. "It's not your fault."

If Lord Killua comes, this may be the last time they see each other for a long time so I want to give the two more time together. But I'm in no place to want anything.

"It's time to head home."

Alvena dips her head and kisses her son gently on both cheeks before bringing him in for a final hug.

Then, she does something weird.

She mouths something to Nero. I couldn't hear what she was saying since she didn't say anything. I can't read lips either so I simply wait idly for the two to say their farewells.

Nero pecks his mother's cheek before waving goodbye.

"Thank you, Evie," my mistress's sweet voice calls from behind before we head back home.

She sounded different. I could tell she meant it, but it sounded different from the usual thanks.

Maybe because this is the last time I would be bringing Nero.

Or maybe I'm just thinking too much.

*****

: for those who wanted a fast update: there you are. i hope you are pleased with the service ^^ i'll be working hard to finish this story and not keep you all waiting too long.

Thanks everyone for !!