Married To The Mad Vampire Lord

Though Rohan wasn't angry or in a bad mood, there was a hardened look in his eyes that repelled anyone who didn't know him well. His presence wasn't something people easily grew accustomed to, and Evenly wisely kept her distance, moving away from Belle's side when Rohan came to walk at the same pace as his wife.

Belle noticed the woman drawing back and understood why she would want to steer clear of her husband, especially after what had happened the last time Rohan had seen her in Bimmerville. The vampiress was treading carefully, walking a very thin line, knowing that even the slightest mistake could land her in trouble with Rohan again in this land, particularly now that she lived under his roof.

Yet, despite her caution, Belle noticed her gaze shift toward Angel, her expression touched with clear, curious astonishment.

"Is… is he the newborn?" Evenly asked as they moved deeper into the castle, her gaze fixed on Angel as though she couldn't quite believe a newborn could have grown so much in such a short time. Wasn't he said to be two months old?

"Yes," Belle replied with a faint smile. "Children these days seem to grow faster than their age would suggest." Only a fool would believe a two-month-old could grow that fast, but she hoped Evenly would take the bait and not start probing. Even vampires didn't grow as quickly as Angel was, Belle thought to herself.

Evenly's lips parted as if to say more, but she hesitated when she noticed Belle shivering beneath the towel wrapped around her, her teeth chattering from the cold. Whatever questions lingered in her mind, she swallowed them, falling into a thoughtful silence as they crossed the vast, echoing foyer.

"Get hot water ready for her. And hot tea," Rohan ordered, and Rav hurried away to carry out the command.

Evenly, who noticed how badly Belle was shivering now and how fussy the baby had become, stepped forward to ease her of him so she could at least have a chance to change and bathe.

"Let me take him, Belle. I'll change him while you get yourself warm." She said with the intentions to help her friend as she was trembling uncontrollably from the cold.

But at the sound of the unfamiliar voice and the attempt to take him, Angel clung tighter to Belle's neck. His little arms wrapped around her desperately as he refused to be taken by someone he didn't know.

Belle quickly realized that he hadn't been whimpering just because he was uncomfortable and drenched, but because he was now surrounded by strangers.

It seemed that having him accept another person as a mother, even temporarily, would be just as difficult as she had imagined. And though the feeling embarrassed her, she couldn't deny the quiet warmth and affection that spread through her chest at the realization.

She was ashamed to admit it even to herself… but she liked that she was irreplaceable to her son.

Evenly stepped back quickly when Angel suddenly kicked at her hands, trying to get them off his body. She moved away, holding her hands in front of her with an expression caught between embarrassment and awkwardness.

"I'm sorry about his behavior. He's not used to being here," Belle said quickly, trying to smooth things over after Angel's reaction. "Perhaps when he's well rested, he'll be calmer."

Evenly managed a smile, "Oh, that's understandable. It's nothing." She mused with a look of understanding

before bowing politely to the Duke and excusing herself. Without another word, she turned and walked toward her chamber, both to give the family time to settle and to escape so she could nurse her finger, which had bent painfully when the baby's kick had caught her at an awkward angle, hurting her to the bone.

When she looked down at it, she realized her finger was trembling, and a frown settled onto her face. How could a baby have such strength that it could hurt a vampire? she wondered, biting back her pain as she brushed past Rav, who was returning from the kitchen carrying a bucket.

But even if she had walked into a wall, she wouldn't have noticed, her eyes were fixed on her trembling fingers.

Rav turned slightly to watch the lady walk up the stairs, holding her hand in front of her like she was hurt. Then, without a word or any shift in emotion, he continued with his task as if he hadn't noticed the faint discomfort on her face when she passed him.

Meanwhile, Rohan noticed how Angel was unknowingly strangling Belle with his tight grip, still believing the stranger was behind him. Without hesitation, he intervened before the boy could accidentally hurt his wife.

He stepped forward and reached out to his son, making sure the boy saw that it was him.

And just as quickly as Angel had reacted to Evenly's touch, he leapt into his father's arms and wrapped his little arms tightly around Rohan's neck. He buried his head into the crook of Rohan's shoulder, trembling slightly from the overwhelming sensation of being far away from everything he knew.

Gently patting the baby's back, Rohan looked down at his wife, who shivered as a gush of wind blew in through the gap beneath the door.

"Isa, go on and get yourself warm. I'll get him changed," he said, touching her wet hair as his fingers slid into the damp strands and trailed down her spine, coming to rest at the small of her back. He gave her a gentle push toward the stairs, urging her to go in and warm up, noticing how she seemed somewhat reluctant to move.

It was almost as if she felt like a stranger in the castle again, unsure of where she belonged or where to go.

Sensing this, he turned to Gwen, who stood quietly at the side, and told her to lead Belle inside.

As much as he wanted to go with her, to help her like he always did back at the cottage, he held himself back. There was too much he needed to get done, and he couldn't afford to get distracted by the loveliness of his woman.

She stared at him for a moment, her eyes lingering on his face, then gave a small nod and followed Gwen's lead.

To Belle, who had spent months away from this large castle and had lived in a place much smaller than this, the castle now looked too big, big enough to swallow her whole. A wave of homesickness washed over her for the cottage, where, even if Rohan was away from her, she could still hear his movements and activities from wherever she was inside. In this vast space, she doubted she would hear anything at all or feel his presence in the same way.

She shivered as she began to climb the long, never-ending stairs. However, her shivering wasn't from the cold in her body alone, but from the coldness of the castle's dark, imposing walls. She glanced back to where Rohan had been standing, watching her, but when she turned, he was no longer there. And right then, she knew… things might not be like they used to be in that little cottage again.

She already missed the place, but she hardened her heart, refusing to dwell on those good days just yet, knowing that if she did, it would only make it harder for her to adjust to noble life again, where everything was done for her by servants.