whispers of a sinful heart

As the evening waned, the grand dining hall grew eerily silent. The clinking of the silverware had long ceased, and the once lively conversation had faded into nothingness. Elise sat with a sour expression, her irritation still fresh from Raphael's relentless sarcasm. Tasha, as always, remained reserved and though she had contributed a little to the small bicker at the table, she did not indulge herself. Their mother, lady Morgana looked disinterested, her mind elsewhere as she idly sipped her glass of blood. The only one entirely unbothered was senior Hamilton, who sat at the head of the table, utterly indifferent to the squabbles of his grandchildren.

As the meal concluded, one by one, they excused themselves. Elise still seething, left with a dramatic huff, Tasha followed silently, and lady Morgana took her youngest son's hand, leading him away for the night.

Raphael, however remained seated, swirling the last remnants of the blood in his glass. His dark eyes reflected the flickering candlelight, an unreadable expression on his face.

Senior Hamilton finally set down his cup and stood. "A word with you."

Without a word, Raphael pushed his chair back and followed his grandfather. The corridors of the estate were dimly lit, the shadows stretching long against the walls.

When they reached the study, senior Hamilton pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside first. The fireplace cast a warm glow across the room, illuminating the dark mahogany desk where stacks of documents and ledgers lay neatly arranged.

Raphael strolled towards one of the chairs and sat down with an air of practiced ease. His grandfather followed, settling behind his desk, fingers steepled in contemplation.

"Have you spoken to the supplier?" Senior Hamilton asked, his voice calm but carrying the weight of authority.

Raphael leaned back slightly, "Everything is arranged. The latest shipment arrived this morning. Only the finest gems have been selected for the palace."

"About that... The royal wedding," His grandfather murmured, more to himself than to Raphael. "An event of this scale guarantees influence and opportunity. Our name must remain untarnished."

"It will." Raphael assured him, his tone edged with confidence. "The queen herself insisted on our craftsmanship. The commission is already being finalized. I will oversee the delivery personally."

Senior Hamilton studied him for a long moment, his crimson gaze unreadable. Then, with a slow nod, he spoke, "Good. This family has thrived because of precision and discipline. Do not falter."

Raphael's lips curved into a smirk. "When have I ever?"

His grandfather merely arched a brow, unaffected by his arrogance. After a bit of silence, he leaned forward, his fingers tapping lightly against the desk. "And the other matter?"

Raphael's smirk did not fade, but the air around him shifted. The playful ease in his posture became something sharper, colder.

""Handled." He said simply. "No loose ends."

"Then that is all."

Raphael stood up, stretching slightly before making his way towards the door. Just as he reached for the handle, his grandfather's voice stopped him.

"Raphael."

He paused, not turning around.

"Your aunt expects you to act with more restraint towards your cousins. At least pretend to tolerate Elise.

A dry chuckle escaped Raphael's lips. "Alright."

And with that, he stepped out, disappearing into the dimly lit corridors, carrying the same air of effortless control that had always defined him.

On the other side of the estate,the servants had finisfed their evening meal. The low murmur of conversation drifted through the quarters, though few had paid much attention to Larissa. Some cast fleeting glances her way, others regarded her with silent curiosity, but none made much effort to speak with her- except for Alice.

She was a young woman with warm brown eyes and an easy smile who had been the only one who had offered kindness to Larissa since her arrival. As the others prepared for the bed, Alice approached her with a friendly tilt of her head.

"You must be new here." Alice started, though it wasn't a question.

"Yes." Larissa replied, hesitating a moment before adding, "I only started today."

Alice grinned. "That explains why you look a little lost. It takes some time to adjust, but you will get used to it."

Larissa didn't respond immediately, instead, casting a glance at the dimly lit hallway that led towards the servants quarters.

Alice must have noticed her unease because she nudged her gently. "Come on, I will walk you to your room. It's easy to get turned around in this place."

They moved through the narrow corridors in silence, the soft padding of their feet the only sound accompanying them. When they finally reached Larissa's assigned room, Alice stopped at the door and gave her a reassuring smile.

"If you ever need anything, you can find me in the laundry wing. What's your name by the way?"

"Larissa."

"And I am Alice. Most people call me Ally." She introduced herself and then added, "goodnight Larissa."

"Good night." Larissa murmured before stepping inside and closing the door behind her.

Alone at last, Larissa exhaled slowly, her shoulders sugging as exhaustion settled deep in her bones. The day had been long, overwhelming, and full of unexpected encounters.

Having dined with human servants as well as vampire servants, she had come to realize that maybe it wasn't all that bad. She had noticed how the two races didn't seem to disrespect each other, instead, they chatted as if they were not different to each other which somehow made her less worried.

But that did not mean that she was fully at ease. She new that there was more than what could meet the surface..