The Duke's Passion

Chapter 615  Penny

"Drinks on me. We'll separate after you had a glass." Claude gazed up at the woman across from him. After fleeing from their 'pursuers', they went into a pub to drink. The woman already wore a cloak to hide her clothes underneath — just like what he did. "I don't have anywhere to go," came out his weak reply, watching her observe their surrounding discreetly. "I don't have a family to go back to and I might put the people I knew in danger if I go to them."

She cast him a look. "Not my problem." A cold response came out from her lips, shaking her head as she picked up her glass. "Please protect me." She snorted and looked back at him at his request. "Or at least, let me work for you. I may be physically weak, but I can be of help. I'm good at observing the surrounding."

"You don't know the person you're getting yourself involved with. The people you got tangled with are dangerous people. Do you think someone such as myself, who is after them, is any less dangerous?"

"But you're kind."

"Kind?" Claude frowned, studying the mockery of her smirk. "You helped me even though you don't know me yet."

"Young man, I helped you because I have a conscience. But don't expect me to help you over and over. Save yourself the trouble and live in a place where no one knows you."

"You look around the same age."

If only he could go to a place where no one knows him, Claude thought. But Monarey was his fief, the land he governed since he was a child with his uncle's guidance. He could just go home, but this was just too much fun to be considered as a weakling and a pushover. Moreover, it seemed there were more things to know about this problem lurking in the darkness of Monarey. Claude must find out himself. He exhaled, rubbing his fingertip against the glass. "Why are you after them?" he inquired, raising his gaze from the glass. "If it's that dangerous, why are you stepping into danger yourself?" The woman stared at him solemnly. "I have a score to settle with them."

"A score to settle?" his brows furrowed, watching her chug her glass down. She slammed the glass on the table, eyes full of contempt.

"I'm avenging my sister." That was all she said, but Claude was smart enough to get the gist of her reason.

Revenge. In his conclusion, this woman's sister had fallen into the hands of this organization. This said organization that recently entered Monarey was said to do all atrocious crimes. That included human and vampire trafficking. The increasing number of disappearances was what first reached the Earl's ears, after all. "I'll make them all pay." Her eyes glinted, gripping the glass. "I will ruin them all."

Claude pressed his lips into a thin line. "Why... don't you ask for the earl's help, then?"

"The earl?" she snorted, making him frown. "Do you think he won't help? Or do you believe he is too young and unreliable?" His eyes grew icy, but he kept his thoughts to himself. "Haha! No, it's nothing like that." To his surprise, she chuckled and shook her head. "The earl, although young, had proven himself since he took charge of this place. I heard many stories about him, so I think he is a reliable person. Well, he is a pureblood."

"You sound like you're not a local from here."

She didn't answer but cast him a knowing look. "That's not important. The earl might've heard about these people settling in his fief, but that's not my problem. My goal is personal. Whether he gets to them first or I get their head is still a win-win, don't you think?"

"You're a strange woman," he pointed out, making her laugh. "Are you that strong to have this confidence?"

She smirked but didn't respond. Instead, she raised a hand to catch someone's attention for another glass of booze. Meanwhile, Claude simply studied her demeanor. It was a mystery to him how this woman could be this... confident. He was a pureblood, so he could size up her strength. The only reason she hadn't busted his disguise was because of Tilly, Claude's grandmother. Back when he was in the mainland of vampires, Tilly handed him a family necklace. She said, "as long as you're wearing it, you can conceal the scent of your blood." Although Claude could conceal his aura as a pureblood so other vampires couldn't tell, this necklace could hide the traces of his blood. In other words, even if Claude would bleed, no one could discern he was a pureblood. He simply wore it because Tilly told her to wear it at all times. Also, Samael nagged him to listen to his grandmother without questions since Tilly was someone who doesn't explain herself. 'I should test it again,' he thought, spreading his hand under the table to stop time for a second. The first time, his ability didn't work on her. And the second time... it still didn't. The woman continued to chug down her drink without manners, unaware of the sudden stop of time around her for a split second. 'How appalling. She doesn't seem that strong, but how is she not affected by my ability? I already asked Tilly about it, but she shrugged, saying she had long forgotten such reasons for a particular occurrence because of her old age.' He exhaled, resting his hand on the armrest. He tapped his fingers against the surface of the table, eyes on her. "What's your name?" he inquired all of a sudden while she hissed after drinking her drink in one go. She gazed at him, eyebrows raised. "We've been talking, but I hadn't known your name. It's rude to address you as You," he explained with a shrug.

"Isn't it rude to ask for someone's name before giving yours?"

Claude pressed his lips, thinking of a name to give her. Since the name "Claude and Lucas" was already known to others, he used his third name that many overlooked.

"Third," he introduced with a firm voice. "And you?"

The side of her lips smirk. "Penny."