When A Ghoul Falls In Love

Hiding behind the wall, Lennix, Drace, and Belinda keep their eyes fixed on the closed door. Each one has a different motive. Belinda wants to get closer to her sister-in-law who likes books for sure. Drace wants a lick. Lennix is stuck between wanting to take a bite and his curiosity.

The servants pass by them, doing their best to ignore the young masters and young miss. Nothing good comes out if they show concern. The last thing that they want is becoming their accomplice and getting all the blame, especially when it’s related to the Fourth Young Master.

“Are they doing it?” Drace bites his nails anxiously. “Father said that he won’t accept their union.”

“Her familiar is inside.” Lennix says, “There’s no way that they will do it in front of that spirit.”

“Belinda, why don’t you knock on the door?” Drace pokes his youngest sister. “Fourth Brother won’t hurt you.”

“I am not shameless.” Belinda refuses him, “Father also said that he would accept her into the family if she passes the three days test. She passed the yesterday’s one for sure.”

“Did she?” Lennix furrows his brows. “Is it okay to have a human who doesn’t hesitate to eat another human?”

“Her familiar ate Voss.” Drace pales, terrified. Voss’ hasn’t recovered from the trauma of being inside the familiar’s stomach. “Say, is she a witch?”

“Witches usually have familiars,” Drace ponders. “I knew that Fourth Brother wouldn’t take an average human as a wife. He’s a dark sorcerer, after all. But she hasn’t performed any magic since she came.”

“Father is making an arrangement for the second test,” Lennix tells him, “He’s discussing something with Siouxsie. Cyan is also there. I heard Ark and others are being called back. There will be a party tomorrow.”

“What’s the test today?” Belinda creases her forehead. First Brother isn’t a ghoul. Third Brother has little control over his cravings. Why is there a party? Who will be invited? She needs to find out about the tests and help Sister-in-law.

“I have no idea.” Lennix says to her, “I heard him say that he would announce the wedding date if this human survives till the end. Do you think that he’s impressed?”

“He’s probably appeasing Fourth Brother.” Drace sighs. “He favours him over us.”

“I would also favour him over us.” Drace replies with a straight face, “Fourth Brother looks s.e.xy when he’s wearing a dress.”

Belinda wrinkles her nose and takes a step away from her brothers. Why are they so disgusting? It’s okay to say that Fourth Brother is beautiful. But calling him s.e.xy what’s wrong with their heads?

“Don’t tell me that you also have a crush on him.” Lennix glares at Drace. “Do you not know what he did to the cousin who made a move on him?”

“Aish!” Drace shakes his head. “He’s s.e.xy, but I prefer women.”

“Just listen to your words.” Lennix massages his own forehead. “I can’t believe that you are older than me.”

“Just because I came to this world before you did, it doesn’t mean that I would be wiser,” Drace defends himself.

“So, you admit that you are dumb.” Lennix crosses his arms. “Call me Big Brother then.”

“Nope.” Drace pats his brother’s arm. “I am not dumb, but I admit not being wise. I love being a fool since I don’t want more responsibilities.”

“You are right.” Lennix scratches his chin, realizing Drace’s wisdom. “If I act dumb, Father might not send me back to the academy.”

Their youngest sister shakes her head. They don’t need to act dumb. They are D.U.M.B.

“Why are you here?” Eli’s low voice startles them.

Drace and Lennix straighten their backs and widen their eyes at the same time. They forget to move or speak, not daring to look back.

“Fourth Brother, I came to meet Sister-in-law,” Belinda speaks cheerfully. “Can I meet her?”

“Perfect timing!” Eli smiles brightly at his sister. “Belinda, I need you.”

His brothers’ ears perk up. Why is Belinda needed?

“My wife needs clothes.” Eli explains in a hurry, “She told me to buy them for her. It’s the first time that she demanded something as my fianc. I want to dress her up like a queen.”

“But Brother” Belinda hesitates, “Only queens can wear clothes like queens.”

“Is my wife any less than a queen?” Eli covers his face, blushing hard. “I can’t wait to see her in a dress.”

When was the last time she wore a dress? Though she always looks good, he hasn’t seen her in a dress ever. Which colours does she prefer? Eli’s face turns ghastly. He doesn’t know his wife’s favourite colour.

Then, he’s going to get dresses in every colour and design. This is the first time she asked him to shop for her. What else would she would like? He wants to dress her up magnificently and then, take it all off slowly on the bed.

How is she going to look in her bridal robes? Should he also get one? Eli opens his mouth wide as he falls into a daze, imagining Nell in a bridal robe. “We need to buy bridal robes, Belinda.”

Bridal robes? It means that Fourth Brother also needs robes for his wedding. She can’t wait to see Fourth Brother in elegant groom robes. Belinda’s eyes shine brightly. “Let’s hurry, Brother. I will take you to the top designer in this country. I heard that even the queen has to take an appointment and the designer is quite picky, but we can overtake the shop if she doesn’t listen to us.”

“I knew that I found the right person.” Eli grabs Belinda’s shoulders. “Let’s go there right now.”

Is he really leaving? The corners of Drace’s lips curl up into a lecherous leer. Then, he can sneak inside Fourth Brother’s room and take a lick of the human. He shares a look with Lennix who gives him a low nod.

“Oh, right!” Eli turns around and faces them. He simpers at them. “My cute little brothers.”

Lennix and Drace shudder when they hear his sugary tone. Their stomachs churn when they see pure affection in Eli’s eyes.

“Today, my wife told me that she likes me,” Eli informs them with a child-like enthusiasm in his eyes.

“Congratulations?” Lennix doesn’t know what else to say. Is it something to be happy about?

“She has started to rely on me.” Eli places his left hand on Lennix’s shoulder and right hand on Drace’s shoulder. “Finally, she trusts me.”

Lennix and Drace swallow. They aren’t used to their brother’s candid words.

“If anything happens to her in my absence,” Eli continues with a harmless tone, “the two of you will go first.”

Go first? They sweat profusely. Where would their brother send them? Lennix mumbles meekly, “Brother, isn’t blood thicker than water?”

Crack!

Shoulder bones shatter under Eli’s grip. Lennix and Drace wince in pain, stifling their cries.

“Bones are denser than blood.” Eli releases them. “Guard her. Nobody is allowed to go inside that room. If anything happens while she’s here, both of you will bear responsibility.”

They tremble in fear. Why did they come to peek? This responsibility is too much to bear.

“Belinda, let’s go.” Eli places his hand on Belinda’s back. His youngest sister is rather cool-headed despite her age. If Julianne was here, she would have given him dirty looks. “Where’s that boutique at?”

Excited, Belinda begins telling him about the market where they can buy everything that Nell might need.

***

“You are weird, but you are acting too weird now.” Devil stares hard at the woman who is lying still like a wooden block. “Are you really okay if he starts liking another woman after your death?”

“Why would I not be okay?” Nell shuts her eyes close. Life is funny. Why did she say those words to that guy? There’s an ache in her chest whenever she sees his melancholic eyes. “I am not the same possessive person I used to be.”

Devil makes a face. Not the same? She’s worse. “Do you truly not love him?”

“Aren’t you in my mind?” She glances at him. “What do you think?”

“I want you to remember how you feel right now.” Devil says to her, “When you remember everything later, you should not get confused. I don’t want you to blame Little Marshmallow for anything.”

She doesn’t have any right to blame anyone. Evie is right. In one way or another, Baek Joon-Woo, Maisie, and everyone else got hurt because of her. Her memories will reveal the full reason and she’s afraid. Nell places her hand on her stomach, turning her gaze towards the ceiling. “Was I pregnant back then?”

The cat doesn’t answer.

Nell doesn’t ask again. The answer might shatter her.