Married To The Mad Vampire Lord novel Chapter 306

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Chapter 306: Bounding_Part 2

Belle and Evenly spent time together. After Angel had finished feeding, he didn’t stay awake for long, falling asleep in Evenly’s arms. She gently placed him on the bed so he could rest more comfortably, adjusting the blanket so the baby’s tiny chest rose and fell in perfect rhythm.

They talked for a long while, and Belle was amazed at how easily they caught up, as though no time had passed since they met at the royal castle and sat in the same group for the hunt. She was glad for the company; it kept her mind off many things, especially the memories she had seen in the walls. If she claimed those visions hadn’t unsettled her, it would be a lie. And she swore to herself never again to touch a wall for memory.

This distraction was worth more than gold, and she was pleased to be able to return the favor by keeping the other woman company, too.

"How was it there?" Evenly asked with genuine interest, her light red eyes sparkling when Belle told her about the cottage and mountain where she had given birth to her son. Their conversation had meandered through many unserious topics before arriving here.

Belle smiled. "Well, to me, it’s the most peaceful place in the world, a yard filled with flowers and plants, animals everywhere, and it’s always sunny. I would’ve said it was more like a home, but I’ve realized home is really where your family is. Anywhere can be home if you have them with you."

It was true, because when she first returned last night, Belle had somehow believed she would never get used to this place and that their lives would change. But she realized having her husband and son in it made all the difference. Though she would have liked it better if the place weren’t this big, she didn’t mind wherever she lived as long as her family was there. Home was family.

Evenly nodded her head thoughtfully. "The place sounds lovely... though knowing myself, I don’t think I would survive a day in a place like that," she said with a little chuckle, causing Belle to give her a questioning look. To Belle, a place like that was a dream, and she couldn’t imagine someone not surviving there.

Evenly noticed the look and continued, "Let me tell you a secret you don’t know about me." She moved closer to Belle where they sat before the fireplace on the rug and, with a look of embarrassment, said, "I was raised in a house where I never touched a pan with my hands or thought about cooking. I was spoiled by my father for being his only child, he gave me whatever I wanted. Even when I got married, I still had the luxury of being spoiled. So you see why I don’t view the place you describe as the most wonderful thing in the world, because I wouldn’t know a single thing to do to keep it running."

Evenly had found the little work she was given in this castle stressful because she wasn’t used to even lifting her own dirty laundry. She was used to people doing her bidding. The only thing her father had ever allowed her to do that went far from what a lady did was teach her to fight, and that was only to protect herself against vampires. He hated them, and he wouldn’t let them hurt his only daughter. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Now that only daughter was a vampire, and no matter how much he loved her, he would never accept her into his house. She had been raised to be a lady in every sense, inside and out, and to never lower herself to any person below her status. And as much as she wanted to bury that part of herself and move on with life, it wasn’t something that could easily be carved out in a day or two.

Belle had told her about how life was wonderful in this small cottage, but to Evenly, it sounded more like a dreadful place. Of course, it was only her opinion, and she wouldn’t ruin her friend’s dreamy fantasies just because she did not view it the same way. But then she became curious about something.

"How come you learned to adjust to a lower life when you come from a noble family? As a duke’s daughter and now a duchess, I can’t believe you could live a life in a cottage with farm animals. Many aristocrats I know would shudder at the thought , me included."

Belle understood what she meant. It was true, had she been raised like her sister, she knew she would have the same mindset as Evenly and many noble ladies, thinking of such a life as lowly. But she hadn’t been raised like that. She was a noble by name but not by heart. Her parents had somehow made sure of it since she was a little girl. Thinking about it now, she felt a tightness in her heart. Would they still treat her like that if she went for this visit? Would they still make her eat with the servants rather than sit at the family table with them?

She quickly dismissed those thoughts and replied to the curious Evenly, who was staring at her with interest. Belle smiled. "I adapt to things quickly, you see. I can live any life as long as it doesn’t kill me. And a cottage life is peaceful."