Her cheeks flush, clearly surprised at this notion.
"You're joking." She muttered. This man had known her only a number of months out of their numerous years of living among mortals. He had seen many women in his days, and had not wed. What about her changed his mind? Then it hit her. It was not a genuine feeling of love but a feeling of obligation. Social standards regarding having children out of wedlock were particularly harsh. She would be shunned by society. So would he. He was trying to cover his own ass. Malancia pulls away, lips pursed.
"You only want to get married because I'm having a child."
"Malancia, you know that's not true." His words seeped into her and gave her warmth that spread over her body like candle wax. That was the first time he referred to her using her given name. His words dripped with sincerity. His golden eyes meet her crimson ones. Body language and posture was all candid. "I understand why you would believe this. It is true I do not want you to be scorned for having a child out of wedlock. It would be difficult. I would not leave you to struggle on your own."
"I'm not saying you should leave me. I'm only saying we aren't obligated to get married."
"Regardless of if I am obligated to or not, I want you to be my wife." He sinks into a deep bow, hand over chest. He selects his next words carefully, believing them true. "What I feel for you is far more than infatuation. I love you. I want to marry you. Please, do me that honor." Malancia's face flushes, she averts eye contact.
"Fine. I'll be your wife." He takes her hand, and presses cold lips to it.
"Thank you, my lady. Now, I must tend to my master."
As Alois slept, regaining his strength and clinging to life, Claude tended to the manor and his now fiancée. He was rather reluctant about letting her return to the Parvuli manor to continue her chores, however she knew the vitality of her presence at the house. She was the glue that kept that family together. It was definitely a house, not a home. There is a distinct difference. Home implied loving and caring. House was a hollow shell, merely a structure, a shelter. Abelia did not receive a scrap of affection there. Too much or a nuisance for her parents to deal with. They had her too young. So Malancia did not leave, for her young mistress sake. She pitied the girl. No wonder why she was so bitter toward everyone, like an abused pup she would bite anyone who extended their hand to her.
After her chores at the manor were complete, she escorted Abelia to the Trancy manor. It was elegant as usual, not a speck to be seen. However, despair had infiltrated the manor, with Alois injured. Abelia stomped up the steps as the triplets bowed to her. Hannah, bandages freshly changed, bows to Malancia.
"He has awaited your arrival." Hannah informs Malancia. And then she is whisked away, if she didn't know better she'd have been utterly lost. Claude is in the library, sitting at a desk and crunching some numbers. Today, he notices, she wears the dress he had made for her, the scarlet fabric matching her eyes. He saunters over to her, sweeping her indigo hair to the side to reveal her pale neck. He places a light kiss on the newly exposed skin, before popping open a long grey box. Malancia examines the necklace he wraps around her neck as he clasps the it around her. It is a silver snake, encircling a light sky colored jewel.
"It's beautiful." She mutters, feeling her cheeks heat up.
"You deserve only the best, my darling."
"How is your young master?"
"He will recover, no matter how gradual. His wounds are no minor feat. However, he is determined to obtain Ciel Phantomhive by any means, very soon, regardless of if his injuries have healed."
"Children tend to be reckless."
"Very much so." Wrapping her arms around Claude, Malancia presses her plump lips to his thin ones. Something had changed. He was warm when they were alone, warm for his standards. He was in love, he knew now. It happened quickly, all at once like sleep after a long day. The snake demon had bitten him, infected him with her poison. It was odd, to have been on earth for centuries and to never have truly loved. She smiles into the kiss, getting lost in the moment. Claude breaks away, opening another box. She closes her eyes and enjoys the feel of him slipping the ring onto her finger.
"I'm glad you're going to be my wife."
"I am as well. We will have a beautiful child."
"Of course."