Primrose stares in awe at the scene outside the window. She has thought the route to Forgotten Hollow is similar to how she arrives at Glimmerbrook but this is beyond her imagination. Caleb is driving them uphills, where she can see clouds and mist covering the vast green land beneath them. The hills, adorned with lush greenery, rise and fall like waves frozen in time. Wrapping around the landscape is a veil of mist, mystery yet magical, covering the town and its people from the prying eyes of mortals.
The air, crisp and cold, sends chills down her spine when she opens the car window. Primrose can hear the sound of crows cawing as they fly in the hazy greyish sky. Small streams running down the cracks of the hills, the crackling sound of tree branches, the earthy scent of nature along with lovely wildflowers growing on the side of the road, add a touch of color to the tranquility picture.
"I wish to drive around here too."
Her comment catches him off guard as Caleb clears his throat, hoping to escape the awkward air.
"Hey, what was that supposed to mean? I'm a good driver too!"
"Yes, you are, beloved." he chuckles "But for now, let me handle the wheel for you."
She frowns at his halfhearted response. What is that supposed to mean? Caleb better not be implying that she is not good at driving, because she knows that is not true.
"Do you know that this route is different if a human is driving here?"
"Really? How so?"
"They say that the mist will lead them far away from Forgotten Hollow. They don't want anyone to discover that this land is the home of vampires." Caleb turns to her "But I guess you see things the way I see because of your magical heritage?"
Primrose only hums in response. The weather is getting colder and she closes off the window, rubbing her arms vigorously to warm herself up. The vampire lord notices this and turns on the heater for her, which she gratefully accepts.
In preparation for the party at House Cents this weekend, Caleb asks her to come with him to the Vatore estate to meet his family and maybe learn more about the vampires. Primrose is hesitant to go at first, she doesn't find the idea of seeing his family that pleasing but knowing what will wait for her at the party, she accepts to go.
Caleb's car enters a big gate, where they are welcomed by a tall statue of a man whom Primrose assumes to be the founder of this land.
"Caleb, is that…?"
"That is Vladislaus Straud the first." he explains "He, along with other minor lords, are the founders of Forgotten Hollow."
"But isn't house Straud…?"
Caleb smiles, one hand reaching out and patting her softly on her head.
"It seems like you have done your homework, Primrose." he continues "We still honor him as the founder of this land. However, his house went down years ago with Vladislaus Straud the Fourth."
"So his family has four generations…" she hums at his answer.
Caleb wants to correct her that there is a fifth generation of House Straud but refrains from telling her. Kian's situation is complicated and he doesn't want to say anything that may come off as insensitive, maybe this is the best time for her to know about this story from Kian himself.
As he drives through the quiet street, Primrose's eyes are widened at the sight of cobblestone streets and centuries-old architecture that exude a sense of historical charm. An old cathedral stands in the middle of the town square with towering spires that seem to reach for the heavens. The cathedral, oozing with an air of mystery, is the town's greatest memento. The gothic Victorian structures, standing tall even when hundreds of years have passed by, house the residents of Forgotten Hollow. These houses, overgrowing with gnarled trees and ivy, are shrouded in secrecy.
High atop a gentle, verdant hill, stands the Vatore estate. The architecture radiates grace and elegance, with a beautiful garden of white roses nestled behind the tall walls of the mansion, a hidden gem of tranquility and peace. The Vatore estate stands as a guardian of this town, overseeing the people and its history. A timeless structure that embraces dignity and unwavering grace.
"Caleb, this is…"
When Primrose stands in front of the ornate gate, she is gawked at the lavished estate. She has been to House Emberlynn Manor before and it still looks small compared to this estate. The gate opens, welcoming them with an alluring scent of roses in the garden. She sees three tall figures standing in front of the front door, smiling warmly at Caleb and her.
"Brother! You're back!" Lilith is the first one to walk towards them and gives him a warm hug. She then turns to Primrose, the warm smile never leaves her face "And you must be Primrose…"
"H-hello…"
She is so pretty…
Primrose thinks to herself. Unlike Caleb who has striking silver eyes, Lilith's brown orbs are warm and welcoming, she almost gets lost in them. The raven head then notices two taller men walk towards them, one with platinum blond hair and lilac-colored eyes, the other with grey hair and wise green eyes. She is mesmerized by how beautiful they are, almost ogling at their beauty. A hand rests on her back, drawing her attention back to Caleb, who gives her an amused look.
"Let me introduce you to my family. This is Lilith, my younger sister. Kian, her husband. And Richard, our butler and advisor." his hand moves from one person to another "This is Primrose Emberlynn. She will be staying at the estate for now."
"Welcome to House Vatore estate, my lady. Allow me to lead the way to your room."
Butler Richard gives the servant an order as Caleb gives him the keys and follows them back into the estate. The moment Primrose steps inside the estate, she is bewildered at how beautiful this place is. Oozing with a whimsical yet historic air, the grant entry hall is enveloped with the warm and cozy light of the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Shining wooden floor with an intricately designed carpet lying on top.
The centerpiece, hanging proudly on the blank beige canvas, is a tapestry bearing the Vatore family crest. The vivid color of the tapestry contrasts the neutral wall, embracing the warmth of the chandelier. The crest is a symbol of the family's longstanding heritage and prestige in Forgotten Hollow, a reminder of house Vatore's noble lineage.
As she gets further into the mansion, tall neutral beige walls clasp with classic wood wainscoting, creating a calming and spacious ambiance. Large windows adorned with velvety coffee-colored curtains, allow natural light to flood into the hallway. Antique furniture and large art pieces hanging on the walls, simple yet elegant, add to the warm atmosphere. There are sculptures in the corners of the hallway, small chandeliers hanging along the ceiling add a touch of whimsical and bookshelves line the walls, filled with ancient volumes and leather-bound tomes.
Butler Richard introduces her to House Vatore's wine cellar in the basement of the manor which holds an extensive collection of rare wine and alcohol. Each bottle is neatly arranged and labeled with handwritten tags detailing its origin, vintage, and unique qualities. Lilith chimes in, telling her that Caleb is actually the one who collects the items himself. She is surprised to hear this and turns to the young lord, who begins to show her some of the finest bottles he has on hand, like the Château d'Yquem or the Romanée-Conti.
The more she hears those elegant French words coming out of his lips, the more she realizes how vastly different their lives are. Caleb, despite wearing the nonchalant face of a surgeon, enjoys fine things in his life like luxurious wine, intricated art pieces, ancient tomes and books, and many more. Primrose, on the other hand, is more in tune with her human life and finds joy in small things like drinking boba and baking a cake. She occasionally treats herself to fine dining but never to the point of tasting a bottle of wine that is worth thousands of dollars. She may hail from a prestigious family like Emberlynn and Minamoto, and her childhood may be comfortable due to her parents' career, but compared to his, there is a stark difference.
And somehow, thinking about it makes Primrose feel like she doesn't belong to this luxury world of Caleb…
Maybe I'm thinking too much…
Caleb has offered her a glass of wine, asking her to give it a taste. She looks at the small tasting nook that is tugged away from plain sight and illuminated by soft, warm lighting. The bottle of wine he is holding, if she is not mistaken, she has seen it on TV somewhere before, ranging between $10,000 to $20,000. Lilith and everyone seem to enjoy the delicate taste of the wine, but Primrose just stares at her glass, unsure if she is even worthed to taste the delicacy.
"Primrose, how was it?" Caleb's gaze on her is always so kind and gentle, he notices how she hasn't touched the glass in her hand "You don't like it?"
"N-no, I…uhm…I…" she needs to come up with a good excuse "I don't feel well, so…"
Primrose should have known by now that she is not a good liar, but Caleb drops the topic instead of making her feel more uneasy. He can ask her later about this, but now, they should take her to her designated bedroom.
"Here is your room, my lady."
Butler Richard opens the door and Primrose is immediately overwhelmed at how big and luxurious the room is. A kingsized canopy bed with layers of plush pillows arranged on top, a chandelier that shines a warm and cozy light in the room, handcrafted nightstands on both sides of the bed, a spacious walk-in closet with a full lengthed mirror, a sitting area in front of the windows where she can enjoy a good cup of tea while watching the sunrise, elegant artworks hanging on the wall which add a touch of color to the room.
Primrose swallows the lump in her throat, recalling her dad's words about how different her and Caleb's life is. She knows that to be true, but to see it with her very own eyes leaves a foul taste in her mouth. If she already feels insecure about the vast difference in their lifestyle, what would happen when they are at the party, where she has to meet many elite vampires of this town…?
Caleb notices her uncomfortable, asking everyone to leave them alone. When the door is closed, he turns to her with concern in his eyes and leads her to sit on the bed.
"Primrose, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing…"
She chews on her bottom lips, brows knitting lightly with her fingers rubbing hard against each other. A hand lays on hers, gently prying through the stiff digits as he places a peck on them, soothing her nervousness.
"You are a very bad liar, beloved. We're here alone, you can tell me everything that is bothering you."
She is unsure how to speak about this. Primrose is grateful that Caleb has arranged such an elegant room for her to stay in during her time here at the Vatore Estate, but everything to her seems to be so peculiar and foreign. This lavishing lifestyle, the intricated furniture and art pieces, the luxury wine and so many more, she doesn't feel like she belongs here...
"Beloved, that's not how I want you to feel." Caleb holds onto her face, almost panicking at her words "We only want you to feel comfortable during your stay, I'm sorry if all of these are too much for you."
"No, it's not like that. I just, well…" she sighs "Maybe just one thing at a time would be nice…"
"Of course, I can understand how bombarding you with all of this proves to be quite overwhelming." planting a kiss on her forehead, he smiles, laying her down on the soft, comfy bed "I'll take you somewhere special this afternoon. For now, rest."
"Where are you going?" she asks, onyx orbs are longing for him to stay.
"There are a few things I need to take care of in my study room, but if you want to, I can stay until you fall asleep." patting her head gently, fondness shines in his silver eyes "You woke up quite early this morning, right?"
Primrose nods softly, their fingers intertwined with each other as she slowly allows tiredness to take over her. Within a few minutes, the young lord can hear her soft breath as she drifts to her dreamland, sleeping soundly on the bed. Eyeing their tangled fingers, his lips curl up into a smile.
This is nice…
When Primrose wakes up, the clock has already struck at 3:00 p.m. Getting off the bed, she is surprised to see the time, has she been sleeping this long?
Caleb is nowhere to be found, but the chair next to her bed brings a smile to her face. He has stayed until she falls asleep. The raven head slowly makes her way to her luggage, pulling out a more comfortable dress to change before walking to the door and peaking outside to see where she is.
The hallway is quiet, almost too quiet for her liking. Despite the elegant decorations that add a touch of color to the mute and mundane beige wall color, this whole place is too reticent, too reserved. She walks down the stairs, spotting a few maids doing their work, and from afar, she can hear them whisper, gossiping about the human mate master Caleb brought back. Primrose is taken aback by this, but decides to stay quiet, knowing it's not worth it trying to defend herself.
But she doesn't need to do that, because a few moments later, Lilith walks toward them and the raven head can spot a cute little furball in her arms, meowing angrily at the maids.
"If you have time for gossiping, I suggest finding something to do that will make our guest feel welcome." she sternly tells the maids "You all will be respectful to her, whether she is a vampire or not."
"Y-yes, lady Lilith…"
"If I catch you all talking like this about Primrose again, there will be consequences. I will let you know that I am not as kind as my brother, Caleb."
The maids shiver at her threats and nod profusely before running away. Primrose watches the whole scene, in awe at the younger Vatore's kind words. She is only a guest of this place. But Lilith wastes no time setting rules and boundaries for those who view her in a bad way. Touched by her kindness, Primrose decides to walk down the stairs and immediately, she is welcomed with a warm smile.
"Primrose, you're awake…" Lilith's brown orbs are warm and gentle "Ah, would you like to meet Mayor Whiskers?"
The cat meows at her, wearing a green bow with a top hat that matches his aristocracy air. The raven head giggles at the name, petting his ears as he purrs at her, enjoying the affection.
"My, someone is being pampered." the younger Vatore looks at her cat "Caleb is still working in the study room so I will be your accompany for now. I heard that you like books a lot, would you like to visit our reading room?"
"Thank you. I would like that a lot." Primrose nods eagerly, she never knew that there was a reading room "And thank you for protecting me from the maids, it was very kind."
"Please drop the formality, you are one of us, our family. It's the least I can do."
Lilith leads the way to the reading room and when they enter, Primrose's heart flutters immediately at the beautiful sight in front of her.
Unlike the opulence air that makes her feel overwhelmed, the reading room is the most breathtaking place she has ever laid her eyes on. The warm tone of the walls is decorated with a few still-life art pieces. Comfortable plush furniture covered in velvety maroon color goes along with the nightstand by their side and antique table lamps on top that add a soft light to the room. There is a fireplace in front of the sofas, she can hear the cracking sound of the wood, and the earthy fragrance fills the air. And in a small nook, an upright piano is placed, elegant and majestic, ready for someone to play it.
Around her lies bookshelves that extend from the floor to the ceiling, carrying a large collection of books, from leather-bound tomes to first-edition novels to antique texts, each holding a unique knowledge that enriches those who read them. The books are displayed neatly along with the attached rolling ladder, offering an easier way to search for them when needed. On some of the shelves, there are small vases of white roses, adding a touch of neutral to the warm wood-tone environment.
"This is even beautiful…" she whispers, hand covering her lips in appreciation "Can I read them?"
"I'm glad you like it. And of course, they are all yours."
Primrose wastes no time scanning through each title of the book, her eyes twinkling with joy and excitement. There are books she can find at Glimmerbrook School of Magic's library, some at her childhood home, some at the Emberlynn's manors, but most of the books here are nowhere to be found. They are centuries full of knowledge and artistic work, making her appreciate these works even more.
As she picks up a novel that catches her eye, she sits down on the plush sofa and carefully opens the book, afraid that even a touch of strength can ruin the delicate item. Lilith smiles at her excitement, while she is nothing but a bundle of nerves when they show her around the estate, here Primrose is, smiling like a little kid on Christmas morning. Caleb is right when he tells her to take the raven head here to the reading room, knowing how well she will react upon seeing these books.
As Primrose is getting comfortable with reading the novel, Lilith drops Mayor Whiskers down onto the floor, making her way to the piano. The cat meows softly, finding a comfortable seat of its own and curling up, resting neatly in front of the fireplace. The younger Vatore sits on the chair, testing a few keys. When the sound is to her liking, she presses onto the white block, delicate fingers draping along the keyboard and a beautiful melody fills the tranquility air.