Chapter 3 - Riding Outfit and Blood Wine

"It's done honorable lady," the maid tremblingly whispered, as she finished tying the final loop of her freaking tight corset. She pulled the knot once more, drawing a loud gasp out of her.

"Ca—can't you loosen it a bit," Eloise stuttered. 'cuz it's squeezing out my organs young lady,' she mentally cried, but on the outside, she maintained her regal smile.

The maid paused and glanced up at her finally, "Honourably lady, it can't be, your waist should be accentuated to bring out the beauty of this dress," she held up a beautiful forest green color dress. The boat-shaped neckline was lightly ruffled with white color ribbons, and even the end of the sleeves were elaborately decorated to match it.

Seeing this Eloise's eyebrows twitched, 'am, I going to a ball for goodness sake, it's fifty degrees out and we are in a moving death trap and she wants me to dress in that luxurious outfit!' smiling she whispered, "Today.... it looks like it will be quite hot, why don't we find a comfortable one to wear?"

"How can it be, my lady you have to dress according to your status," the maid firmly refused.

Eloise peered at the girl, who refused to back down. It looked like after spending some time looking at her ghostly pale face she had finally mustered up the courage to speak her mind. 'But girl can you not, I really want a T-shirt and trousers,' Eloise thought with a hand on her sweaty forehead. 'Wait, a minute; does this world have a riding outfit?'

"Um, do we have bleachers and a shirt?" she said with the sweetest smile she could muster.

Twenty minutes later,

Standing in front of the mirror, she buttoned up her cuffs while the maid watched her from behind with a wronged expression. "don't be like that, riding a cruise ship is also similar to riding a horse, she the ship sways and moves, what if my skirt gets caught and I trip, 'gasp,' I might hit my head and die!" she exaggeratedly whispered.

The maid woodenly peered at her. "Miss, I can't stop you further, but your mother might oppose,"

"I will handle her," Eloise happily said. With a small brush, she gently painted on black mascara on her eyebrows and her white lashes. "Besides, my old lady is kind, she will accept whatever I do," she said with a smile. The reflection in the mirror finally looked less ghostly. Her almond-shaped eyes, with her lashed tinted black, brought out her shimmering blue gem-like eyes. "I don't look half bad,"

After getting ready, she happily walked through the ship's hallways to the women's parlor room. The food is usually served on particular timings but since she was so sickly all the time she was always had to take outs.

With a swagger in her step, Eloise confidently walked past many beautifully dressed women. 'che, they all look like they lost half a pound just by sweating,' shaking her head with a small smile she walked out to the outdoor deck.

"Miss, wait..." the maid ran behind her with an umbrella in hand. "Morning sunlight is harsh," she said chidingly.

"What, it's good for your skin," Eloise refused her offer. The sea breeze was refreshingly fresh with a slight hint of saltiness to it. "Oh, I want to stand there like the titanic" she cheerfully hopped over to the bow which was slightly arched up.

"MISS!! No, don't! It's dangerous!" the maid ran after her panicky.

"Relax, I'm not going to fall. I'm just going to enjoy the sight from over here," Eloise giggled and tightly holding onto one of the ropes that was tied on the side of the hull. Glancing down the clear water caught her sight, "oh my god, the ocean is so blue, look I think I see some fishes," she happily pointed to various sea creatures that came up to the surface.

The maid trembled while holding onto the sides. "Miss~ please can we go in? S—sun is getting to harsh," she cried.

"Fine, why do you guys fear the sun so much, it will only do me good, besides of If I tan a little it might compliment my silver-white hair," Eloise gently caressed her silver tress. "Oh, look, there is a ship that is following us," she pointed to a less luxurious looking ship that was slowly following behind them.

"Miss, that is our ship, after dissolving our business in Sicily your mother invested in a ship and placed all our wealth there," the amid happily said.

But Eloise slightly frowned. "All?"

"Yes, all,"

"Hmm," she refused to comment on it, for out was her mother's decision. "But storing all the eggs in a single basket is risky." She thought out loud.

"Miss, why are you suddenly talking about eggs? Are you famished? The parlor room might still serve some hot tea and biscuits. Why don't we go there," she said eagerly.

With a reluctant smile, Eloise followed after her.

Unknown to her, a pair of keen hawk-like eyes watched her from above deck. "Who is that?" the man said while huffing his pipe.

A blond-haired man leaned down at to get a fleeting glance of white hair, which disappeared into the door below.

"That.... she is Miss Eloise Ayles, her father Harem Ayles a small viscount passed away recently so they are moving to their mother's hometown in your duchy. What you don't know about that? What kind of a Duke are you, huh?" he jokingly said.

"Hmmm, she seems silly," he whispered, blowing out a cloud of smoke.

"I guess so, tsk, Raymond you can't dodge my question like that, I asked you if you were joining my hospital in investing or not," the blond man said with his eyes narrowed.

"I don't invest in sinking ship, just like that one," he pointed to the ship that was slowly trailing behind them.

"Lord Raymond~ how mean of you, I'm your lifetime friend and one and only meal Supplier. Can't you invest in my hospital," the man blinked with a pretty smile.

"No, and don't give me that disgusting look, I think I might puke." The man said and outright left.

"Wait, I have the thing you want," the blond said and pulled out an aged bottle from his bag. "Aged, human blood wine, I heard it tastes heavenly to a starved vampire," he said shaking the ruby color liquid around.

Raymond paused and glanced back.

"andddddd, it's your favorite blood. a Sweet smelling blood wine that doesn't turn to jelly,"

Raymond swiftly walked back and plucked it from his hands. He carefully pulled the cork open and sniffed the heavenly scent. "Fine, just once, you better not waste my money," he said and left again with the bottle in hand.