Mr. Dimitri's Toy
Miss Eliza and Her Fans

[Dimitri’s POV]

All the invited guests who had gathered in the palace ballroom looked at me talking to King Azov. From the men who gave me cynical looks, the group of women who already had husbands admired me, let alone the unmarried girls.

They threw shy smiles at me. But only one person I've been waiting for his presence. We parted last night after delivering the news of the victory to King Azov.

“Let's welcome Mr. Suarez and his daughter, Miss Eliza!”

The golden brown ballroom door opened and I turned from Azov to look at my soulmate. I gasped as Chloe walked in, one arm in Edric's hand. As is customary for unmarried women, her long hair is plastered upwards.

Chloe was wearing a white party dress. In the Kingdom of Azov, white symbolizes purity. Without feeling it, both of my legs had already stepped towards him. Edric took Chloe's hand and left.

I was about to call her name when out of nowhere, so many people appeared in front of me, shrouding Chloe.

“Miss Eliza, would you like to dance with me?”

“Miss Eliza, do you remember me? William Hill's. Will you dance with me tonight?

“Miss Eliza, give me a chance to write my name into the queue.”

Miss Eliza. Miss Eliza. Everyone is busy dancing with her tonight. Chloe just stood there straight and the little smile she forced was on her back.

“Sorry everyone. Miss Eliza's card is full of my name.”

All eyes are on me. They stared cynically and were about to protest but I returned their gazes one by one. The crowd of 20-plus people dispersed with long sighs.

“Dimits. Thank you for repelling mosquitoes for me.”

I raised one eyebrow up and chuckled, “It's a good thing you think of them as mosquitoes. I've been hot burned jealous flames and was about to slash their heads one by one.”

Chloe was about to open her mouth when two young girls came up to me and saluted.

“Mr Dimitri, introduce me Beatrice Wright.”

“I'm Charlotte Smith, sir.”

“Ladies,” brief sapaku not interested. I turned my head and Chloe tried not to smile.

They gave out dance cards that were used to fill in the names of the men who wanted to dance with them.

“Mr Dimitri, my dance card is not yet full. Will you dance with me?” Beatrice gave me the sweetest smile.

“Have me too, mr.”

I was about to open my mouth to refuse, but Chloe gave me an answer.

“Of course Mr. Dimitri will not refuse. He is a friendly and kind person. Right, Dimitri?”

Both of the girls eyes sparkled. They looked at Chloe in awe while I looked at her in disbelief. In the end, I wrote my name on their card and another girl came.

If Chloe wasn't here, I would've rejected them outright. My eyes glanced at him, but the woman standing there had already disappeared.

Goddamnit! I ignored some girls who were still handing out their cards and went to find Chloe. After a while of wading through the sea of men in that crowded room, I saw him standing on the balcony alone.

“None Eliza. You look beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you, Mr. Dimitri. You are also very charming tonight.” He praised but his tone sounded flat.

The dress she was wearing was very luxurious with a slight touch of lace, a cleavage that went down until I had to hold back from gulping. I want to gouge out the eyes of all the men who saw her or maybe I should hide Chloe from all of them.

“Are you not supposed to hang out with an unmarried girl group?”

Chloe grunts. “I can't stand to talk to them for long. All they discussed was about the husband, how to get a husband with high status, what clothes they should wear. I'd rather kill Nelson's soldiers than join them.”

I chuckle because Chloe doesn't usually talk at length. Without her armor, Chloe's beauty is unequaled. Makes me want to kidnap her home.

“So you have no plans to get married?”

Chloe's distant gaze at the star-studded sky made me want to hug her.

“I haven't found the right guy. I want to be loved like I love that person. Or maybe I don't have the ability to love others.”

Chloe shook her head. “There is only a sense of emptiness in my heart.”

I held her little chin, making her look at me.

“Same, Chloe. I've felt the same way too. Being a vampire makes your heart freeze, as if there is no more warmth to love others. My heart was also empty for 1 millennium long to live in this world, until you came to my life.”

I'm speechless. My tongue is too thick to answer. You hate me, Chloe.

Then his eyes bowed as if embarrassed, “Eden said you..”.

I scrunched my forehead. “Eden says what, Chloe?”

“Eden says you love me, Dimitri.” He laughed and shook my hand. “Of course I don't believe.”

Chloe was about to walk in but I pulled her arm. “You must believe, Chloe. I really..”.

The beautiful music to accompany the dance has already begun. This is not the right time and place to tell everything. I'm not ready yet, and neither is Chloe.

“Miss Eliza, your first dance tonight should be with me.”

“A-I don't know how to dance, Dimitri. You better take another girl.”

“I'll lead you, Chloe.”

His hands were coiled around my arms and we walked to the center of the room. Some couples were also standing there. Chloe took off her hand. Did I see a nervous expression on his face?

“None Eliza. Will you dance with me?”

I thought Chloe was about to refuse and run away from me, but her right hand was placed on my left. At that moment, my heart seemed to jump out.

Chloe gasped as I clenched her body tightly.

“Hang on tight, darling.”

It's just me and Chloe in this world. I chuckled softly as her feet stepped on me.

“ Unexpectedly, a Death Goddess who is adept at swordplay and archery can't even dance.”

Chloe was about to pull herself away, but it was impossible because of my tight grip.

“I've never danced before, Dimitri.”

My heart is growing. So all the men who begged her always she refused!

“Don't tell me I'm the first man to dance with you, Miss Eliza?”

He seemed to think, “I don't know.. Did I never dance with another man before? Before I turn into..”

“No. Chloe who never danced.”

I turned her body, then continued our steps along with the music. I looked at the neckline, there was a white satin choker necklace coiled there. I wanted to pull it down, see if my bite marks were still there even though I knew it was impossible.

“So we're already breakeven, Dimitri.”

“Impas in what case, Chloe?”

“I have granted your request to dance with me.”

My mouth is pulled upwards, my hand that is coiled around Chloe's waist pulling her close so that there is no distance between us.

“I'm not saying that dancing is a request you should grant, Chloe.”

Chloe's eyes widened. “You!!”

He looked to his right and left, many other couples were staring at us curiously. Chloe calmed herself down.

“Then what is your request, Dimitri? I want to pay it off soon so I don't have to see you again.”

The music is running out, all the men on the dance floor are lifting their partners' bodies up, just like I did Chloe. I clenched her tightly back as she descended, her mouth opening slightly.

The music stopped and the guests gave a standing ovation. With a heavy heart, I stepped back, lowered my head and kissed her hands gently.

“My request is that you should open your heart to me, Chloe.”

...----------------...

*Hang on tight, darling.*

\= Hold on tight, dear.