[ There’s something more satisfying than hearing the entire room cowed into silence, and that’s hearing one person attempt to resume the whispers only to be cut off by another. They’re not just silent, they’re enforcing the silence of their neighbours. Good. There will be no more whispers tonight. Not about the situation. Not about anything but what he’s about to do.

He takes Alucard’s hand in his own, head still bowed. ]

My name is Trevor Christopher Rafael Cornileu Belmont, first son and last heir of the House of Belmont. [ There’s a stab of pain in his chest, saying ‘last heir’. He continues without stumbling. ] Last son of Leon Belmont, slayer of Walter Bernhard, sire to the first of House Dracul. Last son of Sonia Belmont, slayer of Gilles De Rais, sire to the Baohan Sith. Last son of Rafael Belmont, slayer of Springheeled Jack, Scourge of Empire. I swear myself to your service. I shall protect your house. I shall avert from you the wrath of man and of that which lies beyond man. I shall cut words of dissent from the tongues and seeds of rebellion from the hearts of those who would act against you.

[ And he pulls away the driving glove and kisses Alucard’s hand, very deliberately, over the ring finger. ]