[ He continues to say nothing, and she smiles back. Steps back and curtseys. ]

My name is Porom. Thank you for listening to me. I know that it's terribly silly, that I don't want to be on my own.

[ Listening to her, not talking with her. Just in case it's important to him that the guards remain under the impression that he doesn't speak. The footsteps grow closer and closer until the guard arrives. It's not the man who led her down here. Another, on patrol. She smiles and waves, turning her back on Alucard to walk beside the guard, two or three quick steps to each of his longer ones, talking a mile a minute at him as she walks away. ]

Sir! You look a little tired. It must be terribly difficult to adjust to so many of us arriving, but I'm very grateful for all of your work. Oh! Would some tea help? I'm headed back to the castle proper. I could bring you some-

[ Eventually, around the time that she's asking if it would be okay for her to show her friend her pictures, she's finally walked even out of Alucard's hearing range.

...the next day, Alucard might just overhear the guards laughing about the fact that two of them received very nicely written, prettily decorated thank-you notes. ]