The inn was quiet, save for the occasional creak of floorboards and the distant hoot of an owl outside.
The Princess sat at the small wooden table in her room, picking at the remains of her supper, across from her was Liora who was equally nibbling on a slice of bread, eyes heavy with exhaustion.
"You should rest, Your Highness" . Liora murmured, stifling a yawn. "It's been a long journey, and tomorrow will be no easier."
The Princess nodded absently, her fingers tightening around her goblet, the wine did little to soothe the unease coiling in her stomach.
Her thoughts kept drifting to him.
The Vampire King.
"Did he say where he would be staying tonight?". She whispered in a low voice, finally asked the question that was bothering her.
The innkeeper's had earlier said that only two rooms were available, Liora was to stay in one and Orion said he'll crash the reception room.
So that means the two of them would have to sleep in the same room for the night. Naturally, she was his bride even though the wedding ceremony had not been conducted but she couldn't help it.
Earlier in the carriage , she'd pinned herself on a tiny strand of hope that if Orion was a nice guy then maybe he was too, but he's obviously not.
Not after what he's done tonight.
It wasn't even for the fact that he'd killed tons of men with bare hands , upon deep thinking after calming down she realised he killed them to save her and Liora and besides he was their king and besides she couldn't expect less.
A monster will always be a monster, people's nature can't be changed but it was for the fact that he'd tried to make a condemned a man to his death earlier.
Even though the man's group of vampire's attacked her , he was innocent and the guilty ones had already paid the price yet he tried to make her condemn him to his death in her daze.
After that, there was no conversation between them at all. He just told the innkeepers to get her to her room and serve her supper while he went to discuss with Orion.
Yet she couldn't help but wonder if he'll come back to her room after he was done discussing , after all there were no other spare room and he couldn't sleep in the freezing carriage outside.
If he spends the night with her in the same room, would her force her to perform wifely duties.
She didn't even know how to face him yet, anytime she sees his face , her mind is naturally drawn to remember what he's capable of doing and has done.
Liora hesitated, then shook her head. "No, my lady. He didn't say anything ".
Eleanor exhaled shakily and sighed, was she really going to spend a night with him, sleep on the same bed with him when she hadn't even thought of how to face him.
The thought of him appearing beside her on the bed alone sent a cold tremor down her spine.
Swallowing hard, she forced herself to stand. "Then we should retire for bed then. I'm full and sleepy".
"Okay". Liora nodded and helped her prepare for bed and pack the empty dishes She then blow out all the candles and retreated to her own room.
After Liora left, Eleanor lay stiffly beneath the covers, her ears straining for any sound of footsteps beyond the door.
Minutes stretched into hours and the inn settled deeper into stillness. Eleanor's eyelids grew heavier, her body succumbing to the exhaustion of the day.
Fear still hummed beneath her skin, but it was no match for the relentless pull of sleep. Slowly and reluctantly, she drifted into wonderland.
Time passed slowly and there was eventually the sound of footsteps and the door opening and closing gently.
Eleanor had long been drawn to wonderland to notice but somewhere in the depths of slumber, she felt a gentle brush of fingers against her hair, tucking a stray lock behind her ear.
" I'm sorry you had to witness all that, Eleanor ".
The voice was low and obviously filled with regret.
"I'm sorry you had to see me like that."
She stirred slightly, her breath deepening, but she did not wake. The words lingered at the edges of her consciousness, half-dream, half-reality.
Then the mattress slightly dipped beside her as he settled at the edge of the bed. He sat still in silence, his blue eyes fixed on her sleeping face as he watched her in silence.
"I know you're afraid of me right now." He spoke again, his thumb lightly grazing her cheek. "You have every right to after what you've seen. But you don't have to be. You don't have to be scared of me. I'm going to protect you."
There was a short pause before he continued.
"I'm your hus—". He then cut himself off sharply as if the word was a blade against his throat. His fingers curled into a fist against the sheets as his face hardened.
"You're going to be my bride". He murmured instead.
For a long moment, he simply watched her then with a quiet sigh, he stood up and moved toward the balcony.