Back ph Cavemire, a sullen-faced Lucy made her way toward the palace garden, her lpyhhhpong dress trailing behind her like a dark river. Her maids followed at a respectful distance, well aware of the storm gathering in the princess's mood. The cause of her irritation was simple and, to her, entirely justified: her half-sister was in Removeria—likely enjoying herself—while she remained here, preparing for an engagement to the Crown Prince of Mule, a neighboring human kingdom she deeply desdpised.
Her mood soured further when her eyes fell on him. The comparison to Damien struck her at once, widening the vast difference between the two. Damien was handsome, cold, and undeniably commanding. Vincent, on the other hand, was… a blond young man with a boyish charm—pleasant enough, but hardly a figure of authority.
"Princess Lucy!" he called cheerfully, smiling as though he had long awaited her arrival. "It's a pleasure to meet you again." He extended his hand politely.
Lucy did not take it.
"Again?" She raised a brow sweetly. "I cannot remember seeing you anywhere. Pardon my memory." She intentionally ignored his still-hovering hand.
Vincent let out an awkward laugh and withdrew his hand. He had been told the princess was rather rude, yet he had confidence in his ability to win her favor—or so he hoped.
"It has been quite a long time, since we were little, so it is fine if you cannot remember," he said lightly, strolling beside her in an attempt to ease the tension.
"So, I heard you planted these flowers," he continued, gesturing toward the well-groomed red roses.
"No. Why would I plant flowers when there are people hired for such odd work? I merely ordered them to be planted." Her eyes narrowed sharply. "Do not tell me that in Mule, Your Royal Highness, you plant the flowers yourselves." Lucy's patience was thinning. "If you are seeking a wife to tend a garden, then you are wrong."
Her raised voice made Vincent swallow nervously. He wondered how to calm her without angering her further—one wrong word and she might explode entirely.
"I didn't mean that, Princess Lucy," he began cautiously.
"Look," she cut in sharply, lifting her hand to silence him. "So as not to waste my time, I will tell you now—I have someone I am in love with, and you are not my type." With that, Lucy turned and began walking away.
"Hey—Your Highness!" Vincent called out helplessly. He cursed under his breath. His father would scold him mercilessly for failing to charm a girl.
If only I could meet the person she claims to love, he thought bitterly. Perhaps then I would understand why I never stood a chance.
Lucy stormed back inside the palace, only to come face-to-face with her mother, who wore a pleasant smile that immediately irritated her further.
"How is Prince Vincent? He's quite a decent man, isn't he, dear?" Queen Priscilla asked sweetly.
"No, Mother. He is a pathetic excuse of a human, and I find it humiliating that my own family wishes to tie me down with that… thing," Lucy spat.
Priscilla gasped softly, glancing around to ensure no one from the Mule delegation was nearby to overhear Lucy's outburst.
"I will not have you ruin your life over a foolish fantasy that could cost you everything," the Queen warned sternly. "Your brother is already being a handful. So behave yourself."
"Mother! Damien is the only man I want!" Lucy screamed after her, but Priscilla continued walking, deliberately ignoring her daughter's pleas. Normally, she would give in—but how could she wed her daughter to a vampire king who had never shown the slightest desire for her?
Stamping her feet in frustration, Lucy fled to her room and began packing. She had already decided on her night's adventure. Tonight, she would sneak out and join the group of humans being sent to Removeria as tribute.
---
Meanwhile, Bella climbed down from her horse immediately after Damien's, who had stopped in front of a large burial ground, she ran her hand through her hair in an attempt to fix it. The cold air made the place even more eerie; mist curled around the gravestones like ghostly fingers.
Damien reached to the side of his horse and pulled out a shovel. Bella blinked—she wasn't entirely sure where it had come from.
"You're digging?" Bella asked in disbelief as her eyes landed on the shovel.
"You mean we are digging," Damien corrected, "too bad you are not a witch so we have to do the digging ourselves" He laments,than pushed open the short iron gate, which groaned in protest.
She muttered a quick, terrified prayer under her breath, patted her horse for comfort, and followed the vampire inside. Damien who moved with a strange familiarity about the graves, as though he had walked among them a hundred times. He ventured deeper into the cemetery before stopping in front of an old, weathered tombstone.
Here we are" Damien announce, wearing a grin on his face, Bella moved closer to read the words on the epilogue, Here lies a heart broken fool, who needs his rest" she read out loud.
what a strange epilogue, she said
Hmm .. Damien hummed in lazy admittance , a fool he is he said than swat down, moving a stone that was barely noticeable the cemented grave parted open. Bella eyes widen in amusement.
Now we just have to dig out the dirt, to wake him up.
How can a dead man be waken up, he's body is probably decade by now, she said not sure if her words were making sense to the insane vampire.
Suger plum, there's a huge difference between a vampire and humans which you should know, now pass me the shovel, while humans have a short life span vampire do have a long one, and enternity is too long for a vampire to be awake so we go into rehabilitation to rest he paticent explain as he began to dig , I should have bring an extra shovel for you, he said.
Am glad you didn't she said in her mind, her thought processing these new information she just got.
So that means he's just slejeping, she said
Hmm,he hummed in agreement,that why you should be careful of cemetery cause not all deads are actually dead.
The both kept silent as Damien continue to dig at a very fast pace, Bella marvelled at the fact he didn't even break into a sweat at all,
Now your turn fish, he said finally, moving away to give her space.