Back in the castle, Queen Prisca glared at her husband in annoyance. After he told her they couldn't do anything about their son's condition, she had rushed outside, but wasn't quick enough to stop Bella. Not that she could have stopped the vampire–but she knew that threatening Bella with her mother would have made her think twice.
"And you are not allowed to harm Lady Lyna," the king ordered, turning to go back inside. He knew his wife would surely try something to avenge their son. It wasn't that he didn't care about the boy, but Damien wasn't someone worth offending. Keeping Lady Lyna as their hostage was a card he could use to control Bella later.
"How can you say such a thing?" Prisca asked in disbelief. "Don't tell me you're going back to that witch again–after all, she's lost her mind!" she yelled, following her husband, who ignored her tantrum.
"I'm telling you, don't do anything to her," King William said firmly. "Just go look after your son. He's always causing trouble," he added with an irritated huff.
"Don't tell me you're abandoning your son for your mistress," Prisca spat, her eyes flashing red. She had always played the obedient wife, knowing when to stop arguing so she wouldn't anger him. Even when he had brought that naïve woman, Lyna, into the palace, Prisca had studied her carefully before striking–poisoning her slowly until she lost her mind.
"Stop overthinking," King William chastised, clearly guessing what she was plotting. "Just make sure she's well fed, and let the doctors continue their treatment."
Prisca scoffed inwardly. Continue her treatment? Why would she let that woman recover, only to continue seducing her husband? That would only put her at a disadvantage. She was many things, but never a fool.
"Father!" Lucy screamed as she half-walked, half-ran toward him. Now fully dressed but with her hair still disheveled, she hadn't given her maids time to fix it properly. She was in too much of a hurry–she couldn't let Damien leave with her sister. She was planning to convince her father to let her go instead.
"Father, you can't let Bella go with Damien!" she cried out, clutching his robe. Growing up, Lucy had always been close to her father. She was certain he would give her everything she wanted–unlike Bella, whom he always ignored.
"They're already gone," he said flatly. It seemed both women were determined to disturb his peace this morning. Of course, he was glad the vampires were gone.
"What?" Lucy said in disbelief, turning to her mother as if to confirm it. Seeing her mother's stern face, she knew it was true. She ran after her father, who was trying to get away–he had other matters to handle, like sending a group of humans to Remorvia as tribute.
"Father! How could you let her go with him?" Lucy screamed, her voice cracking with anger.
Queen Prisca rushed forward to console her crying daughter.
"Well, Bella made the choice herself," King William said casually–though that was what the vampire had told him.
"Father, you should have sent me instead! I'm sure the king would fall in love with me in time and make me his queen. Wouldn't that benefit this kingdom? Moreover, I'm a princess. With my status, I'm a better match for him."
King William sighed helplessly at his daughter's naïve words. The vampire king–known as the Guardian of the North–was one of the most feared king alive. Every human kingdom in the north relied on him for protection from other vampire kings. According to his sources, none of the other kings dared provoke him.
Fall in love? he thought bitterly. His daughter's dreams were foolish. If the vampire even had a heart, it certainly wasn't one capable of love. Of course, he wouldn't offer Lucy to slaughter. It was better that Bella went instead. Her "princess" status meant nothing beyond their small kingdom, and that was the only reason they hadn't yet been wiped off the map.
"Forget about the vampire king," he said finally. "He's dangerous. If you want to become queen, I can wed you to the crown prince of Mule Kingdom."
"Father, no! I only want Damien!" Lucy cried. How could she give up her dream so easily? She had imagined immortality, endless wealth, eternal beauty. She couldn't throw all that away to marry a human she looked down upon. Her teeth clenched, her hands tightened in anger as she thought of Bella–that wretched girl who stole her place.
Determination flashed in Lucy's eyes as dark thoughts began to form. If her father wouldn't let her go to Remorvia… she would find another way, she heard the maids gossiping about the new batch of humans that would be sent to Remorvia, perhaps she could sneak in too, a small smile graced her face as this idea boomed in her mind, by the time she's gone she would just write a letter to her father telling him to support her, she was sure he would after all he would not be able to do anything about it.