"But she's human. This isn't the first time she's raised a sword at me and I let it go. I don't know why, but... whatever it is, she's lucky," Derick said, gazing out the window.
Vladimir's eyes widened. "She raised a sword at you—and you let her go? Since when do you start letting people off that easily?"But then again didn't he just hear him say that before now."
Derick shrugged with a slight smirk. "She's just among the lucky ones."
Vladimir wasn't convinced. His gaze narrowed as if he were trying to peer into Derick's mind.
"And she doesn't know you're Prince Derick?"
"Keep it that way. I want the entire fortress to remain silent on my identity."
Vladimir's frown deepened. "And what about the contest? You're not going to let her win, are you?"
Derick turned his head, eyes cold and unreadable. "See to it that she doesn't win."
Vladimir stared. "Why? You seem to tolerate her more than most."
Vladimir argued. "She even managed to get under your skin. So why keep her from the crown?"
Derick didn't answer, and that silence said more than words ever could.
Vladimir sighed, his voice softer now. "Three hundred years have passed, Derick. We never saw it coming—what happened back then. But you don't have to carry that hatred forever."
Derick shot him a piercing glare, sharp enough to slice through stone. Vladimir instinctively took a step back. He knew the topic was forbidden, but sometimes truths had to be voiced.
"I've done my part," Derick said coldly. "I serve them well. I ensure they're treated equally in this kingdom. But I will not have them close to me—not again."
Vladimir nodded with a sigh. There was nothing more to say. His friend was a fortress built from centuries of regret and pain, and perhaps it would take more than time to break through.
Vladimir nodded, quietly wishing his friend would loosen up—just a little.
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Meanwhile, Eira was led through the towering halls of the palace by a pair of maids. They arrived at the First Wing—an area marked by grandeur and guarded by a phalanx of silent, armored sentries. The maids whispered something to the guards, and the path cleared like parting waters.
She was escorted to the Emperor's study, a regal space that reeked of power and old history. A steward greeted her at the threshold, announced her presence with formal grace, and motioned for her to enter.
"Good day, Your Majesty—the Emperor and seventh ruler of Valtoria," Eira greeted with a respectful bow.
"Good day to you as well, Eleventh Princess Eira of the Elyria Kingdom," the Emperor responded with a nod.
"You summoned me, Your Majesty?" she asked politely, her voice composed despite the unease threading through her chest.
"I did," he replied, raising a hand toward the others in the room. They bowed and vanished wordlessly, leaving the two of them alone.
"I imagine you've been made aware that war almost broke out between our kingdoms," the Emperor began.
Eira gave a solemn nod.
"It must have been difficult for you," he said softly. "And I want to express my deepest apologies."
She remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"I lost my second son during the last war between humans and vampires," he said, voice thick with memory. "Back when humans ruled this land and our kind were weak and scattered. My son—the former Crown Prince—fell in love with a human princess."
Eira's eyes widened faintly.
"They loved each other deeply. Though many opposed their union, they remained steadfast. Eventually, he chose to turn her. In our law, if a human conceives a child by a vampire and survives the birth, both mother and child become half-vampires. The woman he loved… was of royal blood herself. Daughter of the Emperor who dominated the land of Valtoria."
The air in the room seemed to grow heavier.
"They defied everything," the Emperor continued. "And when she conceived, our people rejoiced. It felt like hope. But when her father discovered the truth—it turned into war."
He paused, lost in the memory.
"The war raged for months. In the end, my son was captured. They didn't just kill him, Eira. They mutilated him. Fed his organs to beasts. Left his remains to rot under the sun. When I found his body…" His voice trailed off, grief pouring from every word.
Eira's heart clenched.
"And that's when it happened," he continued. "My first son—Roderick—was never meant to be Crown Prince. He'd refused the title, chosen a life away from the court. But after witnessing his brother's brutal death, something in him changed."
The Emperor's gaze drifted to the distant wall, as though he could see Roderick's past etched into the stone.
"Roderick became cold. Ruthless. No one could reach him—not even his mother. He waged war, wiping out nearly every human settlement in sight. In his mind, it was revenge. But he twisted fate in doing so. A curse fell upon him—a curse that lingers to this day."
Eira's brows drew together. "A curse?"
The Emperor nodded. "One born from bloodshed and pain. Roderick buried his brother in grand honor, then built a kingdom on vengeance. And that is how I came to sit on this throne. Through fire, through sorrow. The vampires became conquerors—not because we wished to rule, but because we had nothing left."
He met her gaze. "Roderick has ruled quietly in the shadows. But he despises humans. He may not say it aloud, but I see it in his every move. And now, you're here… and he's watching."
Eira swallowed.
"I won't tell you what to do," the Emperor said, his tone gentler now. "But know this: you are not here by coincidence. Prophecies are strange things, child. They never unfold the way we expect."
"I don't know what fate has planned. But I do know this contest... this path... it may be more than just marriage. It may be prophecy fulfilling itself again."
---
Back in the corridors of the palace, Vladimir walked silently, lost in thought.
Derick had changed.
He wasn't the same icy shadow who once vanished from the court for decades. And this human girl… Eira… something about her was different. She defied him, challenged him, raised her sword with fire in her eyes—and somehow, Derick let her live.
Vladimir could only wonder: was the prophecy already in motion?
Was this the beginning of a fate they had both tried to run from?
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