Cassie's POV
I eventually woke up, surprised to find it was already morning. I had slept for almost a day, something entirely strange for me. Sitting up, I glanced around the room, confusion settling in. It was nothing like what I was used to—bigger, grander, and clearly a master bedroom adorned with flowers, ornaments, and foreign designs, as if some sort of celebration was happening.
Before I could make sense of it, a gentle knock came at the door. I didn't respond, yet the person entered. Turning toward the door, I saw Zarea, and my face lit up.
"Good morning, madam. Did you enjoy your sleep?" Zarea asked warmly, bowing slightly.
"Yeah, I did. But why did I sleep so long?" I asked, suspicion creeping in. Had someone tampered with my food?
"Umm… madam, like I said before, there are things I'm not permitted to say at the wrong time. I hope you can understand," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.
"It's okay," I replied softly before continuing, "What's going on here? Why all the festive decorations?"
Zarea's face lit up with a smile. "Umm… it's actually your big day."
"My big day?" I echoed, confused. "What do you mean?"
"You're getting married today," Zarea said, grinning from ear to ear. "You should be happy. His Majesty will surely take good care of you."
Her words left me speechless. Was she referring to the Vampire King? That old hag? Though the Vampire King was rumored to be ruthless and merciless, no one knew his true identity. Most assumed he was a bloodthirsty old man, feared by all.
A wave of sadness hit me like a storm. Wouldn't it have been better to endure the maltreatment than to marry the Vampire King? What kind of torture was this? My father had sold me into this—marrying an old man who was likely on his fifth or sixth wife.
Questions flooded my mind, each one fueling my despair. If only my greedy father hadn't given me away…
"Madam, you don't seem happy. Why?" Zarea asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
I didn't respond, but a lone tear escaped down my cheek. I quickly wiped it away, not wanting her to worry, though she had already noticed.
"Oh no, please don't cry, madam," she said, her voice full of concern. "His Majesty will be angry if he sees you're sad about this marriage. Let me assure you, His Majesty loves you a lot."
Her attempt to reassure me fell flat. No matter what she said, I didn't want this marriage. Still, I sighed deeply, forcing myself to calm down. What choice did I have? My father had sold me off. This was my fate now.
Zarea studied me closely before speaking again. "Madam…" She moved closer, gently taking my hands. "I know I'm not supposed to do this, but I want to reassure you—you won't regret getting married today."
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I know you've probably heard the rumors about His Majesty being wicked, but the truth is… he's just very strict, and—"
Before she could finish, a knock on the door interrupted her. She quickly let go of my hands, as though afraid of being caught, and hurried to the door. After a brief conversation with whoever was outside, she closed the door and walked back toward me.
"Who's that?" I asked, curious to know who had come.
"It's from the royal kitchen. Your breakfast is ready and will be served in a few minutes," Zarea replied. I nodded and lay back on the bed, though my mind was restless and blank. Married to a vampire? A blood-drinking creature? I asked myself. I'm human—how could I possibly cope with something like this?
"How did I get here?" I asked, the question popping into my mind.
"You were brought here by His Majesty last night," Zarea responded, and her words shocked me. The Vampire King brought me here? I touched my body instinctively to confirm if anything had happened, but everything seemed normal. I sighed in relief, and Zarea giggled.
"What are you laughing at?" I asked, trying to keep a serious face. She pressed her lips into a thin line and replied, "Sorry, madam. His Majesty didn't touch you last night. He just brought you here to ensure your safety."
I nodded, but in my mind, I laughed bitterly. So now he's treating me like a child? That's definitely something an old man would do. I'd heard stories of older men babying their young wives, but I wasn't buying into it.
Another gentle knock interrupted my thoughts, and Zarea opened the door. Two ladies dressed in matching blue gowns bearing the royal emblem walked in. They both bowed to me, placed the trays they carried on the table, and left silently.
"Madam, you should brush your teeth now and eat," Zarea reminded me. I got out of bed, and she pointed to the bathroom door. This bathroom was much larger and more luxurious than anything I'd seen before. I picked up the toothpaste and carefully squeezed some onto the toothbrush. As I brushed, the process felt unfamiliar—it took me almost ten minutes. Once done, I rinsed my mouth, the refreshing mint leaving a pleasant sensation, and stepped back out into the room.
Zarea had already set the meal on the table. As she opened the tray, the rich aroma of the food wafted toward me. However, the smell triggered a wave of nausea. I bolted to the bathroom and retched violently. When I finished, I washed my face and returned to the bed, feeling drained.
"Please, take the food away," I ordered. Zarea obeyed without question and returned moments later with another meal.
This time, the food was the same as what I'd eaten in the forest with those men. The memory of that bear encounter and the lingering scent made me retch again. Unable to tolerate it, I lay down to rest and eventually drifted off.
When I woke up, it was almost evening. Zarea sat beside me, her warm smile comforting.
"You're awake," she said softly. "You should take your bath now; the wedding ceremony will start soon."
I nodded, resigned to my fate. This time, I was ready to accept it. I got out of bed and went to the bathroom, taking my time to clean myself thoroughly.
When I emerged, five maids stood waiting in the room, dressed in identical uniforms. They all bowed, and I acknowledged them with a nod. After applying my body cream, I slipped into my undergarments, and the maids helped me dress. They carefully applied makeup to my face, adding a final touch of elegance.
When they were done, I looked in the mirror and couldn't believe my eyes. I wore a golden ball gown adorned with shiny beads that screamed wealth. My hair was styled into an elegant bun, decorated with golden pins, with a few strands framing my face. My wrists glittered with golden bangles, while my neck bore a dazzling golden necklace studded with diamonds.
My shoes, golden and radiant, complemented the gown perfectly. I barely recognized myself—I looked breathtakingly beautiful.
Zarea smiled approvingly and ushered me outside. As I stepped out, my heart sank. Standing before me was someone I'd never wished to see again in my life.
My father.