As soon as Queen entered the hall, the family members sitting there informed her:
"The family head is waiting for you in the garden."
Queen walked through the hall toward the garden. In the garden, her father James, uncle Danial, and younger grandfather Hannry were having a conversation. Queen approached them and bowed her head respectfully.
Danial said happily:
Danial: "You've been promoted to Alpha level – 3rd grade! It's a matter of great pride."
James also felt extremely proud of his daughter. Becoming an Alpha at the age of 20 was no ordinary feat. In their family, the youngest Alpha until now had been Queen's elder sister Sarah, who became one at 22. And Queen hadn't even turned 20 yet – her birthday was still two months away.
Hannry (thoughtfully): "Queen dear, our family has made a decision about you..."
Queen: "A decision? What kind of decision, Grandpa?"
Hannry (after a pause): "Danial, you tell her."
Danial: "Queen, listen carefully. There was an old promise between our family and the Falcon family – a marriage agreement."
Queen: "Oh? So?"
Danial: "According to that agreement, you are to marry into the Falcon family."
Hearing this, Queen's expression turned furious.
Queen (angrily): "Marriage? I'll never get married! And who are these Falcon family people to marry me?"
Her Alpha energy began to surge.
James: "Please don't be angry, dear. This was decided years ago. We can't back out now. Try to understand our position."
All three of them tried to calm her down. After some time, Queen composed herself.
Queen: "Get Laila married instead. She's older than me. I hate the idea of marriage – especially with strangers. And you already know what the eldest son of the Falcon family did to Sarah ..… he ran away with her!"
Hannry: "We know, dear. But we have no other choice now. You must go through with this."
James: "If we refuse now, it will ruin our family's reputation."
Queen (after thinking): "Fine, but before the wedding, I want to meet the guy. Ask him to come to our mountain bungalow tomorrow."
James: "What's the need for a meeting? He's coming home tomorrow anyway – you can meet him then."
Queen: "Tomorrow… fine. By the way, who is this guy that's in such a hurry to marry me?"
Danial (after a pause): "Duke… Duke is his name."
Queen started thinking – Duke… that name sounded familiar.
Then she remembered – once, while sitting with her cousins, someone had mentioned a boy. A useless, foolish boy from the Falcon family. His name was Duke.
Queen (shouting in anger): "What? That same Duke? The one the whole world calls a useless vampire? The one who's a joke not just in Sector B, but even in his academy?"
James: "No, no… those are just rumors. Look, Queen, now everything depends on you."
They were emotionally blackmailing Queen.
Queen: "Fine. I'll meet him tomorrow. Then we'll see."
James (dropping a bombshell): "Tomorrow is your engagement."
Hearing this, Queen's face turned red with rage – but she swallowed her anger.
Queen: "What time?"
All three at once: "6 in the evening."
Queen walked away from there, crossed the mirror, and returned to her bungalow. Her sister Laila was sitting there twirling a dagger in her hand in Queen's place.
Laila: "What happened? Your face says something did."
Queen (tiredly): "Tomorrow at 6 in the evening… is my engagement. I'm going to rest in my room now."
Hearing this, her two close friends – Ella (a Level-2 magacian ) and Jude – stood up in shock. It was like they had been electrocuted.
Laila: "What are you saying, little one? Do you even know who he is?"
Queen (walking toward her room with a stretch): "That useless guy from the Falcons… Duke Magnus Falcon."
The moment the name dropped, all three were stunned. They couldn't believe their ears. Ella even pinched herself to check if it was a dream.
Jude (furious): "No way!"
He stormed out the door in anger, and Ella followed him to see what happened. Laila, shocked, crossed the mirror and went back to the family house.
And Queen? She flopped onto her bed, closed her eyes… as if tomorrow's engagement didn't bother her at all.