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Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: The Vale Household

(Evening. The Vale family dining room. The table is long but simple; dark wood, polished but a little scratched from years of use. A chandelier hangs above, not crystal like the vampires', but glass shaped to look like crystal. The house is warm, filled with noise and movement. The opposite of vampire palaces.)

[Scene opens with clatter of plates.]

Mrs. Vale is setting down bowls of stew, Daniel is already reaching for bread rolls, Marcus is sorting through hospital papers at the table, and Mr. Vale sits quietly at the head, watching his family with a small smile.

Mrs. Vale:

"Daniel! Hands off until we pray."

Daniel (mouth already full, muffled):

"I wasn't eating. I was… checking for poison."

(Aria groans, smacks his hand lightly. Marcus bursts out laughing. Mr. Vale raises a brow but says nothing.)

Aria:

"Poison? Really? You act like anyone wants to waste poison on you."

Daniel:

"Hey! I'm valuable! I'm the youngest. Mama's favorite."

(Mrs. Vale chuckles and pats Daniel's head. Aria shoots her mother a look. Marcus leans back, smirking.)

Marcus:

"He's not wrong, Aria. Mama does spoil him."

Aria:

"And Papa spoils me. Balance."

(Mr. Vale clears his throat softly, pretending to focus on his plate, but there's a tiny smile tugging his lips. Marcus smirks wider, pointing at Aria with his fork.)

Marcus:

"Exactly! Father's little princess. No wonder you strut around like you own the place."

Aria:

"Better me than you. At least I don't walk into the house bragging about how every nurse in the vampire hospital 'respects' me."

(Marcus glares. Daniel bursts out laughing, nearly choking on bread. Mrs. Vale smacks the back of his head lightly to stop him from choking.)

(The atmosphere is loud but warm. This is how the Vale house always is, arguments overlapping, side comments flying, their father silent in the middle of it all like the calm eye of a storm.)

Mr. Vale (finally speaking, voice calm):

"Eat. Before the food turns cold."

(Everyone quiets for a second. Mr. Vale's words always hold weight, even though he doesn't say much. Then the chatter continues, softer now.)

Mrs. Vale:

"Marcus, you came home late again. The hospital works you too hard."

Marcus (shrugs, sipping water):

"It's busy. Vampires don't get sick often, but when they do… it's serious. And when ferals are brought in..."

(He cuts himself off. The table stiffens. Daniel looks curious, but Mrs. Vale quickly changes the subject, her smile a little too bright.)

Mrs. Vale:

"Ferals are none of our concern. What matters is that you're doing well. The head doctor praises you, yes?"

Marcus (reluctantly smiling):

"He does."

(Aria raises a brow, leaning forward with mock drama.)

Aria:

"Oh, here we go. Marcus the brilliant, the savior of the vampire hospital, adored by all, feared by none."

Marcus:

"Feared by you. Every time I tell Papa how you sneak late into the library..."

Aria (cuts in quickly):

"You wouldn't dare."

Marcus:

"Try me."

(Daniel claps his hands, delighted.)

Daniel:

"Do it, Marcus! She deserves it. She always scolds me when I play near the vampire estate gates."

Aria:

"Because you're an idiot who wants to get eaten!"

Daniel (grinning proudly):

"Still alive, though."

(Mrs. Vale throws her napkin at him, shaking her head. The table bursts into laughter again.)

(The camera of our imaginary drama pans around the dining room. The Vale home is filled with life, flowers on the counter, books stacked on shelves, a small fireplace burning low. It's cozy, safe, but outside the walls lies the constant shadow of vampires. Even in laughter, there's tension beneath the surface.)

Mr. Vale (quietly, setting down his fork):

"Remember. We live here because we respect the royals. Never forget where we are. This estate belongs to them."

(The table stills. The reminder settles heavy. Daniel frowns. Aria lowers her gaze for a moment. Marcus leans back in his chair, suddenly serious.)

Marcus:

"We know, Father. No one forgets."

Mrs. Vale:

"Let's not ruin dinner with heavy talk. Eat. Aria, pass me the stew."

(The noise slowly returns, lighter now. Daniel jokes, Marcus teases, Mrs. Vale fusses, Aria rolls her eyes, and Mr. Vale watches quietly, his expression unreadable but his gaze protective, especially when it rests on his daughter.)

Marcus (leaning toward Aria, smirking):

"You should be careful. Father will never let you marry anyone. He'd keep you here forever."

Aria (dramatic gasp, clutching her chest):

"Tragic! Doomed to live forever as Father's princess. What a cruel fate."

(Daniel laughs so hard he drops his spoon. Mrs. Vale shakes her head, smiling despite herself. Mr. Vale hides his chuckle behind his glass of wine.)

[Scene closes with the family laughing, plates half-empty, voices overlapping. Outside, the vampire estate is quiet, dark, looming. Inside, the Vale house is chaos, warmth, and life.]

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