TrianaTriana's brow furrowed, then she responded to Vlador's remark, "My parents love their children dearly. They always strive for the best for us. Yes, they're not perfect because they're only humans, but they're the best parents for me."A small chuckle escaped Vlador's lips. "They love you so much to the extent of letting you seek a witch to make your beauty eternal.""Mr. Vlador, please refrain from judging my parents, even when you don't know them. As a child, surely we can feel our parents' love for us, can’t we?"Triana's words left Vlador silent. His jaw tightened, and he returned his gaze forward. It seemed that she had a very pleasant life, and her parents pampered her so much that she defended them with all her dignity.She spoke as if all children grew up with the same warmth and happiness. Nauseating."I… I apologize if I spoke out of turn. I didn't mean to remind you of your deceased family. Your family was slaughtered, and you were imprisoned alone for a hundred years.
Triana.As seen from the outside of the stained glass divider, it separated a small room.Once again, Triana glanced at Vlador, who still had his back on her. He probably wouldn't appreciate her exploring his treasure room. Since childhood, Triana had been taught not to inspect or enter places she didn't recognize because it could be dangerous for her. However, while her parents weren't here, she would break that rule just this once.Triana's slender legs stepped into the room. There, she only found a large, wide black wardrobe facing a dark red bench.Gulping, she approached one of the wardrobe doors and carefully opened it while holding her breath. The luck was with her because the wardrobe door didn't make any noise."Gowns?" Triana muttered before covering her mouth with her hand.Three beautiful gowns hung inside the wardrobe. All were dark in color but adorned with glamour and intricate embroidery details.Were they spoils of war or gowns belonging to Vlador's family? Or perhaps
Triana."No... please let me go!" Triana pleaded, trying to straighten her body, only to make Vlador tighten his grip."I'm hungry, and you smell so good. The longer I try to ignore it, the more intense your scent becomes, stabbing my nose." Vlador whispered, lowering his face toward Triana's neck."Please don't kill me. You'll die if I die. Come to your senses, Mr. Vlador! Do you want to die?" Triana shouted, tears welling up in her eyes."How many times do I have to tell you that I know that? Calm down. I won't kill you. I just... want to taste a little," Vlador responded before placing his open mouth on Triana's neck.Triana's eyes widened. As something soft and wet touched her neck where she'd been bitten, her hand reflexively gripped the large arm wrapped around her.Seeing herself alone in the mirror but feeling Vlador’s body against hers and his face at her neck overwhelmed her. She reached up to push his face away but only elicited a low growl without moving him at all."Mr. Vl
Vlador."All right," Triana said, quickening her pace.Furrowing his brow, Vlador glanced back at her, only to make himself gulp and clench his jaw as the memory of Triana's sweet blood lingered on his tongue. But suddenly, Triana stumbled over something, causing her body to lurch forward, prompting him to reach out and catch her by the waist.CRASH!The lantern Triana was holding fell to the stone floor and shattered. The only light in the passage was gone, allowing darkness to envelop them.Gripping Vlador's hand, which was supporting her entire weight, Triana struggled to regain her footing. "I’m sorry, I seem to have tripped over a stone. It's very dark here.""I have warned you to watch your step," Vlador said wearily as he helped Triana stand upright.Then his gaze dropped upon her small hands, which were still clutching his tunic. She looked around with widened pupils."You told me to walk faster on this broken floor, and now you're scolding me because I stumbled," Triana retort
Triana.The piercing sensation in her chest made Triana's lips quiver. Vlador not only possessed sharp fangs but also a tongue that easily wounded others' hearts. Yet, what truly hurt her was the fact embedded in his words.Triana was grateful for her parents' protection all this time. They had cared for her so well that sometimes she felt unfair to her sisters. However, every good thing sometimes had a little downside. In Triana's case, her parents' protection made her feel like she was trapped in a golden cage.Vlador's words were like a stamp legalizing Triana's feelings that she had denied and hidden for so long. She knew she was lucky to be born into a respected family that loved her. But deep down, she longed to breathe freely, to leap and run in the meadows.The dim light snapped Triana out of her reverie. It was the moving door of the passage. Then Vlador put her down as they exited the secret door."Thank you," Triana said as she straightened her dress."You should be able to
Vlador."Not surprising." Vlador returned his gaze forward as he put on the cloak he had been carrying and covered the tear on the back of his tunic."I only visited Mr. Winston's house once a few years ago. I think it's understandable if I don't remember the way to his house.""That's a temporary reason I can accept.""Why only temporary?" Triana asked, leaning forward to get a clearer view of Vlador's face."Because I'm not sure I can tolerate any other ignorance," Vlador replied.Emerging from the forest, they were greeted by a neatly paved road. It was a somewhat remote roadside due to its proximity to the forest.Feeling a drop of water fall on his cheekbone, Vlador looked up to find the sky drizzling. It was inconvenient because to find Triana’s teacher's house, they had to ask the locals, who were nowhere to be seen."Rain's starting to come down," Triana murmured, cupping her palms in front of her face to catch the raindrops.Glancing at Triana, Vlador noticed her face was qui
Triana.The warm air from the fireplace seemed to embrace her, feeling like her mother's hug. Continuing to direct her frozen palms forward, she began to regain the feeling at the tips of her fingers. She hadn't expected that sitting in front of such an old fireplace would feel like paradise. It had been two exhausting days.The sound of shoe-clad footsteps on the wooden floor made Triana realize that she wasn't alone. She turned to find Vlador standing beside her."Oh..." Triana stood up, smiling awkwardly. "Thank you for persuading that woman to give me the room.""She said this room shouldn't have been rented out," Vlador said.His golden eyes seemed to enchant Triana for a moment. When she snapped out of it, she quickly averted her gaze to the side, hoping the warmth in her cheeks was just her imagination.The first time Triana saw Vlador transform into a human, she couldn't help but feel awkward. Her heart kept pounding as their gazes met. She grew even more nervous because she k
Vlador."This is a… stay," Triana replied, lowering her gaze."A stay?" Vlador muttered, tugging at the knot. "Why are you wearing this weird thing? The lacing is very tight.""It's used to maintain my posture and control my eating," Triana answered. Then she cleared her throat. "Could you also help me undo them, please?""Do women nowadays always wear troublesome things like this?" Vlador asked, tugging at the lace."Noblewomen wear them. And I think women in the past also wore them," Triana replied, recalling. Then she continued, "As far as I know, only noblewomen wore stays.""This thing is rigid and tied deadly tight. You're amazing because I'm sure you must have had difficulty breathing all this time." Vlador shook his head in disbelief.Nodding slightly, Triana replied, "Honestly, I did feel a bit suffocated, especially when I first learned to wear the stays. But beauty is pain, and I've gotten used to it.""If being noble and beautiful means you can't breathe, wouldn't it be be
VladorHis gaze followed Frederick as he made his way to his seat. Once the man settled into his chair, his attention shifted to Triana, who pressed her lips together.As he had suspected, Frederick was trying to manipulate Triana. At least she was sharp enough to grasp the situation and keep her words to a minimum, even though the vampires treated her kindly—a kindness that was nothing more than a facade.Vlado knew exactly how vampires viewed humans, and he was certain that the Verdonix clan was responsible for the killings of Verxic’s people, not wild animals."I was wondering if you’ve ever encountered the Elix witches on this island."Vlador’s sudden question silenced everyone at the table, including Frederick, who exchanged looks wit
Vlador"Welcome to the Verdonix Mansion, Prince Vlador. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Frederick Garvus Verdonix, the head of the Verdonix clan. We are truly honored that you’ve chosen to visit our humble mansion."Vlador remained silent, staring at the blonde man from head to toe. The man, with faint lines around his eyes, was the same height as him. His eyes were red but not glowing—similar to Dyan's."I need not say that your demeanor feels... odd, do I?" Vlador asked."Oh… haha..." Frederick let out a chuckle, then nodded. "Such a judgment is well deserved, prince. I apologize for any confusion our actions may have caused."The man then extended one arm and shifted to the side. “How if I explain everything during dinner?"Frederick’s offer was met by silence from Vlador. He fixed his gaze on the man’s eyes. It was clear to the vampire clan that Vlador didn't trust them simply because they were vampires.Clearing his throat, Frederick continued, "I understand you have some ques
TrianaHer tears eventually fell.Triana nodded. “I understand. Thank you for answering my question.”Without waiting for Vlador's response, she turned and hurried away from the man who remained rooted in place.As her tears continued to flow, Triana pressed on. Foolishly, she still hoped that Vlador would chase after her. She yearned for the cold-hearted man, who had never desired her from the beginning.She loved Vlador. She acknowledged it and screamed it silently in her heart. She longed to remain with him, aware that he regarded her merely as a companion on his journey. Yet, was that not enough to warrant her continued presence by his side?Triana refused to return to her family. She knew that their treatment of h
Vlador“So, you’re saying that the civilization of this island exists only in this small community?” Vlador asked.Rextov raised an eyebrow and nodded. “The good news is that we live harmoniously in this small community.”“Coincidentally, we came to this city in search of a family. They have hair as white as snow and eyes as blue as glaciers. Have you seen anyone matching that description here?” Vlador inquired.“Well, that’s quite unusual. I’ve never seen anyone like that, not even in this city,” Rextov replied while stroking his chin.“Are you sure?” Vlador pressed. “My parents said they should have lived on this ice plain for a long time.”“For how long, exactly?” Rextov countered. “I was born and raised here. My ancestors were natives. Most people on this island have blonde or red hair. Perhaps the family you’re looking for are newcomers, not the old residents of this city.”Rextov’s explanation silenced Vlador. He couldn’t provide further details that might raise suspicions about
Triana“What are you doing?” Vlador asked.“Repaying a favor,” Triana replied, blinking.Taking a deep breath, Vlador said, “Pull your hand back. I need you to do something other than give your blood.”“O-oh,” Triana retracted her arm. Her heart began to race, and she cleared her throat. “What is it you need more… than blood?”“Teach me the languages you know; for example, the language spoken by the two men who made you cry,” Vlador said.“Oh,” Triana chuckled. “Certainly. I would be happy to teach you, Mr. Vlador.”“Good. Now, move away.” Vlador ordered as he stood up and walked towar
VladorIn Triana’s room, he was watching her endless cry. “I’ve killed someone. I made four children lose their mother. I’m a criminal. I’m a murderer,” Triana sobbed. Sighing, Vlador glanced at the soaking-wet handkerchief in Triana’s hand. “The sun has set. How long do you plan to cry?” “I... can’t stop,” Triana replied, breathless. “It’s my fault, Mr. Vlador. I’m terrified.” “That’s just one person dead out of the dozens who healed. Aren’t you being overdramatic?” Vlador frowned as Triana looked at him with her swollen eyes. “One person, you say? To those who didn’t know her, she might be just one person, but she meant everything to her family.” “Gosling,” Vlador sighed. “That woman is dead. She won’t come back to life, no matter how much you cry. You’re just wasting your time and exhausting yourself. You’re doing something futile and pointless.” Triana fell silent, squinting her eyes. “You don’t need to clarify that. I can’t control my feelings!” Clenching his jaws
53. Triana She let down her long hair while staring at her reflection in the mirror. She still didn't understand why she cried and said strange things earlier. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to remember what she had dreamt that made her babble. "It was a bad dream. I can still feel the sadness and fear from it," Triana murmured, then opened her eyes again. "But I don't remember the content of the dream at all." She clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Never mind. There's no point in recalling it. As Mr. Vlador said, it’s just a side effect of the curse." Triana then submerged both her hands in the basin of water under the mirror. She almost yelped as the cold water froze her hands. But still, she used it to wash her face. After refreshing her face and body, Triana changed from her men's outfit into a warm woman's dress. Though it was a simple dress, it was certainly much more elegant than the loose trousers and shirt she had been wearing. A smile spread across Triana's l
TrianaThe blue bird shone brightly in her hand. Her eyes fluttered as she gazed at it.Pretty jewelry was not unusual for Triana. She owned chests of exquisite and luxurious jewelry and trinkets in her castle. But a brooch sold at the Harbour Market was different. It wasn't just pretty; it was beautiful."I didn’t know he was watching me," Triana murmured. A faint smile spread across her lips.Rising from her chair, she reached the window and opened it wide. The sea wind blew fiercely, tossing her long hair.The sea looked as if it was blending with the blue sky. Although they had just left the land, it seemed the strong wind pushed their ship faster.Holding the bird brooch up, Triana smiled again as she matched its blue shade with the colors of the sea and sky. The more she thought about it, the more she realized Vlador was not the cruel man people said he was. If he were keeping her because of their curse, that beautiful brooch wouldn’t be in her hand.If Triana hadn’t visited the
VladorA sly smile formed on his lips. He opened her fingers and lifted her index finger from the row.He stared at the tip of her tiny finger and pinched it, causing it to redden. Then he brought it close to his mouth and bit it with his fang."Ah!" Triana almost pulled her hand back."The blood's oozing out," Vlador said."Please hurry up so I can go to sleep," Triana said without looking at Vlador."I thought you had trouble sleeping tonight?" Vlador responded with a small chuckle before sucking on the finger.Closing her eyes tightly, Triana turned her head away. She almost turned her back on Vlador, though her hand remained in his grasp.A tiny hole at the tip