Triana.
Her eyes widened, but no more tears fell.
"Sweetheart, we hope you understand why we had to make this decision, no?" Catherine asked, looking at Triana with glassy eyes.
Still staring blankly downward, Triana took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then she nodded once. "Yes, I... understand."
“We’ll provide you with a carriage, food, and enough money for your round trip to Verxic. We believe you can fend for yourself, Triana. You’re a grown woman now. You must live independently,” Stevanus said, prompting Triana to look up at him.
Triana.The sound of thunder jolted Triana into consciousness. Slowly, she began to hear the heavy rain surrounding her and became aware of the intense pressure in her chest.Frowning, Triana tried to open her eyes, but her body felt paralyzed. Amidst the rain and thunder, she also heard her own heartbeat, slow and steady. Despite that, she felt warmth around her body.“Gosling…”“Gosling! Are you awake?”“Hey… wake up!”These calls drew Triana back to consciousness. Her brow furrowed
VladorHe knew her body was trembling, but a pact is a pact. He had been waiting to drink Triana’s blood for a long time. He had been restraining himself amid the smell that made him desperately gulp all this time.And now, that delicious smell was right under his nose, inhalable and tasteable on his tongue. However, something strange spread inside his chest when his fangs touched her warm shoulder.Closing his eyes tightly, Vlador took a deep breath before sinking into that tender flesh.“Mmh!”Triana’s moan almost made Vlador open his eyes. But it was only for a moment, as the sound soon disappeared, or rather, was stifled. Triana restrained herself, keeping her promise. And Vlador didn’t know she could be so steadfast in keeping a promise that he knew was too hard for her to keep.Pulling his fangs out, a trickle of blood greeted the tip of Vlador’s tongue. Still with his eyes closed, he p
Triana."What do you think?" Vlador asked, still staring at her with cold eyes.Triana blinked and then put a hard piece of meat in her mouth. "I... don't know.""Neither do I," Vlador replied. "Our journey will be long. There's no need to dwell on unimportant things.""To me, it is," Triana muttered. "Honestly, it keeps bothering me. I'm so afraid, but I don't know exactly what I'm afraid of. I've always lived with hope. I lived comfortably, knowing that comfort would last forever because I was going to marry a prince from a prosperous kingdom. But now everything is gone. I don't even have a home to return to.""Then death would be the best option for you.""Excuse me?" Triana's eyes widened.Vlad
Triana.Cold water enveloped her body. She couldn’t breathe. She was being pulled down into the darkness that slowly blinded her eyes.The light from above the water faded, signaling that she had sunk deeper. What was Vlador doing? Weren’t their lives interdependent? Then why was he trying to kill her?Though she could no longer feel her body due to the freezing water, Triana realized she had to fight to stay alive. Her life made her wish to disappear from this world, but she didn’t know that death would be more terrifying when she faced it.Moving her arms and legs, Triana tried to swim up. Unfortunately, she had neither the ability nor the knowledge to swim. Instead of rising, her body sank deeper.Air bubbles burst from Triana’s mouth. She could no longer hold her
Vlador.A human man once told Vlador that he felt like a new person after being baptized. He also mentioned that baptism involves immersing someone in water.Had he inadvertently baptized Triana?Since leaving the river, Triana had become calmer. The worried look she’d worn since he first met her had vanished. When she was silent, she appeared as a self-reliant young woman who could traverse the entire western land with just a horse.Putting down her towel, Triana looked at Vlador. "Is there something wrong, Mr. Vlador?"Vlador blinked, then resumed tying his white tunic. "Are you feeling unwell?"Triana shook her head. "On the contrary, I feel very healthy." Then a smile spread across her face. "What you said is true, Mr. Vlador. It was all in my mind. I think I'm not sick because I'm so happy to swim. I don't think any noblewoman has this skill besides me."Smiling wryly, Vlador raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying
Vlador.“Who are you?”Smirking, Vlador continued his light steps, prompting the men to draw their machetes.“You just mentioned my name, but now you ask who I am,” Vlador said.The men exchanged glances before looking back at Vlador.“Oh, so you’re the man that whore kept screaming out? Well, prepare to lose your hand for injuring my head!” growled the man, whose forehead wound was bleeding down half the side of his face.Shifting his gaze, Vlador saw Triana had sat up and moved away. A smile reappeared on his lips. “You can’t do that with a body that’s starting to rot.”Seeing Vlador's eyes glowing red, the men widened their eyes and stepped back. He dropped his smile and lunged at them without saying another word.“A Vamp-”The shout was cut off as Vlador’s long claws slashed across the man's back, making him fall forward with four deep gashes exposing his spine.A pocket knife shot at Vlador, but his hand was fast enough to catch it by the handle.Watching the man try to run away,
TrianaThe sound of hooves stopped, and so did the jolting that had accompanied Triana’s sleep.She was so exhausted that the shake of the galloping horse and the cold wind felt like a rocking cradle, lulling her into a deeper sleep. However, even without those, she might have slept soundly because of the warmth of someone holding her from behind, giving her a sense of security."Wake up," Vlador said, giving Triana’s shoulder a brief shake.Frowning, Triana pulled back the cloak that had been covering her face. Unlike the other times they had stopped to rest the horse, the sunlight was no longer blinding her eyes."Have we arrived?" Triana asked as she adjusted herself, no longer leaning against Vlador's chest."No. I
Triana.“Thank you for walking me back. I really appreciate it.”“It’s no problem. I have a daughter your age who lives in the big city. I hope she meets good people there.” The woman with graying hair sighed. “Our tavern is the only entertainment for tired men after work in this town. I understand why you feel uncomfortable going out alone.”Triana pulled a tender smile. “I wish I had something to give you.”The woman shook her head. “I feel bad about what happened to you.”“No need, Mariam. You don’t even know those robbers.” Triana replied, reaching for her room's door handle. “I’ll go in now.”“Sure. Have a good rest,&rd
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