I strolled through the corridors of the mansion, the morning sunlight filtering through the windows, casting warm patterns on the polished wooden floors. The mansion held a sense of elegance and history, yet its walls held secrets I could not remember. My footsteps echoed softly as I wandered, lost in thought. As I turned a corner, I spotted Rafi, my young nephew, standing there with a bright smile on his face. In his small hand, he held a delicate wildflower, its petals a vibrant shade of blue. He extended the flower towards me, his eyes filled with affection. "Good morning, Aunt Elisa," Rafi greeted me. "I picked this flower for you. You're still as lovely as before." It was already three o'clock and everyone was expecting the wedding to start but with the groom's absence in the hall, the ceremony couldn't proceed as planned. In the face of embarrassment, the King sent some men to the Everston manor to check where the lord was. Standing at the shadowed part of the balcony upstair
I accepted the flower with a grateful smile, touched by his thoughtfulness. "Thank you, Rafi. That's very sweet of you." Rafi's expression then turned wistful as he spoke softly, "I wish you remembered me, Aunt Elisa. We used to spend a lot of time together." I looked down at him, my heart aching with a sense of longing. "I'm sorry, Rafi. I wish I could remember too. But please tell me more about our time together. I'd love to hear." He nodded eagerly, his eyes lighting up as he began to reminisce. "Before you married Uncle Lucian, you were a slave in our pack. But you were always kind to everyone, even though you had so little. You used to sneak me extra food and tell me stories at night. You were like a guardian angel to me." As Rafi spoke, his words painted a picture of a past I couldn't recall but felt deeply connected to. The kindness he described seemed like a part of my very soul, a part that had endured through time and hardship. I knelt down to be at his eye level, a sens
Rafi's eyes lit up with excitement as he continued sharing memories of our time together. "Aunt Elisa, we used to play tennis in the courtyard. I remember you teaching me how to hold the racket properly." I chuckled at the thought, trying to picture myself as a tennis coach. "Did I? I must have been a terrible teacher because I can't remember a thing about tennis." Rafi laughed, the sound of his youthful joy filling the corridor. "Well, Aunt Elisa, I have to admit, I used to win every single time. You said it was because you were letting me win, but I think I was just that good!" "Would you like some tea after your bath, Your Highness?" the butler asked Lauren after the servants prepared her bath and night clothes. "No, I'm fine." Oswin nodded and took his leave, leaving Lauren alone in Alec's spacious yet cold and dimly lit room. Stepping into the huge tub filled with warm scented water, Lauren felt her cold body relax. She didn't have the energy to confront Alec about his sudde
"I admit I was rather dismayed, Alec. You didn't even send us an invitation to your wedding," said Mr. Hendricks while the four of them sat in the tearoom.Outside, the rain that started as the drizzle had turned into a downpour. The maid who served them tea was very careful with her moves knowing that a single mistake would cost her life."My apologies, uncle. Apart from the wedding preparations, I have been busy with work. I'm sure you heard about another lord's death and a massacre that took place in a village recently.""Yes, I heard about the massacre. The black mages did it?"Although he believed it wasn't the black mages, Alec didn't like providing unnecessary information to the people who were not directly involved in the case."It is what we are suspecting but nothing is sure yet.""You just arrived, Alec. Does that mean you spent the night working?" Samantha asked meaningfully. It occurred to her that if his cousin didn't even bother to be with his wife on their wedding nigh
I grinned at his confidence, genuinely amused by his recollection. "Is that so? Well, it sounds like we had a lot of fun." Rafi nodded enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling with nostalgia. "We did, Aunt Elisa. I miss those times." As I listened to Rafi's stories, I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and connection. While my past remained elusive, these shared moments with my nephew filled a void in my heart. The love and affection I felt for him were very real, even if the memories were not. "I miss those times too, Rafi," I admitted, my voice filled with emotion. "But we'll create new memories together, and maybe, just maybe, some of the old ones will find their way back to me." Lauren's jaw tightened, her tongue aching for rebuttal. But as much as she wanted to show her contempt for Alec's words, she was reminded of her desperate move. She did sell herself to have a deal with him, foolishly ignoring that she was dealing with the devil himself and putting her life at the tip
The butler who was standing at the side witnessed the gruesome murder that just took place inside the Everston mansion. It wasn't the first time that Oswin saw his master kill someone brutally, but he still could not get used to it.Hearing the lord mention his wife after killing the vampiress' manservant, the butler realized how wrong he was to think that his master didn't care about his wife. Now he should warn the other servants so they would be careful when it came to dealing with the matters concerning the princess."But I didn't kill her! All I did was ask for a glass of blood! You are being unreasonable for killing Emmanuel, Alec!""Of course I know you didn't kill her, you silly. It wouldn't have been your servant's blood splattered on the table right now but yours," said Alec and continued eating his steak like there was no corpse on the table.Samantha's jaw dropped at what he said, couldn't believe what her cousin had done just because of a lowly woman."Think of this as a
R The mansion was alive with activity as members of the pack hurried to set up for Lucian's birthday celebration. Tables were draped in rich, forest green cloths, and an array of colorful flowers adorned each one. Strings of twinkling fairy lights crisscrossed above, casting a warm, inviting glow. The front yard had been transformed into a magical garden, with lanterns hanging from the trees, creating a serene, enchanting atmosphere. Amid the hustle and bustle, I found myself assisting with the preparations, eager to be a part of this special day for Lucian. He had insisted that I not overexert myself, given my condition, but my determination to contribute pushed me forward. Lucian approached me with a warm smile, his eyes filled with concern. "Elisa, are you sure you should be doing this? You don't have to strain yourself." I glanced at him, feeling touched by his thoughtfulness. "I'm okay, Lucian. I want to help. It's your birthday, after all." He nodded, his expression filled wi
As we continued to dance, the memories of our love and the pain of our separation swirled around us, a bittersweet blend of emotions. I could feel the weight of his love and devotion, and it was a love that had remained unwavering, even in the face of my absence. The music seemed to slow, matching the rhythm of our heartbeats, as Lucian held me closer, his voice filled with a quiet intensity. "You are the love of my life, Elisa. Nothing can ever change that. I promise to cherish every moment we have together." Tears welled up in my eyes as I leaned into his embrace, a profound sense of belonging and love enveloping us. The pain of our separation had forged a deeper connection, a love that had withstood the test of time and distance. In the midst of the dancing crowd, as the world continued to celebrate our reunion, Lucian and I shared a moment of profound intimacy and understanding. It was a moment that spoke of a love that had triumphed over pain, a love that had brought us back to