*Queen Belinda*Queen Belinda looked off after her cup while musing on the peaceful day. And it was such a lovely day. The sun was shining in the summer sky. The birds were singing. And best of all, the garden was blooming.Perhaps I’ll walk the maze later? Queen Belinda stirred her tea in thought. It made her think of her son then. Yes, Nicoli would most certainly want to take a walk with her. Especially after having to sit in one of those boring meetings. Belinda knew how much even Alexander hated them.But it is about time Nicoli started being more involved in such matters. Belinda sighed. Nicoli was growing up, much to her secret dismay. It would be a lie to say Belinda didn’t wish to keep her son a child forever. She could keep him close as any mother would. But, alas, he was growing, and it was better to prepare him for his future as King. That, however, would be for many years later. Belinda could take some comfort. She still had time. So until then, Belinda planned to take u
*Ana*“Cousin, must we be doing this now?” I break the silence at last. Manure baking in the hot Nochten sun is not something anyone wants to endure. And I have tried my best to hold myself in place, not for my sake, but for Mykhol’s. He is abdomen that we are out here.As much as I’d like nothing better than to go back inside. I go on and test my hand. But of course, it will not budge. It is firmly wedged between the crook of Mykhol’s arm. And more, Mykhol darts a gaze down every time I do.“Have somewhere to be dear cousin?” Mykhol asks but I flinch. He knows very well I don’t. And it’s all the more to make me grow quiet again.I’ll bear with it for now. This is the only conclusion. And I have one saving grace to distract me. I can hear the horse master leading up a new horse. Usually, I would enjoy meeting the new horses. But not today, today it is too hot and not my idea. This is all Mykhol’s doing. And I am just being pulled along.I feel like I’m some tag-along. I note with a str
*Ana*What is he doing out here? I find myself turning to spy on someone I least expected. He has no reason to be out here, I know. He should be inside the palace, but there he is standing by the stables. And what’s more, he’s looking directly at me as if waiting to get my attention.I can’t help but be compelled. I turn the horse back over to find him immediately step up as soon as I’m close enough.“Your Empress,” Admiral Nugen bows. As he stands, his eyes dart over my bare thighs. But whatever judgment he has, he mentions nothing. Instead, he cast his gaze back up to me. “I was hoping to have a moment of your time.”“Admiral Nugen.” I greet, eyeing the stoic man’s face. He does not rain compliments down on me, nor does he start with small talk. Quite different compared to the others in court.Admiral Nugen seems the straightforward type. I am learning, but it makes me grow a little fonder for him. But still, why is he standing out in the growing heat?“What brings you to my stables
*Belinda*“Philpé?” Belinda waited for Philpé, the royal artist, to finish his bow. “I didn’t know you were coming,” Belinda noted the bag and supplies for his work. Then, to see his assistant struggle to get up, almost dropping the easel and paints.”Are you here to do one of my ladies' portraits?”“Ah, no, your majesty.” Philpé shook his head. “I’m here to paint a miniature of his highness.” “A miniature?” Belinda raised a brow. He was here to paint his majesty? She never heard Alexander mention it before.Perhaps he’s making it for me? Belinda thought then with delight. Of course. Belinda had her heart flutter then. It had been quite the time since she last had his miniature, back when they first married. What a wonderful surprise! Belinda thought instantly giddy at the idea.“Then, here, I will escort you there, myself.” Belinda beamed. “Come, he should be in his study now.”“Oh no, my lady.” Philpé purred back, matching her energy.” I could never ask you too-”“Oh hush, Philpé
*Nicoli*It wasn’t long before Nicoli regretted his choice. The maze was hot thanks to the direct sunlight. And the sun seemed hell-bent on attacking the back of his head. It felt like a magnifying glass burning into his skull.And that’s not to mention the bugs. Oh, the bugs.I hate bees. Nicoli flinched as another flew by. Was it him, or were they venturing too close to his face? Either way, it made him nervous. Bees being his least favorite bug.Last year, Nicoli had been stung by one and the pain was horrible. He swelled up like a balloon. It was a whole ordeal, and Nicoli wasn’t about to forget it. But I have to. Nicoli thought to persevere. Because this is for Ana. That was reason enough to put up with it. But, despite the resolve, the threat of another sting was fresh in his mind. And when one flew too close to his nose, Nicoli couldn’t help but jump.“No!” Nicoli yelped, quickly moving to duck down. “Get away,” And he stayed hunched over.“Your Highness?” Philpé, meanwhile, w
*Ana*By the time we return, I am thoroughly exhausted, and barely have the strength to rest my head against the side of the bath, as the cold water laps against my frame. It does me good, cooling me, from the outside at least. But I can not completely escape it, even now feeling heavy humid air hangover us both.But still, it is much better to be inside now, as it is high noon. A time of day, otherwise known as Nochten’s most dangerous time. Dangerous because its heat has been known to kill the most hardy of man, being the hottest part of the day.“Hah,” I groan, gently sloshing more cold water to my chest and limbs. It’s cold relief the only weapon I can afford against the invasive heat. I’m glad I went in when I did. I reflect, feeling how sore my body is, especially around my thighs. Half of me wonders if it is because I was too stubborn for a saddle. Would it have spared me this pain? Perhaps. But it doesn’t matter now.I only want to focus on the bath, and then, prepare for the
*Naska*Naska pulled up her thin skirt to better quicken her step, doing her best to avoid the eyes of the other servants as she moved. Not that they had any room to judge her. It wasn’t like they were dressed better. Everyone was dressed down because of the heat.But still, Naska felt the stares, the judging eyes that watched her go. Likely going to start up a new rush of rumors and gossip about her. Never seem to have enough to say against her, despite the years, of coming up with another scandal. But Naska wasn’t afraid, rather, it made her all the more want to shove it back in their faces.Let them think what they want. Naska lifted her head higher. They know nothing about us. Despite being a fallen woman, Naska refused to find shame for her actions. She didn’t care they thought lowly of her and her bastard son. They were nothing to her anyway. And she didn't care about them.There is only one person who does. And she made to go him even faster.Naska picked up her pace. The doorm
*Queen Belinda*“Mama, this is torture,” Nicoli went again, pouting and huffing, pulling Belinda from her thoughts."Hmm?" Belinda lifted her head, “Torture?” She turned her grey eyes on the tailor.“Oh, uh, no, I haven’t,” The tailor quickly shook his head, exposing his hands, as if to say, he’s done nothing. Knowing full well, that if he had, even so much as scratched her son with a pin, he’d pay for it.As long as you know that. Belinda mused, turning back to flip through the catalog of new potential styles. Fashion certainly changes quickly, doesn’t it? Belinda noted, looking over the pages. All the more reason why it was a good thing she decided to make a new suit. She didn’t want her darling boy to be out of the loop.Girls are such visual creatures after all, and Belinda wanted to make it easy, having them come fall prey to his charms if they didn’t already, and all come, begging for Nicoli’s hand. Or, at least, their parents would. And from there, well, it was all about how g
“Hidi?” But before I can have a chance to ask any further, Hidi only taps my arm, her fingertips pressing just a fraction too firmly against my sleeve."But we will talk later, as for now—" Her green eyes immediately shift to Nicoli and brighten, like lamps suddenly lit from within. The strange expression suddenly disappeared again, replaced with a mask, so perfectly that I wondered if I had seen anything at all. Her smile is bright and full, with blunt white teeth again, but something about it feels rehearsed, a performance she's put on countless times. Her attention was solely on him, her body angling toward his like a flower turning to the sun."Nicoli, did you see that? Look how helpful I am to our dear Ana." She beams, as if nothing were wrong at all, stepping slightly closer to him than necessary, her arm brushing against his in a casual gesture that somehow feels deliberate. "Our dear Ana" sits strangely in my ears, as if I'm a shared possession rather than a friend. Her voice
Ana*“Please, everyone, if you would just-” But it's clear no one is listening. My voice is swallowed up by the cacophony of string instruments and the colliding conversations surging around us like crashing waves. The air thickens with perfumes and colognes—spiced amber, midnight jasmine, and something metallic that clings to the back of my throat. If I ever felt overwhelmed before a court of nobles shouting over each other after some new decree, it's nothing compared to the suffocating pressure closing in now. Actually, I think I'd prefer that over this.I don't even think my coronation was this bad. I recall that, being just a bit more orderly, the crowd maintained a respectful distance that allowed my lungs to fill properly. But then again, Mykhol was pushing them along so I could eat, right? It's a delayed shock of wisdom to realize that it was indeed helpful. I feel ashamed now that I ever thought he was being haughty at the time. He wasn't. His curt dismissals created a buffe
Naska stared at the cup instead of taking it, more shocked than surprised at the motion. Someone poured her drink? It was indeed a first. No one had ever done anything for her. She was so used to doing everything for herself. And glancing up, the sight of who did, only made her more confused.It was one of the veiled women—a Bulgeon, a human. Her eyes lined in that inky black shadow seemed to regard her in silence just as she did. Her hand lifted the cup, steady, as if she were still waiting. Naska, not knowing what else to do, took the cup. But her eyes remained glued to the woman. Because of the veil, she couldn’t know what expression the woman was making. Was it friendly? Bitter? What did her face even look like under the cloth?Watching her, the mysterious woman moved with grace. She poured another ladle of blood, not wine, to steam against the glass. Her thin fingers peeked out of her sleeve to swipe a slice of meat to dip in, and she moved to eat under the cloth. Naska raised
*Naska*“What a joke of a party,” Naska muttered, baring her fangs as she leaned against the wall. ”Mine will be so much better.” Her pale red eyes flickered over blue and gold streamers hanging from the center of the high ceiling with a sneer. Ugly colors, she immediately found it stupid. But not as stupid as having to sniffle every other minute. Her nose was irritated and starting to run from all the damn pine scent in the room. Each breath was like choking on a bottle of soap. From the platform near the far wall, the gentle strains of stringed instruments played a song too delicate and indistinct for her to recognize. It filled the air like perfume—pleasant to some, she supposed, but meaningless to her. Light laughter floated between the nobles, punctuated now and then by the sharp clink of crystal goblets. Beneath the noise, however, the pressure in the room was thick. Everyone waited for Her Empress to return. The tension curled under the music like smoke, unseen but unmistakab
*Johan*As he entered the banquet hall, Johan quickly noticed quite a few things. The first was that King Alexander was nowhere to be seen, though Johan expected that. He must have still been talking with Queen Bratha.What surprised him, though, was that others were missing—two, to be exact. The handsome brunette prince was not in the banquet hall as he thought he would be, considering he did not see him in the lobby or even the line. He was gone, and neither was Ana. Who he did see was just Hidi.The giant queen stood out among the partygoers- not just because of her size. Her very presence seemed to overpower anyone who dared draw near. Those who attempted to pass her either darted their eyes down or weakly bowed before hightailing it inside. Johan could see that even that old coot kept a safe distance if anyone wanted to try to talk to her, like the ever-eager Sir Celbest.The blonde was not pleased about something, and Johan could easily see it. The girl had never been one to hi
*Nicoli*Nicoli held onto Ana like a man gripping the edge of a cliff—tight, unyielding, unwilling to let go for even a second. The very idea of releasing her, even to their father, was absurd. No. Absolutely not.He had waited too long, ached too much, spent years longing for this moment. And now that she was finally by his side again, he refused to let anything—anyone—take her away. Not tonight. Not ever. So be it if he had to fight off the entire court to keep her close. Vampire, noble, or king, he didn’t care. He’d take them all on.She was his Anastasia. And now that they were together, everything felt right again.A rare, genuine grin tugged at his lips—one that wasn’t for show, unlike the practiced smiles he wore in Dawny. This was different. This was real.But as they moved through the white halls, his excitement warred with Ana’s slow, deliberate steps. Too slow. She still walked like an old lady.Nicoli’s muscles twitched with pent-up energy, his entire body screaming to mo
*Ana*My body freezes, every muscle locked in place as Nicoli leans in closer. His face is inches from mine, and I feel my breath catch, a whirlwind of confusion and anticipation racing through my mind. What is he doing? Is…he going to kiss me?But we can’t—we shouldn’t. We aren’t children anymore.As children, it was innocent. Nicoli used to kiss me on the lips, but it was always affectionate—nothing more, just like when he would hold my hand or offer a playful hug. It was natural to him, something that didn’t feel strange, something I expected from him without question. But that was then.Now, we’re adults. And that changes everything.We can’t– I try to tell myself that, but something in me hesitates, unsure whether I want him to stop or... not. I’m paralyzed, my heart beating so loudly I can hear it in my ears. As his face nears mine, I feel the world shrinks, the air around us thick with tension. A strange eagerness stirs in my chest—a warmth I don’t understand. It coils through
*Ana*“Nicoli–” He’s going the wrong way again. I shake my head, the soft chime of my gold chains punctuating my amusement. But he insists on leading, judging by the stubborn set of his shoulders. He’s determined to get somewhere despite having absolutely no idea where that is.For the past twenty minutes, Nicoli has forged ahead with all the confidence in the world, only to crumble in confusion when we inevitably hit another dead end or loop back to the same hall. Left, then right, then left again. Each turn is taken with steadfast determination — and each time, I have to stifle a new laugh as we encounter yet another wall.“Nicoli, just let me show you–” I try, though I’m already bracing for him to ignore me. It would be far easier if he let me lead, though. This is my palace, after all. I know the twists and turns, the subtle variations in the endless white corridors. But he seems lost in his resolve. As if doing this out of spite at the challenge and not wanting it to get the bett
*Hidi*“But, what about me–” For once in Hidi’s life, her voice was too soft to hear—lost, swallowed under the sound of laughter. Their laughter. Hidi froze, her breath caught in her chest, her words useless in the space they left behind. Her eyes only widened as she stared after them, watching–watching, but not moving in disbelief.The two of them were running, laughing, hands clasped like children lost in their own world. And she was still standing here.She blinked. Did they really just… leave me?The air seemed too still while everything else moved too fast. Nicoli had been right there. Right there. She could have reached out, close enough to brush her fingers against his sleeve. But he hadn’t even looked at her. Didn’t even voice a hello.Not once.His sapphire-blue eyes had locked onto Ana, and nothing else had mattered.For the second time.A cool flick of irritation ran beneath her ribs, lodging itself somewhere deep inside her. She knew this was their grand reunion, knew th