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Chapter Five
The great hall of Aurenfall was drenched in silence. Every noble, every guard, every servant stood still as the doors swung open with a low, echoing groan. The vampire king entered without haste, his long, black cloak trailing behind him like a shadow come alive.
King Kael's eyes — sharp as a predator's — swept over the room. Not a smile, not a hint of warmth. His presence alone pressed against the air, making the human courtiers shift uncomfortably under his gaze.
"Your Majesty," the human king greeted, voice polite but tight.
Kael inclined his head slightly — enough to acknowledge, but not enough to humble himself. "Let us not waste time," he said, his tone low, unhurried, and edged with command. "We are here to unite our realms, not exchange pleasantries."
The tension thickened. No one dared speak. But as his gaze moved across the room, it landed on her.
Serenya.
She sat beside her father, posture straight, eyes calm — but the faintest tightening of her hands in her lap betrayed her. Kael's attention lingered a heartbeat too long, just enough for her to notice before he turned away as if she were nothing more than another face in the hall.
The formalities dragged on, the political words meaningless noise in Serenya's ears. She could still feel the weight of his earlier glance — not hostile, not kind, but something else… something unreadable.
Later, when the court dispersed, Serenya sought quiet in the palace gardens.
The garden was quiet except for the faint creak of her bowstring.
Another arrow flew, slicing the air—only to land inches away from the center.
Her jaw tightened. She'd been at it for an hour, and the bullseye mocked her with every miss.
"You hold it too tight," a deep voice murmured behind her.
She startled, spinning around.
He stood in the shadow of the olive tree, eyes fixed on her—not the target.
"When you grip like that, you strangle its flight," he said, stepping forward without asking.
Before she could retort, he was in front of her, fingers brushing hers as he took the bow.
"Like this," he continued, handing it back but not moving away.
His presence was a quiet force—close enough that she could feel the faint heat of his chest against her back.
Large hands slid over hers, adjusting her grip as though the bow belonged to him, not her.
"Relax," he murmured by her ear, his breath threading into her thoughts. "Let it obey you."
Her pulse betrayed her, pounding against her ribs. Still, she didn't step away.
He drew her arms up, his fingers curling over her knuckles as they aimed.
The world narrowed to the line between her, him, and the target.
"Now," he said softly.
The arrow flew—and buried itself dead center.
She felt his smile before she saw it.
He didn't step back. Instead, he leaned just enough for his words to find her skin.
"See? Even the wildest things can be tamed… when you know how to hold them."
And then he was gone, his absence heavier than his presence had been.
She stood frozen, bow in hand, heart refusing to calm.
The soft rustle of leaves filled the garden as the princess lingered, her fingers brushing absently over the bow. Footsteps approached, steady but hesitant. She looked up and saw him — one of her most trusted soldiers, a man who had served her since childhood.
He bowed deeply, but when he raised his head, his eyes held a quiet sadness.
"Princess…. serenya.." his voice was low, almost reluctant. "I have heard… about the marriage with the Vampire King."
For a moment, neither spoke. The moonlight caught the faint crease on his brow, and she could see how heavily the news weighed on him.
The soldier's eyes softened, but the sadness never left.
"I've served you since I first held a sword," he said quietly, voice heavy with warning. "But, Princess… he's a monster. I've seen what his kind does on the battlefield—men torn apart before they could even raise their shields."
Her breath hitched, a cold shiver running through her. But then she straightened, forcing her voice to remain calm.
"There is no other choice," she murmured, looking past him toward the distant castle walls. "If I refuse, the war will not end… and our people will pay the price."
The soldier's jaw tightened, his hands curling into fists, but he said nothing for a long moment. Finally, he stepped forward, lowering his voice so no one else could hear.
"Then let me accompany you," he said firmly. "If you must walk into the lion's den, I'll be at your side… to make sure you walk out again."
The princess's eyes softened. " Eren You know the dangers, yet you still—"
"I've faced worse for you," he interrupted, a faint, sad smile touching his lips. "Let them call me a fool, but I'd rather be a fool than watch you face him alone."
She exhaled slowly, her heart twisting with both gratitude and fear.
Princess serenya, hesitateted looking away. The silence stretched between them before she finally whispered alright "alright.....you may come.
Relief washed over eren's face ,and after the long time a small genuine small appeared on his face "thank you princess , I swear as long as I am alive,no harm shall came to you.
"I know eren...and I am thankful ".
At the dinning hall:
The long dining table gleamed under the golden light of the chandeliers, silverware perfectly aligned. Servants moved silently, filling goblets with wine, though the atmosphere felt anything but celebratory.
The human king sat at the head of the table, his expression carefully composed. Beside him, the princess sat straight-backed, her fingers resting tensely in her lap. Eren stood behind her chair, his gaze fixed on the grand doors.
The heavy doors opened with a slow, echoing creak. The room seemed to grow colder.
Kael stepped inside — tall, composed, and carrying a quiet menace. His boots struck the marble floor in deliberate rhythm as his crimson eyes swept the hall, lingering on the princess for a heartbeat longer than anyone else.
Everyone stood.
The king said formally, "Your Majesty Kael… welcome."
Kael inclined his head slightly. "I trust my invitation to dine was not… inconvenient."
He moved to his seat, eyes flicking to the goblet before him. His lips curled faintly. "Wine? How… quaint."
Before the king could speak, the princess's voice cut through the still air.
"We serve what we have in our kingdom," she said evenly, her gaze steady on him.
Kael's smirk deepened, but there was a glint in his eyes now — something between amusement and challenge. "I see. Perhaps… I can introduce you to a finer taste."
The tension at the table thickened, like the air before a storm.
Kael leaned back in his chair, swirling the dark liquid in his goblet without taking a sip. His eyes never left the princess.
"You hold yourself well," he said at last, the faintest hint of mockery threading through his voice. "Most humans tremble when they meet my gaze. You… look as if you're trying not to."
The princess's fingers tightened on her lap, but she kept her tone calm. "A guest is a guest, no matter who they are. Fear would be… impolite."
A low, quiet chuckle left Kael's throat — the kind of sound that made the servants freeze mid-step. "Is that what you call it? Politeness?" He leaned forward now, his voice dropping just enough for only those closest to hear. "Or do you simply not understand the danger you're in?"
Joren shifted nervously in his seat and cleared his throat, trying to sound braver than he felt. "Your kind brings nothing but darkness and death. We will not bow to monsters."
Kael's crimson eyes snapped toward him, sharp and cold as steel. "Careful, Joren," he said quietly, voice like ice. "Such words might be the last you ever speak."
Joren's face paled, and he nearly shrank into his chair, his courage evaporating.
The princess lifted her chin, voice steady and clear. "Enough, Joren. Speak with respect, or not at all."
Joren swallowed hard, looking like he might faint. The human king quickly raised a hand to calm the room. "Let us remember this is a night of peace. There will be no more outbursts."
Kael's smirk returned as he watched Joren slump back, defeated.