The loud sound of a horn blowing outside woke Bella up. She blinked in confusion as she looked around the unfamiliar room, before her memories rushed back—she was no longer at home.
Stretching, she felt surprisingly refreshed after a solid sleep. Damien hadn't returned the previous night; she had been so nervous at the thought of sharing a room with him that she'd tried her best to stay awake. She didn't even know when she had finally drifted off.
Unbeknownst to her, Damien had come in, taken another bath to wash off every trace of blood, then joined her in bed. But by the time she woke, he had already left—almost as if he had never been there.
The door opened and several maids walked in, carrying trays of food which they placed neatly on the table. Another set came in afterward, bringing buckets of water for her morning bath. Bella stood awkwardly, overwhelmed by how many people were attending to her. She knew this treatment was temporary—once she reached the palace, her status would only be slightly above theirs—so she made sure to thank them. None of them responded.
She ate quietly, wanting to ask about Maddie but deciding it would be inappropriate. Two unfamiliar maids stood silently by the wall, clearly waiting for her.
"You don't have to worry about me," Bella said timidly. "When I'm done, I'll clean up myself."
The two maids exchanged a confused glance before one spoke.
"His Majesty instructed us to get you ready after your meal."
Bella's brows furrowed. Why would Damien want her ready? Had they arrived already?
"When are we arriving?" she asked.
"We have already arrived in Remorvia, milady. Once you are ready, we will depart for the palace."
No wonder she had heard the horn earlier—she was the one keeping everyone waiting. She immediately continued eating, resisting the urge to ask about the king.
After her meal, she took her bath while the maids waited in the room. She had insisted on bathing herself—she wasn't used to being attended to. The maids helped her dress after gently persuading her, and she gave up the moment they told her the king would kill them if they disobeyed his orders.
The chilling breeze hit her the moment she stepped outside. Bella clutched her fur coat tightly as a shiver ran through her. She had thought the coat unnecessary earlier, but now she silently thanked the maids. Even without snow, the weather was freezing, and the sun hid behind thick clouds. Her kingdom rarely lacked sunlight; this place seemed deprived of it.
Her eyes found Damien standing tall near the exit ramp of the ship. The wind blew harshly against his hair, but he didn't seem bothered. He was barely dressed for the weather, which made Bella worry—then she reminded herself he was a vampire; perhaps he preferred the cold.
He turned the instant he sensed her gaze. His eyes were cold, his face paler than usual, and the amusement he normally carried was nowhere to be found. Something about his expression made her uneasy. Before she could understand the feeling, his voice cut through the air.
"Are you planning on standing there forever, fish?"
"O-Oh." She hurried toward him, bowing stiffly.
"How was your night?" Damien asked as he stepped into the carriage. He leaned closer, sniffing lightly, making Bella fight the urge to move away. She knew if she did, he would drag her onto his lap for the entire ride.
"It was fine… Your Majesty," she answered quietly.
The carriage jolted forward, almost throwing her off balance, but Damien caught her with quick reflexes.
"Hold onto the bar by the window," he advised after steadying her. "Or you'll end up on the floor again."
"Thank you," Bella muttered. She gripped the bar tightly as the carriage sped on. The view outside was blurred with frost covering the window.
"Is the weather always this cold?" she asked softly.
Damien looked as if he was asleep, though she knew better. He seemed paler, though she couldn't tell if it was the weather or something else.
"Most of the time," he replied after a moment. "The sun comes out once in a while. Not that vampires need it. You'll get used to the cold."
Bella doubted it. She preferred warm weather.
"I heard the sun burns a vampire's skin?" she asked curiously.
"Mmm. That's somewhat true. It depends. Now let me sleep. If I knew you were this inquisitive, I would've put you in a separate carriage," Damien grumbled.
Bella flushed, embarrassment warming her cheeks. She couldn't help her curiosity; she truly tried. But…
"Can I ask one more question?" she whispered.
Damien's eyes snapped open. There was no anger or annoyance in them, but his stare made her freeze. When did she become so comfortable talking to him? She bit her lip nervously.
"Last question," Damien allowed.
Her mind blanked under his gaze—and the wrong question spilled out.
"W-When are you taking my blood?"
She wanted to smack herself. That wasn't what she meant to ask.
Damien smirked, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"I didn't know you were that eager. Have I kept you waiting too long?"
Bella turned crimson. "N-No! I just… want to be prepared."
She was far from eager. She just wanted to stop thinking about it.
"Don't fret," Damien said, voice smooth. "The best wines are saved for special occasions."
Bella stiffened. Great. More nightmares.
"And when I take your blood," he added darkly, "I'll make sure it's… pleasurable."
Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest.
The carriage came to a halt.
"We have arrived, Your Majesty!" someone called from outside as the door swung open.
Bella looked toward the window, but the frost still blurred everything.