In the lonely walkway amidst the lush greenery, the sounds of horses and a carriage filled the morning serenity. The birds on the trees were chirping without a care in the world and peacocks were grunting in their beautiful screeches.
However, in contrast to this serenity, the inside of the carriage was filled with an electric tension in the air.
"How did something like this happen?!"
Edric thought to himself while grabbing both sides of his head with mixed emotions.
"Is there something wrong, my... dear... fiancé?"
A sweet and sharp voice resounded through Edric's ears and then his mind. The last words were spoken word by word, dipped in sarcasm.
"O... Oh, nothing. Nothing's wrong."
Edric replied with a stutter at Astraea's taunt.
Astraea had a sharp deadly grin on her icy cold face.
...
To understand the current situtation, we need to go back 2 days.
Edric and uncle Ryan had just returned to the palace from the secret meeting.
"Your Highness, Her Majesty has called for you."
As soon as Edric stepped down from the carriage, a servant who was waiting for him said with his head bowed down.
"Why is she calling me as soon as I arrived?"
Edric thought to himself for a moment and then said: "Uncle Ryan, you wait for me."
Without saying anything else, Edric walked off to the Empress's office.
*Knock*
*Knock*
"Mother, you called?"
Edric asked Rosalind with his head bowed.
"Yes, my son. How did your meeting with your fiancé go?"
There was a sly smile on Rosalind's face. She was enjoying herself. It was more like a guilty pleasure for her.
"Mother, are you actually teasing me at such a serious thing and more importantly how did you know?"
Seeing the sly smile on his mother's face, Edric felt a warm feeling inside his chest. He was happy that his mother was finally opening up to him after so many years.
"Did you forget that I am not only your mother but also the Empress of the human Empire?"
*Sigh*
Rosalind took a pause before sighing.
"Forget it. The reason why I have called you here is for a different reason."
Edric's face became serious. He had anticipated this.
"I give you my royal decree, prince of Ashenfall Empire. Take the carriage that is coming tomorrow and go to the heart of Moonreign Empire, the city of Umbrosia as an advisor."
The blood on Edic's face drains as Rosalind's words sink in.
"I, the prince of Ashenfall Empire accept this royal decree."
Edric sat down on one of her knees. He accepted the royal decree without hesitation. There was clear confusion and a hint of dread mixed in anticipation in his eyes.
He understood that for political reasons and to give the other side assurance, it was important for him to become a hostage.
He was going as an advisor in name only. After his turn, it was going to be Astraea's turn. However, since vampires had a very high sense of pride, so it had to be him first.
...
Now back to the present.
Astraea wore a sleek black gown with a big round hat. She had a cold expression on her face like always.
The trip was mostly uneventful and quiet. The tension in the air could be felt.
2 days for continuous ride later, they finally reached the city of Umbrosia.
The city gate was a magnificent one. The tall statues of valiant vampire warriors gave a sense of awe and dread at the same time.
*Chuckle*
Astraea chuckled, seeing the silly face Edric was making. She didn't say anything.
They entered the city and reached in front of a mansion.
"You will be living here, my fiancé."
There was venom laced in every word that Astraea spoke.
Edric didn't mind much and nodded. He entered the mansion. The mansion was empty.
The luxurious mansion could not fulfill the need of people.
"I wish I had brought servants with me. Ah... right. The vampires wouldn't have allowed either way."
*Chuckle*
Edric said to himself and chuckled at the sheer stupidity of his thoughts.
...The next few days passed quickly but it felt like an eternity to Edric.
He had no one to talk to and neither did he have anything to do. He spent most of his time practicing swordplay or lying down, doing nothing.
Today was the day when Astraea came to check on him. It was just a routine check to see if Edric tried anything funny or if something happened to him. He was a hostage so it was their responsibility to take care of him.
"How do you like your stay, my fiancé?"
Astraea asked Edric with her usual venom-laced voice.
"It's fine, princess. I just don't know what to do. I am a bit bored."
Edric said resignedly.
"Oh. I might just have what you need. Have you heard about the [Library of Borges]?"
Astraea asked coldly.
"Yes, I have. But what are you trying to say?"
Edric had a confused look written all over his face.
Seeing his confused face, Astraea replied with a chuckle: "You can go and read some books there. No one will stop you."
Edric's eyes flickered with excitement as he started thinking about which genre of book to read.
*Ahem*
Edric came out of his reverie when he heard Astraea's cough.
"Huh? Oh, right. I will go there. You may leave now princess if you don't have anything else."
There was amusement in Astraea's voice.
"Are you ordering me now, my fiancé?"
There was no venom in her voice for once. Instead, it sounded almost like teasing.
"No, no princess. You are misunderstanding. I don't mean it like that."
*Chuckle*
Astraea chuckled after seeing Edric's flustered expression.
"So, what do you mean?"
Astraea asked playfully.
"I... I meant..."
Before Edric could finish his sentence, Astraea interjected: "Whatever you meant, I don't care. I am going now."
Her voice had become sharp again but lacked the previous venom.
She left the mansion and stepped into the carriage.