Tiptoeing through the long, dark hallway, Tilly silently giggled.
Who needs long, boring lessons? she thought cheerfully.
She kept her senses sharpened as she moved, the darkness offering no resistance to her superior eyesight. Shadows clung to the walls and ceiling, but she slipped through them with ease, steps light, dress barely whispering against the stone.
Just as she was about to round the corner
A hand grasped her shoulder.
"Ekk!" she cried, her body jolting as she froze. Her heart pounded wildly as she slowly turned her head.
Standing behind her was her eldest brother.
Vaelor.
His expression was stern, carved from calm authority, and somehow that combined with his striking handsomeness made him far more terrifying than any scolding tutor ever could.
"Where might you be off to?"
Anxiety tore through her. Tilly's mind raced, scrambling for a suitable excuse.
"I was just planning to go see you," she said quickly, forcing a bright smile. "Before my lessons."
Her words tumbled out a little too fast, and she knew it the moment she said them.
Vaelor gave her a soft, understanding smile, even as his grip on her shoulder tightened slightly. The pressure made Tilly grit her teeth, a sharp sting radiating beneath his fingers.
"While I do enjoy your visits," he said calmly, "I prefer them to be planned during your free time. Not during your lessons."
Tears welled at the corners of Tilly's beautiful golden eyes as she turned to face him fully, her lips trembling into her most pitiful expression.
"I miss you," she said softly. "Why can't we just go shopping together?"
For a moment, Vaelor faltered.
Just a fraction.
Then he sighed. "You haven't attended a single lesson for the past week."
Sensing weakness, Tilly pressed on.
"Brother," she said, her voice softening, "I'm almost fifty years old. I'm sick of lessons. Why can't I spend time with you instead? You hardly ever have time for me anymore."
The grip on her shoulder weakened, and Tilly could almost taste success.
"We could take a relaxing break in the garden," she added quickly.
Vaelor released a heavy sigh and shook his head.
"I need to return to assisting Father," he said. "I only came to check on your lesson progress."
Disappointment washed over Tilly. What had started as an excuse had been genuine after all, she truly wanted to spend time with him. Vaelor had become incredibly busy ever since their father had chosen him as the next heir of the clan, and the distance between them felt wider than ever.
Seeing her disappoint Vaelor gave a soft smile "I will have time at the end of the day when all of your lessons are over, I have something I need to discuss with you anyway."
"Oh, what about?" Tilly asked curiously.
"You will find out then for now I shall escort you to your lessons" he responded extending his hand for her to take.
As they walked down the ornate hallway lined with portraits of their ancestors, Tilly found herself studying her brother more closely than usual.
His shoulder-length silver hair was unusually unkempt, and deep, dark circles rested beneath his sharp purple eyes. Even to her, it was obvious how exhausted he was.
Tilly didn't truly understand why he worked so hard. With all the servants at their disposal, dividing his workload would make life much easier-both for him and for her. He could rest more. He could spend more time with her.
"You should rest more you look exhausted"
"I will," he said dutifully, "once the yearly conference is over. The other races beyond the Blood Veil have been acting strangely as of late, and we're attempting to determine the cause."
Tilly tilted her head, listening politely but only briefly. Politics bored her dreadfully, and she decided it would be best not to involve herself in matters she neither understood nor cared about.
They soon arrived at the door to her lesson chamber.
"I must leave now," Vaelor said. "But I will be speaking with your tutor before our meeting later. It would be wise to perform well."
Tilly gave a small nod of acknowledgment. Satisfied, Vaelor released her arm and turned away, leaving her to her fate.
She groaned softly before unlocking the door.
Inside stood her tutor, Hildegard, her calm expression perfectly composed despite her youthful, almost deceptively gentle appearance. Upon seeing Tilly, Hildegard immediately knelt.
"Welcome, Lady Tilathienne," she said warmly. "I hope today's lesson proves fruitful for you."
"Please rise," Tilly commanded as she entered the comfortably appointed room before reclining onto the expensive red couch.
Hildegard obeyed at once. Seeing Tilly settle in, she moved to a nearby shelf and selected several books, placing them neatly on the table in front of her pupil before taking a seat in a far less comfortable-looking chair across from her.
"Today," Hildegard said calmly, "I was thinking we would go over mating rituals, as you are nearing your coming-of-age, my lady."
Unease flooded Tilly at the suggestion. She had known this lesson was inevitable, but she had hoped—quite desperately—that it might be postponed for a few more years at least.
"I guess…" she replied flatly.
Taking the reluctant agreement as confirmation, Hildegard smiled gently.
"As you already know," she began, "vampires do not become fertile until somewhere between the ages of fifty and sixty-five. At that point, they are considered fully mature."
A deep frown settled on Tilly's face. Logically, she understood the importance of fully maturing—but she didn't want her life to change at all from what she was currently experiencing.
"Since you are a pureblood," Hildegard continued, likely sensing Tilly's unease but choosing to ignore it, "your father and the elders will select a suitable husband for you. The only requirement is that he be a direct pureblood male of your bloodline."
Tilly's fingers curled slightly against the cushions.
"Once your partner has been decided," Hildegard went on evenly, "you will begin bridal instruction and start the blood exchange process with your fiancé."
"The blood exchange…" Tilly said quietly. "That's just a small thing at first, right?"
Hildegard shook her head. "No, my lady. It is essential from the beginning."
Tilly stiffened.
"Blood exchange allows two bloodlines to adapt to one another," Hildegard explained calmly. "Purebloods are naturally resistant to foreign blood. Repeated exposure is required to make the pairing viable."
"How repeated?" Tilly asked, already dreading the answer.
"Frequently," Hildegard replied. "Over many years. Consistency is what allows the blood to properly align and remain compatible for conception."
Tilly's hands tightened in the fabric of the couch.
"So it's not just… once," she muttered.
"No," Hildegard said gently. "It is a long process."
Tilly looked away, staring at the wall instead. Years sounded far too long. Long enough for everything to change. Long enough for her life to stop feeling like her own.
"I don't like that," she said quietly.
Hildegard hesitated, just for a moment. Then she spoke again, her tone even.
"I understand, my lady," Hildegard said calmly. "Very few find comfort in the process."
That didn't help.
Tilly shifted on the couch, pulling her legs closer to herself. "Do I get any say at all?" she asked quietly.
Hildegard paused before answering. "You may express preferences," she said carefully. "But the final decision will rest with your father and the elder council."
Tilly frowned. Preferences sounded useless if no one actually had to listen.
"And if I don't cooperate?" Tilly asked.
Hildegard's expression didn't change. "Then the process will be enforced more strictly."
Tilly went quiet at that.
She stared down at her hands, suddenly very aware of how small she felt in the large, comfortable room. Everything around her was soft and beautiful, yet none of it felt comforting anymore.
"I don't want to grow up," she muttered.
Hildegard softened slightly. "Growing up is rarely about want, my lady."
Tilly sighed, sinking deeper into the couch. She missed her biggest worry had been skipping lessons or convincing Vaelor to take her shopping. This felt heavier. Permanent.
The rest of the lessons passed with Tilly barely paying attention, especially once the politics lesson began. By the end, she was bored out of her mind, but not entirely unsuccessful. With a bit of careful pleading, she managed to get Hildegard to swear she would tell her brother that Tilly had fully participated, ensuring she wouldn't be scolded later.
Skipping out of the lesson room, Tilly happily rushed back toward her chambers, eager to relax and unwind before she received an invite from her brother. The castle hallways always felt cold and overly ornate to her, but she hardly noticed as she hurried along.
She pushed open the doors to her bedroom and barged inside without hesitation. The space was warm and lavish, beautifully decorated and unmistakably fit for a princess.
With a pleased sigh, Tilly sprang onto her canopy bed. Reaching for the bell on her end table, she gave it a light ring.
Almost immediately, two female servants entered the room and bowed.
"You called, milady?"
"I'm meeting with my brother soon," Tilly said. "Help me get ready."
The two maids immediately got to work, pulling dresses from her wardrobe and presenting them one by one for her approval. Several minutes passed before one finally caught her eye—a beautiful dark blue gown with a low neckline, a fitted bodice decorated with emeralds, and a flowing trumpet skirt.
It was a dress Vaelor had given her for her last birthday, and she thought it would be nice to show it off.
Rising from her bed, Tilly stood still as the maids carefully dressed her. Once finished, she moved to her vanity and sat down, allowing them to style her hair and select matching accessories.
Looking at herself in the mirror, Tilly couldn't help but marvel at her own beauty. Her long silver hair, streaked with black, had been styled into an elegant updo, held in place by an emerald hair ornament.
Her facial features were small but sharp, perfectly symmetrical, and framed by flawless pale skin. Against it, her golden eyes stood out even more vividly, catching the light as she tilted her head slightly, admiring the reflection staring back at her.
While all purebloods were considered beautiful, Tilly had always felt that hers was a cut above the rest—though it certainly didn't help that her family had told her constantly, ever since she was born, that she was the most beautiful girl in the entire world.
Rising gracefully from the vanity, Tilly turned to the two maids. "How do I look?"
"Truly the gem of our species," one replied without hesitation.
"Nobody could ever come close to comparing, milady," the other added.
Pleased by their praise, Tilly waved a hand, dismissing them. Once alone, she crossed the room and settled into a nearby lounge chair to wait for a summons from her brother.
Hmm… I wonder what he wants to discuss with me, she thought.
It wasn't often that Vaelor had anything important to discuss with her. Usually, their meetings were brief—he would ask about her day, her lessons, and whether everyone had treated her well. Nothing more.
The thought lingered uneasily.
Not long after, a soft knock sounded at the door.
"Enter," Tilly called.
The door opened, and Anjaxial—Vaelor's closest retainer—stepped inside.
Tilly's eyes nearly widened in shock.
For her brother to send Anjaxial instead of a regular servant meant whatever awaited her was not only important, but secretive. As Anjaxial knelt before her, offering a formal greeting, Tilly barely registered his words, her thoughts already racing at the weight of this unexpected development.
"Please rise," Tilly finally said, pulling herself back from her thoughts.
She watched carefully as Anjaxial stood, his eyes still lowered in a show of proper subservience. "If you will follow me, milady," he said evenly, "the young master has prepared his office for company."
Tilly rose to her feet, unease settling in her chest. She was even more flabbergasted now—meeting in her brother's office meant this would not be a personal conversation.
Anjaxial turned and began walking out of the room, with Tilly following close behind, her thoughts clouded with curiosity. This was likely only the second time she had ever been invited to a formal meeting. Her interest in politics and clan leadership had always been abysmal, and no one ever seemed eager to include her.
She had once been asked to attend a meeting with Father a decade or two ago, an attempt to get her more involved. After she had fallen asleep midway through, she had never been invited again.
The two walked silently through the castle, Tilly paying little attention to her surroundings. Her thoughts were focused entirely on the upcoming conversation with her brother.
They soon stopped before a grand set of double doors that led into Vaelor's office.
"I will be taking my leave, milady," Anjaxial said, offering a small bow before turning and walking away.
Tilly was left standing alone in front of the doors.