Royal Academy Part 1

--The Nydisian Kingdom, Eraregord, Royal Academy--

"Dane, comprise a list of your best students and have them submit their names to be before tomorrow at noon," Lucian ordered as he took a seat in the headmaster's study.

Dane was a tall yet lean man with olive skin tone and piercing red eyes, the colour eyes most vampires seemed to have.

"Consider it done, Milord. Do you still wish to hold the tournament?" The headmaster, Dane, asked. His Highness had sent word to him a few days ago that he'd be arriving in a week's time to gather the academy's best as well as strongest fighters.

"Yes, we'll take them based on ranking but make it quick, I can't stay here for long." Dane nodded in understanding before leaving the room to tell one of his subordinates to get started on the announcement to the students.

When Dane left the room, Lucian turned to Llewellyn and spoke, "More and more people are starting to believe the throne has been corrupted."

"If anyone outside the people who already know, should find out about her being the successor," Llewellyn glanced at Katherine briefly before continuing, "Not only will they refuse to be under her rule but they'll kill her because she's human."

Katherine gulped slightly, vampires would rather die than bow down to a queen they can eat as food. She knew she couldn't ascend the throne, at least not now or she'll be dead before the seat gets warm.

"She will stay here until it's time," Lucian and Katherine locked eyes and she knew it was him giving her a direct order and before she could protest, Llewellyn beat her to it.

"The humans here already have influence from strong family names or money, she'll end up eaten in the first few days," Llewellyn so accurately pointed out. Staying in the royal academy as a human without strong backing was dangerous in itself.

"It's your job to make sure that doesn't happen," Lucian said before directing his attention to the window.

"Milord," Katherine called. His red eyes connected with her brown ones and waited for her to continue speaking. "I do not wish to stay here."

"What good would you be outside the walls of this school? I can't run a kingdom while constantly trying to keep you alive." He bluntly said. Katherine held her tongue, after all, he was still the King.

The headmaster, Dane, stepped back into the room after making necessary arrangements. "I'll have someone take you to your rooms,"

When they arrived in their separate rooms, Katherine set her load down and immediately went to the bathroom.

After she finished bathing, she wore one of the corsets, Lily had packed for her. She glanced around the room and briefly noted its beauty.

Katherine sighed thinking about how many people wanted her dead and out of the way. She heard a knock on her door which brought her out of her thoughts.

"Come in," Katherine looked up to see it was Lucian standing next to the door as he closed it.

"Milord," She muttered as she turned back to look in the brush and brush her long brown hair.

Llewellyn had spoken to Lucian about how to handle a naive human girl like Katherine, which involved something he described as making the girl feel comfortable.

Lucian wouldn't have paid much thought to it if it wasn't for his captain that forced him to speak with the girl.

When silence came Katherine couldn't help but speak what was on her mind, "Keeping me safe and making me feel safe isn't the same thing."

"And how exactly would you have me, make you feel safe?" Lucian raised his eye in question and Katherine shrugged slightly displaying the soft movement of her collar bone before turning her back to him.

"Milord, I'm not sure if it's my place to say," Katherine whispered. She always seemed to call him by his title when she didn't want to risk offending him. Katherine didn't notice this but Lucian did.

Shortly after Katherine spoke again, "You are much more suited for power than I am, why not take the throne?"

"Would you prefer I left you for dead?" Lucian said, still staring at her. He knew he could easily take the throne if he wanted to and if he did, Katherine would be left for dead.

"You didn't answer my question," Katherine pointed as she dropped her hairbrush and looked at him through the mirror.

"You didn't answer mine," Lucian also pointed out. How can one person be so difficult? Katherine thought to herself.

After a long while of silence, Lucian sighed, "For the sake of your comfort, I will make different arrangements."

Katherine heard him open the door and she turned back to look at him but he was already gone. Her eyes fluttered gently from the wind that came as he left and closed the door behind him.