CHAPTER 4

Nicholas couldn't remember much about that night. He suddenly started to feel pain in all his body and he was febrile. At that time Rosalba and Nicholas didn't know that it was the symptoms of the berserk transformation. The werewolves have to pass by one of these to learn to control their powers. Nicholas knew about it but he didn't know about the symptoms. So when Rosalba tried to calm him with magic it produced a radical reaction. Nicholas fell into a coma.

The doctors couldn't find the problem and they only could leave Nicholas trying to recover by himself. Nicholas was fighting to stabilize the two strengths in his body. The magic that Rosalba gave him could be considered a blessing and a curse. When a stranger's strength got into Nicholas's body it generated a rejection but at the same time, it treated the weak body from Nicholas. The process wasn't easy, Nicholas although he was asleep he could feel the pain of his bones and muscles destroying and repairing continuously.

Nicholas was in a coma for 1 year and when he left the bed. He was like a different person. He could control his Berserk transformation completely and his strength didn't have a rival with anyone between werewolves. He was more mature and his infantilism disappeared almost completely. His parents were sad because they thought that it happened after those people kept him in captivity. From that moment Nicholas tried to look for Rosalba. But he had the problem that no one could remember her appearance.

Nicholas discerned that she used magic in all the palace. In fact, he was affected too but he could maintain his memories about the moment he saw her and although her figure was blurred. Nicholas used it to look for her. But it was useless, she disappeared and there weren't any trails for her. Nicholas didn't have much time to search for her by himself because his parents were stabilizing the kingdom and Nicholas had to treat the rest of the royal family that wanted to make problems. Only when he became Emperor did he order the search in secret.

At that moment many people had forgotten about the Vampire princess so his soldiers had much curiosity about the reason why the emperor was searching for her. Even his parents asked about it. The answer was simple. Nicholas marked Rosalba as his mate, the day she escaped. In fact, it wasn't impulsive considering that although Agnes was the one who gave him the food and medicines, he knew that if the princess didn't allow it Agnes couldn't give him anything. He noticed too, when she came to the old palace when Agnes couldn't. He always kept an eye on her. Rosalba didn't perceive it and even he didn't notice it either. He saw how the girl brought the food with a bad face but her eyes hadn't resentment. Sometimes there was sadness, calm, happiness, wisdom, tenacity, Nicholas remembered so well her eyes. Even if she changed her appearance meanwhile she had those eyes filled with emotions, Nicholas could recognize her. Maybe the first time that he saw her figure when he was sick, he already was captivated.

But Rosalba didn't even remember him. It was depressing. Of course, Nicholas didn't want to obligate her to stay with him. He wanted her to choose him on her own. Although he needed her to be near to do that. So when he discovered the trip to Silas in Allen's mansion he scattered a small virus in the mansion. It wasn't a good move but he couldn't avoid it. It was ten years of waiting, he couldn't wait for anymore.

***

Rosalba looked at the invitation in her hand and felt that a black cloud of bad luck pursued her. A ball was scheduled by an important woman in the kingdom. Rosalba had never heard about her. But it wasn't strange since that woman was of the royal werewolf family.

The Beatrice princess and although she is a widow. She has much power and influence in the kingdom. It is the reason why Rosalba couldn't understand why she sent an invitation to the Miss. A noble of a small country. Rosalba had never discerned that the invitation was sent because of her.

Of course, the Miss didn't care about that and started to prepare herself in the morning. Rosalba was her principal maid so she had to go. At 7:00 Rosalba and the Miss enter the extraordinary mansion with the other nobles. When everyone was inside, the hostess appeared.

A beautiful middle-aged woman said —Welcome everyone, it is a pleasure that you came here so please enjoy the party.

The Beatrice princess chatted with some nobles and the young people started to dance. Rosalba took advantage of this and observed the dance. When she was a princess only attended 3 or 5 dances. It was a bad signal to a princess however Rosalba didn't like to go to those dances so it was better for her. Even though she missed the culture of her country, it was inevitable since Agnes liked the style here.

A bit of nostalgia sparkled in Rosalba's eyes that quickly had to be erased when the nobles were guided to the lake. It was almost the middle of the dance, it's the time of a surprise, thought Rosalba. Meanwhile, she followed them with the other maids. A song started to be heard and the voice was of a young lady in the middle of the lake. Many flashlights illuminated the dark lake and the voice of the singer was still more poignant. The song finished and everyone clapped for the woman.

The people returned to the room except for Rosalba who had stayed with the Miss to help her to go down her shawl that was tangled up in a tree. The Miss wasn't careful and the shawl flew with the strong wind to the tree. Rosalba wanted to ask for help from the staff of the mansion but the Miss denied it. She had a fear of being embarrassed in front of all those people. So the task had to be done by Rosalba.

Rosalba had climbed the tree in a bad mood.

—Rosa, hurry up! —The Miss said from the ground. Rosalba wanted to scream at her but she contained herself.

Rosalba stretched her hand and with difficulty reached the shawl but at that moment the branch of the tree made a creak and broke. Rosalba couldn't react and she fell into the lake.