CHAPTER 15  Midnight lamentation

　　DRACUL POV

　　I jumped at the knock of the door, caught off guard.

　　I was almost never caught off guard and I cursed myself for getting so lost in my thoughts and the pleasure that I didn't even hear the footsteps approaching my door.

　　I hurriedly did my belt, cleaning up my mess as best I could, I could deny entrance if I wanted to, but that would raise red flags.

　　And what if it was something important?

　　?Come in,? I said, once I was sure that I had regained most of my composure.

　　I adjusted my position in the chair and pushed it closer towards the desks, hiding more of myself from view.

　　I took a deep breath and tried to act composed. I was the lord of this castle and the ruler of this kingdom. I was composed at all times and no one got under my skin.

　　At least, that's what I told myself. That's the image k needed to present to everyone. If I didn't, my kingdom could crumble. No weakness, no give.