XVI

"It's okay Khai. She will get to use it later. Go and meet your father. He wants to discuss something with you," said the Queen.

"Okay, mama. It must be about the throne again," he sighs and walks to meet King Ferdinand.

"You must be tired of travelling this far. Please have a rest. I'll call the servant to help you."

"Servant, to help me? No, thanks. I'm used to doing everything on my own," I reject it.

I know having a servant as royalty is normal. But, I don't need any of it. I did everything by myself. I've been left since seven years old. I'm independent enough.

"Are you sure?", she asked.

"Yes. I just need to do the work that I want. I don't need anyone else."

It sounds a bit harsh but I just want her to know that I don't need a helper for the time being.

"Okay. I'll leave you alone. Meet me in the dining room for dinner. You also must be hungry."

I nodded. She closes the door and I slammed my body onto the bed. Same as the bed at the Golden Kingdom, I feel like I'm lying on a cloud. This room is beautiful. I did a good job when I was a child. I move on to the closet. It has a lot of dresses. I put together the clothes that I bought here inside the closet. I took my normal sleepwear because I don't feel like wearing anything from inside the closet. It's too nice to sleep with. I begin to put off the clothes that I wore. Then, I felt something in my pocket. It's the blue star pendant that Evander gave to me.

"Do you miss me as much as I do?", I asked myself.

I wondered who am I to him. Family? Friend? Or more than that? I put the pendant on the dressing table and walk to the bathroom to take a shower.

"The soap smell nice. I love it."

It's the lavender scent of soup. They have a higher taste than me. After putting on my clothes, I sit at the dressing table. Didn't think to meet them in the dining room now. I hold the pendant.

"I should make a necklace with this. At least, I won't lose it anywhere. This room is big so it must be hard to find it back."

I saw a jewellery box on the table. I pick a necklace and revoke the existing pendant. I then replace it with the star pendant. I'm lucky because it's fit enough. I don't need to change anything. I wear it and step to the dining table.

The smell of delicious food begins to spread around the castle. I might lose right now. This castle is too big and no one around me! I walk front and back to find the kitchen. The library, another bedroom, the emergency room and the throne room are what I found.

"Where the heck is the dining room? I lost!"

I begin to fed up and just sit at a chair nearby, hoping for someone to find me. I'm the losing child now. And I'm hungry! Not long after that, I

feel someone patting my shoulder. I look at the person.

"Prince Khai!", I bowed at him.

I am relieved that he's here.

"First of all, don't bow to me. Second, call me Khai or brother. And third, what are you doing here? We waiting for you?"

"I lost inside this castle. It's not even a day since I'm here so I don't know where to go. There's no map either," I replied sarcastically.

"Oh, I see! We are sorry. Mama should send someone to show you the dining room. Follow me. This way," he pulls my hand to follow him.

. . . . . ╰──╮╭──╯ . . . . .

"Serenity, here you are!", the King welcome me.

"She is lost inside this castle. Why no one picks her up from her room?", Prince Khai asked.

"I forgot about it. Sorry, my princess. Tomorrow, I'll show you around the castle," said the Queen.

I nodded. The maid put to begin to put food on the table. It's too much. It's just four of us but this food can be fed to almost 10 people. Is the

maid and servant will eat it after we finish eating? I am barely able to see this amount of food before this.

"Have something to eat," said Prince Khai.

I pick some food and put it on my plate. I usually didn't eat much since we don't have enough money to buy a good amount of food. So, my

the stomach uses to it.

"You eat so little, my dear. Why? You don't like it?", the Queen asked me.

"No, my Queen. I use to eat in small amounts since we barely eat anything before so my stomach can't adapt much of it," I explained.

Seeing their worried face, I know they felt guilty about what happened.

"It's okay. I'm fine," I said.

"You still won't call me 'mama'," the Queen asked again.

I didn't reply. I'm not used to it. If you want me to do it, you need to wait since you started all of this!

. . . . . ╰──╮╭──╯ . . . . .

Evander POV

It's been a week here. Yesterday, they already show me around the castle. They put me in a big bedroom. There's a servant following me around. I

hate it! I told them that I don't want it but they still put him with me. The King told me that I'll start my training as a knight when I'm ready. He

told me that the Shadow Kingdom knight is the strongest. Same as the Mauve Kingdom soldiers. He also wants me to take over the role of the

knight commander since I'm the crown prince. I'm the oldest. How pathetic is it? It's my first week here and I need to hear everything that I hate.

"Hey could stop following me around?", I told the servant.

"King Caspian told me to always follow you around in case you need anything," he replied.

"I use to be alone so leave me alone!", I shouted.

The servant still hesitated to leave. He just stands in front of me with his head down. I want to kick him right now. But then, I realized that I'm a

vampire. With my vampiric ability, I might be able to stay away from him. I can move as fast as light. So, why bother you? He is just a normal

human.

"Fine. Follow me. I don't care."

As soon as I finish my words, I disappeared as fast as possible. I knew about my ability way before Queen Elizabeth revealed it. It is even way

before we go to the Golden Kingdom. It's just I don't tell anyone. After I arrived at the garden, I stop. He was no longer behind me. Good!

"So, this is the garden," I said to myself.

I walk normally around the garden. But then, I heard someone screaming. I bring myself to scream. I saw a vampire sucking blood from a

servant. It's against the rules! Vampires can't drink blood directly from a human! At least, not in the castle! There's bloodstock inside the castle!

"Hey! Stop whatever you're doing!", I said to him.

The servant already begins to weaken. He let her go with an annoying face.

"Such an intruder. Who are you?", he asked and throw the servant away.

This time, I feel like playing around with him. I already pissed him so why not continue it? I'm the crown prince. I have power.

"You can't just simply drink blood from humans! At least not in the castle. You know we have tons of blood stocks inside!", I said.

"I can do whatever I want here! No one can stop me! I asked you again, who the heck are you? Are you even a vampire?"

"Who are you? Why are you so sure about doing anything you want?"

"Huh, pathetic. You don't know who I am? I'm Lord Berserk. Raph Berserk. I'm the strongest knight. That's why the King grants me the title."

"A lord? From where?", I asked.

"From Davys."

Davys. I heard it's the strongest place inside the Shadow Kingdom after the castle. I bet everyone knew him. If I exposed his attitude,

everyone will know.

"I'll report your action to the crown prince!", I warned him.

"Crown prince? Where? I don't see him. He might already be dead out there! Where are you from? Don't you know there's no more crown prince!

The princess can't sit on the throne without a husband and the King told me to marry his daughter so I gladly agree," he said proudly.

"You will marry the princess? Did she agrees?", I asked.

"She needs to."

Sorry. I won't let it happen. She is still my family even though I hate to admit it.

"The King and Queen are so stupid. The rules are just ridiculous! They expect us as vampires to hold our desires to drink blood from a human?

Such a crazy old man."

"Rude. I see," I murmur.

"What?"

"Nothing," I give him a smirky smile.

"You didn't tell me who you are yet."

"Oh, I forgot. Wait a second. Guards!", I called the guards.

Three guards come to me and bowed.

"Why do you bow to him? Bow to me!", he is angry with the guards.

"Guards, seize him! I don't want to see him around the castle! My castle!", I instruct them.

"Who are you to instruct them?!"