Blind Interest

"It is time to leave, your highness." Her handmaids all announced, ready to lead her out of the chamber.

Gwyneth, on the other hand, was lost in thought as she gazed at her reflection, but she could not help but be impressed by the black ball gown that brought out the duality of her pale complexion.

Her midnight blue eyes flashed confused as her thoughts kept returning to what Gerald had said.

'On the night of your birth, half of Descaera's population perished for no apparent reason. They just died.'

She opened her mouth to speak, feeling the need to question her maids, but bit back her tongue and turned to face them.

"I do not need any of you to accompany me." Muttering, she hurried to the door.

"Your Highness!" Gwyneth scrunched up her nose at the urgency and surprise in her maids voices, picked up her pace, dashing down the hallway, oblivious to the sound of her heels striking the marble floor.

Running down a long flight of stairs, music and chattering voices became clear. And soon, she could see people staring at her as she ran past them.

"Oh my!" Madam Danna gasped, not expecting to run into Gwyneth, who halted with a sharp breath.

"Pardon me." Gwyneth lowered her head, ignoring her dance instructor's stunned expression.

"Downing the halls at such a speed? Where are you headed?" She asked.

Gwyneth pressed a false smile. Her dance teacher was always like this...

"My mother. It is an emergency." She replied in a solemn manner, looking ahead down the corridor.

There were a tonne of people, all of them elegantly, richly, and beautifully attired. But with their stunningly pale complexion, their crimson eyes on full display, and the overwhelming aura of ancient luxury, it was easy to distinguish between humans and vampires.

For some strange reason, she felt a shiver run down her spine, and it was not because of the vampires.

"...You have to act like a proper woman, elegant, graceful! Do you hear what I am saying?" Madam Danna's voice rose abruptly in volume.

Forcing a smile, Gwyneth walked past her without saying a word. Gerald or her sister, she needed to talk to them before the night's end.

As she closed in on the ballroom, her steps grew lighter, her thoughts racing.

What was she planning to do? Was she planning on taking her sister's place? And if she meets Gerald... he would most likely pretend they had never met. Had she been in his position, she would do the same.

"Your Highness, please wait!" Behind her, the voice of one of her handmaids suddenly burst forth.

What was happening? They were not the kind to follow her around without her consent. Unless there was an urgent matter to attend to...

Gwyneth clenched her jaw and accelerated her pace, disregarding the glances she was beginning to receive.

"I'm just taking a brief look around!" She managed to yell out in the calmest way she could at the moment.

With each stride she took forward, a searing pain shot through her heels, which were obviously not meant for running. Trying to move her feet while still running, she tightened her hold on her dress and glanced at her shoes.

However, just as she lifted her gaze straight ahead, she collided with someone strong and huge, and felt his large arms wrap around her waist without a flicker of hesitation.

Her breath caught. "Ouch!" And she lifted her head to meet the most ethereal man she had never seen.

His long jet black hair cascaded over his broad shoulders, stylishly ruffled.

He was dressed in a white fitted royal suit with navy blue embroidery along the edges, hinting that he was a prim, proper, special royal.

Strangely, his beautiful chiseled face was obscured by a black blindfold around his eyes.

Gwyneth felt like her entire world had stopped as she continued to stare, unable to look away as though lost in a trance.

Unexpectedly, a bright unnatural smile began curling around his brilliant crimson lips triggering a sharp, freezing shiver down her spine.

"Pardon me, but I can stand on my own." A nervous laugh mingled with her words.

After saying that, she thought he would let her go. A normal person would. However, this man showed that he was abnormal by pulling her closer to him, pressing their bodies together, and widening his smile as he leaned his face closer to hers.

Gwyneth felt a wave of emotions surge through her veins, she nearly let out a scream! What was happening?! What in the world was happening?!

She was terrified, finding no comfort in this man's arms! This being! And his face was so close... Their noses only an inch apart!

She opened her mouth, ready to let out a scream.

"Hi there, Sunshine." His voice rose, thick and dripping with natural seduction, so strong that her body responded with a jolt that he was sure to feel, leaving her questioning her very existence.

She jolted back, hard this time, alerting him that she needed to be released. Luckily, he did, and she retreated a step, watching as he kept that smile on his face.

"Do I know you?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Perhaps," He hummed.

"I see.." Gwyneth drawled, her gaze fixed on the blindfold on his face. Was he... blind?

"You sound rather unimpressed, Sunshine. We can get to know each other."

Gwyneth's mouth quirked at those words. "I am not interested."

Clearly amused by her remarks, he suddenly moved closer.

Gwyneth scowled.

"But I am very much interested in you, Sunshine,"

"And why would a supernatural being like you be interested in a human like me?" Gwyneth asked, her frown growing deeper.

"Oh, really?" Crouching his head down to be close to her face, he ducked his hands into his pockets.

Gwyneth stepped back again. Whilst, he took another step towards her, narrowing the gap between them.

"What are you doing?" She asked in a very displeased tone. His height intimidated her enough already. She stood no chance against him. He had a great build and was extremely tall. Making her look and feel so small!

"Coming closer." He replied, bringing their noses to a mere inch apart.

Gwyneth smirked. "I do not know who you are, but you are clearly making a mistake. Now if you will excuse me." She stepped back, curtsied, and disappeared into the ballroom.

Sirius stood upright, chuckling lightly at her words. "How rude."

He could not see her face, but she was his sunshine.

She had no idea that death had chosen to show up for her only.