The first thing I noticed when I woke up… was the silence. Not the suffocating silence of the night, but something softer and lighter.
For a moment, I thought I was dead.
My eyes fluttered open slowly, and I realized I was in a room—an unfamiliar room. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, spilling across the room in golden streaks. Dust motes danced lazily in the air.
It felt wrong.
Slowly, I shifted my body, wincing faintly as awareness returned to my body. I realized I was lying on something soft and comfortable.
A bed. A big queen-sized bed.
My breath was caught in surprise. This was not where I had fallen. A dull pain in my head, and memory came rushing back all at once.
I remembered screams, the growls, and the creature trying to make a meal out of me.
My fingers tightened against the pink sheets. So… I was alive?
The air had a faint scent of lavender.
My gaze moved cautiously around the spacious room. Everything was too perfect. The ceiling was grand, and golden chandeliers hung on it. Velvet curtains were draped on the windows without blocking the sunlight. The walls were white and untouched, the air clean. This was unlike my room in Alexandria.
"Where am I?" I whispered curiously, containing my anxiousness.
Before I could even make a move to step out of bed, the door slowly opened, and a woman stepped in quietly.
She wore a simple maid's uniform, her head slightly bowed as though trained never to meet the eyes of those above her. She seemed to pause when she saw me awake.
Surprise flickered across her face and then, relief.
I caught sight of her eyes. They were red.
A vampire, I deduced. Realization dawned on me that I was now in Velmont—the only kingdom vampires inhabited.
"You're awake," she said with a gentle sigh. "Thank heavens. You have been asleep for three days, and somehow I feared you might not wake up again."
My eyes widened at her revelation.
Three days?
She seemed to notice the shock on my face. "Do not worry, my lady. Everything is fine now that you're awake. When the guards brought you in here, you were badly hurt. The royal physician attended to you properly." A faint smile on her face.
Somehow, I had to remind myself she was a vampire. I could not easily trust her smile.
I looked down at myself to see several strips of cloth bound tightly over my cuts. I realized I was wearing a navy blue nightdress with thin straps.
"Where am I?" I asked, trying to confirm my intuition.
"In the royal castle of Velmont, my lady."
I nodded, trying to steady the tremor in my hands. "The castle…" I whispered, letting the word hang. "Why… why did the guards bring me here?"
The maid's eyes flicked to the floor. "You were brought here after you passed out during the fight between our men and the werewolves, which occurred at our borders. The guards feared for your life. It was… fortunate that they brought you on time."
There were vampires, and then there were werewolves. Stories said they were great enemies.
I didn't know whether to feel relieved that my life had been saved or feel afraid that I was finally in the castle.
I tried to sit up but winced as a sharp sting ran across my ribs. I must have already gotten hurt there during my struggle with the werewolf.
The maid stepped closer. "Please, my lady, remain still. You are not yet strong enough to move freely," she said, her voice soft but firm.
She moved to the nearest table, bringing a crystal vial of liquid. "Drink this, my lady; it will ease the pain lingering in your body."
I hesitantly took hold of the vial with trembling fingers. What if this wasn't water?
I realized it was stupid to assume things. If they wanted to immediately kill me off, they would have done so in my unconsciousness.
The maid noticed my hesitation, and her red eyes glinted with amusement. "It's water mixed with a touch of Valerian."
The liquid was cool and clean. As it slid down my throat, a faint warmth spread through me, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to imagine safety.
"Thank you," I murmured as she took the empty vial from me.
"Call me Cora, please," she said, and I nodded again. She continued, "My lady, you must stay in bed and rest until the wound along your ribs is fully healed."
The words "rest" and "safe" felt strange on my tongue. Safe… in a castle full of vampires?
"I shall go and bring you something to eat, my lady. You must regain your strength," Cora uttered with a bow before exiting the room.
Food?
The thought of food hadn't crossed my mind until she had said so. I could suddenly feel the surge of unbearable hunger in me; my stomach growled in sync. I realized I hadn't eaten in three days.
But what kind of food was I expecting?
My chest tightened watching her leave the room. My imagination immediately went wild.
Blood, raw meat… vampires didn't serve ordinary meals, did they? After all, they loved feeding on flesh and blood.
I imagined seeing a chunk of raw meat on a plate, fresh blood still dripping from it.
My stomach churned at the thought, but I forced myself to stay still.
Moments later, the door opened again, and she returned, pushing a wooden trolley. The wheels creaked softly against the floor, and a delicate aroma filled the room.
I blinked, confused. The scent was rich, warm, and familiar—not the iron-heavy stench of raw meat and blood.
Cora carefully lifted the lid of the first dish, revealing steamed vegetables seasoned to perfection, tender slices of roasted root vegetables sprinkled with oil. Another tray had a small loaf of soft, golden-brown bread inside. There was even a bowl of thick soup that sent comfort curling in me.
My fingers itched to reach for the food, but I hesitated, still suspicious. The maid's red eyes caught my gaze, and she gave a small, almost knowing smile.
"Eat, my lady," she said gently. "All of this is prepared with care. The chef ensures the meals are suitable for our guests and for those who are recovering."
Slowly, cautiously, I took a spoonful of the soup. The rich and savory flavor burst on my tongue. My eyes widened. This was better than anything I ever had in Alexandria.
I glanced at the maid, unable to hide my astonishment. "This… this is… good," I murmured, almost in disbelief.
Her smile deepened, but it remained polite. "I assure you, my lady, we do not serve raw meat unless it was specifically requested. We need you to regain your strength, not lose it further by starving."
I let out a small, awkward laugh, tinged with relief. For the first time since my wedding, I felt something other than fear—a little warmth and safety, even if only for this moment.
I ate slowly, savoring each bite, though part of me remained alert, waiting for some kind of hidden danger.
As I ate, the maid watched silently and attentively. After a moment, Cora spoke again, her voice quieter this time. "When you rest, my lady, you must remain in your room. It can be unsettling for someone who is not accustomed to Velmont to walk around alone."
I froze slightly at that. "I… I understand," I murmured.
Cora seemed to sense my unease. "Do not worry. You are safe here, for now. The guards and I will ensure nothing comes near you." Her smile was brief but comforting. "Once your strength returns, you may speak with our lady physician about your wounds and visit any part of the castle you wish to."
I nodded, but little did she realize—I enjoyed the comfort here and wished I could stay in this room forever.