Calantha's Point of view:

Two months later

I stood In front of a large window overlooking a large orchid garden from my room. It has been two months since I arrived in Valotoria …as Arin’s bride and to be very honest, it isn't as bad as I thought .... like, it's not bad.

I find myself lost in thought, recalling the mix of emotions that swirled inside me as I stepped out of the carriage and into the castle's ground. Fear, uncertainty, dread…. that's all I felt. Arin held my hand and led me to his parents immediately and the process was smooth. I was surprised that the queen welcomed me with open arms.

The nuptial ceremony and betrothal rite proceedings started immediately on the second day after we've taken a good rest.

The opposite for me, because I was barely able to sleep.
The ceremony went in a blur and I remembered feeling fear. As a weak vampire, I was nearly feasted upon, others lust after my blood since I am defenseless. However, my father, the king, made a rule against it but he made sure he fed me well, took care of me and only beat me with words. He fed me like when feeding a cow that is meant to be slaughtered.

So the only thing I have as a female when entering the kingdom of Valotoria is my dignity as a female and my untainted blood. And I am aware that that is also going to change on the night of my nuptial ceremony.

Two months had passed since my nuptial ceremony, and yet, the memory of that night still lingered vividly on my mind. I remembered preparing myself for the inevitable, steeling my heart for the loss of my virginity. But as I sat beside Arin as a nervous wreck who laid on his back on the huge bed. His words took me by surprise:

“Calantha, I want you to know that I will not take you tonight,” he said, his voice low and gentle. “Not because I don't desire you, but there's no love between us. And I will only share my bed with you or drink from you, if you love me in return.”

I was taken aback, unsure of how to respond. No one had ever spoken to me like that before. I had assumed that our union would be like any other arranged marriage, a mere formality. But Arin's words sparked a glimmer of hope within me.

Maybe…. Just maybe, this marriage wouldn't be a loveless arrangement as I had feared.

And that night, I felt happy. And as I drifted to sleep, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us.

The sound of glass shattering brought me back to reality. I had placed my palm against it while…Reminiscing. I don't know, but glass shattering against my palm has been a frequent experience in my life since I entered Valotoria. And, since I don't know the cause, I shrugged it off… again.

The door soon opened and in came Lyra with another maid who held a broom.

Lyra had been with me since I entered Valotoria and she had been supporting me emotionally. I was glad when the queen mother made her the chief maid of my chamber so we have the opportunity to be together without people gossiping.

I couldn't help but overhear the maids talking among themselves about a maid who'd cleaned Arin's bed chamber on the night of our nuptial ceremony not seeing any blood, but I couldn't care less.

They didn't say it to my face so I let it slide.

I made my way towards another window but this time, I didn't place my hand on it and I just stared at the little reflection of me that I can see since the glass is transparent.

Golden hair, green eyes, rosy plump lips, and glowing skin. I'm happier with Arin in Valotoria than with my parents in Eldrador.

Thinking about Arin, I lightly placed my hand on my wildly beating chest. I don't even know the reason, but in this last month, my heart always beats fast just by thinking of him or when near him.

And I know that he's aware due to his vampiric hearing. I remembered reading it in a human book that it occurs when someone falls in love or something but for vampires who have a slower and more silent heart beat, I wonder if it is the same.

The sound of footsteps behind me alerted me that someone was moving closer to where I stood.

“Lyra, do you mind—”

The person soon engulfed me in a hug from behind and I inhaled the familiar smell of musky and woody scent.

I drew in a sharp breath and turned to bury my face in his chest.
His scent makes me weak in the knees.

“You look lost in thought, my dear. Is everything okay?” He said in a deep alluring voice. His chest rumbled deeply near my ears since my face was placed on his chest.

I let out a small sigh.
“Nothing at all, just looking at the orchid garden.” I turned, looking at the garden again.

“It is due for harvesting.”

“It is.”
“Mother said you should come have afternoon tea.”
He said, slightly pulling me forward. I gazed up at his onyx eyes that looked like a bottomless pit. The bottomless pit that I fell into and he kept passing me the shovel to continue digging further.

Must he be so nice?! Can't he show me a reason not to love him?!

Like he knows what I'm thinking, he leaned forward and placed a kiss on my forehead. Another sigh escaped my lips. Him placing kisses on my forehead has been another regular occurrence. He'd never kissed me before —- on the lips — or down there.

Reading too much human-written romance novels is actually detrimental to me

I mentally facepalmed myself. Heat rushed to my cheeks and I allowed myself to be pushed forward by him.