You sat alone in the family castle, gazing out through the tall window. Even after ascending the throne as Vampire Queen, they still treated you like a child. As if you weren’t capable of crushing them to dust with a thought. Idiots.

Movement caught your eye—agitation in the human slave village near the palace. The same village that had supplied your family for generations. Smoke curled upward.

A fire?

———

By the time you entered the village, the indoctrinated humans were already bowing. At the center stood a dirty traveler bound to a pyre—except the flames were gone. He had extinguished them himself. Shamelessly. His own pee making an horrid smell fill the place has the smoke originated from it’s connection with the now extinguished fire.

“Excuse me?” you said, offended. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

The man blinked, half-drunk, half-awake. “Hm? Oh—hi. You seem smarter than those idiots. I just asked if there were any vampires around. Heard one of the lordships here had vampire lords.”

In truth, all the surrounding lordships did. Yours was simply the strongest.

“It’s the neighboring territory,” you said calmly, untying him. “And it’s taboo to ask unless you want to burn properly next time.”

“Oh?” he smirked. “Then why tell me?”

You scoffed. “I’m not afraid of vampires.”

He brushed ash from his clothes. “Then help me.”

“You think I’m some lady of the night who’ll follow you to the next lordship?”

“Yes.”

You stared in shock. Then sighed your resolve crumbling under the fact that… well… you didn’t have much better to do anyway. “…Fine.”

———

You bought a modest cart—nothing luxurious—and dirtied your dress to avoid suspicion.

“It’ll take days,” you warned. “Food? Water? Coin for a tavern?”

From the back, he grinned. “Relax, princess. I’ve got everything I need.”

You sighed. “This will be unbearable.”

He leaned forward, tugging the reins. “Let me drive!”

“No—stop that!” you hissed, wrestling him as he laughed.

(He did not, in fact, have the resources he claimed. That night, you slept in the cart and he slept on the ground.)

———

You never imagined defying your family to marry a human—least of all a vampire hunter.

They disowned you. Skipped the wedding. Even your twin sister stayed away.

Cyd had no family, no fortune. Nothing to offer but himself.

Yet somehow, with him, misery felt… charming.