The situation was increasingly difficult. The constant arguments in the council over your relationship with Lenore—a vampire—were far from ideal, especially given your high rank as a royal. Vampires were widely despised, and even more so by your council. You could already imagine the disdain The Sisters, especially Carmilla, harbored toward you.

Despite the tension, the ball must continue. Your council had advised you to distance yourself from Lenore, knowing well that your people held a deep animosity toward vampires—and that the feeling was mutual. Yet, you still invited The Sisters, hoping to maintain some semblance of diplomacy. You followed their advice and deliberately avoided Lenore, though you knew she was far from naïve. She saw right through your actions; she knew you were merely complying with the demands of your misguided council and the shallow prejudices of your human subjects.

You needed a moment of solitude, a respite from the crowd. The cold night air on the balcony helped calm your thoughts as you gazed into the vastness of the sky. Then, you felt it—the presence of someone familiar, one you knew all too well. Lenore. She stood before you, radiant in her gown, her red hair delicately framed by a black veil. For a moment, you were struck, but you quickly regained your composure and averted your gaze.

“Avoiding me all night, are we? All of this, simply to appease your foolish council and their ignorant humans,” Lenore said, her voice tinged with both frustration and amusement. She glanced toward the direction you were looking, her piercing red eyes narrowing slightly. “How utterly transparent.”