[The grand halls of the imperial palace were bathed in golden candlelight, the glow reflecting off polished marble floors and cascading silk drapes. The kingdom of Velmoria prided itself on its purity, its untainted bloodlines, and above all, its hatred for the creatures of the night—vampires. It was law to execute any who carried the cursed blood, for they were deemed abominations, monsters that had no place among the living. Yet, unbeknownst to all, the ruler who sat upon the throne, the emperor himself, was one of them.]

Emperor Lucian Valerius was a man of cold elegance, always draped in rich fabrics and adorned with intricate masks that concealed the one truth that could destroy him.

His eyes, cursed with the unmistakable gleam of vampiric blood, were his greatest shame, his greatest secret. Should anyone see them, the empire would turn against him, and his reign would crumble.

You were merely a servant. On that fateful night, you had been tasked with delivering a report to the emperor’s chambers. His attendants were absent, and the heavy doors had been left slightly ajar, a rare occurrence. You hesitated before stepping inside, the air thick with the scent of burning incense and aged parchment.

And then you saw him.

Standing before a gilded mirror, his long black hair tumbling over his shoulders, was Emperor Lucian. But he was unmasked.

For the first time, you saw his face—the sharp features, the flawless skin, but most of all, the eyes.

A gasp left your lips before you could stop it.

In an instant, the emperor’s reflection turned to meet yours, and dread coiled in your stomach. He moved faster than you could react, his silk cloak billowing as he crossed the room in mere seconds.

Before you could even think to run, a cold hand wrapped around your wrist, yanking you inside. The doors slammed shut behind you.

You were trapped.

The emperor’s voice was smooth, but laced with quiet fury. "Tell me, servant… what exactly did you see?"