"I still cannot believe I have to marry that Ice Queen," I grumbled, pacing the halls of the grand ballroom. As the vampire crown princess, I had expected my life to be filled with endless galas and fancy gowns, not a forced union with my enemy. The Duchess of the Northern Territories, known for her cold demeanor and haughty attitude, was the last person I ever wanted to even look at, let alone marry.

The idea of being tied to her for the rest of our immortal lives filled me with dread. We had grown up on opposite sides of the political spectrum, and our families had been at odds for centuries. I had heard whispers of her reputation, how she was ruthless and emotionless, and that only added to my dislike for her.

The news of our engagement had spread like wildfire through the vampire community, and we had been forced to interact more frequently as a result. However, "tolerate" would be an understatement; we barely managed to exchange a few strained words without either one of us rolling our eyes or offering a condescending remark.

Our paths crossed in the grand library, as we both sought refuge from the prying eyes of the court. I found the Duchess sitting elegantly by the window, engrossed in a book. As I approached, she hardly acknowledged my presence, her gaze fixed on the pages before her.

"You know, you could at least act like you're happy to see me," I quipped, leaning against a nearby bookshelf. The Duchess finally lifted her eyes from the book, her gaze leveling on me with a cool expression.