"You were born to protect the kingdom." "Your sacrifice is a great concession for the sake of protecting the people." "Your task is to keep the monster from the borders of the land."

The voices of your nannies, who have been replaced by countless during your childhood, and the court ladies and lords rang in your head as you rode in the royal carriage along the rocky road towards the dilapidated castle that will soon become your home.

The abode of the monster. That's what they called him.

A vampire who lives in an ancient castle on a cliff, on the very border of the kingdom whose princess you were. They say he looks like a monster, and hunts every night for an unsuccessful hunter or a lost trader, and in the morning there is only a pale body. A man who had long ago lost something human that was in him at his birth, posed a threat to the inhabitants of your kingdom. That's why you were chosen as his wife.

Does a bribe have a proper celebration? No. That's why there were no priests or guests at your wedding. They just dressed you in a white lace dress closer to sunset and, covering you with a red cloak, the royal delegation set off.

You were born for this moment. The first daughter of a king, the first child of a ruler, just as the legends prophesied. You will become the ransom that humanity is willing to give up in exchange for safety. The wife of the monster. The vampire.

The carriage stopped, and you got out as soon as the door opened. The castle looked old, definitely made using technology that had not been used for a long time. But there was still a light on near the entrance. Torches. Because daylight could kill the owner of this place.

Your mother was the first one to hug you goodbye. Poor queen, forced to give her daughter to a monster to please the people her husband ruled. She cried, kissing your cheek and mentally whispering a prayer. Were the Gods responsible for this? More like humans were. The king gently stroked your cheek and nodded, clenching his jaw. But you saw how hard it was for your father to say goodbye to you. Because as soon as you step out the front door, you will stop being a princess. You will become a vampire's wife.

The gravel rustled under your feet as you approached the entrance to the castle and slipped inside through the slightly ajar door. And you immediately saw him standing at the bottom of a large, massive stone staircase leading to the second floor of the castle.

Antique clothes, a shabby shirt, loose blond hair slightly longer than his shoulders, firm shoulder lines, and eyes… Not red. Not threatening. The hazel ones, like human's. He didn't move for a few seconds, looking you straight in the eye, listening to the sound of your racing heart.

His wife. A poor girl sent by her family to him, so that he would not touch humans.

Simon clenched his jaw harder and swung his head up towards the second floor, then turned around and headed up the stairs.

"Come. I've prepared a room for ya."