It’d been three months since she had felt the sun touch her skin. The bracelet around her wrist felt more like a lock, a shackle tying her to the darkness of the Prince. She held firmly the invitation to the Winter Carnival of Ganea, her home.

Her chambers were lit lightly by some glehlium flowers native to Sleyisea Empire, but even in the dimness, she could easily see the plea in her mother’s writing to come back home. She brought the parchment closer to her nose, hoping to get some remote sense of her mother, but all she could smell was tears and the regular scent of Ganea’s papers.

Even then, some sort of comfort and courage sank into her, making her rise from her rocking chair. She caste a look at the quilt she had made earlier for the Prince to give something to smooth the impact of her request.

Eliana had spent her life living in fairytales. Her Kingdom was like a fantasy story: it always smelled like fresh rain and flowers, and that was the biggest speciality of Ganea. The fields stretched everywhere around them endlessly with no disease plaguing their lands and no enemies strong enough to wage a war.

Her sister Roese used to whisper tales from different kingdoms in her ear everytime her parents weren’t there. Often, she made some stories up to keep Eliana entertained during events. She would take her down to a well every Friday and would wish for a handsome prince and then ask Eliana to make a wish herself. Eliana was loyal enough to wish for the same thing, the same gift her sister wanted.

Everyone knew the wishes never came true, that the goblins stole the gold people caste in to the well and it was just a ploy to be rich.

But people hoped, because that was what Ganea was; a land of hope.

And those lingering feelings made Eliana hope that perhaps the Prince wouldn’t be as mad as she’d imaged and perhaps he would let her go back.

She picked the quilt; it was shimmering silver just like the Prince’s hair, just like the Prince liked it. Two guards followed her closely as she headed for the Prince’s chambers with two maids behind her.

The Prince’s guards entered the room to inform the Prince of her arrival, to return moments later with the door open. The guards followed her inside with two maids: one carrying her coat and another quilt.

Eliana was certaom that the Prince’s chambers were the most beautiful part of the castle. Everything around her was pure black in color with golden and silver designs. Platinium-white flames danced around the room making the embroidery shine bright than it usually would.

His chambers were like a house. The main room had velvet black sofas on one end and a balcony on the other. She had never entered his bed chambers, but had glimpsed enough of his study to know for sure that it was marvelous.

A chandelier hung high in the middle of the room with crystals casting lights all around. The flames were quiet that day, making the crystals create star-light projections on the jet black room.

Sleyisean empire was infamously known as the Night Kingdom because of the creatures that lurked in the dark. Creatures like the Prince. Eliana had never actually explored the kingdom, it was too high of a risk for a royal to take. Her dresses were brought to her room for choosing and her guards always accompanied her every time she was required to make an appearance with a Prince outside the castle.

But from all the churches she’d been to: both holy and unholy, she knew if she had to choose, the Prince’s room would be her favourite place to worship.

A guard opened the door to the balcony and she realized that the Prince was out enjoying the cool breeze. A black hooded coat was draped over her shoulders and head by a maid. It was a light silk coat that went perfectly with the red dress her designer Eloise had picked out the morning but it did nothing to give her warmth against the winds roaring outside.

Nonetheless, the joy of standing out under the enchanting night sky drew a hum of appreciation out of her. A few feet away from her, the moon shone on the silver mass on the Prince’s head. She took a tentative step in his direction making him turn towards her.

Something happened to her heart. She wasn’t sure what it was, but it started beating rapidly in her ears. She was yet reminded again that he was the most beautiful creature she could ever lay her eyes on. He was dressed in an untied black vest and black pants. His shirt underneath was unbuttoned halfway to reveal his chest. His hair was up ruffled by the winds and his eyes were hazy clouds of grey and silver. He held a glass of blood firmly in his hand.

He wasn’t like the night, he was the night.

“How may I help you, princess?” the title came out as a mock-as an insult. She had married him and had become a princess of Sleyisea from Ganea, but without their marriage fulfilled, it was as if she was the princess of both the lands and neither of them at the same time. He set aside his glass on a table and folded his arms, looking at her with a complacent smile on his face.

“I made you a quilt,” she uttered, and the maid presented it to him. His eyes merely took it in before he gestured to set it on the same table as the glass of blood.

“I am certain you aren’t here just to give me a quilt, Eliana,” his words came out smoothly, easily, as he watched her intently, making her squirm.

She gulped but replied truthfully, “There’s a fest in Ganea. There hasn’t been one for seven years since…” her voice trailed off as memories sunk in her head. “I would like to go, if that’s not too much to ask for,”

The words hung in the air until his eyes darkened and ran over her body before coming back to her face.

He took a heavy step in her direction, and his smile turned more smug as he asked, “And what will I get in return for letting you go?” she could all but whimper at the question as his eyes darkened. His eyes held a fog in them that made her stare for a minute too long.

A beat passed, and she could see his fangs extend forward and could feel her heart palpate in her ears. The balcony opened loudly behind them, and a lady in a thin white chemise entered. “Your Highnesses,” she dipped into a curtsy that displayed her entire cleavage, her eyes playfully flickering to Alex as if to see whether he was watching her. Alex’s eyes darkened further and Alex gave Eliana a tentative look that sounded remotely like an apology but the hunger in his eyes was obtrusive. “You can go to Ganea,” the dismissiveness in his voice was concealed firmly but she could sense it nevertheless. She picked up her skirt, turned around and walked out of the room just when the girl’s moans started covering the night.

The rest of the day-night passed well for her. Jealousy stung a little, but it was nothing a little red wine couldn’t solve. She was content with the Prince’s answer, but time and time again, flashbacks of his gaze crawled up making her shiver-sometimes with fear and sometimes with something a little darker.

The maids had packed an order of twenty-two dresses for her: six for the daytime activities of the fest, six for the nighttime shows and ten for travel. Apart from that, she had several chemise and robes and bathing salts, candles, and some blades.

Each dress took up a separate big wooden box for carrying. It had everything: a coat, separate jewellery and footwear. But she only had the boxes. Her designer had refused to show her the dresses. She had seen the itenery of the event and had designed a different dress herself for each activity. She had sent an inquiry at the shops to order the materials for the dresses and the jewels. Eliana was aware that she was trying to get the work done at a short notice, but Eloise was only determined.

Eloise got her measurements like she did every week just to be sure nothing had changed but it always did. “You have lost weight again, Princess, have you not been eating properly?” she asked, scrunching her brows in a way she always did while thinking of designs. Eliana knew that even as she asked the question, her mind was elsewhere, trying to figure out a way to make her look radiant.

“I have been eating properly!” Even as she said it, she knew it was of no use. She had that argument with people on daily basis and was used to it.

“If you lose another inch by the end of the event, one of your dresses is going to fall right off you body!” with that, she called for her maid and asked her to make her eat extra during dinner.

 It was about four in the morning when she was finally done signing all the requests for the jewels and money and the maids drew her a bath to get her to relax. She usually had baths after dinner, but the stress had her worked up too much. The maids pulled her in a lace black nightgown. Her nightgowns and inners were the only pieces of clothing that she owned that weren’t red.

The maids pulled a similar black robe over her gown as a maid came to ask her presence for the dinner. Eliana’s circardian rhythm was messed up because of the Prince. While everyone slept, she stayed awake and because of that, she and the Prince had started having dinner together.

It was the only time they actually met or had a conversation. He was usually immersed in reading even during the dinner, perhaps to avoid conversation or the awkwardness, and apart from that, they never crossed paths despite their chambers being adjacent.

Eliana had half a mind to skip dinner because of how weary she felt from the day’s work, yet Eloise’s words kept on ringing in her head as a warning. “I would like to have dinner in my chambers tonight,” she informed her maid who scurried away to get the message to the Prince and another left to get her food.

Her chambers were almost as big as the Prince’s, and she had all the accommodates that he did. The maids readied her dining table and pulled out the crockery from the cabinets. A minute later, she was seated in a red velvet chair with the maids serving her food.

A knock came on the door of the room. She heard it open and a guard appeared in front of her and he said, “The Prince insists that you join him for the dinner.”

The guard’s tone was stern and final. Eliana sighed, rose and followed him to the Prince’s chambers. He was already seated at the head of the table, and was already immersed in reading when she entered.

He didn’t look up, not even as she walked towards him, took off her robe, and took a seat beside him. From the corner off his eyes, he eyed a guard and said, “Leave us be,” the maids quickly served her and scurried off outside along with the guards.

Silence reigned with nothing but the sounds of the spoons and dishes clicking against each other to fill it. “You asked for me?” she questioned, praying that he hadn’t called her to cancel the trip to Ganea.

He didn’t respond, instead he questioned back, “Any particular reason I am having the misfortune of having my wife shame me by walking around in her lingerie?”

Her face heated at those words. She’d hoped that his eyes would darken like they did when that girl arrived, she’d hoped he’d notice her and desire her, but he had chosen to not even look at her. “I am sorry. I had a long day. I was too tired to dress back up,”

“Tired from emptying my kingdom’s treasury, I see,” Her neck curved downwards as the insult sunk in. “If I ask for your presence for something, you cannot deny it, or need I remind you that I am your Prince?”

“Pardon me, Your Highness,” a chilly gush of wind reminded her of how little she was wearing. She grabbed her robe and put it back on, fastening the belt as tight as she could, to cover as much as possible. She suddenly felt too vulnerable in the attire. Perhaps it wasn’t the best thing to wear in front of a vampire Prince.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the Prince do something and the windows shut themselves. But it did nothing to make her feel better. “You don’t seem so good,” the Prince spoke, his eyes dropping from her face as if to assess her thoroughly. “Have you lost weight, Keizer?”

A hint of concern remained evident in the question but it remained hidden behind the mocking use of her maiden name. “A little,” she mumbled, her eyes on the caviar in front of her.

Thankfully, he didn’t pressure her to speak further. The cold kept on rising deeper inside her body, making her shiver uncontrollably.

“I would like to retire to my chambers, if you don’t mind, Your Highness,” he gave a mere nod in response, his eyes not leaving the pages of his book. He rose to his feet and extended a hand towards her, putting his book away.

Hesistantly, she took it and he walked her quietly to the room. The guards kept a distance as they followed, but she knew that with the Prince there, she didn’t need those guards.

But the Prince isn’t going to protect you. A voice whispered in her head.

“Your heart just slowed down,” the Prince muttered, opening the door to her room. His eyes took in the room behind her as he held the door. He’d never really visited it after she’d had it renovated.

“Do you want to come in?” she asked, biting her lip. His eyes dropped to the floor for a second and he ran his hand through his hair before answering.

“I have work,” with that brisk reply, he closed the door and she heard his receding footsteps. He’d been that cold since forever. There was no reason for him to change. A part of her had hoped he’d come in and treat her the way a husband treated a wife. She’d hoped that for once he wouldn’t have treated her like one of his Sleyisean subjects, but he hadn’t wanted their union, just as she hadn’t wanted it.

A knock on the door woke her up the next day. A maid opened the door and returned carrying a basket filled with fruits and several plates with bread, omelette, and meat.

“What is all this?” she questioned, rubbing her eyes sleepily while rising from the bed.

“The Prince had this all sent for you, Your Highness,” a guard informed from the door. Eliana grabbed her robe and tied it up as she checked out all the food the Prince had sent.

“Prince Alexander?” Eliana questioned just to be certain. The guard nodded before turning back around and a maid closed the door behind him.

“Put the food through the tasters!” Eva, the head maid instructed a chambermaid.

“That’s fine. The Prince has sent it, there’s no need to put it through the tasters!” Eva looked at me for a moment before asking the some chambermaids to serve the food on the table while instructing the other to draw Eliana a bath.

Eloise had a gown ready with jewellery in her closet by the time Eliana was done with the bath. It was a simple strapless red dress with a sweetheart neckline and a red rose at the side in the middle. It came a little below her knees up front and touched the floor at the back.

A maid did her hair while another helped her put on the jewellery before she had breakfast.

After finishing her food, she checked on the paperwork sent back by the Prince of Night, approving all her requests for the jewels and the money. She smiled to herself…even if the Prince didn’t love her, he wasn’t setting a limit on her spending.

“It’s time for your archery classes, Princess,” The Night Kingdom was very strict on training their royals how to survive the toughest of situations. Elianor had been learning how to fight since her second day in the land. They’d have her three hours out in the field learning something or the other. Somedays it was archery, some day sword fighting, some day throwing knife and a long list of other things.

She was always informed in advance, or at least her designer was so that she could pick out a dress that didn’t stop her from fighting that way.

Archery had never been her strongest suit, and it had only gotten worse when her training hours fell under the moon rather than the brightness of the sun. And the worst thing was that people expected her to have her husband’s night vision.

Targets awaited her in the field, stretching in a wide range. The grounds were empty apart from her maids, guards and her tutor, Sir Kalon. He stood in the middle of the field, awaiting her with his hands behind his back.

The crest of Sleyisea was on his red tunic, embedded in golden. He was almost thirty-five, and had been tutoring her since she had changed her sleeping schedule. “Your Highness,” he gave a short bow before turning to a guard and saying, “Take a bow and a quiver fit for the Princess,” he tilted his head to a bunch of bows and quivers of different sizes.

A maid slipped gloves on her hands. Over it, a thumb ring was put on by another maid along with finger tabs. A bracer was put on the inside of her left arms.

The knight instructed her to get a grip on the bow, and just as usual, asked her to set the arrow on her target. Thing was, there were no torches lit, no sources of light. The moon barely formed a crescent behind the trees.

She knew she was supposed to shoot, she just didn’t know where. She aimed recklessly at something in distance, hoping it was where she was supposed to shoot, making the knight say, “Your Highness, pardon me, but do you intend on killing that poor maid in distance?”

She instantly lowered her bow and turned to him frustrated, repeating for the hundredth time, “I can’t see in the dark! I am not a vampire!”

“Nor am I, Your Highness. You don’t see me making such excuses,”

“You have practice! I don’t-”

“We are getting you practice, Eliana!”

“Princess Eliana!” a sharp voice came from the behind. Eliana dropped her bow in surprise while Sir Kalon drew his sword as they both turned in the direction of the voice. There, holding a goblet filled with blood, stood the Prince dressed yet again in black with his hair swept to his side. Sir Kalon dropped to his knee and the Prince smirked, questioning, “May I have the pleasure of teaching my wife?”