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The Vampire Lord's Arranged Bride - Full #engsubtitle #fullmovie
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00:11after graduation i followed my mentor a seasoned blood healer and spent two years interning in the
00:16vampire neutral territory there were no formal healing halls there no fresh blood supply and
00:23more often than not i found myself tending wounded in the middle of battlefields littered
00:27with silver blades and flying blood curses
00:41my adopted father kieran valerius the supreme ruler of the vampire realm was so furious over it he nearly
00:48overturned the entire royal capital he was terrified i would fall for some newly turned vampire or lowly
00:54blood thrall then choose love over sense and stay in that dangerous place forever dragged into the
00:59endless infighting of lesser than so he personally chose a fiance for me samuel hecate he came from
01:10the oldest vampire family in the north and was a well-known vampire prince famous as much for his
01:15looks as for his name father ordered me to return to the royal capital at once and attend the engagement
01:21ceremony if i refused he threatened to use a forbidden vampire right to force me back i had
01:26no choice but to agree he told me to visit the jewelry boutique and choose a ring i like to
01:31serve
01:31as my engagement token the moment i stepped inside my eyes landed on a pigeon blood ruby ring set in
01:37gold
01:38the stone was a rich saturated red almost like blood frozen in crystal with a deep gleam that reminded
01:44me of a vampire's eyes in the dead of night it was beautiful in a way that felt untouchable
01:52i like the ring in her hand
01:58i want it give it to me before i could react the boutique manager snapped the ring right out of
02:04my
02:05fingers nearly scraping my skin in the process i straightened and forced myself to stay calm
02:10have you ever heard the phrase first come first served is this really how you treat your guests
02:16the richly dressed noblewoman turned toward me at last and shot me a look full of contempt
02:22that ring costs 20 million blood crystal coins can you even afford it commoner around here
02:30what i say goes i stared at her and nearly laughed how ironic samuel just happened to be my fiancee
02:37i took out my vampire communicator and placed the call samuel your beloved childhood friend just
02:44stole the ruby ring i was supposed to wear at our engagement ceremony what exactly do you think i
02:49should do about that if prince samuel intended to ignore something like this then maybe i really did
02:54need to reconsider whether this engagement was worth going through with what i didn't expect was for
02:58his voice to come through cold and unfamiliar who is this then he added irritation edging into his tone
03:05you know nothing about us what right do you have to interfere in serena's business i didn't even
03:10get the chance to remind him who i was his fiancee is all de valerius only daughter of the vampire
03:16king before the line anger surged through me in an instant wonderful absolutely perfect my own
03:22fiancee hadn't even saved my number serena rose and let out a shrill laugh oh that is just pathetic
03:32i don't know how you got prince samuel's communicator number but did you really think
03:38one little call would make him come running to defend you her smile was mocking and almost cruel
03:43her gaze slid over me slowly before settling on what i was wearing honestly even the bloodthrokes
03:49kept at his estate dress better than you do i glanced down at myself i wasn't wearing noble attire
03:55just a set of fitted soft armor simple durable and comfortable enough to move in at a moment's
04:00notice if someone needed treatment lavish clothes had never meant much to me i cared far more about
04:05whether i could work in them than whether they looked expensive what i hadn't expected was that
04:10practicality would one day become something other people used to look down on me sorry but i don't
04:14measure my worth by jewels and clothes that's usually what vain and insecure vampires do i said coolly
04:21and judging by how close samuel is to you i doubt he's much better and judging by how close samuel
04:27is
04:27to you i doubt he's much better at that point i had completely lost interest in the ruby ring i
04:33reached
04:33into the display instead and picked up a royal sapphire ring that was decent enough then turned to the
04:38manager wrap this one i'm buying it
04:46i'm sorry miss but we give priority to pureblood members of the nobility
04:50you heard him didn't you i'm a pureblood and you some common nobody who probably doesn't even know
04:57when she received her first turning you're not fit to compete with me normally i wouldn't waste my time
05:02with this kind of argument today though serena had pushed me too far i folded my arms and let the
05:07power
05:08inside me rise the force of my royal bloodline spread through the boutique like a silent storm
05:17the pressure in the air became so thick it was almost physical the temperature dropped
05:22the bites flickered
05:23the smoke of this faction vanished in an instant i kept my voice level even though anger was boiling
05:30underneath it
05:30well is that enough to prove i'm pureblood
05:35she recovered quickly though not quickly enough to hide the flash of fear in her eyes
05:40so what i've never heard of you she turned sharply toward the manager
05:45you must be new so listen carefully this is hector family territory
05:52if you dare sell that ring to her house hector will make sure you don't live to see mourning
05:58the manager's hand shook so badly that the tray in his grip looked as if it had suddenly doubled
06:03in weight
06:03miss i'm just trying to make a living i can't afford to offend prince samuel
06:07please please don't make this harder for me
06:10by then the other vampires in the boutique had already started whispering among themselves
06:15i've seen lady rosen around before
06:17prince samuel spoils her far too much
06:20once she sets her eyes on something nobody dares fight her for
06:25there was even a duke once who made her uncomfortable just by looking at her
06:29prince samuel stripped him of his title the very next day
06:32dave
06:33miss maybe you really are some important noble but compared to prince samuel
06:38what does that matter
06:39you should apologize to lady rosen
06:42serena's smile only grew brighter as the crowd bowed to her mood
06:47kneel
06:49she said kneel down and beg me to let you go
06:54she planted her hands on her hips and strode toward me in her blood red heels
06:58each click against the floor full of swagger
07:01i want you to say it three times
07:06loud enough for everyone here to hear
07:09say i'm nothing but a lowly commoner
07:13if you do i might be kind enough to let you leave with a little dignity
07:19after thousands of years spent watching every shade of life unfold
07:24i had finally met a vampire foolish enough to throw her weight around in front of me
07:28a faint almost puzzled smile touched my lips
07:32what was it you wanted me to say just now
07:37i didn't quite catch that
07:39her face twisted with sarcasm
07:41so you're deaf too
07:44fine
07:44listen carefully
07:46i'm a lowly commoner
07:49got that now
07:54the moment the words left her mouth i burst out laughing
07:57good i heard that perfectly
08:00you're a lowly commoner
08:01the instant serena realized i had made a fool of her
08:04her face darkened with rage
08:06she let out a sharp scream and lunged at me with her claws out
08:09how ridiculous
08:11i had trained with warriors in the vampire neutral territories
08:15i didn't even bother striking back
08:17i merely stepped aside
08:18and she honestly thought she could catch me off guard
08:21she missed me completely
08:22carried forward by her own momentum
08:24she pitched straight ahead and slammed face first into the floor
08:33my god how could she do that to lady rosen
08:35if princess samuel finds out he'll tear her as finished
08:37no one can save her now
08:41the entire room was in an uproar
08:43but none of it stirred me in the slightest
08:45fear was not something i had ever truly understood
08:47my father
08:49kieran
08:49the vampire king himself
08:51ruled over all vampire kind
08:53there was no creature alive that could make me afraid
08:55with practiced ease i pulled out the unlimited royal charge card he had given me
08:59and slapped it onto the counter
09:01i'll take it
09:06the manager's hands shook as he hurried to wrap the ring
09:17i took the box and turned to leave
09:19but serena staggered back to her feet and threw herself in front of me
09:26you're not going anywhere
09:27she snapped
09:29though i caught the flicker of uncertainty in her eyes
09:31my gaze dropped to the dust smeared across her clothes
09:35and the corner of my mouth lifted
09:37what is it want to kiss the floor again
09:39i raised my fist just enough to make my point
09:42she flinched instantly
09:43at that moment
09:45the door burst open with a heavy bang
09:47drawing every eye in the room
09:48a tall figure stepped inside
09:50and the atmosphere changed at once
09:51the boutique fell silent
09:53the instant he entered
09:54an overwhelming pure blood aura
09:56swept through the room like dense fog
09:58pressing over everyone present
10:00i followed the line of his polished shoes upward
10:02and thought
10:04damn
10:05he had to be at least six foot three
10:07strikingly handsome
10:08with the effortless presence of someone born to command
10:11broad shoulders
10:12long legs
10:14precise movements
10:15everything about him felt controlled
10:17sharp
10:17and powerful
10:21the moment serena saw him
10:23she transformed
10:24she rushed to him
10:25tears streaming down her face
10:27as she cried
10:29samuel
10:29she stole the ring i wanted
10:31and then she attacked me
10:34so
10:35this was prince samuel in person
10:36i had to admit he was exactly my type
10:39no wonder father had been so certain
10:41i would be pleased with the fiance he had chosen for me
10:47i looked him over for a moment
10:49then let a slow satisfied smile curve across my lips
10:52it's nice to finally meet you
10:55i'm isolde
10:57your fiance
11:00a sharp intake of breath swept through the room
11:04what
11:05she's prince samuel's fiance
11:08no wonder she dared go against serena
11:10you're naive
11:11it all depends on which one he cares about more
11:15amid the murmurs
11:16samuel's gaze settled on me at last
11:18there was only disdain in it
11:20don't flatter yourself
11:22that absurd marriage alliance was my mother's decision
11:25not mine
11:26i never agreed to it
11:28serena immediately seized his arm
11:30her voice rising with triumph
11:33you heard him didn't you
11:35someone like you will never be worthy of standing beside a prince
11:41the surrounding voices quickly joined in
11:43exactly
11:44prince samuel's future wife should be a noble one like lady rosen
11:48not some nobody from an obscure vampire family
11:50she isn't even worthy of being in the same room as lady rosane
11:55i had never considered myself breathtakingly beautiful
11:58but i certainly wasn't ugly
12:00listening to them though
12:01you would have thought my face alone was enough to send people fleeing
12:04some things never changed
12:05people worshipped the powerful and trampled the weak
12:08i shook my head
12:09then walked straight past samuel without another glance
12:12do me a favor
12:13tell your mother the engagement is off
12:15i paused
12:17then looked at him over my shoulder
12:19you're the one who isn't good enough for me
12:25father had mentioned before that samuel's mother had paid an unimaginable price to secure this engagement
12:30if she ever found out that the marriage alliance she had fought so hard for had been ruined by her
12:34own son
12:34i could only imagine what a spectacular scene that would be
12:37the noise around me gradually faded
12:39and i prepared to leave that ridiculous place behind
12:42where do you think you're going you bitch you stole my ring shoved me and now you think this is
12:47over
12:47i turned back slowly already annoyed
12:52and what exactly do you want
12:55i'm going to ruin your face
12:57then we'll see what male vampire would ever look at you again
13:01the moment she said it i moved
13:03i caught her wrist in one swift motion
13:05my grip firm and precise
13:07and drove a hard punch into her chest
13:09just enough to send her stumbling backward
13:11the shock on her face was almost laughable
13:14you bitch how dare you
13:16i was still holding her wrist
13:17satisfied now
13:18samuel you have to protect me
13:20serena staggered back several steps
13:22tears springing into her eyes as she ducked behind samuel
13:26samuel pulled her into his arms
13:28and when he spoke his voice turned cold enough to freeze the room
13:32anyone who dares lay a hand on my people won't live to see tomorrow
13:35with a slight flick of his wrist
13:37he signaled the vampire soldiers at his sides to seize me
13:40i saw them move and struck first
13:42driving a kick into one of them before they could close in
13:44but there were too many
13:46they rushed me all at once overpowering me
13:49and forcing me to the ground
13:50before dragging me to my knees at samuel's feet
13:52samuel turned to serena
13:54and the harshness in his expression immediately softened
13:57serena do whatever you want
13:59no matter what happens i'll stand by you
14:01at once she smiled
14:03then she stepped forward and slapped me twice across the face
14:06pain flared hot across both cheeks
14:08where did all that attitude go
14:11weren't you acting awfully bold a second ago
14:15as if that weren't enough
14:16she drove the sharp heel of her shoe hard into my stomach
14:19i doubled over one hand clutching my abdomen
14:21as i lifted my eyes and glared at both of them
14:25remember this
14:26i won't let either of you get away with this
14:31serena only laughed harder
14:33this is prince samuel's territory
14:35and you're nothing more than some outsider vampire
14:37what exactly do you think you can do to me
14:41and she spoke
14:42she stepped closer and looked me over from head to toe
14:44then her gaze locked onto the bracelet on my right wrist
14:47every vampire from the moment they come into existence
14:49is given an enchanted relic by their sire or by an elder of the family
14:53only by caring can they walk the daylight
14:55the instant serena reached from my wrist
14:56i understood exactly what she meant to do
14:58panic surged through me like poison
15:00i knew i had to beg
15:03i was wrong
15:04i shouldn't have fought you over the ring
15:06please
15:07don't do this
15:10the fingers clamped around my bracelet
15:11and with one brutal yank she tore the daylight bracelet from my wrist
15:14and clenched it tightly in her hand
15:15now do you understand
15:18too late
15:19i'm gonna drag you straight into the sunlight
15:23and let everyone watch what happens when you burn
15:26the second the bracelet left my skin
15:28sunlight spilling through the boutique window
15:30touched the back of my hand
15:31a sharp searing pain shot through me
15:33thin whisks of smoke began to curl from my skin
15:37humiliation and terror crashed during me all at once
15:40i let out a scream and tried desperately to shrink away
15:43samuel stood beside her with his arms folded
15:46watching everything with chilling indifference
15:48that coldness was more horrifying than the pain
15:51i clenched my teeth and fought with everything i had left
15:53shouting at him
15:55you have no idea who i am samuel
15:57you're going to regret letting her do this to me
16:00he only shrugged
16:01a careless mocking smile tugging at his mouth
16:03who do you think you are
16:04you're nothing but a tool your family threw into a marriage alliance
16:08maybe i should burn your face too
16:11let's see whether you still marry samuel after that
16:14no
16:15i had barely spoken when the phone in my pocket started buzzing
16:17i stumbled for it
16:18but serena snatched it away before i could answer
16:20if he kept up to call herself
16:21hey honey did you choose your ring
16:24father save me
16:25someone took my daylight bracelet
16:26they're trying to kill me
16:28what who dared do that to you
16:29your daughter was being unbelievably rude
16:32i'm just teaching her a little lesson for you
16:34i don't care who you think you are
16:36let my daughter go
16:37now
16:38come and try
16:39maybe i'll even help your whole family reunite
16:45then turned back and kept dragging me farther into the sunlight
16:48the burning only grew worse
16:49every inch of my skin felt as if it were being set on fire
16:53and every breath was like a blade driven into my lungs
16:55i curled in on myself and fought as hard as i could
16:58trying to shield my body from the pain
17:00but every second stretched into forever
17:03and just when i thought the sun was about to reduce me to ash
17:06the roar of engines erupted outside
17:08a convoy of luxury cars blocked off the street
17:11and nearly a hundred elite vampire god warriors lined up outside in formation
17:15their presence alone enough to make the air feel heavy
17:17then the door of the lead armored vehicle swung open
17:20my father stepped out
17:21he radiated the kind of supreme royal majesty
17:24that made every vampire nearby tremble where they stood
17:27now then where is the idiot
17:29who dare lay a hand on my daughter
17:31father
17:31the moment my eyes met my father's
17:33every feeling i had been holding back
17:35fear, humiliation, anger, helplessness
17:38broke loose all at once
17:39he was beside me almost immediately
17:42his face tightening with concern
17:43without hesitation he stripped off his coat
17:46and wrapped it around me
17:47before pulling me firmly into his arms
17:49shielding me completely from the sunlight
17:51the instant i was enclosed in that familiar warmth
17:54a fragile sense of safety returned
17:55and for the first time since this nightmare had begun
17:58i felt like i could breathe again
18:00but my father never entered a room alone
18:02he brought his power with him
18:04and power like his was never gentle
18:06in a matter of seconds the atmosphere inside the jewelry boutique changed completely
18:10a vicious chill spread through the air
18:13and the crystal ornaments began to fracture one after another under the weight of the pressure
18:17their sharp cracking sounds echoing like warning bells
18:20the bystanders began trembling outright
18:22and several lower ranking vampires collapsed to their knees
18:25crushed by a fear so heavy it seemed to seep into their bones
18:28my god that's the elite vampire guard
18:31and the man at the front
18:32is that really him?
18:34it has to be
18:35that aura alone is enough to make my soul shake
18:37wait is he really her father?
18:39if that's true
18:40then samuel is finished
18:42he's dragged all of house hecate straight into ruin
18:44samuel's face had already gone pale
18:47and he felt the force of my father's bloodline suppression
18:49whatever pride he had once taken now looked pitiful
18:52like a firefly trying to compete with the sun
18:54and yet there were always fools too blind to recognize the danger standing in front of them
18:59serena perhaps emboldened by samuel's earlier protection
19:02actually found the nerve to step forward
19:04i don't care who you are
19:05your daughter stole the ring i wanted and she attacked me
19:08so tell me
19:09how are you planning to settle this?
19:11my father barely acknowledged her
19:13his gaze passed over serena as though she were beneath notice
19:16and came to rest directly on samuel instead
19:18more humiliating than any insult
19:20serena clearly felt it too for all her bluster
19:23fear had already begun to leak into her voice
19:26stop acting like this means anything
19:28samuel is a vampire prince
19:29who do you think you are?
19:31she pointed toward the display with a trembling hand
19:34that ring was supposed to be mine
19:36your daughter touched it
19:37which means it's ruined now
19:38i want an apology
19:40compensation
19:40and her engagement to house hecate has to be cancelled immediately
19:44then lifting her chin she added with a sneer
19:46if you do all of that
19:48maybe i'll let this go
19:49otherwise none of you are leaving this shop alive
19:52for a moment there was silence
19:53then my father laughed
19:55the sound rolled through the boutique low and disbelieving
19:57edge with such naked contempt that it was somehow worse than fury
20:01still holding me close he carried me farther into the shadows
20:04then gave my shoulder a reassuring pat before turning
20:07and walking towards serena with the calm stride of someone who had never needed to hurry toward victory
20:12oh i assure you
20:14the engagement between honey and house hecate will absolutely be caught off
20:18a vampire like samuel was never worthy of my daughter to begin with
20:22as for everything else
20:23with the slightest movement of his hand one of his soldiers stepped forward at once
20:27in the next instant she was forced to her knees
20:30all her earlier arrogance vanished into panic
20:32samuel moved as if to stop it
20:34but my father turned his eyes on him
20:36and that single glance changed everything
20:38the pressure inside the room intensified so violently
20:41that samuel and his men froze where they stood
20:43then my father walked straight up to samuel
20:45there was no rush in him
20:47no wasted anger
20:48he drew back his fist and drove it hard into samuel's jaw
20:51blood burst from samuel's mouth on impact
20:53my daughter has always been the most precious thing in my life
20:56and yet today you watched while she was humiliated
20:59harmed and dragged into the sun
21:01so do not speak to me of house hecate
21:04if i choose to
21:05i can turn the entire vampire realm upside down
21:08i was no saint
21:09and after what serena had done to me today
21:11there was no chance i was going to let her walk away from this unscathed
21:14go on honey
21:16let them understand this much
21:18the dignity of the royal bloodline is not something anyone may insult
21:22not today
21:23not ever
21:24my eyes settled on serena
21:25and for the first time since this had begun
21:27i saw real fear in her
21:29i was no saint
21:30and after what serena had done to me today
21:32there was no chance i was going to let her walk away from this unscathed
21:36the moment i fastened it back around my wrist
21:38the magical runes carved into its surface flared to life once more
21:41and the skin that had been seared by the sun began to heal
21:44the angry burns fading as if time itself were being pulled backward
21:47the tension in the boutique thickened
21:50serena stared at me her lips trembling
21:52if you touch me the prince will never forgive you
21:55i did not waste time arguing with her
21:57instead i reached for her hand
21:59and tore the daylight ring from her finger
22:01she let out a piercing scream at once and before she could scramble away i seized her by the hair
22:06and dragged her toward the floor to ceiling window
22:09outside the afternoon sun was still brilliant
22:12no no
22:13let me go
22:14she shrieked clawing at my arm hard enough to leave marks
22:16the instant the sunlight touched her skin
22:18white smoke began to rise from it as though acid had been poured over flesh
22:22my face she screamed the sound so full of horror that it barely sounded human
22:26i leaned close to her ear my voice dropping into something low and merciless
22:30didn't you say you wanted to ruin my face
22:33her eyes flew wide and the color drained from her features completely
22:36she tried to wrench herself backward but i gave her no room to move
22:40instead i tightened my hold and forced her entire face deeper into the brightest band of sunlight
22:45the damage spread almost instantly
22:47her cheeks began to split and blacken her lips drying until they cracked and bled
22:51and dark red veins surfaced across the whites of her eyes as she screamed and thrashed wildly
22:56none of it did her any good she could not break free of me
22:59then in the middle of her shrieking i bent down
23:02and picked up a jagged shard from a broken mirror lying on the floor
23:05i stepped in front of her and looked down at her from above
23:08then angled the shard so she could see herself clearly
23:11look take a good look
23:13isn't this exactly what you wanted
23:14the moment serena saw her own reflection
23:17the ruined skin the blackened flesh
23:18the face dissolving under the sun a terrible wail tore out of her
23:22her eyes bulged in pure despair and she looked stripped bare of every shred of arrogance she had ever worn
23:27at the same time samuel was still pinned where he had been forced down
23:31helpless to intervene as he watched everything unfold
23:33how dare you do this to us
23:35i already contacted my mother when she gets here every last one of you is dead
23:39faced with that pitiful threat my father merely laughed
23:42your mother please let's see what exactly that lady intends to do to me
23:47then right there in front of everyone he placed a call to lady heiress hecaday
23:51your majesty how may i serve you has something happened
23:54my father's tone was cold enough to frost over steel
23:57you have raised quite a son
23:59something in his voice must have reached her instantly
24:01because even through the phone i could almost hear the tremor that went through her
24:05your majesty has my son offended you in some way
24:08please tell me what happened
24:10and i swear he will be punished exactly as he should be
24:13i beg you please show mercy
24:16my father let out a low humorless laugh
24:19my daughter the child i have treasured all her life
24:22was humiliated by your son today on territory under your family's control
24:27now tell me lady heiress what exactly do you expect mercy to look like in a moment like this
24:33there was silence on the other end a silence so complete it felt suffocating
24:37when lady heiress spoke again her voice was thick with shock and despair
24:40what he dared do that to your daughter
24:43then whatever happens to him he deserves it
24:46your majesty you may deal with him however you see fit
24:50i only beg you to spare house hecate
24:53samuel heard every word and instead of remorse what filled him was outrage
24:57he could not understand why lady heiress was speaking to my father with such fear such submission
25:02mother why are you afraid of him house hecate bows to no one
25:05on the other end of the line lady heiress's voice came back sharp with panic
25:09shut up you idiot
25:10but samuel had already lost control
25:12he turned toward my father eyes blazing with hatred
25:15you're nothing but a usurper with tainted blood
25:17you clawed your way onto the throne through dirty tricks
25:20you were never the true ruler without that crown you're nothing but a lowborn bastard
25:24despised by every pureblood noble you are nothing
25:27my father had spent his life proving that true strength came from resolve not birth
25:31he had struck the one wound my father would never permit anyone to touch
25:35my father's face darkened and in his eyes i saw something shift into place
25:39he allowed his killing intent to show
25:41the air grew so heavy it felt freezing
25:43without thinking i stepped forward and caught hold of his arm
25:47father he drew in a slow breath and forced down the fury
25:50little by little the lethal edge in his eyes receded
25:53then he lowered his gaze to my hand where it rested on his arm
25:56pat it at once with quiet reassurance and in that small gesture
25:59gave me a silent promise that he would not completely lose control
26:03with the slightest flick of his wrist the soldiers at either side moved at once
26:07they seized samuel and serena and dragged them away like discarded sacks
26:11throw them into the silver coffin
26:12the mere mention of that place samuel went rigid with dread
26:16he began struggling wildly as though panic alone might somehow free him
26:20the silver coffin was the cruelest punishment forged from pure silver
26:23no
26:24for the first time i saw real fear on his face
26:27once it was over my father led me out of the boutique
26:30the body heals quickly but the spirit needs healing too
26:34come with me there's somewhere i want to take you
26:36his cries meant nothing now
26:37the chaos had finally settled he brought me to the ancestor sanctuary
26:41a sacred place deeply revered among vampires
26:44where those burdened by grief fear or inner turmoil came to seek solace and
26:49spiritual healing the moment i stepped inside i was struck by its beauty
26:52the entire sanctuary had been built from bloodstone crystal
26:56and every wall seemed to glow with a dim velvety red light
26:59that soft crimson radiance spilled over everything around us wrapping the space in
27:03an atmosphere that felt ancient solemn and almost holy a gentle energy moved through
27:08the air like a warm embrace and little by little the turmoil inside me began to ease
27:13before long an elder nun approached us with slow measured steps
27:16there was something deeply calming in her expression
27:19she began the purification ritual for me chanting an ancient hymn in a voice so soft and steady
27:24that it seemed to thread itself through the sanctuary like flowing water
27:28as the ritual continued i felt a gentle force gathering around me
27:31washing over the raw jagged places inside my heart
27:34and carrying away the weight of everything i had just endured
27:37under the blessing of the first ancestor the fear and fury i had been clinging to
27:41gradually loosened their hold and for the first time that day true calm returned to me
27:45when everything was over and the silence of the sanctuary had settled once more
27:49i turned to my father and asked the question that had been lingering in my mind
27:53why did you support house hecate in the first place
27:56many years ago house hecate was nothing more than a small and struggling clan in the north
28:00they were weak impoverished and barely managing to survive
28:04at the time i had only just overthrown the old dynasty and was in the middle of rebuilding order
28:09during one of my tours i happened to come across samuel's father
28:12he was being hunted by other nobles and i was the one who saved him
28:16i gave him resources i helped house hecate rebuild his territory and stand on his feet again
28:22later i named him a vampire prince and entrusted the vast northern lands to him
28:27i believed he would understand gratitude i believed he would understand loyalty
28:30but he died too early and his son grew up knowing nothing of respect restraint or gratitude
28:36so that was the truth my father was the vampire king the one who stood above all vampire kind
28:41so the engagement between samuel and me will be cancelled my daughter deserves the best this world
28:46has to offer not a fool like him a full week had passed since i completed my recuperation at the
28:51ancestor sanctuary and by then i had already returned to the familiar halls of the vampire royal capital
28:59even so the atmosphere around me had changed the air itself seemed charged with tension and the
29:05moment i stepped back into court life i could feel the weight of expectation settling onto my shoulders
29:09once again the news had spread across the vampire realm like wildfire by now nearly every vampire had
29:15heard some version of the same astonishing story samuel prince of the north had committed a grave offense
29:21by daring to humiliate the beloved daughter of the vampire king himself because of that every noble
29:26house had grown uneasy every faction was watching closely barely daring to breathe all of them waiting
29:32to see what consequences would follow your majesty princess prince augustine of the west and prince
29:38cassius of the south request an audience i turned toward father he was seated at the far end of the
29:43hall composed to the point of coldness his presence so still and controlled that it seemed to quiet the
29:48entire room around him his eyes were closed but the authority radiating from him was as unmistakable as ever
29:54let them in moment later the doors opened and two broad-shouldered figures strode into the hall
29:59surrounded by attendants carrying lavish gifts
30:05your majesty welcome then both princes lifted their eyes and looked directly at me
30:10i could feel the careful respect in their gaze and the caution beneath it every movement they made was
30:15measured every word weighed in advance augustine the older of the two was the first to speak we were
30:21deeply disturbed to learn that her highness was mistreated while in hecat territory he said his
30:27tone controlled but edged with indignation the insult was intolerable we have brought a small token of our
30:34concern and hope it may be of some comfort to the princess at his signal one of the attendants
30:40stepped forward and presented a velvet lined box when it was opened a piece of blood amber rested
30:45inside rich crimson light moving through it like something alive i knew what blood amber was used for
30:50it was said to calm the heart soothe the mind and ease the lingering wounds left behind by fear and
30:55emotional trauma beside him the younger prince cassius made no attempt to conceal his anger
31:00for samuel a vampire prince to treat the princess in such a way is beyond disgraceful your majesty give the
31:07order and i will march on the north myself house hecate can be wiped out before the sun sets again
31:13i remained seated listening calmly as the two of them offered outrage loyalty and polished devotion
31:19in different forms yet only a week earlier i had still been nothing more than an object of ridicule
31:24now these same people were falling over themselves to please me their motives were not difficult to
31:29understand i closed the book in my lap set it aside and gave them a polite smile thank you for
31:36your
31:36concern i said my voice common even but loyalty is not measured by gifts nor is sincerity proven through
31:44flattery the word settled over the hall like a sudden frost for a moment no one spoke both princes
31:49stared at me caught between surprise and uncertainty as if neither of them had expected that answer only then
31:56did father open his eyes when his gaze turned toward me i caught the faintest trace of approval there
32:01he said nothing to me directly but the look alone was enough then he shifted his attention back to the
32:06two princes and said in a voice so composed it allowed no room for argument my daughter has already
32:12spoken for me leave the gifts you may go relief flashed across both their faces so quickly they likely
32:18hoped no one would notice they bowed deeply at once left the gifts behind and withdrew from the hall
32:24without another word after they were gone father turned to me with the slightest hint of amusement at
32:29the corner of his mouth well do you feel any better now i shook my head though i smiled a
32:34little too
32:35i feel better when i'm with you father but the truth is they aren't afraid of me what those men
32:40feared
32:40was not me at all what they feared was what would happen if they offended the royal house after the
32:45two
32:45vampire princes were finally dismissed peace at last returned to the great hall i was just about to pick
32:50up my book again when a vampire soldier entered his expression uneasy enough to catch my attention
32:55at once your highness the manager from the jewelry boutique is outside he says he has come to confess
33:00and begs for an audience with you no matter the cost i blinked momentarily surprised and then
33:06remembered the jeweler's manager from that day the arrogance he had shown in the boutique had been
33:10impossible to miss which only made his sudden humility all the more curious father who had been
33:15leaning lazily against the wall glanced over at me with a sly smile let him in i'd very much like
33:20to
33:21hear what sort of confession he has prepared a moment later the manager stumbled into the hall
33:26he looked so shaken so stripped of all dignity that for a second he barely resembled the man i
33:31remembered by the time he made it to my feet he collapsed to his knees and broke into sobs his
33:36whole
33:36body trembling with desperation please forgive me your highness i was blind i was a fool i failed to
33:41recognize who you were please show mercy spare my worthless life as he spoke he fumbled frantically
33:47inside his coat and pulled out a heavy coin pouch lifting it in both shaking hands this is everything
33:53i've saved over the years every last coin i offer it all to you please your highness forgive me father
33:58said nothing he simply sat there in composed silence leaving the matter entirely in my hands
34:04i looked down at the manager and asked evenly do you truly believe i need your money
34:08at once he flinched so hard it was almost as if i had struck him his shoulders shook even more
34:13violently and his voice broke as he cried no no of course not i was wrong i deserve punishment
34:19whatever your highness decides i deserve it a faint trace of irony passed through my mind as i remembered
34:25our previous encounter you were not nearly this humble when you stood at serena's side a few days ago
34:30the man immediately tried to defend himself his words tumbling out faster driven by panic
34:35i had no choice your highness serena had a prince behind her she could do anything she wanted if i
34:41had refused her i would never have lived to see the next day i truly didn't dare oppose her
34:45the fear in him was real and i could not pretend not to see it for someone in his position
34:50standing
34:50against a noble woman would have felt no different from stepping into his own grave and yet one thought
34:55still lingered in my mind what if the person they had chosen to humiliate that day had not been me
35:00what if it had been some powerless outsider with no family no title and no one to protect her
35:05after a pause i said take your money back the manager looked up so quickly that hope flashed
35:11across his face before he could hide it for one brief moment he clearly thought i meant to forgive
35:15him outright then i continued but you should understand this much what you did cannot simply
35:21go unpunished i rose from my seat and walked toward him my voice calm and steady carrying clearly
35:27through the hall from this day forward your shop will serve as a sanctuary under royal protection
35:33any outsider who is being bullied abused or otherwise left without help may go there and
35:37seek refuge you will provide whatever aid they need without questioning them and you will report
35:42their circumstances to the royal court at once he stared at me blinking in stunned confusion
35:47this was so far from the punishment he had imagined that he seemed unable to process it
35:52i let the silence stretch for a moment before adding of course you are free to refuse if that
35:58is your choice then you may close your doors today and lose your shop forever or you may join samuel
36:03in the silver coffin for a few days and reflect on your decision there the moment he heard the
36:07word silver coffin the last trace of blood vanished from his face he nodded so violently it seemed he
36:12might collapse again i'll do it i swear it i'll do everything exactly as you say father gave a small
36:18nod of approval then turned to the guards go place the royal crest on his shop from this day on
36:24anyone
36:25who dares cause trouble there will be treated as an enemy of mine the gods bowed and moved at once
36:30only after that did the truth fully dawn on the manager this was not punishment in the way he had
36:35feared it was the kind of opportunity most people could only dream of receiving once in a lifetime
36:39with the royal crest hanging over his door his boutique would stand under the protection of the royal
36:45house itself after he left i felt a strange lightness settle over me father crossed the room
36:50and stopped beside me satisfaction plain in his expression a true ruler must know how to balance
36:56mercy with authority then his gaze shifted sharpening slightly come it's time to deal with the last of
37:02this we're going to make sure everyone understands exactly what happens when they dare offend you
37:07father and i were seated in the council chamber of the royal capital blood wine set before us
37:12while a taut oppressive silence stretched through the room off to one side stood lady heiress hecate her
37:17posture rigid and severe as motionless as carved stone she looked composed at first glance but the
37:22tension in her body was unmistakable and beneath that stillness there was something strained enough
37:27to break time seemed to drag until it no longer felt like time at all then at last the silence
37:33was
37:33broken by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from outside echoing sharply through the chamber
37:37two vampire guards entered with grim expressions dragging samuel and serena in behind them the
37:43sight was brutal whatever remained of their former pride had long since been stripped away and what
37:48stood before us now was little more than the wreckage left behind by their own arrogance their
37:53condition was ugly enough to make the consequences of their actions impossible to ignore the moment lady
37:58eras saw her son something in her expression shifted for a brief instant there was a flash of grief there
38:03so quick and faint that it might have been missed but it vanished almost at once buried beneath the
38:08cold rising fury that spread through her like a storm front she did not rush to comfort samuel she did
38:14not even speak to him gently instead she strode forward seized him by the back of the neck with her
38:20scarlet nails and forced his head downward until he was facing me you disgraceful fool she hissed apologize
38:28then came the crack of a slap sharp and violent enough to ring through the chamber like a shot
38:33a second followed then a third now lady eras snapped her voice cutting through the air like a lash
38:40apologize to the princess this instant whatever defiant samuel had once possessed was gone he no longer
38:46struggled he no longer argued he simply endured the blows in silence as though each strike were knocking
38:52the last of the will out of him by the time his mother released him he looked less like a
38:57man than
38:57something hollowed out and left standing by habit alone only after venting her anger on him did lady
39:02eras turn back toward us when she spoke her voice was heavy with shame and desperation your majesty
39:08princess i acknowledge my failure as a mother it is because of my negligence that my son committed a mistake
39:16this catastrophic then she rounded on samuel again her composure shattering into fury do you even
39:22understand who it is you offended do you know how house hecate rose to the position it holds today
39:28everything we have was given to us because of his majesty and you dared lay hands on the person he
39:34treasures most you are not only destroying yourself you are dragging all of house hecate down with you
39:40that landed at last the words seemed to strike samuel like lightning forcing him to face the truth
39:46he had spent all this time refusing to see the arrogance in his eyes faded little by little replaced
39:51first by confusion then by disbelief and finally by something much worse understanding his gaze
39:57shifted toward me then slowly it moved to father the man he had mocked dismissed and insulted was
40:03the reason his family still stood where it did the title samuel had worn so proudly the authority he
40:08had flaunted all of it had been granted to him by another hand in that instant i could almost see
40:13the
40:13collapse happen inside him the pride went first then whatever hollow sense of superiority he had spent
40:19centuries building around himself so that's the truth i was wrong i was truly wrong his whole body
40:24began to shake any trace of dignity he had left dissolved where he stood and he bent forward again
40:30and again in frantic apology his voice breaking beside him serena had remained stunned but at last the
40:35reality seemed to catch up with her too princess please please spare us we'll never do it again she
40:41joined him in tears filling the chamber with a miserable grief they crawled there before me pitiful and
40:46broken like insects crushed under their own desperation i felt nothing i simply lifted my cup took a slow
40:54sip of coffee and let the warmth spread through me while i said nothing at all my silence stretched
41:00between us and behind it my thoughts moved quietly other than the broken sobbing of samuel and serena
41:06the hall had fallen completely silent only after a long pause did i finally lower my cup
41:13the clear delicate sound of porcelain touching the wooden table cut through the stillness with
41:17startling sharpness and at once both of them fell quiet as if even that small noise had struck them
41:22like a command they turned to look at me and in their eyes i saw fear tangled together with a
41:27nearly
41:27hopeless kind of expectation as though even now they were clinging to the last fragile possibility that i
41:33might still show mercy i smiled faintly but there was no warmth in my voice when i spoke
41:40if my father had not arrived in time that day would either of you have spared me the question
41:45landed between us like a blow in an instant both of them went rigid their faces drained of color their
41:51mouths parted yet neither of them could force out a single word serena wasn't your greatest dream to
41:57become a prince's wife she nodded almost instinctively and even then i caught the faintest spark of that old
42:03fantasy still flickering in her eyes and you samuel i shifted my attention to him letting a trace of
42:09mockery enter my tone you cast aside your betrothal stood by while she nearly had me killed and indulged
42:15her every cruelty simply to gratify yourself you must have cared for her a great deal isn't that right
42:20i didn't it wasn't like that i just he stammered scrambling for excuses already trying to twist the
42:26blame towards serena as though that could still save him oh it hardly matters now i said
42:31then i rose and walked toward them every eye in the chamber fixed on me as i stopped before where
42:36they knelt since the bond between you is evidently so deep i said calmly i've decided to grant your
42:42wish the two of you may remain together forever at those words a flash of wild joy lit serena's
42:47tear-streaked face so sudden and so shameless that it almost made me laugh i gave a soft contemptuous
42:53huff before continuing but the price of that happiness will be your title samuel
42:58the effect was immediate lady heiress hecate collapsed where she stood all strength leaving
43:03her at once while samuel stared at me in stunned disbelief what right do you have to strip me of
43:08my title he demanded his voice cracking i looked at him steadily would you like me to issue a formal
43:13decree at once and announced to the entire vampire realm that samuel has been stripped of rank and
43:18reduced to a commoner he turned at once toward his mother mother say something lady heiress closed
43:24her eyes she said nothing in that silence samuel finally understood his mother had abandoned him
43:29i watched the realization break over him in stages disbelief then horror then the slow collapse of
43:35everything he had once believed untouchable his body began to shake so violently that it seemed as
43:40though he might come apart everything that had once defined him was vanishing before his eyes
43:44no no no then i turned to serena who looked up at me with a kind of frozen dread didn't
43:50you always
43:50want to become samuel's wife very well i will make your dream come true from this moment on you are
43:56his wife for a heartbeat she simply stared unable to understand then the meaning of it hit her all at
44:01once no i don't want it anymore i refuse i refuse to marry a commoner at last serena had awakened
44:08from
44:08her fantasy she had spent her whole life grasping for power and now she found herself bound to a
44:13disgraced former prince to her it was worse than death what a pity that is not your decision to
44:18make then he turned to the soldiers and gave the final order exile them to the wastelands they are
44:23never to set foot in any vampire territory again everyone in the chamber knew what that meant
44:29the wastelands were a barren stretch of northern ruin where almost nothing thrived food was scarce
44:34water scarcer still and hope perhaps rarest of all only bitter winds and savage beasts ruled there
44:40and to be sent into that desolation was no different from being handed a death sentence
44:44and told to carry it out yourself the soldiers stepped forward at once samuel shattered beyond
44:49resistance barely reacted as they dragged him away while serena struggled and screamed until her voice
44:55turned ragged her body twisting wildly in their grip yet neither of them could change what had already
45:00been decided they were hauled from the chamber like discarded things stripped not only of privilege but of
45:05every illusion that had once sustained them lady eris remained collapsed on the floor watching her son
45:11be taken away with hollow defeated eyes all the force she had carried into the room earlier had deserted
45:16her now she looked as if despair alone had aged her by decades and yet she did not beg because
45:21she
45:21understood exactly what this verdict was not mercy perhaps but the closest thing to it that the vampire
45:27king was willing to grant at the very least it meant that the rest of house hecate would survive
45:32news of the exile spread swiftly through the vampire realm prince samuel was gone cast down and cast out
45:38and with him the prestige house hecate had enjoyed for so long began to crumble before much time had
45:43passed rising vampire families moved against them stripping away influence lands and power with the
45:49ruthless efficiency of those who had only ever been waiting for weakness to show itself over the months
45:54that followed rumors of samuel and serena occasionally reached my ears some said they had seen a ruined
45:59nobleman and noblewoman wandering the wastelands in rags crouched over the carcasses of beasts and
46:04licking the dried blood from old remains others claimed the two had been spotted fighting wild boars
46:09over the fresh body of a dead antelope reduced at last to the kind of desperate struggle they once
46:14would not have allowed even their servants to witness after a while even those stories stopped
46:19mattering to me they drifted out of my thoughts the way dust disappears into barren wind and eventually
46:24they became no more than something that had once happened then passed a year later while i sat
46:30beside lake namir and watched the water under the evening sky they crossed my mind one final time
46:35the cool night mist brushed softly against my skin and the scent of moonshade blossoms drifted over from
46:40the lake shore everything around me was quiet serene and almost achingly beautiful and the peace of
46:45that moment stood in such sharp contrast to the miserable life they were likely still clawing through
46:50in the wastelands that it felt unreal what surprised me most was not satisfaction but distance by then
46:56the outcome no longer stirred much of anything in me instead i felt a strange almost weightless sense
47:03of release as though i had finally turned the last page of that chapter of my life and left it
47:07behind
47:07for good father came to stand beside me and handed me a glass of chilled blood wine then with a
47:12gentleness
47:13that still had the power to soften me no matter how much time passed he rested a hand against my
47:18hair and
47:18smiled see the moonlight is perfect tonight i took the glass from him and looked out across the lake
47:24where the silver light of the moon lay scattered over the water until mist and moonlight seemed to
47:28merge into one then i gave a small nod feeling nothing in my heart but clarity and calm he was
47:34right the
47:34moonlight was perfect the road ahead lay wide open and waiting for me beyond it was a future bright with
47:39possibility
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