Two Centuries Wasted on a Lie

My Vampire fiancé, Vincent, was the powerful prince of New York's most influential coven. He had lived for centuries and was notoriously ruthless, yet he bestowed upon me, and only me, every honor imaginable. But one month before our Union Ceremony, he suddenly insisted on postponing it. The reason was his childhood friend, Camilla, was dying from a rare condition known as Bloodline Degeneration. To repay a life debt from long ago, he wanted to hold a mock wedding with her to fulfill her last wish to wear a wedding gown. I refused outright. It was a flagrant violation of coven dignity. But he pressured me relentlessly, using a supposed ancient code of honor as emotional blackmail. Then, two weeks before the ceremony, I received an anonymous email containing an advanced blood analysis report. Only then did I learn that he hadn't just been preparing a wedding; he had already secretly formed a Mutual Blood Bond with her, a pact that would bind their lives together for eternity. In that moment, I finally understood. My two centuries of devotion to him had been nothing more than a joke. And so, I called off our union and set fire to everything he had ever given me. On the day of the ceremony, I traveled to Europe's Supreme Institute for Vampiric Research in Italy and took charge of the Institute's most secret and critical project. From that day forward, I would have nothing more to do with the noble prince. We were finished. Chapter 1 One month before my Union Ceremony with my Vampire fiancé, Vincent, he insisted on postponing it to hold a mock wedding with his childhood friend, Camilla. I disagreed. The vows of a High Coven are unbreakable. Yet he brought it up daily, as if the decision had already been made and he was simply informing me of it. Then, two weeks before the ceremony, I received an anonymous package. It was a blood analysis report from an advanced medical facility in the Undercity. The data was clear: Camilla's weak bloodline was now deeply infused with Vincent's pureblood. They had formed a Mutual Blood Bond, the kind reserved only for mates. In that instant, I understood everything. The night he'd stayed out wasn't to quell a werewolf uprising as he'd claimed. He had already made all his decisions. He just needed me, his official fiancée, to graciously step aside. I stood before the castle's floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the endless, moonlit night as a chill seeped into my very bones. The next day, I dismantled the magical wards at the ceremony venue and destroyed the scroll formalizing our families' alliance. I set everything he had ever given me ablaze, including the Blood Ring that symbolized my status as the Prince's consort. On the day of the Union Ceremony, I was not at the sacred altar. Instead, I boarded a private flight to Florence, Italy, alone. I had officially joined Europe's Supreme Institute for Vampiric Research, starting a new life dedicated to the study of vampiric pharmacology. From that moment on, Vincent and I were finished. "Elena, I've explained this to you countless times. Camilla's bloodline is degenerating irreversibly. She won't last much longer." "The elders say she won't survive the winter." "Her only dying wish is to wear a wedding gown." "I owe her my life... This isn't just about a life debt; it's an ancient code of honor among our kind that cannot be violated." Vincent stood before me, his tone still as arrogant and cold as ever, but every word was like a silver dagger, twisting into the softest part of my heart. Two hundred years ago, on the streets of Chicago, the De Rossi family clashed with a band of southern vampire hunters. He was ambushed, and someone risked everything to drag his gravely wounded body from the burning sun. He was convinced it was Camilla. From that day on, she became untouchable, a line not even I could cross. And now, to repay that debt, he was willing to cast my dignity aside completely, and with it, any love that remained between us. "It's just a formality," he said, his brow furrowing slightly, clearly displeased by my resistance. "I'll stabilize her condition and go through with the ceremony for her. That's all." His fingers brushed against my cheek. "Elena, you've loved me for two hundred years. You've always been so reasonable. Be sensible this time." I slapped his hand away and shot to my feet, my voice trembling with hurt. "Vincent, we're supposed to have our Union Ceremony next month! And you went behind my back and formed a life-sharing Mutual Blood Bond with her! Then tell me, what does that make me?" He fell silent. He was likely weighing the interests of his clan against my emotions, a cold calculation he made out of habit. The next moment, he looked up, his expression returning to its usual cold calm. "Elena, it was the only way." "Without the bond, she wouldn't even have the strength to put on the dress. This is also to finally settle the debt from all those years ago." "I can't just watch her turn to ash." I looked at him, suddenly feeling as if I were staring at a stranger, as if the two centuries we had shared were a ridiculous joke. For two hundred years, I, a high-born vampire, had endured torment in my lab, all to develop a Daylight Serum that would protect him from harm. I thought my devotion would earn me his equal love. The truth was, he had simply grown accustomed to my sacrifices, accustomed to me being the 'proper' consort for a prince: sensible, rational, and never one to cause trouble. There would always be a more important place in his heart, reserved for someone he saw as fragile and truly in need of his protection. Did he love me? Perhaps a little. But when his ancient code of honor and Camilla's tears were on the line, I would always be the one cast aside. He was about to exert his princely authority again when his phone rang. He answered it quickly, turning to walk out onto the terrace. As he spoke, his voice instantly dropped to a soft, low murmur. I couldn't hear what was being said on the other end, but I saw the gentle smile that graced his lips. It was a smile I hadn't seen him direct at me in two hundred years. Chapter 2 He didn't even try to hide the call from me. Even without trying to listen, my vampiric hearing could still pick up Camilla's weak, breathless voice on the other end. "Vincent, my chest hurts so much… Can you come see me?" The smile on Vincent's lips hadn't fully faded. He hung up and turned to throw on his black velvet coat. "Camilla's condition is flaring up again. I have to go." I lowered my head, my gaze sweeping over the advanced blood analysis report once more. The date of the bonding was two weeks ago. And on that night two weeks ago, he had disappeared for the entire night for the first time in two centuries. He told me there was an uprising in a low-coven territory in Brooklyn that required the Prince's personal intervention. But thinking back now, he had spent that entire night by Camilla's bedside. He had sliced open his own veins, feeding his pure, princely blood drop by drop into that woman's body, forging a Mutual Blood Bond that fused their very life forces. It turned out I had long been written out of his destiny. He was just waiting for the right moment to "inform" me, and he never cared what I thought. I had fantasized countless times about our wedding day. I looked forward to taking his arm under the gaze of all the North American coven elders. I looked forward to him seeing me in my wedding gown. But now, all those delusional hopes had turned to dust in the sunlight. A gust of wind, and they were gone. After Vincent left, the vast castle fell into a dead silence. My phone suddenly vibrated. It was an encrypted number from Florence, Italy. I answered. "Elena, it's been a long time." "I know your Union Ceremony is next month." "But I have to ask you one last time. Are you absolutely sure you won't reconsider coming to Florence?" "If you come, you'll be the sole director of this classified experiment, with the highest level of research authority." My mentor had invited me to join this top-secret project six months ago. But joining the project meant severing all contact with the outside world. For months, or even years, not a whisper about my existence would get out. At the time, believing I was about to be a bride, I refused without a second thought. My research on the 'Daylight Serum' had always been for Vincent, to protect him from the sun's scorching rays and allow him to walk more freely in the daylight. I had no greater ambitions. But looking back now, I saw what a complete and utter fool I'd been. Since he never cherished our relationship and took my two centuries of companionship for granted… Then everything I had done for him had lost its meaning. "Mentor, I've made my decision." I turned my head and looked at a framed photo from our engagement party on the vanity. I raised my hand and swept the frame directly into the trash can beside it. "I accept the invitation. I'll go directly to the secluded underground lab." "I don't need any special leave privileges. We can proceed with the most rigorous experimental schedule." My mentor's voice was filled with undisguised excitement and joy. "A wise choice. A genius like you shouldn't be wasted in the political mire of New York." He paused. "I heard you have a Union Ceremony next month. In that case, I'll send a private jet to pick you up the day after your ceremony?" I looked out the window at the cold, endless night and replied softly, "No. The day of the ceremony is fine." My gaze slowly drifted to the parchment calendar on the antique desk. On the tenth of next month, I had once joyfully circled the date in dark red ink. Originally, I wanted to look at it every day, to count down the days until he placed the crown on my head and made me his rightful Princess Consort. But now, this sacred date had become the countdown to my final escape from Vincent. In two weeks, the high and mighty Prince and I… We would never cross paths again. Chapter 3 That night, Vincent did not return to the castle. I didn't use my Sight to check on his whereabouts; I'd already seen Camilla's social media feed. The photo showed two hands clasped tightly, holding a magnificent solid-gold blood goblet. The caption read: "You are my endless night, and you are my sun." I zoomed in on the photo, my gaze fixated on their overlapping wrists. Beneath their pale skin, two dark red, thorn-like marks were starkly visible. The Bond Mark. Only vampires who had formed a Mutual Blood Bond, their souls and bodies deeply intertwined, would develop this indelible mark. For two hundred years, I had poured my heart and soul into him. Because he was highly sensitive to light, I spent day after day in the lab developing the Daylight Serum. Countless times, I suffered extensive burns from high-intensity UV lamps, the pain so great my entire body would seize. But he merely watched with cold indifference, never showing a single shred of genuine concern. He always said that a noble, pure-blooded vampire didn't need such frivolous experiments that went against their nature. I thought he was just arrogant from being in power for so long. It wasn't until Camilla, this duplicitous "savior," appeared that I finally saw the truth. He understood everything perfectly. He just reserved that understanding for someone else. Now, I had no idea what I was to him anymore. That afternoon, I met my maid of honor, Linda, at a café. "You can cancel the fitting for the couture gown in Milan," I told her calmly. "The ceremony is off." Initially, Vincent had despised such ancient, cumbersome rituals. It was only after my repeated pleading that he reluctantly agreed to give me a grand ceremony. Linda shot up from her seat in shock, about to ask what happened, but I shook my head to stop her. An indescribable bitterness welled up inside me. Everyone in the coven knew I loved Vincent. There was no need to say more. How could it not hurt to sever a devotion that had lasted two centuries? But this relationship had been a one-sided sacrifice from the very beginning. I had walked on eggshells in this relationship, conceding ground step by step. I had retreated so far that now it was his wedding with someone else, his blood bond with someone else. In the end, I couldn't bring myself to speak the humiliating truth. I only told her that I was joining a top-secret experiment at the European Institute and would be making very few public appearances in the future. I drank at a bar until the early hours. When I returned to the castle late that night, Vincent had just gotten back as well. He sniffed the air sharply, his brow immediately knitting. "You were out drinking?" "I've told you before. Stay away from those places in the human world. They're not safe." I gave a self-deprecating smile. In the past, a seemingly caring remark like that would have moved me to tears. Without a word, I turned and ascended the spiral staircase, showering the scent off me in the bathroom. When I emerged in a silk nightgown, Vincent was leaning back on the velvet settee. His long fingers were tapping quickly on his phone screen, a soft smile playing on his lips. I coldly averted my gaze, preparing to go straight to my room to rest. But he suddenly called out to me. "There's something I need to discuss with you." My steps halted abruptly. The last time I heard those words was when he first proposed holding a mock wedding with Camilla, which led to a fierce argument between us. Now, he had already formed a Mutual Blood Bond with her. What else could he possibly need to "discuss" with me? Chapter 4 "Cancel the trip to Milan tomorrow for the gown fitting." Vincent's voice was quiet but left no room for argument. It was a trip we had planned six months ago, one I still had marked in color on my calendar. The gown was a masterpiece, custom-made for me by a hundred high-coven artisans over several months. Truthfully, even if he hadn't brought it up, I had no intention of going. I had already given up on this so-called ceremony. His saying so actually saved me the trouble of finding an excuse to refuse. It spared us both the effort. "Alright," I answered calmly. "Fine. I'll have the steward inform the atelier in Milan. I don't want the gown anymore." The moment I finished, Vincent was visibly taken aback. He clearly hadn't expected me to agree so readily. He paused, his brow furrowing. In his mind, I should have fought for this honor, a privilege reserved for the Princess Consort. After all, when it came to anything related to our union, I was always the one most obsessed with details, down to the pattern of the lace itself. "You're not... going to ask why?" he asked, his long, narrow eyes squinting. "As the Prince wishes." My tone was ice as I turned to continue up the stairs. "Our trip is canceled," he paused, then continued, "but the gown is not." "It's Camilla. With her frail condition, she said she might never get the chance to wear a real wedding dress." "I'm letting her try on the gown that was designed for you. It will fulfill her final wish." "After she's gone, I'll have the workshop create a new, even better one for you from the finest wintersilk." His tone was utterly matter-of-fact; he wasn't discussing it with me. He just needed his fiancée to nod obediently and indulge his so-called "ancient code of honor." But he didn't know that for us, there was no 'after.' I didn't even have the energy for a cold laugh. I lowered my eyes and said, "Fine." "Elena, it's just a dress," Vincent called out from behind me. "You've always been understanding and generous. Don't be petty with her at a time like this." Since I wasn't going through with this union anyway, he could give the dress to whomever he pleased. Vincent stood there, staring at my back, his brow tightening. I was too calm. None of the soothing words and explanations he had prepared were needed. The feeling of punching at smoke left the controlling Prince with a flicker of irritation. The next morning, as I descended the spiral staircase, Vincent was already dressed. He adjusted his cufflinks while speaking rapidly, "After the fitting, Camilla's body will need to rest. I plan to accompany her to the Blood Springs in the Undercity on a retreat. It should help her through this last bout of weakness." "As for the remaining arrangements for the Union Ceremony, handle them as you see fit. You have full authority. There's no need to inform me." Again, I gave a faint, "Alright," too weary to offer anything more. This Union Ceremony, the talk of New York's covens, would have no wedding gown, no crown, and no vows. And, of course, no bride. Vincent watched me drink my blood plasma, my expression placid. He hesitated. Perhaps his conscience finally pricked him, or maybe he wanted to assuage some trivial sense of guilt. He added: "After the ceremony, I plan to build a laboratory for you." "You've always said you didn't want to give up your research, haven't you? I'll build you a bigger one." "Also, the trip to Northern Europe, I've already arranged it. I remember you've always wanted to see the aurora borealis." In the past, hearing the Prince who never wanted to leave his territory offer such a gesture would have made me ecstatic. He had always looked down on my research, and I had begged him countless times to travel with me, only to be coldly refused with excuses like "I detest sunlight" and "It's unnecessary." But this time, Vincent still didn't get the reaction he was hoping for. Seeing he was running out of time, he could only say, "We'll talk when I get back." I picked up a pen and viciously crossed out the words "Milan Gown Fitting" on the calendar. Eleven days left. I didn't rest. Instead, I began clearing the room of all my personal belongings. For two hundred years, I had slowly filled the cold castle. From the glass vials in the study where I formulated his Daylight Serum, to the dust-covered gramophone in the corner, to the matching silk robes in the closet that he had never once worn. It seemed I had so many things, yet every single one revolved around Vincent. But he had never used them, let alone cared. If that was the case, then I would burn them. Let it all turn to ash, along with my two centuries of foolish love. Chapter 5 For a week, Vincent didn't return to the castle. But I knew his every move. Just like now, my phone screen lit up, a notification popped up: Camilla's latest post. Nine high-definition photos filled the screen. In the pictures, she was wearing the couture wedding gown I'd had commissioned, standing by the edge of the Blood Springs in the Undercity. One even showed them in an intimate embrace under the faint moonlight. Through those posts, I once again saw a completely different Vincent. It turned out the formidable, bloodthirsty Prince could be as tender as a mortal lover. I laughed coldly and placed my phone face down on the table. With ten days until the ceremony, I kept busy. There were too many of my things in the estate; it took me several days just to pack everything. I also made a trip back to my own clan's territory. "Elena, what's this I hear from the Milan workshop about the order being canceled?" the First Elder of my clan asked, his voice laced with concern. With a calm expression, I handed him the invitation from Europe's Supreme Institute for Vampiric Research. "Elder, I'm going to Europe to lead a top-secret research project," I explained. "The gown won't be necessary. We'll have a simple ceremony." I couldn't afford any complications before my departure, so I had to hide the truth about the breakup. "Has Prince Vincent agreed to this?" the elder asked with a frown. "Yes. He's handling all the arrangements for the ceremony," I lied calmly, giving them no chance to ask more before I turned and left. I knew that if I said more, they would only worry. They had watched the two centuries I'd spent humiliating myself in pursuit of Vincent. And they had long been aware of the Prince's cold, dismissive attitude toward me. They had warned me before, subtly, that I meant too little to Vincent and that I should reconsider. But back then, I was blindly confident, convinced that with enough time, I could warm his heart and win him over completely. Looking back now, I should have listened. Late that night, I returned to the empty castle and called my best friend, Linda. "Bring your most potent erasure potion. Get here now." Ten minutes later, Linda teleported into my room. Seeing the empty closets and drawers, her eyes widened in shock. "Are you insane? You're going to erase your presence from this place entirely?" Linda grabbed my hand in disbelief. "The Unification Ceremony is in ten days! You know how powerful a pureblood's scent-tracking is. You really want to leave him without a single trace of yourself?" Linda was incredulous. She remembered how I had dragged her out for a full night of celebratory blood-wine when Vincent finally agreed to the ceremony. I had gotten completely drunk, repeating endlessly how my two hundred years of devotion were finally paying off. But now, here I was, demanding to destroy it all. "You're actually serious," she said, her eyes wide. "I thought you were just blowing off steam at the bar the other day when you talked about canceling." She paused, her brow furrowed. "I watched you pine after him for two centuries. What on earth happened? How can you bear to let go?" Perhaps because my departure was so close, the long-suppressed need to confide finally broke through. "He's staging a mock wedding with Camilla." "And they formed a Mutual Blood Bond two weeks ago. In secret." CRASH. At my words, the glass vial slipped from Linda's hand and shattered on the floor. "After you poured your heart out for him! He forms a life bond with another woman right before your ceremony, then has the gall to strong-arm you into accepting it? What is that lunatic thinking?" I lowered my head, swallowing the sharp, bitter lump in my throat. "I know. The unbreakable ancient code of honor. I can't fight that." When she heard the words "ancient code of honor," Linda went rigid. Her eyes blazed with fury. "Then what about the permanent sun-scars you got saving his life! How dare he treat you like this!" I bit my lip, unable to say another word. Chapter 6 "I'm going to tear that hypocritical bitch apart!" Linda's eyes were bloodshot as she turned to leave. I grabbed her arm. "There's no point," I said, my voice unnervingly calm. "I no longer want what was never mine. Don't make a scene. Just help me cover my tracks." Linda bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. Without another word, she waved her hand and cast the most powerful spell of erasure. Five days until the ceremony, I officially submitted my resignation to the New York Coven's laboratory. To stay by Vincent's side, I had given up a coveted position at the Supreme Institute in Europe to become his personal serumist. Everyone in the lab was stunned by my announcement. "Why quit so suddenly, Elena?" "You just sent out the Unification Ceremony invitations. Is the Prince so possessive he's forcing you to be his consort full-time?" I clutched a black case filled with my private research data and shook my head with a small smile. "No, the wedding is off." Ignoring the stunned silence of my colleagues, I drove straight back to the castle. I saw Vincent almost immediately. He had been gone for days, but there he was, with a pale, smiling Camilla at his side. They were leaning against the black velvet sofa, whispering to each other. At the sound, Vincent's gaze fell on the black case in my hands, and he sat up abruptly. "What's in the case?" I offered a simple excuse. "Just some old things from the lab. I'm having them destroyed." He seemed to relax, giving a thoughtful nod. But as he scanned the now-empty hall, a hint of confusion crossed his face. "I've only been gone a week. Why does the castle feel so empty?" I handed the case to a servant and met his gaze. "As I said, I'm clearing out the old." Vincent was about to ask more, but Camilla interrupted him, her voice soft and delicate. "Elena, thank you for letting me borrow the wedding gown. To show my gratitude, perhaps we could enjoy that new shipment of the finest pure blood together tonight?" "The Prince has been so kind, staying with me during my recovery. I'm sure he's tired." Her words sounded grateful, but she couldn't hide the triumphant air of a victor. I didn't even bother to look up. I was done playing these hypocritical games with her. In five days, I would vanish from Vincent's world completely. For now, I just wanted to get through these final motions in peace. Seeing my cold, silent demeanor, Camilla's eyes instantly reddened. "Vincent… Is Elena angry with me? I mean, you two are about to be united, and I just..." At the sound of her choked, pained voice, Vincent's expression darkened. He was displeased. "Camilla is thanking you in good faith. Why the cold shoulder? You're not the Princess Consort yet. It's just one meal. It's not like she's going to poison your blood-wine." I hadn't said a word, and still I was the one being blamed. In the end, I nodded. I didn't want any more trouble. At the hall's crystal bar, Vincent instructed the steward, "Open that vintage bottle of specialty blood-wine. Add Camilla's favorite, Ice-Thorn extract, to each glass." He explained to Camilla, reciting from memory, "Ice-Thorn keeps the blood fresh. It's good for your condition." I stood to the side, watching the steward fill three crimson goblets. My gaze turned to ice. Ice-Thorn. I'm severely allergic to it. For two centuries, a single drop of Ice-Thorn extract would cause violent spasms in my blood, an agony beyond words. Every servant in the castle knew my personal goblet was never to contain it. But Vincent, the man who had been my partner for two hundred years, had completely forgotten. Yet he remembered Camilla's preferences perfectly. The steward approached me with a goblet laced with Ice-Thorn, his hands trembling. I pushed the goblet away. "I'm severely allergic to Ice-Thorn," I said coldly. At my words, Vincent's expression froze, a flicker of guilt crossing his face. He waved the goblet away and ordered a servant to bring me a new glass of the pure blood I preferred. But I didn't touch a single goblet. I just sat there, silently drinking ice water. As we were leaving the Undercity, my phone buzzed. It was my mentor from the European Institute. "Elena, I need to confirm one last time. Are you absolutely certain you want to enter the subterranean labs directly?" "This Daylight Serum project involves the highest level of coven secrets. Once the ancient magical seals are in place, you'll be completely cut off from the outside world for eighteen months." My gaze fell on the two figures walking side by side ahead of me. Vincent was holding Camilla by the waist, his large black cloak wrapped securely around her, shielding her from the tainted, low-grade magical energies of the Undercity. "I'm sure," I replied without hesitation. My mentor let out a long sigh of relief. "Good. The board was worried you wouldn't be able to leave your Prince." I pulled my gaze away and turned to leave. "The wedding is off." "I can leave at a moment's notice." The moment the words left my mouth, a cold voice cut in from behind me. "Who's leaving?" Chapter 7 Vincent stepped out of the shadows, having heard the last few words of my phone call. Clearly, he'd missed the rest of the conversation. I turned around calmly, tapping my phone screen dark. "One of my human lab assistants," I lied smoothly, my voice unhurried. "The hours were too demanding for her, so she resigned. She's leaving New York tomorrow." Vincent watched me for a few seconds. He had never concerned himself with his subordinates. Seeing it was just a human, the suspicion in his eyes vanished. "Just an assistant. If she's gone, hire another." He stepped closer, his tone returning to its usual arrogance. "The ceremony is almost here. You should be focusing on more important matters." I lowered my eyes, offering no comment. Four days left. Vincent emerged from his study with a thick stack of photographs. They were photos of Camilla in my couture wedding gown. He had actually had them printed. Then, he took a video call from Camilla right there in the living room. "I've had the ceremony venue decorated with the Lily of the Valley you like," Vincent said to the screen, his voice laced with a tenderness he seemed unaware of. "Get some rest these next few days." I casually picked up a glass of blood-wine, took a sip, and said nothing. Vincent looked at me, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something. I gave the photos a cursory glance and offered a convincing smile. "That ice-silk gown really does suit her." For two hundred years, I had dreamed of this moment. I had imagined myself at our Unification Ceremony, arm in arm with the most powerful Prince in North America, accepting the fealty of thousands of vampires. In the photos, the man in the dark, patterned formal wear, radiating a deadly allure, was the one I had been willing to sacrifice my long life for. The only difference was that the bride by his side was not me. Vincent looked completely stunned. Finally, the alpha Prince was beginning to sense that something was wrong. It had been a long time since I'd reached out to him through our private bond. Even during the week he spent with Camilla in the Blood Springs of the Undercity, I hadn't sent a single accusatory message. I was too calm, and that calmness stirred an unfamiliar panic in him. Camilla was still chattering on the video call. But Vincent's eyes were fixed on me, searching my placid gaze for any flicker of jealousy. He found nothing. Two days left. After a message from an informant, I went to the black market to acquire a batch of extremely rare materials for the Daylight Serum experiment. Just as I stepped out of the market's dark alley, I ran into a familiar pair. Vincent was being held up by a merchant selling rare magical artifacts. Camilla followed me into the alley, blocking my path. The alley was dimly lit. Away from Vincent, her pale face lost its fragile demeanor, replaced by an undisguised, taunting aggression. "Elena," she said, her voice low and dripping with malicious glee. "How does it feel, watching the man you've loved for two centuries give the Mutual Blood Bond, a symbol of a shared life, to someone else?" "Move," I said, my voice as cold as my eyes, tightening my grip on the case. My time was precious. The experimental materials needed to be sealed away as soon as possible. She grabbed my arm, refusing to let go. "Don't waste your energy. So what if you were with him for two centuries?" "He even let me wear the gown meant for you. On the day of the ceremony, I will be the one standing by his side." My face was grim as I flung her hand off me. "I said, get out of my way." But the instant my hand touched hers, a flash of vicious calculation crossed Camilla's eyes. She went limp, using the force of my push to throw herself backward. She crashed into a nearby stall laden with silver artifacts. Sizzle... The sizzle of pure silver searing flesh filled the air. She clutched her burned arm and let out a bloodcurdling scream. I froze. I never imagined she would throw herself onto silver, a vampire's greatest weakness, just to frame me. Instinctively, I took a step forward to check her injury, reaching out to help her up. But in the next instant, Vincent teleported to her side, pulling Camilla protectively into his arms. His crimson eyes locked on to me, blazing with fury. "What did you do!" "Apologize to Camilla. Now!" Chapter 8 At Vincent's immediate, baseless accusation, I didn't back down. I just laughed, a cold, sharp sound. "Apologize to her?" I scoffed. "For that pathetic little performance?" Vincent's brow tightened, his face grim. "I saw you push her into the silver with my own eyes." "Camilla's bloodline is already failing. Why would she deliberately hurt herself?" "Are you truly that blind? A Prince who can't distinguish a lie from the truth." My tone was ice. "If you want the truth, read her surface memories. See if I pushed her, or if she threw herself!" At the words "read her memories," Camilla's supposedly weak body went rigid. A flash of panic crossed her eyes, and in the next instant, they rolled back and she collapsed into Vincent's arms. "Forget it, Vincent. It's normal for Elena to be angry. After all, I did use her wedding gown… Let's just go. My chest… it hurts so much…" I saw right through her act. She was afraid Vincent would actually probe her memories, so she feigned a swoon. As expected, Vincent panicked. He immediately swept Camilla into his arms. That night, he didn't return to the castle. I guessed he was busy using his own pure blood to soothe Camilla's "bloodline spasms." The next morning, I sent all my luggage to the Supreme Institute in Florence via a teleportation array. In the vast princely bedchamber, only a small case of my personal effects remained. Not a single trace of me remained. Late that night, the castle doors opened. Vincent returned, carrying the faint scent of another's blood, his expression etched with anger and exhaustion. He had clearly given up a significant amount of his own pure blood to heal Camilla's silver burns. "Camilla is still in the healing chamber." He approached me. "Even if you didn't mean to, as the future Princess Consort, you could have shown some grace. Must you pick a fight with a dying woman?" I laughed, a bone-chillingly cold sound. I had been more than generous. Generous enough to let her have my title, generous enough to let her wear the ice-silk gown that held all my dreams. Vincent's gaze fell on the parchment calendar on the table. The circled date was tomorrow. His tone softened as he reached for me. "Alright, the Unification Ceremony is tomorrow. I don't want to fight anymore." "After the ritual, apologize to her. For the sake of our clan's dignity, we will let this matter drop." "Then we'll go on our honeymoon. Have you made the arrangements?" I didn't respond. If he had been paying any attention at all, he would have noticed long ago. This castle, the supposed venue for a grand ceremony, was devoid of a single Nether Rose, the flower of union. Did this look like a place preparing for a wedding tomorrow? "Vincent…" I was about to speak when his phone rang. He answered. Camilla's weak plea for help came through the line. "Wait for me. I'm on my way." He cut the call and strode toward the door. "Camilla's blood bond is unstable. I have to check on her in the hidden chamber. Don't be late for the ceremony tomorrow. Be at the clan's Sacred Hall on time." In the instant he crossed the threshold, just as the door began to close, I looked at his retreating back and said softly: "Vincent, we're done." The door slammed shut, drowning out my voice completely. He left in such a hurry that he didn't hear me. But it no longer mattered. I sat in the empty hall until dawn. A message from my mentor arrived. Two hours until departure. I drew a heavy X over tomorrow's date on the calendar, the day of my Unification Ceremony. Then, I spread out a piece of ancient parchment. With the magic of a high-born vampire, I wrote two final words: Pact Annulled. I placed the parchment in the center of the table and walked away from the gilded cage that had imprisoned me for two centuries, without a single backward glance. Meanwhile, Vincent stayed by the healing pool until Camilla's bloodline stabilized. Elena's emotionless eyes from the moment he left kept flashing through his mind. He stood, preparing to rush to the clan's Sacred Hall. On the way, he sent a telepathic message through our private bond. Are the wards at the ceremony site in place? I'm on my way. There was no response. He scrolled through their message history. For the past month, almost all the messages had been trivial notes from her. What time will you be back at the castle tonight? I've mixed a new blood drink. The menu for the ceremony's blood feast. Do you have time to confirm it? I chose Nether Roses for the Sacred Hall's decorations. Is that alright? And his replies were always cold and dismissive: Fine. You decide. Whatever. An unfamiliar panic began to coil in his chest. He remembered telling her about the mock wedding with Camilla. Elena's gaze had been unnervingly calm. And from that day on, she had stopped initiating contact through their bond and no longer waited up for him. He quickened his pace. But surely Elena had arranged everything. She was always so meticulous. When he arrived at the Sacred Hall, he realized he had no idea what the ceremony actually entailed. Elena had never explained the details, and he had never bothered to ask. He strode toward the head steward of the Sacred Hall. "Which dressing chamber is Lady Elena in?" The head steward's face went white, and his entire body began to tremble. "Your Highness…" "Lady Elena had all the ceremonial wards dismantled two weeks ago. She said the wedding was canceled."