The crimsom eyes

The Prince Without a Heart

Several weeks had passed.

Yet the kingdom had never felt so silent.

Dark clouds gathered over the palace, turning the sky a dull shade of gray. The wind moved through the streets with an eerie whistle, carrying a chill that seemed to settle into everyone's bones.

Something was coming.

Everyone knew it.

The Vampire King was coming in three days.

Whispers traveled through the kingdom like wildfire. Servants spoke about it behind closed doors. Guards exchanged uneasy glances whenever the vampires were mentioned.

Most humans had never seen a real vampire.

The stories they had heard came from their grandparents and the few surviving soldiers who had once fought against them.

The humans and vampires had been enemies for generations.

For twenty years, however, there had not been a single major conflict between the two kingdoms.

That was why most of the younger generation had never seen a vampire with their own eyes.

But King Jarious remembered.

He remembered him.

Vincent Valemont.

Jarious had seen him years ago on the battlefield.

He had been barely a teenager then.

Yet while other children would have trembled at the sight of bloodshed, Vincent had simply stood beside his father, watching humans fall around him.

His crimson eyes had been completely empty.

No fear.

No hesitation.

No mercy.

Jarious still remembered the way the boy had watched his father slaughter enemy soldiers without even blinking.

That was what frightened him most.

Vincent had not been raised to fear death.

He had been raised to cause it.

But despite the memories, Jarious wasn't convinced Vincent had come to declare war.

If he had wanted war, he would not have announced his arrival days in advance.

Still, Jarious wasn't foolish enough to lower his guard.

A vampire prince appearing at his doorstep was never something to take lightly.

Especially not Vincent Valemont.

---

The Palace Quarters

The palace was in chaos.

Maids rushed through the corridors carrying silver trays, polished plates, expensive glasses, and mountains of food.

The royal feast had to be perfect.

Among the many servants brought from the duke's estate were Bella and Susan.

The two girls had been assigned to the kitchen, where they spent hours preparing enormous amounts of food.

Bella stood beside a large bowl, vigorously mashing potatoes while Susan worked beside her.

Susan suddenly leaned closer.

"You know what I heard about the Vampire King?"

Bella glanced at her.

"What?"

Susan lowered her voice dramatically.

"They say he's terrifying."

Bella raised an eyebrow.

"That's not exactly news."

"They say he has incredibly pale skin, blood-red eyes, sharp teeth, and veins sticking out everywhere."

Bella grimaced.

"That's disgusting."

Susan burst into laughter.

"Bella, why are you making it sound like you've actually seen him?"

"I haven't."

Bella returned to mashing the potatoes.

"That's what everyone says vampires look like."

Susan placed a hand against her chin, pretending to think deeply.

"But what if they're actually like Greek gods?"

Bella stopped.

Susan continued with dreamy eyes.

"Beautiful. Rich. Powerful. And maybe they have enormous castles filled with chocolate."

Bella stared at her.

Then she rolled her eyes.

"Stop letting those ridiculous romance novels fill your head."

Susan giggled.

"Why? You never know. Maybe one day I'll find true love with a vampire."

Bella couldn't help smiling.

She secretly admired Susan's imagination.

Susan could turn even something terrifying into a fantasy.

Bella wished she could do the same.

Because somehow, she had a feeling that whatever was coming to the palace would be nothing like a romance story.

---

The Arrival

The palace fell silent.

A large black carriage slowly rolled through the palace gates.

Its wheels moved across the stone path with a deep, unsettling sound.

Clack.

Clack.

Clack.

Every guard stood straighter.

King Jarious had doubled the palace security.

Weapons were hidden beneath cloaks.

Guards stood at every entrance.

Nobody knew exactly what to expect.

King Jarious stood at the palace entrance beside Queen Rosa.

His expression was controlled, but his tense jaw betrayed him.

Then—

The carriage stopped.

The door opened.

A tall, pale man stepped down.

His appearance alone was enough to make several servants stare.

Beside him stepped a breathtaking woman who appeared no older than thirty.

She carried herself with an effortless elegance, but there was something cold in her eyes.

A second carriage arrived behind them.

Several vampire guards stepped out.

Then a vampire announced loudly:

"Her Majesty, Queen Seraphina."

He paused.

"And His Lordship, Damon, the King's personal confidant."

Seraphina looked around the palace with obvious disgust.

Humans.

Everywhere.

The only reason she tolerated their existence was because humans provided something vampires needed.

Blood.

If they weren't useful, she would have preferred that humans didn't exist at all.

King Jarious stepped forward.

Although hatred burned beneath his calm expression, he forced himself to remain polite.

He took Seraphina's hand and leaned forward to kiss it.

Seraphina immediately pulled her hand away.

"I'd rather you didn't touch me."

Jarious froze.

His jaw tightened.

Humiliation burned through him.

He hated her arrogance.

More than that, he hated being treated as though he were beneath her.

But he swallowed his anger.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

Seraphina turned toward Queen Rosa.

"Show me to my room. I have no intention of standing here all day."

Rosa bowed slightly.

"Very well, Your Highness."

Damon remained behind for a moment.

His expression was completely indifferent.

He looked at Jarious.

"My king will arrive soon. He had some business to attend to."

Without waiting for a response, Damon walked past him.

A faint smile touched his lips.

Of course Vincent was late.

And of course he had probably chosen to enter the human kingdom without announcing himself.

Typical Vincent.

---

The Feast

By evening, the feast had begun.

Music filled the enormous dining hall.

Candles illuminated the long tables covered with expensive food.

Nobles spoke quietly among themselves while servants moved constantly between the tables.

Bella was assigned to serve wine.

She carried a large silver tray carefully balanced in both hands.

"What are you still doing here?"

The head of the kitchen snapped at her.

"Take that wine to the dining hall before King Jarious has our heads!"

Bella quickly nodded.

"Yes, sir."

She hurried away.

Her thoughts were already racing.

She still hadn't seen any of the vampires.

But the palace had been filled with whispers about them.

Especially the Vampire Queen.

Apparently, she was young.

Beautiful.

And terrifying.

Bella turned the corner without paying attention.

THUD!

She collided with something hard.

The tray tilted.

Wine spilled across a dark, expensive coat.

Bella's blood ran cold.

She slowly looked up.

The man standing before her was tall.

Very tall.

He wore an immaculate black coat that looked extremely expensive. His presence alone seemed to drain the warmth from the hallway.

Bella's fingers trembled.

"Oh..."

She immediately grabbed a handkerchief.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to—"

She reached toward the coat.

A cold voice stopped her.

"And who gave you permission to touch me?"

Bella froze.

The voice wasn't loud.

It didn't need to be.

It was calm.

Controlled.

Cold enough to make her skin prickle.

Slowly, Bella raised her eyes.

And her heart seemed to stop.

Crimson eyes stared directly into hers.

Not red like paint.

Not red like jewels.

They were the deep, unnatural crimson of something that did not belong among humans.

Bella's breath caught.

Her handkerchief slipped from her fingers.

The realization hit her like a blow.

A vampire.

The stranger's gaze remained fixed on her.

He didn't blink.

He simply stared.

It felt as though he could see every thought racing through her mind.

Every fear.

Every secret.

Every weakness.

Bella stumbled backward.

Her knees weakened.

She dropped to the floor.

"I'm... I'm so sorry."

Her voice shook uncontrollably.

"I didn't mean to. I can wash it. Please, I—"

The vampire looked down at her.

There was no anger on his face.

Somehow, that made him even more frightening.

His expression was completely emotionless.

Then his gaze dropped to the ruined coat.

His favorite coat.

When he spoke again, his voice remained terrifyingly calm.

"Never come close to me again, human."

Bella swallowed hard.

His crimson eyes narrowed slightly.

"Unless you want to lose your head."

Bella's entire body went rigid.

The man walked past her without another word.

His footsteps slowly disappeared down the corridor.

Bella remained frozen on the floor.

She couldn't breathe properly.

She couldn't move.

Her mind replayed his words over and over.

Human.

The way he had said it hadn't sounded like a description.

It sounded like an insult.

Like being human made her inferior.

Bella finally looked down at her trembling hands.

Then realization struck her.

The pale skin.

The crimson eyes.

The unnatural coldness surrounding him.

The terrifying presence.

Everything suddenly made sense.

She hadn't merely bumped into a vampire.

She had just poured wine over the coat of one of the most feared vampires in the kingdom.

And she had no idea who he was.

Yet.Chapter Four

The Prince Without a Heart

Several weeks had passed.

Yet the kingdom had never felt so silent.

Dark clouds gathered over the palace, turning the sky a dull shade of gray. The wind moved through the streets with an eerie whistle, carrying a chill that seemed to settle into everyone's bones.

Something was coming.

Everyone knew it.

The Vampire King was coming in three days.

Whispers traveled through the kingdom like wildfire. Servants spoke about it behind closed doors. Guards exchanged uneasy glances whenever the vampires were mentioned.

Most humans had never seen a real vampire.

The stories they had heard came from their grandparents and the few surviving soldiers who had once fought against them.

The humans and vampires had been enemies for generations.

For twenty years, however, there had not been a single major conflict between the two kingdoms.

That was why most of the younger generation had never seen a vampire with their own eyes.

But King Jarious remembered.

He remembered him.

Vincent Valemont.

Jarious had seen him years ago on the battlefield.

He had been barely a teenager then.

Yet while other children would have trembled at the sight of bloodshed, Vincent had simply stood beside his father, watching humans fall around him.

His crimson eyes had been completely empty.

No fear.

No hesitation.

No mercy.

Jarious still remembered the way the boy had watched his father slaughter enemy soldiers without even blinking.

That was what frightened him most.

Vincent had not been raised to fear death.

He had been raised to cause it.

But despite the memories, Jarious wasn't convinced Vincent had come to declare war.

If he had wanted war, he would not have announced his arrival days in advance.

Still, Jarious wasn't foolish enough to lower his guard.

A vampire prince appearing at his doorstep was never something to take lightly.

Especially not Vincent Valemont.

---

The Palace Quarters

The palace was in chaos.

Maids rushed through the corridors carrying silver trays, polished plates, expensive glasses, and mountains of food.

The royal feast had to be perfect.

Among the many servants brought from the duke's estate were Bella and Susan.

The two girls had been assigned to the kitchen, where they spent hours preparing enormous amounts of food.

Bella stood beside a large bowl, vigorously mashing potatoes while Susan worked beside her.

Susan suddenly leaned closer.

"You know what I heard about the Vampire King?"

Bella glanced at her.

"What?"

Susan lowered her voice dramatically.

"They say he's terrifying."

Bella raised an eyebrow.

"That's not exactly news."

"They say he has incredibly pale skin, blood-red eyes, sharp teeth, and veins sticking out everywhere."

Bella grimaced.

"That's disgusting."

Susan burst into laughter.

"Bella, why are you making it sound like you've actually seen him?"

"I haven't."

Bella returned to mashing the potatoes.

"That's what everyone says vampires look like."

Susan placed a hand against her chin, pretending to think deeply.

"But what if they're actually like Greek gods?"

Bella stopped.

Susan continued with dreamy eyes.

"Beautiful. Rich. Powerful. And maybe they have enormous castles filled with chocolate."

Bella stared at her.

Then she rolled her eyes.

"Stop letting those ridiculous romance novels fill your head."

Susan giggled.

"Why? You never know. Maybe one day I'll find true love with a vampire."

Bella couldn't help smiling.

She secretly admired Susan's imagination.

Susan could turn even something terrifying into a fantasy.

Bella wished she could do the same.

Because somehow, she had a feeling that whatever was coming to the palace would be nothing like a romance story.

---

The Arrival

The palace fell silent.

A large black carriage slowly rolled through the palace gates.

Its wheels moved across the stone path with a deep, unsettling sound.

Clack.

Clack.

Clack.

Every guard stood straighter.

King Jarious had doubled the palace security.

Weapons were hidden beneath cloaks.

Guards stood at every entrance.

Nobody knew exactly what to expect.

King Jarious stood at the palace entrance beside Queen Rosa.

His expression was controlled, but his tense jaw betrayed him.

Then—

The carriage stopped.

The door opened.

A tall, pale man stepped down.

His appearance alone was enough to make several servants stare.

Beside him stepped a breathtaking woman who appeared no older than thirty.

She carried herself with an effortless elegance, but there was something cold in her eyes.

A second carriage arrived behind them.

Several vampire guards stepped out.

Then a vampire announced loudly:

"Her Majesty, Queen Seraphina."

He paused.

"And His Lordship, Damon, the King's personal confidant."

Seraphina looked around the palace with obvious disgust.

Humans.

Everywhere.

The only reason she tolerated their existence was because humans provided something vampires needed.

Blood.

If they weren't useful, she would have preferred that humans didn't exist at all.

King Jarious stepped forward.

Although hatred burned beneath his calm expression, he forced himself to remain polite.

He took Seraphina's hand and leaned forward to kiss it.

Seraphina immediately pulled her hand away.

"I'd rather you didn't touch me."

Jarious froze.

His jaw tightened.

Humiliation burned through him.

He hated her arrogance.

More than that, he hated being treated as though he were beneath her.

But he swallowed his anger.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

Seraphina turned toward Queen Rosa.

"Show me to my room. I have no intention of standing here all day."

Rosa bowed slightly.

"Very well, Your Highness."

Damon remained behind for a moment.

His expression was completely indifferent.

He looked at Jarious.

"My king will arrive soon. He had some business to attend to."

Without waiting for a response, Damon walked past him.

A faint smile touched his lips.

Of course Vincent was late.

And of course he had probably chosen to enter the human kingdom without announcing himself.

Typical Vincent.

---

The Feast

By evening, the feast had begun.

Music filled the enormous dining hall.

Candles illuminated the long tables covered with expensive food.

Nobles spoke quietly among themselves while servants moved constantly between the tables.

Bella was assigned to serve wine.

She carried a large silver tray carefully balanced in both hands.

"What are you still doing here?"

The head of the kitchen snapped at her.

"Take that wine to the dining hall before King Jarious has our heads!"

Bella quickly nodded.

"Yes, sir."

She hurried away.

Her thoughts were already racing.

She still hadn't seen any of the vampires.

But the palace had been filled with whispers about them.

Especially the Vampire Queen.

Apparently, she was young.

Beautiful.

And terrifying.

Bella turned the corner without paying attention.

THUD!

She collided with something hard.

The tray tilted.

Wine spilled across a dark, expensive coat.

Bella's blood ran cold.

She slowly looked up.

The man standing before her was tall.

Very tall.

He wore an immaculate black coat that looked extremely expensive. His presence alone seemed to drain the warmth from the hallway.

Bella's fingers trembled.

"Oh..."

She immediately grabbed a handkerchief.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to—"

She reached toward the coat.

A cold voice stopped her.

"And who gave you permission to touch me?"

Bella froze.

The voice wasn't loud.

It didn't need to be.

It was calm.

Controlled.

Cold enough to make her skin prickle.

Slowly, Bella raised her eyes.

And her heart seemed to stop.

Crimson eyes stared directly into hers.

Not red like paint.

Not red like jewels.

They were the deep, unnatural crimson of something that did not belong among humans.

Bella's breath caught.

Her handkerchief slipped from her fingers.

The realization hit her like a blow.

A vampire.

The stranger's gaze remained fixed on her.

He didn't blink.

He simply stared.

It felt as though he could see every thought racing through her mind.

Every fear.

Every secret.

Every weakness.

Bella stumbled backward.

Her knees weakened.

She dropped to the floor.

"I'm... I'm so sorry."

Her voice shook uncontrollably.

"I didn't mean to. I can wash it. Please, I—"

The vampire looked down at her.

There was no anger on his face.

Somehow, that made him even more frightening.

His expression was completely emotionless.

Then his gaze dropped to the ruined coat.

His favorite coat.

When he spoke again, his voice remained terrifyingly calm.

"Never come close to me again, human."

Bella swallowed hard.

His crimson eyes narrowed slightly.

"Unless you want to lose your head."

Bella's entire body went rigid.

The man walked past her without another word.

His footsteps slowly disappeared down the corridor.

Bella remained frozen on the floor.

She couldn't breathe properly.

She couldn't move.

Her mind replayed his words over and over.

Human.

The way he had said it hadn't sounded like a description.

It sounded like an insult.

Like being human made her inferior.

Bella finally looked down at her trembling hands.

Then realization struck her.

The pale skin.

The crimson eyes.

The unnatural coldness surrounding him.

The terrifying presence.

Everything suddenly made sense.

She hadn't merely bumped into a vampire.

She had just poured wine over the coat of one of the most feared vampires in the kingdom.

And she had no idea who he was.

Yet.