"L-Lilith, this is…"
Primrose stares at herself in the mirror, is this really her she is looking at right now?
The gown she is wearing right now cost more than anything she has ever imagined. A long, off-the-shoulder dress with puffed flowers that resemble roses draping along her shoulder. The blush color along with her side braided hair with intricated floral pins adds a touch of innocence to her look.
The difference between her and Lilith is palpable as the younger Vatore's dress brings out her maturity and elegance. Eyeing Lilith's figure in that tight one-shoulder crimson dress, Primrose wishes that she was blessed with such a curvaceous body, her tall figure along with those assets make her look like a queen.
"Can I have some of those for myself…?"
Lilith laughs at her comment, saying that she looks adorable the way she is and that Caleb's head will turn the moment he sees her. The raven head is not so sure about her words but she digresses. With the maids coming in and gathering the clothes, leaving the two alone, Lilith begins to tell her how much she wants to have a younger female sibling so that she can play dress up like this.
"Would it be better if you had a daughter? A little doll that you can pamper every day."
Her words touch Lilith as she smiles, helping Primrose put on the accessories. The silence grows louder in the room, making the raven head wonder if she has said something wrong or insensitive.
"Kian and I are actually thinking about expanding our family."
"Really? That sounds wonderful." her face beams up at the news.
"But, it proves to be quite difficult…"
Kian was the son of Vladislaus Straud, House Vatore's arch-enemy. Kian saved her during the Vampire Civil War, earning the title of a traitor among the Straud family and he was disowned. Despite proving his love and loyalty to house Vatore, many opposed the idea of him joining the family, fearing that Kian was installed as a spy to his father. But Caleb took him in, believing in the goodness of his heart. The decision caused an uproar within the family, but her brother was wise enough to able to navigate through the disagreement.
Even when Vladislaus is dead and House Straud is no more, there are still people who hold prejudice against Kian, some of them including Inna Cents of House Cents. They are so fearful of any possibility of Vladislaus's resurrection that they want to end Kian too, until there is no trace of the Straud's bloodline left in this world, they will not stop coming for his head.
"That's horrible…" Primrose is shocked to hear this.
Because of this and the love she has for him, Lilith asks for Caleb's blessing to be wedded to Kian. The wedding is small and cozy, with only her, the groom, Caleb, Butler Richard, and the servants of the family. The union is the only way to save Kian as it seals his position as a member of House Vatore and in this peaceful era, the strength of her family is absolute.
However, the wedding is still not enough for those bastards who claim to be House Vatore's allies to pry into her and Kian's personal life. Some even dare to suggest that they should not expand their family, in fear of any insurrection coming from Vladislaus Straud loyalists or even the resurrection that proves to be nothing but a nuisance.
"That is unfair! How can they treat you both like that?" Primrose feels her anger rise to hear the story.
"Calm down Primrose. It's an everything thing now…"
The raven head stares at her blankly, how can she speak with such nonchalant expressions like that?
In order to protect both of them, Caleb steps in to speak up about the prejudice and discrimination his sister and her husband have to endure just because of these baseless fears. The alliance is not so kind, especially to those who hold a deep hatred for the Straud family. They spurt out nonsense, claiming that Kian is actually planning an insurrection to restore House Straud to its former glory and asking Caleb to end this before it is too late.
But her brother is a nobleman who can see through the reason behind their nonsense and they are doing this solely for revenge. While Caleb shows to be a man of diplomacy, he will not back down from those who dare to hurt his family, and as head of House Vatore, the young lord has stated in an ultimatum that those who target Lilith and Kian shall suffer a hefty price.
"I see, Caleb really is an amazing person."
"He is, that is why I want to support him with everything I can, just like how he does to me." Lilith smiles, fixing the necklace on Primrose's neck "Will you hear me out?"
"Of course, what is it?"
The younger Vatore sighs, knowing what she is requesting can prove to be a difficult task for the raven head. But as Caleb's sister, she wants nothing more than to see him happy. Ever since Primrose accepts him back into her life, Lilith has noticed the changes in him. How his eyes twinkle when they talk about her, how those fond words keep spilling out of his lips as if he has been with her for a very long time, and the way Caleb adores her, Lilith knows that there is no other woman who can make her brother as happy as when he is with Primrose.
"Please, no matter what happens, don't let go of my brother." holding her hand tightly, Lilith speaks up "For you are the only one who holds the key to his heart."
The raven head is surprised at first but then nods her head, smiling fondly at the request. Just like her family, Lilith and everyone want to look out for Caleb as much as they can, even when he is the head of house Vatore.
"I promise."
"You seem nervous, Caleb." Kian offers a reassuring smile "It will be okay. Lilith is very good at things like this."
"Ah, yes…" the young lord nods "I see…"
His brother-in-law can't help but chuckle at the sight of Caleb Vatore fidgeting as he waits for the arrival of his lovely maiden. Kian knows how important this party is, especially when he is bringing Primrose as his date.
There will be talks, gossip, and conspirators ready to paint an elaborate story about how Lord Caleb Vatore and his human mate will lead Forgotten Hollow to its demise. The elites and traditionalists relish these scandals, they give them opportunities to push the young lord into marrying someone of his kind. And even if Caleb said yes to their conditions, they would not stop until they seized control over his life and used him as a puppet for their personal gain. Kian knows this far too well…
The reason why Inna Cents and her goons are not coming at him and Lilith lately is because of his brother-in-law. While Inna is desperate to push her friend into a union with a female vampire, she is taken aback when he announces that he will bring Primrose with him to the party. The news shocked everyone as no one expected this turn of events, the head of House Vatore is in a relationship with a human girl.
Kian never understands why Inna is doing this, pushing her friend into a marriage that Caleb clearly does not want to get involved. She speaks highly about these maidens but never once slows down and takes a look at his opinions. For someone who claims to be the young lord's friend, Inna understands nothing about him.
How can she when she is the one who insists that Caelb should abandon his feelings for Primrose for the sake of his people?
"Do you think everything will be okay?"
Kian looks at his brother-in-law, despite wearing a nonchalant face, the energy flowing around him is nothing but calm. That is a tricky question to answer, especially when the party attendees are some of the most prominent faces of the vampire hierarchy. Everyone knows Caleb will be there and they all want to push their agenda onto him, mainly through the marriage route. If the vampire lord is a power-hungry leader, he would waste no chance sweeping all of those maidens off their feet, they too are hungry to attach themselves to the dashing lord Vatore.
But Caleb is not like that. He is a man with morals and dignity, someone who is devoted to the one and only, Primrose Emberlynn. To say that this party will turn out to be okay is an overstatement, they all know that there is danger lurking in the dark, waiting for the right moment to strike the poor girl down.
To ensure the power stays within the vampire community, they must eliminate any obstacles that are outside of their own kind. In this case, it is Primrose herself.
"No matter what happens, we will protect her, brother."
"Thank you, Kian. I know that I can always count on you."
The platinum blond nods, humming in response. Caleb has sacrificed enough for the sake of this family, for the people of Forgotten Hollow, and for his and Lilith's future. To promise something like protecting Caleb's maiden is the least he can do to repay all his debt to him.
"You guys sure look like prince charmings tonight."
Lilith walks down the stairs, the black fur shawl elegantly slides on the staircase. Kian smiles fondly at the sight of his wife, she has always been the queen in his heart. Walking up the stairs, he gladly accepts her hand and guides her down each step carefully. Caleb looks at his sister, admiring her beauty before his eyes scanning around, searching for someone.
"Primrose, it's okay! Come on down here."
But Primrose would rather be dead than walk down the stairs with this outfit. While she is grateful that Lilith has spent time dotting her with these beautiful dresses and jewelry, she feels out of place wearing them, and what would Caleb even think about her when he sees this?
"I guess prince charming has to carry his princess down the stairs, right Kian?"
"Of course, my dear. I wonder what tune they would like to dance to?"
"N-no, I will go. I will go…"
Primrose's voice is anything but please. She feels like she is being bullied into this…
Caleb chuckles, amused at his younger sister's antic. Shaking his head, he slowly makes his way upstairs, just to meet Primrose halfway through. The moment his eyes lay on her, time stops and he is utterly captivated. His heart flutters at the sight of her, sweet and innocent, the rosy hue accentuating her delicate features.
She stops her steps, her heart pounding when she sees him. Caleb, ever the handsome lord, is donning a fine black suit with a maroon dress shirt. His black paisley vest adds fun details to his overall look, with a brooch pinning onto the fabric, bearing the crest of House Vatore. However, what draws her in is the majestic fur coat that hangs on his shoulders, making him visually slightly bigger than usual.
Primrose blinks a time before averting her gaze, stumbling to find the right compliment. But Caleb is faster, holding onto her hand and planting a kiss on her knuckles, the epitome of a gentleman. Although not saying anything, the light in his eyes gives away his feelings, Caleb enjoys what he is seeing a lot. Guiding her down the stairs, Primrose can't help but look around, are they missing someone?
"Butler Richard is not coming with us?"
"Oh he…well…" there is a knowing smile on his face "Richard is doing some errands right now…"
The party hall is lavishly decorated with gold and white colors, the same ones that are associated with House Cents's crest. Crystal chandeliers hang from the high ceiling, casting an ethereal glow over the room. Intricated floral arrangements and candelabras adorn the tables, adding a touch of gold and white, and enhancing the luxurious atmosphere.
Primrose walks closely by Caleb, his hand never once leaving as he secures her in his arms, warm and protective. She is nervous, so nervous that she might have stepped on her dress a few times. Today's party is an important event, not only for House Cents but also for Caleb. Just walking through the grand entrance of the manor, she already feels eyes on her, observing and scrutinizing at the same time.
Caleb leans down a bit, telling her to stay calm as they are now entering the ballroom, where all the aristocratic guests socialize and dance to the music. Lilith and Kian are walking next to them, with the younger Vatore keeping a close distance from her, ensuring that she is in safe hands.
The elite of the vampire community has gathered, and they greet Caleb warmly. The men compliment his confident aura while the ladies are charmed by his choice of attire. They are all looking at him as if he is the most delicious prey in the room, and to see this with her very own eyes sends chills down Primrose's spine. None of them are paying attention to her and treat her as if she is not even in the room.
"Lord Vatore, it is my pleasure to meet you today."
Walking towards them is a beautiful maiden with golden blonde locks that match the color of the sun, emerald eyes that are as deep as the forest. Her lilac attire exudes an air of noble and aristocratic, elegant and filled with grace, a stark contrast to Primrose's sweet and innocent look.
"Caleb, you've made it!" Inna Cents walks up to him, smiling as she gives her friend a heartwarming hug "I see that Lilith and her husband are here too."
The way Inna phrases her words catches Primrose's attention, she looks at her, silently observing. This woman refuses to call Kian by his name, and why does she feel like she has seen her somewhere before…?
"Of course, I'm pleased to be here, Inna." Caleb smiles, but that friendliness doesn't reach his eyes "And yes, Lilith and Kian are joining me and Primrose for the evening as well."
A subtle warning that Inna should at least be respectful to Kian and her.
"Isn't that lovely? You know what they say, Caleb. The more the merrier." Inna's smile is too perfect to look at, it unnerves her "And this is the maiden that I mentioned before. She is the heiress of House Bloodhaven, her name is Seraphina Bloodhaven."
The maiden raises her hand, expecting a kiss from the dashing lord. But he just looks at her with a warm smile, one that he only uses when doing business, but she blushes at the sight, thinking that it is meant for her.
Caleb's hand trails from her back up to her shoulders, securing a protective hold that is visible for everyone to see. He looks down at Primrose, eyes shining with fondness and adoration, they make her heart melt. But considering their current situation right now, she wonders if these feelings are genuine or just a way to pass on the maiden's advance.
"The pleasure is mine, milady." his hold on her tightens, preparing her for what is next to come "And this is Primrose Emberlynn, my maiden."
The silence in the air is noticeable as most of the elites are turning their attention to them, specifically to her. Caleb's voice, calm and soothing, carries a wave of authority that captures everyone's attention. For them to ignore her like a plague like that is nothing but an insult to her and House Vatore. Seraphina doesn't say anything, but the venomous glint said it all.
"Y-yes, of course, my lord. We have heard about your human mate and are eager to see her."
"Thank you, lord Voss. Your kind words bring a smile to my face. She might look young and delicate, but she is more than meets the eyes." the silver orbs stare right into Lord Voss's soul as Caleb continues "You will do well bearing that in mind."
After him, more noble vampires come to greet Caleb and take an interest in seeing his maiden. Some are intrigued by her beauty, others are not so welcome. They exchange a few pleasantries words with him, eyes leering at her as if she is nothing more than a plague that pollutes the aristocratic environment. Inna Cents stands by the side, offering a few words with the Bloodhaven heiress. The blond nods, a smirk forms on her lips as she covers it with a fan in her hand.
They are plotting something…
With more vampires surrounding them, Primrose begins to feel overwhelmed. Despite being attached to Caleb's side, she feels like an outsider. So close and yet, so far at the same time. Llith and Kian are at close distance, while they want to help, the elites are also coming to them to socialize. It is as if the nobles in this event are actively trying to isolate the poor girl.
"Oh my, your mate is exuding such innocence, she is adorable."
What they are meant to say is that she is too naïve to navigate this complex world of vampires.
"She must be quite a charmer, my lord."
It means Primrose must have bewitched Caleb for him to be this affectionate to her.
"I'm sure that the future of House Vatore is safe in your hands, Lord Vatore."
A subtle warning that the future she hopes for them is nothing but blood and thorns.
Everyone is here to speak with the head of House Vatore, hoping for any form of recognition. There are still families in this party that are eager to ally with Caleb, knowing how much benefit they can drain out of House Vatore. As a prominent family within the vampire community, they are the beacon of hope, strength, and prosperity, but the downside of this is how people will go out of their way to take advantage of the alliance.
With more people coming up to him, she feels a hand yank her forearm sharply, pulling her out of his hold. Within just a few seconds, Primrose is now outside of the circle, staring blankly at the mass surrounding him, the slight bruise on her skin, and those ember eyes that stare right into her soul.
"Prim-?!"
"Lord Vatore!"
A swarm of maidens block his way as Caleb tries to reach out for his beloved. Everyone is here, wishing to be his company for tonight, even when he has made it clear where his heart belongs by introducing Primrose. Irritation rises inside him when he notices who is the one that separates her from him.
Inna...
"You know, to keep Caleb all to yourself is quite a selfish act." Inna speaks up, her words are like daggers throwing at Primrose "There are people out here who want to converse with him, you don't mind leaving him alone, do you?"
The raven head remains calm, she doesn't speak up, knowing that this woman can use her words against her.
"Shy as always, my dear? No worries, that charming side of yours is what Caleb loves." The brunette continues, venomous glint threatening to end her if she dares to intervene with the young lord "If I know you would be this much of a problem, I would end you the moment I had a chance back in Glimmerbrook."
But Primrose remains resilient, she may be overwhelmed but a little threat can not knock her down to her feet. Primrose has been through enough to know that she will not let go of Caleb this time.
"Know your place, human."
Her hand grips tightly onto the rosy dress, if she can get through her parents, she can sure as hell get through Inna's wicked plan.
"Ah, there you are, my little rosebud."
Primrose flinches, she knows this voice and her face lights up immediately when she meets those tender amethyst eyes.
"Marlin, Lumera!"