Masked Princess ✓

2: Announcement from the King

Chapter Two:

Announcement from the King.

As yet another day pass her, did her worry only intensified. 

    She holds her necklace tightly, as it had been the only thing that had always save her from such a disaster. If it didn't light up hot enough for her to be awoken, she would have woken up from the hands of him. Her necklace might seem like one that resembles others - but it doesn't. It is a magical necklace that glows whenever a wolf was near her. 

    Aeui was thankful that the princes never get a glance at her face. She didn't want them to see her face while she was to reside here. It is not a good thing to have another vampire involved in what the werewolves have planned. 

    Even if she doesn't feel comfortable with the seven princes, she didn't want them dragged and to feel any kind of remorse towards her. More than anyone in the world, Aeui wouldn't like to get tangled to them any further. It was hard enough for her to worry about her family but them? She wouldn't be able to handle the guilt. 

    Everything is nothing but bad news. For two consecutive days, they were able to locate her. She wasn't even sure if the mask is even working now. Did he get someone to spy on her? A tracker on her? There were many theories but the only fact that she could offer was that they were able to locate her. 

    This is not good. 

    Why her? 

    "Still not ready, I see." 

    Glancing to her brother, she could only offer a smile of her own. There will be a masquerade ball held in the kingdom. It was supposed to be a normal ball and from there, she was sure that she will be dismissed. That being said, she zoned every discussion that needed her presence and thought about anything else. What she missed, however, was that a certain Prince named Slyvester decided to make it into a masquerade ball.

    He knew that Aeui wouldn't be present if that had been a normal ball - so with that happening, she was forced to be in the party with no other reason to bail.

    What the prince didn't quite know was that more than anyone else, she hated balls in particular. 

    "Yes, I guess," she answered, puffing out a sigh, "you know how much I despise the whole idea of parties." 

    Crowde nodded, tilting his head to the side, "Or do you just dislike being near too much vampire for you to count? Afraid to get a blister or two from their touch?" 

    She shivered, remembering how cold their touches were. It was known in their realm that humans have such delicate skin but her whole family wondered what makes her different. Their touches were like pickles of ice for her and a second of their touch would be enough to form blisters in her skin. That is the very reason why she prefers hiding her skin and why her brothers, who master the element of fire, had been nothing but a great help for her. 

    "I doubt they will be able to touch me anyways," she shrugged, showing the coating on her arms which were fairly thick. It would be enough to have everyone think that she was a fan of customs, "besides, father insisted that I wear this. I guess there would be a dance or two." 

    Crowde nodded, smiling at her, "Kingsley and I will be more than glad to steal you from potential vampires who wanted to dance with you." 

    "Thank you so much," she replied. 

    Crowde only nodded before noticing how she was shivering from the cold. To the best of his ability, he gathered his head to one hand and offered it to his little sister. Aeui was eager enough to hold on it, letting a sigh of relief to escape from her lips upon feeling the heat to escalate in her body. 

    "Feel better now?" 

    She nodded, bringing his hand to her cheeks and sighed upon feeling it warm up, "Besides, I felt a little weird. Maybe they gathered enough intel to know where I am?" 

    He shook his head, dismissing her idea, "That might be because of me, I have to apologize. Maybe they were trailing me." 

    "Maybe," she replied with a sigh. 

    It had been a long talk as to who is the main reason as to why the wolves are being able to catch her whenever they could and honestly, no one has really a definite answer to the question. All they have was an allegation and the king and ordered to kill a number of people but still, the events continued on happening.

    "Kingsley and I will always be there to protect you, Princess." 

    She offered a smile to his direction, thankful to his power to always calm her, "I know, that is why I love you both."

    "And we love you too." 

.

.

Not that far from where the two siblings continued to soothe each other's feelings,  

    someone lingered on the darkness. A smile slipped in his lips as soon as he got a glimpse of Aeui. Given the circumstances, there was still a slid of a part of him that was pleased with his case. Even with his new mission to his life, it still gave him satisfaction to see the smiles appearing her small face. 

    He was pleased to see his woman being nothing but utterly happy. 

    He was pleased that no one still had the power to hurt her. 

    Heavens, he doesn't want to hurt her. 

    No one knows the physical pain of seeing her cry due to what he is doing, to see her be in despair and in fear due to what he needed to do to her. Heavens knows how much he struggled every time he had tried to kill her. To see her pain face to face while he couldn't do anything but attack her. 

    He was grateful that she's still alive and barely even hurt but that doesn't help the fact that he's been the one who has been trying to kill her - one who had been out to get her. 

    What can he even do?

    That was the main reason as to why he's still alive, a purpose that he hated more than his life. For he was now only born to chase her, do everything in his power to give her nothing but scare. To what seems like years, all he ever did was play with her and the most cruel thing was the fact that he - aside from the other thousand animals like him - he was the one who was born and the one tasked to kill her and torn her to pieces. 

    "f**k," he uttered, shook at the very thought in his brain, "Can I do that?" 

    For years that he had asked that - the animal inside him never answered. 

    Only silence.

    Only the growls.     

    Never were words. 

    He doesn't know if he's capable of doing something so cruel. For years, he had tried but there was a slim point in his personality that never really finished it up. The reports that he had been sending was filled with nothing but the cause of Kingsley and Crowde - but he knows that isn't the case. 

    Somehow, he knows that the wolf was now feeling protective of the princess and was having second thoughts of his mission. 

    A smile slipped in his face, hopeful. 

    "I miss you," he whispers into the wind, hoping she could hear him, "Aeui." 

.

.

The ball had just started. 

    Every royalty was more than welcome to attend, blasting through the doors of the castle with smiles printed in their lips. It was like a whole status announcement whenever was someone was invited with the ball in the castle, and it had been years since this kingdom had held one. 

    Like always, it looked like normal balls. 

    The ones who bear high standards in the realm are trying their very best to get noticed by the noblemen, finding potential husbands in the sea of thousands of people who are everyone in the realm. Some of them were doing everything they could to gain some potential lover while some were casting some gossip or two. A hundred giggles and classical sounds surround the whole ballroom with everyone clattering in the very room. 

    Princess Aeui of the Zitae Kingdom has just finished her dressing up when she walked in the hallway of the kingdom. As if on cue, all eyes were cast on her. One was fairly different from the other one, not once did a single vampire has the same emotion lingering in their eyes. 

    It had been a talk in the whole kingdom that she was now residing her and it raises questions as to why would she do that. Her kingdom was as thriving as this one so it was normal for one vampire to think as to why she was here. 

    Aeui, being unaware that this has been an ongoing talk, only held onto her mask tightly. She was utterly terrified that it might fall. Thought it wouldn't reveal that she wasn't a vampire, but she was protecting something more important than anything else. 

    It still felt weird, being stared at by some vampire. 

    She felt a shiver raise up her spine. 

    "Princess," her lady in waiting whispered to her side, "Would you like to have a visit in the garden before heading into the ballroom?" 

    She could only nod, not showing that she was spooked, "Lead the way"     

    People couldn't help but be captivated of her, in awe of how her movements seemed very sophisticated in every way that she would move. Upon having to reach the garden, a sigh couldn't help but be released from her mouth. It had been nothing but nervewracking whenever she would face a see of vampire and she knew that she if she breathes too hard, the evidence of her blood would soon show themselves. 

    "Maybe father had been treating me like I am fragile." 

    Her lady smiled, "You are fragile, my lady. The King frets too much as you are very important to him. Even Prince Kingsley and Prince Crowde had been nothing but anxious to your wellbeing." 

    "However, it would be bad if I act like this whenever I am needed to." 

    "They understand well why you are feeling these things, my lady. Please do not push yourself too much."     

    Thankful, she offered a smile to Clarisse. Whenever she would need a talk or two, it would always be her lady in waiting who would offer her nothing but consolation and realization. Things like this are why she's thankful that besides her father and brothers, she has someone to talk to with her feelings. 

    A shimmer caught her eyes, looking through one of the flowers in the garden. Her heart thumps upon seeing it upon a whole array of baby's breath. For a second, she double guessed if she wanted to check what was left for her, and wondered if she would let her brothers know about this. 

    "My lady, is it him?" She asked, with a frown settled in her face. 

    Clarisse already knows her princess to know whenever she was faced with something so complex that it involved him. Something in her face would turn into uncertainty before turning into nothing but sorrow - she was completely vulnerable when it comes to him. Aeui didn't know that she would damage all her walls whenever he would be involved. 

    Paying no response, she only walked to where the shimmer was and cautiously picked it up. It was a ring, one that shouldn't have been able to awe her as she was used to jewel and diamonds in her life but this was different. It holds one tiny diamond in the center and with her initials in the side, she already knows who this belonged to. 

    Without being aware of things, he was here. 

    She felt the urge of running, but she knew better than anyone else that her life would be at great risk if she just bolted out like that. Looking through the whole ring, it makes her wonder if he had left any clues to what he had been planning but alas, she found none. 

    Nada. 

    "That is a pretty ring," she jumped, immediately facing her back which let her face one of the Princes, Nikhil. He faced without even bothering to put on a mask, facing her with nothing but a straight face. Glancing to her hand which was kept on her back, the man could only offer a frown of his own, "Something that related to your life?" 

    She didn't know what to say, only her eyes wanted to tell the tale. It didn't dawn onto her that Nikhil along with his three other bothers had looked directly in her eyes. When she did, however, she had already put her spell. With eyes wide and mouth agape, she looked into a different direction while praying that she wasn't too late.

    "Forgive my mannerless brother," one replied, offering his hand to her direction, "I believed I need to offer you one of my apologies for the last time. I am Jovani." 

    She was too late. 

    "I'm sorry, I have to go." 

    While the Princess rushed to get away from them did she had made a mistake. By a cast of an accident, she had met with Jovani's skin. He was more than surprised to feel her skin so warm compared to his. Unlike the other female that he had met and touched for the current ball alone - no one was as warm as her. 

    "You better lay off, Jovani. She's mine," Slyvester muttered before glaring at him. 

    Jovani frowned, looking at the man with nothing but confusion, "I don't see a ring, brother. Besides, don't you have someone who is looking after when you're available to wed? More than anyone else, you are not fit to marry her."

    "She's mine," was all Slyvester muttered. 

    A smirk escaped through Jovani's lips before walking pass him. While everyone consoles Nikhil that there was no need to fight for someone they shouldn't be able to wed, Nikhil only looked at the retreating back of the Princess. 

    Jovani hated the female not a second ago and now, he's spurting nothing but adoration to her? A smirk escaped his lips, couldn't believe the reason that his brother was driven by someone with such power. 

    Seduction, he concludes. 

.

.

Princess Aeui was busy dancing with Crowde. 

    It had been that long since Kingsley had given up on his feet and offered her to his brother. They had been doing anything they could to dismiss any vampire that wanted to touch her. However, for precaution, they had made her wear a glove for her own protection. 

    "Did something happen while you were out of my sight?" Crowde asked, raising a brow to her direction.

    She squeaks, holding onto his shoulders tight, "I think I have charmed four out of the seven princes." 

    "Wow, so you've been busy doing that," he concludes, whistling to her news. 

    She could only offer a frown or two before digging her nails to the man before him if she wasn't wearing gloves, it would have been enough to bear him pain, "I am serious here, I did."

    "No need to fret," he whispered before smiling to her, "They are royalty. Even if they wanted to choose for their wives, they couldn't do it. All they can marry is their beloved or the one destined by the King. That is why no matter how many times they were charmed - they couldn't marry you." 

    "Really?" She asked. 

    He nodded, "Yes, there is no need to fret." 

    "Prince Crowde," she jumped upon hearing the voice and Crowde already know that this man was one of the siblings that she had charmed. Looking to the Prince, he only c****d an eyebrow in his direction, "Can I get the authority to dance with your sister now?" 

    "No, you may not," he muttered. 

    Prince Slyvester frowned, confused to sudden rejection to his offer, "Why is that?" 

    "For I reserved all of her dances for the entire night," one Prince butted in, looking at Sylvester without a lace of emotion. 

    Sylvester could only frown, confused at the sudden announcement as he hasn't seen his brother near the Princess for quite a while now. Just as when he was to dismiss his brother, he was surprised when Crowde looked at the man and offered his hand. 

    "I have been keeping her idle for quite a while now," Crowde muttered, offering a smile. 

    Prince V grinned, chuckling, "I highly doubt that. It was Kingsley who told me that he did everything." 

    "Ah, I should have told him to keep his mouth shut," Crowde replied, chuckling.  

    Aeui only looked at V and almost frown to his frequent appearance whenever she would be in danger. The woman was for sure that she didn't charm him, as the man never looked at her in the eye. It was always on her jaw and her hair. Never had the man paid any attention to his eyes. 

    Was he just this nice? 

    "V, what are you doing?" Slyvester asked, confused. 

    He looked at his brother, confused, "Whatever do you mean, brother?"

    "I'm dancing with her."

    V frowned before looking at Crowde who let his hands off of his sibling, the very action was enough for V to grab a hold of the Princess. That was only when V looked at Slyvester with the glint of challenge in his eyes - it was only rare times whenever V would fight for his siblings and they really didn't want to mess with someone like him. 

    "I don't think so," he sputtered, grabbing hold of her waist before pulling her into his chest, "I really don't f*****g think so, brother." 

    Slyvester fisted his hand, which V noticed. A glimmer of nothing but amusement lingered on the man's eyes, wanting the man to challenge him. He knew that Slyvester would be smart enough not to challenge him. Even if his siblings weren't aware of his real powers, they all know that he was powerful enough to kill them if he wanted to. 

    "Grab a chair, Slyvester. I reserved all of her time to dance. You need to wait for decades just to get a hold of her," he muttered, grabbing the female out of his sight and into the dance floor. 

    To say that Aeui was confused would be an understatement. There had been some occasions where the man would be formal enough for her, may he was only a man of values who wanted nothing more than to protect his brothers - or their guest. 

    Either way, he is a nice man. 

    "Don't think too much, Princess,"  he muttered, surprising her. 

    Aeui couldn't even glance at the man as she could only reach his chin even with her heels. Royal clothes are way too formal and thick for her to be able to move flawlessly and she was cautious that her crown would fall is she ever glance back at him. Despite all of that, more than ever - she was scared that she would charm him. 

    "I'm sorry?" she responds with a voice so little, she was surprised he had heard it. 

    "You just need a space with that guy. We had reserved her for some girl that we know. If she ever grew aware that he fancied you, there could be a war and you would get tangled between that." 

    She was more than surprised to hear those words, slightly thankful that he has now done something like this. More than anyone else, she didn't want to get involved in another war. She's been in enough shits to even add another fuel into the fire. 

    "Thank you, I appreciate it." 

    He raises a brow, surprised to her answer, "Really?" 

    "Yes," she sighed, making it seem like she was really bothered, "I have been wanting nothing else than to be in a different room than him. That just gives me more reason as to why I am needed to get away from him." 

    "What's so special about you?" He asks. 

    Confused, she replied, "Excuse me?"

    "Sylvester is nice, everyone knows that but he doesn't just love people this much as he does to you."

    "What?" she sputtered, surprised to his words.

    To that, V just laughed out loud that they managed to get the attention of almost everyone. Prince V has been one of the most prestige princes in the realm, having to be the one who joined in the war and came back with little to no bruise and almost every warrior thanking him. 

    He was a top price and they were all surprised that someone had managed to get his attention.

    "I got you there," he chuckled back to the woman.

    She frowned, unamused, "Please refrain yourself from telling such lies, your highness." 

    "Call me V," he growled, grabbing into her tight,  "Not your highness. Not Prince V. Just, V."

    She sighed. What's so wrong about her respect? And what's with them with 'call me this, call me that' she's not pleased with any of them — she's not even interested in any of them. She knew better that despite everything else, she should have just read some books. That's all where she needed to put her focus. 

    Knowing as to why she is needed onto whatever they needed. 

    In that way, she could have a normal and peaceful evening. Unlike all these days where she is nothing but focused on nothing but fear and stress. 

    "I can't, y-" she stopped her mouth from the moment that he had stopped dancing and making their face to meet. She stood there, completely surprised by the arrangement to even close her eyes. Then again, it would seem like the man was looking at her nose rather than her eyes. 

    "Well then, Aeui, try." 

    V offered his elbow in which she accepted, having them to walk back into the table where her two brothers were currently sitting. Besides the two were their parents who they were talking to animately. As soon as they grew knowledgeable that she was near, did they stopped and glanced at her direction. The maids were quick to fix everything so she wouldn't have to see any evidence of flesh or blood. 

    "Now, that seems more reasonable," the King mentioned as he looked at them walking.

    Crowde nodded, "She feels more comfortable on him rather than anyone else." 

    "It's a yes for me," the Queen answered. 

    The King nodded, already was amused to how the man was able to handle his daughter, "That then settles it."  

    When they had reached the table, V was quick to throw a bow to the King and Queen before offering a shake and two to the others. It was true that unlike his brothers, V was treated differently. As his parents grew aware of his powers, they have put pressure into the man and instead of exploding - V managed to get his life together and never acted out.

    "Daddy," she called, running into the man before offering him a hug, "I missed you! How are you? You have been drinking well, have you?" 

    He chuckled, never believing that he was lucky enough to call this woman his daughter, "Of course, peaches. Your mother has been spying on me to tell on you." 

    "That's because I begged her too," she expressed, walking to the Queen with such adoration, "I missed you too, Mommy." 

    She smiled and it wasn't long before the King and Queen were asked to walk into the front to form their announcement. Up until now, Aeui was unaware of the current announcement that the King will make but she was about to know. 

    A trumpet vibrated into the ballroom, having everyone to stop their clatters and look towards where the two rulers sit side by side. V was already aware of what was happening, but he couldn't stop himself to look at the female who looked like she wasn't aware of things.

    Just like how he suspected - she was innocent. 

    "Listen to everyone," he called, smiling to everyone before holding onto his wife, "I have an announcement to make. Although, I am sure that it wouldn't be a surprise as it had been quite a talk in the kingdom." 

    Every gushed, already clapping their hands before glancing at Aeui. The Princess sat there, confused about whatever was happening. Glancing to her brother, she could only whisper, "What is happening?" 

    Kingsley smiled, tapping on her hands, "Listen well and be calm, my little sister."

    "What do you mean?" 

    "I, King of Zitae Kingdom, announce that my daughter, Princess Aeui will marry one of the princes in this kingdom."

    Surprised, she looked at both her brother in bewilderment. Her body was frozen in nothing but fear and uncertainty about what they had planned now. She knew that there was always some risk that she needed to take, some were even needed to be done if she didn't want to - however, was this necessary? 

    To let down the flame of everyone talking about her current issue with the kingdom?

    "Please tell me that this is nothing but an elaborate scheme to let the issue die down," she whispered to her brother, eyes close to breaking down. 

    Crowde offered a sad smile, shaking his head, "This is real, my princess." 

    As everyone clapped their hands, the seven princes grew quite aware of what is needed to be done. There were some times where they needed to challenge into having to marry but they were sure that only one candidate suits the Princess.

    "I will marry her," Slyvester muttered as if that would make it official.  

    V grinned, taking a shot of his blood before offering an eye to his brother, "Do you propose to have me laughing to your face?" 

    Even Jovani, who was charmed didn't offer a response upon knowing that V was interested in the Princess. One of the challenges would be one on one combat and one couldn't be a match to their brother's powers. Even if they weren't aware of what his real powers are, his manipulation to the nature is enough to have them back away. 

    "Do you propose a challenge?" Slyvester answered with a glimmer in his eyes. 

    V only shook his head, dismissing the idea as he walked away from him. Even if he didn't fight for Aeui, he knew better that his parents would be the first vampires who would be willing to let him have the Princess. A part of him already knows that Aeui was in big trouble and they needed someone who can protect him. 

    Aeui silently looked at her brothers who were offering her a soft frown to what she had heard. True that unlike what their father had announced, it was clear as to who she was to marry but they understand as to why this was a surprise to her. 

    A human was set to a marry a vampire.

    Not just an ordinary vampire but most possibly the powerful vampire in the realm. 

    She sat there, thinking that her father had lost his brain or maybe someone electrocuted him enough to fry his brain dry to even let this happen before his eyes. It was only a couple of days ago when he was against of marrying her into a normal vampire - let alone someone who holds a large scale of power like V. 

    "I'll die," she muttered, looking at her brothers. 

    Crowde chuckled, shaking his head, "The very reason for this marriage was to keep you safe. You are not going to die." 

    "Marriage?" She asked, finding it hard to keep her tone neutral, "That is preposterous! That was not the plan. I am here to study and nothing else." 

    Kingsley frowned, feeling nothing but apologetic, "I am sorry, Princess." 

    "I know this is shocking," Crowde stated and smiled at her weakly, "But if it's dad's announcement, it will be done. It will for your own good."

    Tears continue to flush in her cheeks and Kingsley did his best to not let her tears flow down from her mask. It was only when she had enough did she storm off of there and walked back to her room. From there, her tears were allowed to fall from her amber eyes. 

    This isn't the way she wanted it. 

    Clarisse closed her door while letting her lady to sit on the bed. Tears continue to fall from her eyes, and she couldn't do anything but watch her princess. It was only when she was ordered to get milk did she bowed, walking out of the room with such speed. 

    She sniffed, removing her golden mask before holding on the ring that he had left. 

    On all things that he could have left, he just chooses this ring.

    When her tears had become so much to bear, that was when she faced her bed and buried herself on her pillows to swallow all that she was feeling inside. Aeui hated the idea of being married to a vampire as she knew that she wasn't supposed to marry one. 

    This wouldn't kill her freedom - but also one of those princes. 

    If they were to marry her, they were bound to keep her safe through everything and she hated to have one of them bear the pain of possibly losing someone important to them. Vampires have a bond to their wives, which is unlike any other. 

    It's like a soulmate - one that they should marry only once. 

    They could be dragged on her problem and that would mean so much danger to the kingdom. 

    Oh heavens, why does it have to be her?

    "And just when I thought about not seeing those tears."

    Surprised, she lifted her head off of the pillow to face the man who just spoke. The very sight of him was enough to cast yet another tear to flow in her already reddened cheeks. Fear starts to corrupt her mind like a disease and she wasn't sure how she should react at this very second. 

    "What are you doing here?!"