Masked Princess ✓

0: Prelude

Behind the Mask.

prelude. 

i. epigraph

❝we are in two different worlds,

we were meant to meet

but we can never collide.❞

ii. foreword

Through the outskirts of the world that was foreign to humans, there was a secret passageway to a realm made by the ancestors of the vampires, a world exclusive only to their own kind and no one else. There had been no exceptions, even the humans who are the beloved of vampires was set to step out of the said realm. Those were the dark times were vampires who hold a lot of power was nothing but scared to the world. 

    It was the reason why they had made a realm that is only set to be for vampires, to forfeit the forthcoming war that is to be set by the werewolves. For that to be exclusivity, it has to hold only vampires - and no one else. 

    Due to an intense war from both werewolves and the remaining vampire in the human world, their own realm was discovered by the Alpha King, Arcanus. Determined to keep his only child, the heir, out of the war, Arcanus oath not to disclose the location if his son could stay there until the war was over.

    It's been centuries and the prince was still living in their realm, causing havoc everywhere that he would go. Without even the vampires noticing it, he had been building his own empire of wolves to lead. 

    Through the castles that looked like it was made with nothing but ice, one that sparkled below the sun that never cast any heat from their world. That very sun came from the magic that is so powerful that it took life into one of their powerful ancestors. It was one of the most ancient castles to own, said to hold all the secrets of the realm from where no one could even remember.

    The castle was run by the Vampire King and Queen.

    Along with their seven children. 

    Glamoured with their flashing attire and nonchalant expressions, the princes were instructed to wait for the arrival of a princess that traveled far and long to stay in their kingdom. She came from the Zitae Kingdom, a close friend of their parents. Even with the annoyance of preparing for such long hours just to meet a single princess, the seven princes caught themselves rather intrigued by the princess that they were supposed to meet. 

    "Who is she marrying?" Thaddeus asked softly, looking at his parents.

    His mother sighed, glaring at him, "You know better not to ask, my prince." 

    Due to his carefree nature, he was about to bite back but a sensation so foreign to him hit him almost instantly. His throat was getting hotter by the minute and he was confused about what was happening to him. This hasn't happened for quite a long time and he didn't want to know the reason why it had begun happening again. 

    Prince Thaddeus was hungry... even after consuming a pack of blood. 

    He didn't have time to instruct the maids to grab him blood when the trumpet sound surrounds the palace walls. Standing straight to their heels, everyone was to put on their best faces upon seeing a carriage getting pulled over. Greeting guests was their specialty, as it had been of the jobs needed for a prince. Meeting new people has been normal for them, but they know that it had been rare since their parents let any visitors in. 

    Thaddeus couldn't help the tingling in his body, one that was eating him whole. Through the years that he had live in the realm, this was the first time that he felt alive.

    "Behold, Princess Aeui Eclaijin of Zitae Kingdom."

    When the door burst open, all their eyes were transfixed to a girl walking towards them. She was wearing a blue gown that compliments her skin tone, one that was as pale as paper. Her whole body speaks nothing but a complete version of a vampire. What caught them all off guard was the mask placed in her eyes, it has lace that covers her eyes completely, hiding something that was scratching their curiosity. 

    Ever so slowly, her face took a glance at the royalty and bowed her head. Upon meeting the rulers, a smile became apparent in her lips. The female was graceful, no doubt that she was a Princess. 

    But what piqued their interest was her mask. She was well known through the whole realm as she was never seen without a mask plastered into her face. When rumors go around and say that mask is her thing, Thaddeus couldn't help but think that she was just hiding something. 

    "Your majesty," she greets with a voice soft as a pillow. 

    "Welcome, dear. These are my seven princes," Queen Nervana pointed to his kids, signaling to have all of them bow before the Princess. The princess, however, didn't even glance back at them, "Please get familiar with them."

    Prince Slyvester took that moment to say something, surprising everyone as he wasn't good with words, "I heard about you! The woman who hides behind the mask. I always wonder what it's for."

    It took one little whiff to the surrounding and the thirst was already getting unbearable in Thaddeus's gums. Sooner or later, he wouldn't have complete control of his gums and it would fang out to everyone. 

    "Prince V, will you please escort her to her room?"

    His forehead creased upon hearing his Mother. Surprised that she seemed to be trying something that he had been opposed to since day one. The Princess spare him no glance, slowly walking to her chambers while her entourage follows suit. 

    Prince V could only groan. This will be a heck of a time.  

iii. glimpse

Aeui Eclaijin, the Princess of Zitae Kingdom, is the girl behind the mask. 

    Due to the prophecy, one written before her ancestor was even born, she was either the salvation of their world or the one that will bring it to ashes, one that will result in decades of war. She is what said to be the only one who can bring equality between wolves and vampires in their realm. 

    And she is just a mere mortal.

    Not a vampire.

    Not a wolf.

    but the girl behind the mask.