Mila looked around, she was now in a dark alley, being led to a place she had never been before.

It turned out that, even though Mila had lived in the palace for decades, there were still places she hadn't explored. Knowing about so many secret places in this palace made Mila feel amazed at the existence of such rooms.

​​

Did Liam know these places too?

But, it seemed that now the more important question was; did Liam know that Mila was in a place like this?

The guards who took Mila from her room managed to get into her room through a secret door behind an ancient painting, so Mila didn't have a chance to tell Liam this unexpected visit or be seen by the guards who were on guard outside her room.

What a cunning and clever way for the elders to get what they wanted.

The journey in the dark alley was getting steeper and gloomier, as if Mila was walking toward the center of the earth as the air gradually turned humid.

"Where are you taking me?" Mila asked in a light tone while noticing the stone walls around her which felt slippery and mossy.

No answer.

Mila had expected that they wouldn't be so lenient in answering. But, when the two guards finally stopped at an oval- shaped space that could accommodate dozens of people, and made her stand right in the middle of the room, they spoke into the darkness.

"We have brought princess Mila," one of them said as he turned his head to one side of the room, which Mila assumed was where the elders would appear from.

Mila could have refused to go with them earlier, but her curiosity got the best of her.

"You can leave." A woman's voice echoed through the room before her figure could be seen.

Mila then turned her attention to the direction of the voice and saw the figure of Alena who was walking toward her with a cold face, wearing a dark blue cloak.

She was the younger sister of the previous king and could be said to be the only vampire who has a blood relationship with Liam. If she had been a man, a clash for the throne would have been unavoidable once the former king had died in the war.

Alena walked toward Mila in slow steps which showed how confident she was in facing her.

"I thought our chat was over half an hour ago when you guys finally withdrew to obey the king's orders," Mila said sarcastically. She folded her arms across her chest and raised her chin to face the only female elder.

"Our formal discussion ended half an hour ago, but that doesn't mean we can't have other discussions outside the meeting room, right?" Alena replied to Mila's words, efficiently silencing the girl for a while.

After Alena said this, Mila finally realized that this chat was only for the two of them because she didn't see any other elders besides Alena.

"So, what do you want to discuss with me separately?" Mila asked, since Alena didn't intend to explain anything without being asked. "You know, my journey back here was long and tiring, so if you just want to stand there without saying anything, I don't have time for that. Just like what Liam said, I am tired and need some rest."

Those were Liam's words to urge the elders to end the pointless discussion regarding Mila's status, as Liam was adamant with his initial decision.

"I want you to leave this place," said Alena without further ado. "I oppose your presence in the palace and disapprove of Liam's decision to appoint you as his queen."

Mila tilted her head. "I agree with you on this one, but as you know, Liam has no intention of letting me go and I can't just walk out of this place."

"If you really want to leave this palace, I can help you." Alena provided the best solution. "As you can see, this place has many secret passages. You don't have to use the main door to leave from here."

Mila narrowed her eyes at Alena. "What you say is true," she said slowly. "So you are going to show me the way?"

"Of course it would not be me, but them." Alena nodded her head to her left and immediately five guards appeared from the darkness.

Mila was quite impressed by these five guards, apparently they were not ordinary guards and were people who had been well trained, because even Mila herself could not sense their presence until the moment they appeared.

"They will take you to the border and after that you can go wherever you want, but never set foot in this place again." Alena looked at Mila and smiled, as if she was the kindest person and an angel for the girl in front of her right now.

"Easy as that?" Mila asked suspiciously, her instincts told her that something wasn't right with all of this, but couldn't pinpoint what it was.

"Yes, easy as that," Alena confirmed Mila's words for her.

Mila looked at the five guards who were ordered by Alena to escort her out of the palace, observing them one by one.

It could be said that their bodies were in the same height and size as Liam's, which meant they were much taller than Mila and also much bigger.

"Then what are you waiting for?" Alena asked with her voice as sweet as honey. "You don't want to wait until Liam got suspicious and realized you had disappeared, do you? Because if that's the case, then I can say with certainty that your words are lies. You want the status of a queen."

Mila gave a small snort when she heard Alena's statement. "Oh, please," Mila said in a reproachful tone that she didn't hide at all. "Try a better way to provoke me. Your ways are too old- fashioned."

Alena's way of speaking was the same as if she was forcing Mila to get angry and do the opposite?

But, of course Mila wasn't easily provoked in such a cheap way.

"I was just reminding you," replied Alena casually, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly.

Mila was silent for a moment again, thinking. "Who are they?" she asked. "They were not bodyguards for noble families, nor were they bodyguards for elders and don't tell me they were ordinary members of the guard either. So, who are they?"

Alena laughed softly at Mila's observations. "You are truly a true noble's daughter, you can tell the guards apart even if you haven't been here for a long time."

Mila shrugged. "If you guys still have power, I don't think things will change much even if I am not here for the next two hundred years."

It was a hidden reproach, as it could be said that with the power of the elders, no progress could be expected, everything would stagnate, being in the original position without any significant changes.

Alena snorted, angry flames burning behind her eyes. "Be careful with what you say."

Mila didn't reply to those words and glanced in the direction she had come from, she still remembered the way back to her room.

"Thanks for your offer, but I think I should decline," Mila said in a calmer voice. She then walked back in the direction she came. "I really want to leave this place, but I am sorry I don't trust you and them, so I have to refuse."

Despite her desire to leave the palace, Mila would not go with people she did not trust.

She was lying when she said nothing had changed with the elders. No. Something about them had changed. Mila realized they had more power than Liam. Mila felt they were more dominant and Liam seemed struggling to keep up with them.

And again, Mila remembered Liam saying that during the fifty years she had gone missing, there had been three more wars with humans.

Wars didn't happen that often before.

"If you have nothing more to say, I will take my leave," Mila said quietly, keeping her voice calm. Her focus now was to return to her room and confront Liam about this secret passage.

Who would want to stay in a room that just anyone could enter at any time?

"I don't think you can just leave here after my offer." Alena nodded to the five guards and they moved to block Mila's path, standing proudly in front of her.

"Seriously?!" Mila grumbled.

"It seems I was too careless because I didn't consider that you would refuse my offer after seeing how adamant you were about leaving this place." Alena walked closer. "Leave Mila, while I ask you nicely."

Mila glanced at Alena, then she tossed her white hair arrogantly. "How about you ask me unkindly."

"We don't want to lose any more noble family members, do we? So don't force me to do that." Alena then walked past the five guards, toward the exit from this place. "Make sure she gets out of here."

Mila looked at Alena's departing figure until her back disappeared behind in dark shadow, only then did her focus return to the five guards in front of her who didn't flinch at all.

"I guess I have no other choice, do I?" Mila folded her arms in front of her chest. "So, don't just stand there and start showing me the way out of this damned place."

The five guards didn't say anything, but one of them walked in front of Mila, while the other four walked behind her, making sure Mila wouldn't run away, they were heading in a different direction from where Mila had come.

Meanwhile, Mila looked very alert, she glanced at her ankle and felt the cold metal touch her skin.