"You wanted to see another man naked?" He tilted his head, eyes narrowed. An action that immediately reminded her of a predator stalking his prey.

"That does not concern you."

"I already said— "

"Just because you said it, doesn't mean it's true." She interrupted him. "And why are you even here? I didn't invite you inside! What would those two think now that— now that— " she paused when she noticed that the buttons on the Duke's clothes were open, he was not wearing a coat, and his hair was a mess. It was as if… as if he just got out of the bed. "Why are you here?" she asked.

"Why are you acting like you don't know me?"

The crease on her brows deepened. She wasn't acting! She honestly didn't know this man beyond his name. "Please leave now… before I decide to kill you."

"Your blood field will not work on me the second time around."

"You— " She gulped when her back finally hit the wall. "Stay away or I will scream."

He smirked in response. Seeing the confidence in his eyes, Lucinia didn't hesitate any longer. She released a strong blood field that could easily kill Prince Kuzma. "Oh?" He raised an eyebrow but didn't stop approaching her. "I already told you— Cough— Cough— " the Duke let out a series of cough before he held his chest and stared at her. "You really— " He shook his head, helplessness flashed in his eyes before he spat a mouthful of blood. He used a handkerchief to wipe the blood that trickled down his lips.

Almost instantly, regret flashed in Lucinia's eyes. She removed the field without saying anything. Then she straightened her clothes and turned her back away from him. "Leave me alone. I wouldn't hesitate to kill you the next time I see you."

"I will make you remember… Lucinia de Carinus." She heard him mutter. "I will make you remember." That wasn't just a promise but a warning. It was as if he was warning her of what was about to come. However, Lucinia had no time to think about the Duke. She was more concerned about the pain in her chest.

Seeing him suffer and spit out blood in front of her… awoken something inside her. Something she didn't recognize. Lucinia almost ran towards her room and laid on her bed. Closing her eyes, Lucinia's hands clutched her chest. Seeing the pain in the man's eyes made her want to drop everything, and just pull him in her embrace. It made her want to kiss him and tell him things that she never uttered before.

Was this some kind of witchcraft?

Slowly, Lucinia drifted into a dreamless sleep.

When Lucinia woke up, she immediately had a meeting with Madam Liliana and the old man who was in charge of cleaning the Castle. His name was Theodore and he was a human working in this Castle for more than twenty years now.

"Your highness… Madam Chapman had been here since morning. Are we really— " Theodore didn't finish his words when he saw Madam Liliana glared at him. He immediately lowered his head and regretted asking the princess such a nonsense question.

The Princess was currently having her lunch while asking Madam Liliana about the current happenings around the Castle. This Castle was sitting in the middle of a few acres of land. There were also humans living on the other side of the Castle. These people had been farming and were the ones taking care of the lands around the place.

"Let her wait." Madam Liliana hissed at the old man. "By now, you should already know that these people don't have any good intentions towards the Princess. Let her wait until the sun sets!"

Lucinia chuckled when she heard the older woman's words. Madam Liliana had a knight's bloodline running in her blood. When she started serving the royal family, the king decided to turn her into a vampire and made her take care of Lucinia. She was the closest thing to a mother that Lucinia had.

Suffice to say, Madam Liliana also witnessed all the unfair treatment that Lucinia had gone through since she was born. Because of this, the older woman also developed some hatred towards the members of the Royal Family.

"Why do you think the Queen would send his right-hand man here?" she asked as she savored the steak in her mouth. Lucinia loved steak so much that she would only eat steak for her lunch every day.

"She had knights with her. I believe, the queen wanted to assign another group of knights to guard this place. Now that Zacharia was no longer here, the Queen had no way spying on the Princess."

Lucinia shrugged in response. "I will talk to her once I finish my meal."

Theodore and Madam Liliana bowed before leaving. After a couple of minutes, Lucinia finally finished her food. She went back to her room first and changed her clothes before going to the living room of the Castle.

"Princess Lucinia… I have been waiting here for a long time." The woman was wearing all black attire, the huge sword on his left waist was especially attractive. She was another knight that turned into a vampire. She stood in front of Lucinia and didn't even bother bowing. "Is this how you treat your guests?"

"Excuse me?" Lucinia sat opposite the woman. "What did you say?"

"I was asking you. Is this how you treat your guest?"

"What guests?" she smiled.

"As the- "

"Are you a member of the Royal Family?" she interrupted the woman. Just as expected, her question was enough to shut her up. "I see, so this is how the people of her highness the Queen treats other members of the Royal Family. Madam Liliana, please prepare the carriage. I needed to talk to his highness, the king about this matter."

"Princess Luciana!"

"Did you hear about Prince Kuzma last night?" she asked, ignoring the latter's glare. In a world where the weak were bullied and the strong were respected, Lucinia needed to step up her game and assert her authority. Or she wouldn't be able to save the female lead.

…..

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My personal goal this week is to publish 2 chapters everyday! I hope I can do it!