"Your mother?" Mo Li narrowed his eyes. Before she arrived in this body, Mo Li didn't actually make any efforts to inquire about her mother. "Was a witch?"

"Yes. I think she is. It would totally make sense. I can't drink blood, but I am not aging just like a human. I think… I think she is somewhere inside the castle. He might have promised her to keep me safe, and that was why he made sure not to give me any attention. He sent me away, away from everyone else. For years… I was living in that castle without any trouble. Just the bullying, which was not as harsh as politics. However, I changed, and I met you, then I married you. That changes things. You are a danger. You and I together would surely attract attention, jealousy, and schemes."

"So, he wanted to kill me?"

"I can't be sure about this. But… you and him have been friends for years, right? Why didn't he targeted you then?" She chewed on her lips. "You know what? I think I am hallucinating again. " A wry smile appeared on her face. She wasn't even sure if the King was really targeting Mo Li. All these things are inside her mind. There was no proof… just some assumptions.

"He can't defeat me." Mo Li uttered, his voice low.

"I know. But still, he could use other methods to weaken you. Perhaps… perhaps… he would use me?"

"That's impossible." He uttered. "You wouldn't kill me." The confidence in his voice made her silent. For some reason, even Lucinia believed that she wouldn't hurt him. No matter what happens. "Or hurt me." He added.

"Then… he must have other plans?"

"Hmmm. That is possible," he sighed before he sat on the chair and pulled her towards his lap. "We are here to enjoy, you shouldn't think about these things."

Lucinia could only frown. Mo Li's words actually made sense, but for some reason, she felt this was the right thing to do. She couldn't understand why she was so afraid of these issues. She just feared that it would ruin her fun in the future.

"How about I give you a tour in the small village just a few minutes away from here?" Mo Li smiled as he kissed her temple. Lucinia beamed in response before she nodded and kissed him on the lips.

…..

"How is she?" the woman who asked looked like she was only a few years older than Lucinia. While she and Lucinia didn't have any physical resemblance, the woman's voice was almost identical to her daughter's. "I heard that you agreed to marry him into someone powerful?" she asked the man wearing a long cape to cover his face.

"I can only see you once a week and yet, every time I am here… you always talk about her." The man sounded amuse before he lifted the hood that covered his face, revealing the young face of the King. "You look beautiful as always."

"That is not what I wanted to hear." The woman said. "I want to know if she is safe. That wife of yours… did she tried to hurt my child?"

"She was no longer a child. That's for sure. She had become strong. Even if the Queen will hurt her… " the King smiled and walked towards the woman sitting elegantly on the chair just in front of a mirror. "Our daughter is strong. The Queen can't hurt her."

'You promised me… you would not use her in this… this useless pursuit of power!" the woman stood and dragged her long white dress away from him. "You promised me!" she hissed, panicked laced her voice. "What do you think will happen if the council or even the Queen would know that she was half-witch? They would… They would chase her and kill her!"

"Mo Li can protect her."

"You— " the woman squinted her eyes. "You think… you think an ancient would protect a witch? When did that happen? Every one of you vampires only wanted to use witches to your benefit! Once he would know that she is… Once he would know what she is capable of… that man would use her as a tool."

"My love…"

"Stop it!" her voice echoed inside the room that was adorned by diamonds and golds. "You promised me! You promised to keep her away from the palace! Keep her away from harm. You failed me… your highness."

The man frowned when he heard his woman's hurtful words. "Your daughter… asked for my blessings for her marriage. Did you want me to decline the marriage and hurt her? Did you want me to make her ask more questions?" That was enough to make the woman silent. "She was so like you… so fierce and wise. Do you think she wouldn't discover the truth soon?" He stopped approaching her. "You are underestimating your daughter too much."

"You— "

"Siwa … your daughter is more powerful than both of us. Do you really want her to spend her time being bullied by everyone? Being laughed at all for what? For the sake of… Peace? You witches�� talk about peace as if it was something that exists in real life!" His tone turned poisonous. "The only reason why I allowed them to hurt her was that you asked me to keep her safe! To stay away from her! You told me… being with me would bring her nothing but schemes and danger! Did you think watching her cry and get disappointed was all fun?"

The woman's face reddened, tears pooled in her eyes. "Then let me out of here." It was more like a whisper— a weak whisper. "I have been here for years… your highness. Let me out of here."

"And what would you do? Convince the witches to make peace with the Vampires? You have tried it a hundred years ago and what happened? They labeled you as a criminal! They painted your pictures in walls, cursed you, and made songs about your evils deeds!"

This time, the woman wasn't able to stop the tears in her eyes. "Your highness…"

"Enough!" he hissed. "I already protected her for eighty years. That is enough. Starting today… I will let her decide her fate."

"What— What do you mean by that?"

"She will help me… make Kuzma, the queen, and Gavril killed each other then she will become the Queen of this Kingdom! She will rule along with Mo Li while you and me… " he sighed as his gaze turned soft. "Will stay here… waiting for the day until you can come out. Do you understand me?"