Unsure of how much time has passed, I continue to stay under the covers of my bed. However, my shivering wouldn't abate.

With the thick blanket still draping over my shoulders, I walk over to the hearth and stoke the fire. When my hands feel like they have a bit of warmth to them again, I slowly cross the room. Out the window, the sun lets me know it's past midday.

The carriage is still there.

They'll probably stay here overnight.

My shoulders slump in depression. Flinging myself back onto my bed, I curl up into a ball.

Nothing will happen. It'll be okay. Trying to convince myself, I pull the covers closer to my body. But unwanted thoughts continue glimpsing through.

Relations between all of us... It's delicate to say the least. Fairfolk and Kindred waged wars dating centuries past. Apparently, there was never a time that the two hadn't been at odds, with Humans often getting caught up in the bloodshed.

"Humans, Fairfolk, and Kindred... "

Even with my thoughts in disarray, exhaustion somehow clutches at my body and I fall into a deep slumber.

*

It's morning... Throwing the blanket aside, I peer out the doorway.

Left: clear.

Right: clear as well.

Making sure my steps are silent, I make my way through the empty hallway. Slowly opening the library door, I peek through. No one.

Sighing a breath of relief, I walk in and start looking for books on Kindred. Placing some down on a desk, I begin flipping through one.

"Children of The Night. Kindred. Vampires. In the past, many even called them monsters or the spawn of the devil. Countless names can be attributed to this species of immortals who feast on blood."

My heart thumps as I read this. Scanning through, my gaze focuses on a particular page.

"Dreaming & Eternal Slumber"

"While all Kindred are infinitely more durable than Humans, they are still able to become injured and die.

To combat injury, a Kindred may reflexively put themselves in a comatose-like state. This is known as Dreaming, which can last anywhere from a single constellation-cycle to centuries.

Natural death for Kindred Aristocracy is extremely rare, instead, their death usually refers to a state called Eternal Slumber. It is customarily performed when a Kindred grows tired of life, or by the Aristocracy when rulers have judged them through the Old Laws. Placing them into, as its name alludes, a never-ending sleep.

A Kindred in Eternal Slumber will have their body buried in ancient catacombs. This final resting ground is said to be sacred, the first of Kindred having been entombed there. It is thus an important tradition in Vampiric culture."

"Old Laws. Eternal Slumber." I mumble. The words Lady Amaryllis spoke the day before replay in my mind.

"Only rogue mercenaries were mentioned, but the King and Queen came out here themselves... For them to want to pass judgement, the rogue mercenaries can't be just any old vampire, huh? Are the criminals part of the aristocracy?"

“Exactly.”

Breath hitching, I look behind and see Sir Amaryllis glancing over my shoulder at the book. I freeze almost comically.

"Only eight constellation-cycles of age..." He glances at me, looks away and sighs. "If only my younger sons were half as attentive as the Newlyn heiress."

Blanching, I'm sure my face looks pretty rude right now.

Ignoring me, he continues. “Even if the sentence is death, our aristocracy would never allow the punishment of one of our own to be mete out by the hands of a mere mortal or Fae.”

His eyes are sub-zero... But I need to ask this. "Will relations break down if the Kindred step foot in Harthrow?" My voice sounds squeaky even to me right now.

Straightening up, he places his hand on my head.

Whoa!? It's so cold!?

"Do not worry, child. Your parents and us have come to an agreement."

Is he consoling me!? But it's really unnecessary and doesn't suit your image at all!

"I-I s-see. T-That's g-good!" I manage to stutter out.

Hmn? I think... he's trying to smile? But his face just looks really stiff. And to be frank, the flawlessness of his skin makes it look even scarier... It's honestly even worse than my own forced smile.

He finally withdraws his hand and walks out of the library. "Maybe I should drag them to meetings too..." I hear him mutter under his breath.

Seriously, how bad are your sons?

When he's gone from my sight, I let out a sigh of relief.

Tap tap tap. Sounds are coming from the window, so I turn my head towards it.

"!?"

Some lesser Winter Fairies look like they're cursing and spitting obscene words. Even though they have cute porcelain faces and glittering tinsel dresses, their facial expressions are warped. Opening the window, they whirl around me like a snowstorm.

"I knew there was a disgusting stench around here ever since yesterday morning!"

"Child of Sunira, you'll be tainted if you stay with them any longer!"

"Don't associate with those barbaric Children of the Night!"

I can only laugh innocuously and tell them not to worry. Seemingly satisfied with my response, they ask me to converse with them more often. After, they swirl about once more and fly back out into the open sky.

My gaze falls to the ground. An agreement, huh?

The scent of grilled chicken wafts through the air and breaks me out of my reverie.

Ah. I haven't eaten yet today.