The strong grip on her gown bolstered.
Marlowe's eyes widened subtly as she took her time to digest the shock.
To think she was getting comfortable, drinking tea with a Vampire!
She must really be courting death in the Castle. Marlowe thought.
Immediately, her next reaction was to whip her head behind as if realizing something.
She goggled at her maids scrutinizingly.
Perhaps, are they vampires too?
Detecting Marlowe's change, Eleazar instantly got alarmed. "Oh no, dear," she said, reaching for Marlowe's right hand which was on the table. "don't get me wrong. I'll never harm you," she tried to appease.
But Marlowe wasn't ready to have any of it. Though she saw the earnesty in the woman's eyes, she just couldn't bring herself to calm down. Her inborn fear was in control right now, coupled with a certain Vampire's betrayal.
Slipping her hand away from Eleazar's grasp, Marlowe had come to the conclusion that these creatures were not to be trusted.
Not just a conclusion, but a belief.
"I…" her words trailed off, her fingers clutching harder, rumpling her beautiful dress. "I—I'm sorry, My Lady, I f—feel a little unwell. P–please excuse me," amidst the difficulty, and the battle she fought with her unstable breath, she managed to stutter out of panic.
Immediately fleeing from her seat before even getting a response.
All she was thinking was, run!
"Your Majesty," Eleazar instantly stood along, watching her swift strides further away. A nervous look etching her worried face.
She called out, but the girl wasn't giving in as she continued to pace faster in her walk.
Somehow gratefully to her unwanted title, because her actions of disrespect would not be questioned.
Eleazar's shoulders sagged visibly in disappointment. She was all glee and excited a minute ago when they were already on the verge of catching up.
She didn't know that her niece-in-law was so terrified of their kind.
She sighed softly when she realized that it was expected.
Additionally, her presence in the Royal Castle was not by her will.
She should have been extra careful.
Eleazar thought, reproaching herself.
"Let's leave," she morosely ordered her maids as they exited the garden.
Marlowe kept on her pace, until her half running transformed into a complete race.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, please stop!"
The outcries of warning rumbled from behind, but she was having none of those.
Everything scared her at this point.
"Your, Majesty! A Queen doesn't run!"
Not giving in to their words of rules, Marlowe only stopped when she had finally arrived at the door of her room—surprised of how she was able to trace it despite her unfamiliarity. Twisting the knob, she hurriedly rushed in.
Lucky enough for the maids, they were able to catch up before she could bounce the door shut.
Her hands were placed on her chest as she breathed in and out—grateful breaths of relief!
The maids were already a panting mess as one jolted her in fright, "Your Majesty," she breathlessly called.
Marlowe turned, realizing the maids were there with her.
"Please don't ever do that again, Your Majesty." one cautioned, still desperate for oxygen.
The run from the garden to the inner chamber had really taken a toll on them. It was quite a lengthy distance.
Only Marlowe appeared mildly fazed; after all, she was a commoner, and was used to the wildlife of running helter skelter.
Once they were in the state to speak again, one of them questioned, "Are you alright, Your Majesty?" she asked, seeing the anxiety in Marlowe's eyes. Bringing out that innocent look she possessed, even the freckles beneath her eyes added to the charm.
Marlowe bobbed her head in response. Slowly, she walked to her bed, absentmindedly placing her bottom.
Her mind was far gone as she thought. A sudden realization coming to mind.
What was she even thinking? She was staying in the Royal Castle so it's a given that she'll surely bump into a vampire—or worse, Vampires—since the Royal family mainly consists of vampires.
The thought only seemed to spike her fear as she shifted uncomfortably on the soft mattress.
Marlowe abruptly looked at her maids, a thought coming to mind.
"Excuse me," she said, earning their attention as her small voice called out.
"Yes, your Majesty?" one replied.
Quite hesitant at first, Marlowe gulped before proceeding, "What's your name, please?"
Stunned, the maids blinked. It was her first time initiating any kind of talk with them. Which came to their surprise.
Even at that, it was the first, of a member of the royal family to request for a servant's name.
To royalty, their identity was worthless.
"Ahh—I'm Merkin, Your Majesty," regaining her senses, the maid replied.
Marlowe nodded before pursing her lips, as if reserving what she wanted to say.
Spotting this, the maid carefully inquired, "Can I help you, Your Majesty?"
Marlowe looked up at her with guileless eyes. She gave a single nod as a response before bringing herself to speak. "Can you tell me about the Royal family, please? I–I'd like to know," she bade.
Hearing this, the maid smiled. "As her Majesty pleases," she replied with a curt bow.
"I don't know much, but this little I know;" she began. "the Royal family is rather…" she paused, internally juggling for the perfect word she could use to describe it. "secretive. Yes, secretive."
"There are lots of mysteries surrounding them that even we, the workers in the Castle, can not actually tell what it is."
Her expression tightened with what resembled regret.
"I'm sorry if I'm not being helpful, Your Majesty," she bowed in apology for her lack of knowledge.
"Oh, no, it's fine," Marlowe shyly muttered.
"I just wanted to know if…" her timid gaze glid through each and every one of them. "if the Castle mainly consists of…Vampires," she softly relayed.
"We are not Vampires, Your Majesty, if that's what you ask," another maid by the side chimed in.
"Oh," she nodded, a large part of her relieved by this.
"However, the Royal Castle is a mix of Vampires and humans, and other races as well, both servants and family members. But the pure blooded Vampires are the main monarchy."
Marlowe found swallowing a task as she heard what the maid said.
"The fact that you're the King's wife and the Queen, does not change that you are human, Your Majesty. For as long as you have the blood of a human, you'll always be prey here."