"No!" Amelia screamed, placing her left hand behind Karl's head and her right hand in his mouth. "Don't" she added. Karl's voice and Amelia's scream had attracted the attention of the team. They were about coming over when Karl signaled them to stop with the raise of his hand.
Karl furrowed his brow at Amelia's action, he was certain that she was being bullied. He raised his hands, a sign of surrender, silently telling her that he wouldn't scream anymore.
"Promise?" She asked. He nodded his head and she let go.
Amelia's plea for new maids hung in the air, her desire for human help replacing the vampire servants of the past. Karl, with a furrowed brow, gazed at her intently, contemplating her request. "Okay," he finally uttered, his voice laced with a mix of resignation and determination.
As Amelia turned to leave, Karl's voice called out, stopping her in her tracks. She pivoted, meeting his gaze once more. Concern etched across his face, he offered her support. "If anyone is bullying you, you know you can talk to me." Amelia's response was curt, a dismissive acknowledgment of his words. "Yeah, yeah, I know."
Just as she was about to depart, Karl's voice pierced the silence again. Amelia turned, her eyes meeting his, awaiting his next words. With a hint of remorse in his voice, he began to apologize, but she swiftly interrupted him, shutting down any further discussion. "Let's just leave it as what it is," she declared, her voice firm and resolute. And with that final statement, she walked away, leaving Karl standing there, his words left unspoken.
Karl, filled with frustration and anger, turned to Asher with a stern expression on his face. He couldn't contain his emotions any longer and demanded, "Call Stacey, now!" The intensity in his voice was palpable, reflecting his deep annoyance.
Without wasting a second, Asher swiftly left determined to fulfill Karl's request. He hurriedly sought out Stacey, knowing the urgency of the situation. Time seemed to fly by as Asher raced back, bringing Stacey with him. The speed of his return demonstrated his efficiency and dedication.
As Stacey arrived, the tension amplified. The air crackled with the charged atmosphere, everyone aware of the gravity of the situation.
As Asher returned with Stacey, Karl gave him a signal, urging him to bring her down to her knees. Stacey's mind raced with thoughts, wondering if Amelia had reported her to Prince Karl.
As Karl asked Stacey about what she had done to Princess Amelia, his expression turned livid. It was clear that he was incredibly angry, and Stacey had never seen him this furious before. The intensity of his anger sent shivers down her spine, filling her with fear.
As Stacey spoke, her voice was filled with a mix of fear and desperation. She carefully crafted her words, only revealing part of the truth and adding a touch of sweetness to make it more palatable. Her trembling voice and shaky demeanor showed just how scared she was for her life.
"I didn't do anything to the Crown Princess, Amelia. I just told her to wash herself like other vampire queens and princesses do. It's a normal thing that they all do. I promise, that's all I did." Stacey's voice trembled with fear as she spoke, her words carefully chosen to convey her innocence.
As Stacey spoke, her voice trembled with fear. She carefully chose her words, only revealing half of the truth and sweetening it with sugar. Her hands quivered as she tried to maintain composure, but her fear was palpable.
His gaze darkened even further, his suspicion grew. He saw through her lies, but instead of confronting her, he chose to play along. With a calculated tone, he asked, "Does Queen Amelia truly resemble other vampire queens or princesses?" His voice, dangerously calm as his eyes locked onto her, demanding an explanation.
Stacey's voice quivered as she stuttered, fear radiating from her trembling form. "I, I, no, no, she, she, she doesn't," she managed to stammer out in response to Karl's piercing question.
Karl, realizing Stacey's stubborn nature, decided not to punish her immediately. Instead, he planned to catch her in the act of harming Amelia. Before Stacey could answer again, he delivered his verdict with a chilling tone, "I'm going to forgive you this time, but I will demote you from the position of being the Crown Princess's personal maid to being her cook. You will prepare her meals while I assign two human maids to attend to her." Stacey's heart sank as Karl dismissed her, allowing her to scurry away.
As Stacey quickly left, Karl turned his attention to Asher. He instructed him, "Prepare two human maids for Amelia." With that, he left.
Amelia, lying on her bed after a satisfying meal, was lost in thoughts about the seer's words regarding her dream when a knock interrupted her reverie. "Come in," she called out, and to her surprise, two maids entered the room. They gracefully bowed in her presence, introducing themselves as Mary and Jesse. Amelia's eyes widened at the sight of their unfamiliar faces, but she quickly deduced that they must be the new maids she had been expecting.
Mary, with her ginger-colored hair flowing just below her neck, and Jesse, with her long black hair cascading above her waist, stood before Amelia. "My name is Mary," one said, while the other chimed in, "And my name is Jesse." Their voices synchronized in perfect harmony. "We are the new human maids you requested for," they informed Amelia.
Amelia was taken aback by their unexpected actions. She had expected them to leave but they were doing something else. She exclaimed, "Wait! What's happening?" The maids turned towards her, their faces serene yet determined, and bowed respectfully. "Prince Karl has instructed us to pack your belongings," they explained. "You are to travel to the Imperial Castle tonight."
The room filled with a sense of urgency as Mary and Jesse swiftly moved around, carefully folding clothes and placing them into suitcases. The sound of zippers being pulled echoed through the room as the maids efficiently prepared for Amelia's journey.
Amelia's mind raced with questions, but before she could voice them, Mary turned to her and said, "The Prince has arranged for your presence at the Imperial Castle. It seems an important event awaits you there." Jesse nodded in agreement, her eyes shining with anticipation.
Amelia's heart raced with anticipation as the maids finished packing her belongings and helped her change into suitable travel attire. They carefully draped a cloak over her shoulders, ensuring she was prepared for the journey ahead. The soft fabric embraced her, providing a sense of warmth and protection.
As Amelia stepped outside the building, her eyes met Prince Karl, who stood there, ready to accompany her. A flicker of surprise crossed her face as he removed his own cloak and gently placed it over her shoulders. "You'll need this more than I do," he explained with a warm smile.
Amelia opened her mouth to protest, but Karl quickly interjected, "We won't be traveling by carriage. I'll be carrying you there." His words hung in the air, a mix of determination and care.
As Prince Karl lifted her off the ground, Amelia's heart raced with exhilaration. With each powerful stride, he ran and leaped, carrying her effortlessly through the night. The wind whistled past them, tousling Amelia's hair as she held on tightly, her eyes closed in a mix of anticipation and trust.
Amelia couldn't help but feel a sense of freedom as they soared through the air. The moonlight cast a soft glow on their path, illuminating the landscape around them. It was as if they were dancing through the night, their movements synchronized in perfect harmony.
In the midst of their airborne journey, Amelia whispered, "We're on the road again." Her words carried a mixture of excitement and nostalgia.