The heavy stone doors of Queen Valleria XIV's chamber closed with a deep, resounding thud, sealing the tension in the room like a tightly wound cord. Torches flickered along the grand walls, casting dancing shadows across the faces of the council members seated at the long, imposing table. At the head of the table sat Queen Valleria XIV herself, her silver crown glinting in the low light. Her expression, cold and resolute, reflected the gravity of the situation.
She had only ruled for the past 20 years, but the weight of her ancestors' legacy rested heavily on her shoulders. The alliance with the human kingdoms had stood firm for two millennia—ever since the vampires and humans had united against the common enemy of demons and elves. But today, the council was gathered to discuss a breach in that fragile peace. A breach that, if mishandled, could plunge their world into chaos.
The Queen's icy blue eyes swept over the council members. These were the most powerful and trusted figures in vampire society. Councillor Thorne, the oldest and most respected of the group, sat to her right, his sharp features drawn in concern. Next to him sat Morgana, known for her ruthless cunning and calculating mind. Armand, Lydia, and the other two council members shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
"The Enslavement Ritual has been performed," Queen Valleria announced, her voice steady but laced with tension.
Her words echoed through the chamber like a death sentence. The council members exchanged nervous glances, none daring to speak for a moment. The Enslavement Ritual—a forbidden piece of ancient magic, one that hadn't been performed in over 2,000 years—had the power to shatter everything they had built with the humans.
Thorne was the first to break the silence, his voice grave. "Your Majesty, if the humans discover this... it will be seen as the ultimate betrayal. They will believe that we are returning to our old ways—enslaving them like we did in the darkest periods of our history. The alliance... could fall apart."
Queen Valleria's expression hardened. "I am aware. That is why we are here."
Morgana, her jet-black hair framing her sharp, intelligent eyes, leaned forward. "The humans have always been suspicious of us, even after the alliance. They remember the time when vampires ruled over them, and this... this will ignite those old fears. If the human kingdoms unite against us, we are vastly outnumbered."
Armand, always the practical one, added, "Their magic and technology have grown since the war. In a direct conflict, we would suffer greatly."
Lydia, the youngest of the council, spoke softly, almost as if she feared her words would worsen the situation. "How did this happen? Who could have possibly performed such a ritual after it was banned?"
The Queen's lips tightened. "It was my daughter. Asiha."
The room went still.
Shock rippled across the faces of the council members. Thorne's eyes widened, and Morgana leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping the table nervously. Even Armand, usually composed, sat up straighter, clearly alarmed.
"Your daughter?" Lydia asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Queen Valleria's eyes darkened. "Yes. Asiha was attempting the Blood Ascension Ritual. Something went wrong. A human boy, Yukio, was nearby. His hair fell into the magic circle, triggering the Enslavement Ritual instead."
The council members sat in stunned silence, the weight of the revelation sinking in. The fact that the Queen's own daughter had performed the forbidden magic only deepened the severity of the situation. The ritual was not only an act of oppression, but also a betrayal of the fragile trust between humans and vampires.
Morgana was the first to recover. "This must be kept quiet. If the humans find out that a member of the royal family has enslaved one of their own, it will destroy everything we have built."
"The humans will see it as proof that we've returned to the old ways," Armand added, his voice strained. "To them, it will be the ultimate act of arrogance and cruelty."
Councillor Thorne, always one to see the larger picture, spoke gravely. "Your Majesty, if word of this spreads, the alliance with the human kingdoms will be shattered. This could lead to war—a war we are not prepared to fight."
Valleria's grip tightened on the armrest of her throne. She had known that the Enslavement Ritual would have far-reaching consequences, but hearing it spoken aloud by her trusted council members made it feel all the more real. If the humans saw this as an act of betrayal, the alliance that had kept peace for 2,000 years would crumble. And with the humans vastly outnumbering the vampires, war was not just a possibility—it was a certainty.
"We cannot afford war," Lydia said, her voice shaking slightly. "The humans outnumber us ten to one. Their magic is strong, and their technology has advanced far beyond what it was during the last war."
Morgana's eyes narrowed, her mind already calculating. "We must act swiftly. The Enslavement Ritual cannot be undone, but we can contain the situation. Asiha and this... Yukio must be kept out of sight. We cannot allow word of this to reach the humans."
Thorne, ever the voice of reason, nodded. "We should begin by controlling the narrative. Silence anyone who knows about the ritual. Contain Asiha and Yukio. The fewer people who know, the better."
Armand spoke, his voice hard. "We must consider the possibility that we may need to silence the boy."
Valleria's eyes flicked to him, sharp as daggers. "No. Killing Yukio is not an option. If he disappears, the humans will ask questions."
"But, Your Majesty," Armand pressed, "if the humans find out that one of their own has been enslaved—by a vampire princess, no less—they will see it as a declaration of war."
Valleria remained silent, her mind racing with the implications. Killing Yukio would spark even more suspicion. But keeping him alive, bound to Asiha, was a ticking time bomb. Either way, the situation was dangerous.
Morgana, ever the strategist, leaned forward again. "There is another option."
All eyes turned to her.
Morgana smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "A marriage."
Valleria frowned. "A marriage?"
"Yes," Morgana continued. "If Asiha marries Yukio, we can frame this as a symbol of unity between vampires and humans. The Enslavement Ritual would no longer be seen as a forced subjugation but as a bond between the two races. A marriage would shift the narrative. It would show that the royal family values the alliance."
The room fell silent as the council members considered Morgana's proposal. Lydia's eyes widened in surprise, while Thorne stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"A marriage between a vampire princess and a human..." Armand mused. "It could work. The humans would see it as a gesture of goodwill, perhaps even a strengthening of the alliance."
"But Yukio's still enslaved," Thorne countered. "How do we explain that?"
"We don't," Morgana replied smoothly. "We present it as a union, a merging of two powerful families. The humans won't know about the enslavement ritual if we play it right. All they'll see is the marriage."
The Queen remained silent, her mind turning over the possibilities. A marriage between Asiha and Yukio? It was an audacious idea—one that could either save them or doom them further. But it had merit. The humans had long been fascinated by vampire royalty. A royal marriage could ease the tension, perhaps even inspire awe.
But... would Asiha agree to such a thing?
Just as Queen Valleria considered her options, a strange sense of unease crept over her. Her connection to Asiha, her daughter, was strong—one forged by blood and magic. She could feel it now, a subtle tug at the edge of her consciousness, a feeling that told her something was wrong.
Asiha. She was... anxious. Troubled. As if something—or someone—was speaking her name.
Meanwhile, in the dormitory, Asiha froze, her hand gripping the edge of the desk tightly. She had been trying to read through her notebook, but for the past few minutes, she couldn't shake this... odd feeling. A strange heaviness settled in her chest, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
It was like someone was talking about her. Not just talking—deciding something about her. She frowned, rubbing her temple.
"What's wrong?" Yukio asked from across the room, his voice soft. As he could feel her.
Asiha shook her head, forcing a smile. "Nothing. Just... got a weird feeling all of a sudden."
Yukio looked concerned. "Like what?"
"I don't know," she muttered. "Like someone's... discussing me. And not in a good way."
Yukio chuckled, though there was a slight edge to his voice. "With everything that's happened, that's probably true."
Asiha's smile faded as she gazed out the window. She didn't say it out loud, but deep down, she had a feeling this was something more. Something bigger than just gossip.
Back in the Queen's chamber, the council's discussion continued. The proposal for the marriage hung in the air, and Valleria still hadn't given her final word.
"If we proceed with this," Thorne began cautiously, "we must do so carefully. The humans will not be fooled easily. They will demand to know why a vampire princess is marrying a human—especially one as... ordinary as Yukio."
Morgana's sharp smile returned. "We spin it as destiny. A love story. Two souls, one human, one vampire, bound together by magic. It's practically a fairy tale."
Valleria's eyes narrowed. She did not like relying on manipulation, but she knew Morgana was right. A marriage could turn suspicion into celebration. It could buy them time.
But at what cost?
"The humans must not know the truth," Valleria said, her voice cold and decisive. "This is the path we will take. Asiha and Yukio will be married. And the Enslavement Ritual will remain our secret."
The council members nodded, the decision made. But even as they began to discuss the finer details of the plan, Queen Valleria felt the weight of the risk pressing down on her. This was a gamble—one that could either preserve the fragile peace or lead to the destruction of everything she had worked for.
And somewhere, deep in her heart, she wondered if Asiha could ever forgive her for what would come next.