Adelaide stood up slowly from her mattress. She tried not to think about her dream, but she just couldn't get it out of her mind.
This is the first time she was having a dream ever since she returned to her father's kingdom. It's been five years, yet it felt disturbing.
It was exactly the same way she dreamt about her mother dying, which eventually happened.
"My lady, won't you get ready for the ball? You know this event is very important for every fae," her personal maid's voice made her snap out of her thoughts.
Reminded of what today was, she quickly climbed down from her mattress. She must make sure to look good today in order to choose a groom.
For her dream not to come to pass, it is either she gets married to a commoner or her betrothed.
'I can do this...' she quickly snapped out of the thoughts of how unlucky she was before heading to the bathroom.
This is going to be the fifth annual event for all Fae in the kingdom she was attending. An event where the kings of other kingdoms are invited aside from the king of vampires, who is her father's sworn enemy.
She had never been lucky in any of the previous events as she was either seen as different or saw the future of those men. She was never in their future as their wife!
"Ana, where is the dress I personally selected for the event?"
Adelaide's question made Ana hurry up to her with the dress in her hands. "This is it, my lady," Ana said before stretching it over to her.
She quickly received the dress from her before putting it on. After she was done, she called out for Ana again.
"Ana, please come make my hair and doll me up. I have to look different among the other maidens. At least if my betrothed won't marry me, a commoner would."
Ana laughed at her words. "My lady, you know that can't be possible. King Woodshine won't let that happen. You are his only daughter and the youngest child, or you forgot that?" she reminded calmly. "Oh, I forgot to ask; are you going to dye your hair this time?"
Already tired of dyeing her hair without being looked at by the men she desires, she decided to give up on trying too hard.
"No. I love red," she forced herself to smile, reminded of those days when her mother would say her hair was the most prettiest in the world.
She has red hair which contained both wavy and straight parts. It was a unique part of her that everyone in this kingdom sees as weird. Sometimes, she would have the royal stylist style her hair in curls. All curls.
"I am done, my lady," Ana said before stretching the mirror over to her.
Staring at the mirror, she couldn't help but admire her reflection. Her amber eyes were amazing, just as her round-shaped face and plump lips.
"You are going to get late if you keep staring at the mirror," Ana reminded, making her let go of the mirror.
With Ana by herself, she hurried to the ball. All gazes were on her as she walked into the hall, but she pretended not to see anyone aside from her father.
Meanwhile, King Cedric, who sat across the other end, felt a sharp pain in his chest, and a strange voice echoed the word 'mate' inside his head.
This was his first time feeling his beast after being cursed by a witch—a curse that only the blood of his mate could redeem. Or so he thought.
"Xavier, I think that lady is my mate," Cedric muttered, his gaze on Adelaide, who was already with her father.
"If you mean Princess Adelaide, the illegitimate daughter of King Woodshine is your mate, then you must be joking. Don't you know she is rumored to be the daughter of a witch?" Xavier replied, sarcasm laced in his voice.
Cedric only smiled at Xavier's words. This is what he had been searching for ages; his true mate who would unlock his curse.
"King Woodshine," he called out from where he sat down. "For there to be an alliance between your kingdom and mine, I have to marry your daughter. The red-haired Fae."
The ball suddenly went silent at his demand. For Adelaide, time abruptly stopped as she heard Cedric's words.
It was exactly the same words he told her father in her dream. At this rate, she was afraid her dream would come true.
She would rather live as if she doesn't exist rather than marry the man her mother warned against. Beasts are off-limits!
"But that wasn't our agreement, King Cedric. Besides, my daughter is already betrothed to King Stefan," King Woodshine said calmly.
Giving out his daughter to King Cedric in the name of marriage was the last thing he wanted to do.
According to his kingdom priest, Adelaide is a gift from the goddess. She is Shin-ey's kingdom salvation.
"I have a change of mind," his voice was calm, yet sounded arrogant. "It is either you let me marry her or watch the vampires kill everyone in your kingdom without help."
Before King Woodshine could talk, a warrior rushed in, looking shabby and bleeding.
"My lord, the vampires are heading to the main castle. They already killed our men. I am the only one who survived. The others died."
Hearing the warrior's words, King Woodshine realized he has to act fast. If he chooses to be a loving father, his kingdom would face a great disaster.
At the end, he would lose everything that matters to him.
"Father, I would marry him. Instead of watching other Fae die, I would rather be his bride," Adelaide, who knew what would happen if King Cedric turn his back on them, muttered calmly, forcing herself not to break into tears.
"Adelaide—"
"Before you are my father, you are my king. Our king," Adelaide interrupted her father, finally letting her tears flow down. "Give the order, and I would be King Cedric's bride, my Lord."