Dinner time arrived, and the maids were busy preparing Adonis for the evening. As they put the final touches on her hair, the guard announced, "His Majesty has arrived."
Yorian entered the room, his eyes filled with admiration as he behind Adonis in her elegant attire. "I'm here to escort you to the dining hall," he said, offering his hand.
Adonis blushed, taking his hand and allowing him to her out of the room. As they walked through the grand halls of the palace, Adonis felt a sense of excitement and anticipation. She was eager to meet the royal family and the other guests.
Everyone was seated at the dining table when they heard the guard announce the arrival of the king, the guard announced, "His Majesty, Yorian Ivanov and Her Highness, Queen Adonis Ivanov are arriving."
Yorian helped Adonis to her chair, his gaze filled with tenderness. As he sat down beside her, Uncle Bolton, observing their interaction, sneered and raised his silver cup full of fresh blood to his lips. His disapproval was evident, his heart filled with resentment towards the young human girl.
The vampire King began introducing Adonis to the royal family members. "This is my uncle, Bolton, Lord of Western Domara," he said, gesturing towards the man who had sneered earlier. "And this is my cousin, Remus Ivanov, Bolton's son."
Adonis smiled politely, bowing her head to both men. Uncle Bolton, however, merely grunted in response, his eyes filled with disdain, Remus, on the other hand, seemed more approachable. He returned Adonis smile, his eyes sparkling with interest.
"And this is my aunt, Sara, from my mother's side," Yorian continued. "And her daughter, Amber."
Sara and Amber approached Adonis, giving her a warm hug. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess." Sara said warmly.
Amber smiled shyly. "Welcome to Domara," she added.
Adonis returned their greetings, feeling a sense of relief as she connected with other members of the royal family.
The servants began serving the meal, and Adonis's eyes were drawn to a large silver jug steaming with contents. A wave of dread washed over her as she realized the liquid inside was blood, fresh and vibrant. The vampires, after all, were creatures of blood.
Adonis began to tremble uncontrollably, her body breaking out in a cold sweat. She didn't know what to do, her mind racing with fear and confusion. The reality of her situation was finally sinking in. She was a captive in a vampire kingdom. Surrounded by creatures of the night.
Sensing her distress, Yorian reached out and gently laid his hand atop hers under the table.
Adonis stilled. She raised her incredulous gaze up to his red eyes, clearly surprised by their contact. He gave her a reassuring smile, and by intuition he could tell she had calmed down significantly.
As the royal members dined and conversed, the Queen Mother raised her voice, commanding attention. "A grand banquet will be held in the kingdom to introduce and welcome Princess Adonis," she announced.
A murmur of uneasiness rippled through the crowd. The banquet would be a grand affair, a celebration of the new princess's arrival. Adonis felt a mix of anticipation and dread. She was eager to meet the people of Domara, but she was also terrified of what the future held.
Uncle Bolton cleared his throat, gaining the attention of the table. "Your Majesty, while you were away, I received troubling news. The family of Lord Mark has been infected by the virus."
A hush fell over the room as the royal members digested the news. The virus is now threatening the kingdom even harder.
Lord Bolton smirked looking at the face of his nephew. He purposely informed the king of the virus at the dinner table so the human girl could find a hint and see why she was brought here in the face place.
But unfortunately for him, Adonis was busy enjoying her food as she had no idea the virus was actually something big. That one thing that took her away from her family to the vampire kingdom.
Meanwhile, Remus, Lord Bolton's son sighed. The young vampire could sense what his father was trying to do. No one know the middle age man better than him.
Aunt Sara spoke up, her voice filled with concern. "I hope the virus is eradicated soon, and a cure is found. Back in Northern Domara, we've stopped socializing and even holding banquets and businesses. The virus has taken a toll on everyone."
The Queen Mother reassured her, "We have taken precautions to protect the palace. But it's important to remain vigilant."
The news of the virus's return cast a shadow over the banquet. The festive atmosphere had been replaced by a sense of unease and fair.
Yorian turned to his uncle, his voice firmly and authoritative. "Lord Bolton, we are working tirelessly to address the resurgence of the virus. Rest assured, we will do everything in our power to protect our kingdom."
His words, delivered with the gravitas of a king, served as a reassurance to the royal family members. While the news was concerning, Yorian's leadership and determination offered a glimmer of hope.
Queen Zavana deeply sighed watching how Bolton had been trying hard to get Adonis's attention. The man and his crafty mind never rest. He is always out for something one away or the other.
And now it's the same thing.
Yorian's words calmed the room. The atmosphere, though still tense, was no longer dominated by fear.
Amber, her spirits lifted, turned to her aunt. "Aunt, when will the tailor come for our measurements?" she asked excitedly.
The Queen Mother smiled, "Soon, dear. We must prepare for the grand banquet."
The mention of the banquet brought a sense of normalcy back to the room. The threat of the virus, while still present, was temporarily overshadowed by the anticipation of the upcoming celebration.
Lady Sara discreetly stepped on her daughter's foot under the table, a silent signal for Amber to contain her excitement. Amber winced, her face contorting in pain. She understood her mother's message; she was supposed to be sad about the upcoming celebration, not anticipating the new dress with such enthusiasm. Amber's heart ached. She had been so hopeful that she could win Yorian's heart, but it seemed her dreams were fading.