Cecilia paced back and forth in the room, restless and uneasy.
Escape. She had to escape!
But how?
She had already seen firsthand the extent of Cassiel's power. It was something she could never hope to match. And the palace—oh, the palace was a fortress, heavily guarded at every turn with vampires watching her every move. As a defenseless woman, trying to get out of here was nearly impossible.
Her gaze landed on the vanity.
On it were various pieces of jewelry: necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings… each one more precious than the last, exquisitely crafted.
But Cecilia's attention was drawn to one particular item.
A dagger.
A dagger adorned with rubies, its blade sharp and gleaming with a cold light.
It was one of the "gifts" Cassiel had given her.
"You can use it to protect yourself," Cassiel had casually said that day, "Though, in Noxserel Palace, no one would dare harm you."
Cecilia picked up the dagger, weighing it in her hand.
It was light, yet holding it made her feel a strange sense of heaviness.
Could this dagger be her hope for escaping?
A thought flashed through her mind: assassinate Cassiel.
If she killed him, she would be free.
That thought took root in her heart, growing wildly like an untamed weed.
She knew it was a crazy idea, a dangerous idea.
Cassiel was the vampire heir, immensely powerful, surrounded by guards at all times. The chances of successfully assassinating him were slim to none.
But she had no other choice.
Rather than waiting for her fate to be sealed, she would rather risk everything.
Cecilia hid the dagger in her sleeve and began to secretly observe Cassiel's routine.
She soon realized that every night, Cassiel would visit her room, and they would "share a meal."
That "meal," however, was simply Cassiel feeding on her blood.
And after drinking her blood, Cassiel would fall into a brief "sleep" state.
It wasn't sleep like humans knew it. It was far deeper, almost impossible to wake him.
This was her chance.
Cecilia decided that the next time Cassiel fell into his "slumber," she would strike.
She knew she would only have one chance.
If she failed, it would be the end.
But she could not think about that now.
For freedom, she was willing to pay any price.
Days passed by.
Outwardly, Cecilia appeared to comply with Cassiel's every demand, but inwardly, she was preparing.
She practiced every day in secret, learning how to wield the dagger, how to strike precisely at the heart.
She also gathered other useful tools in her room—rope, sleeping powder, and more.
She hid them under her bed, a place only she knew about.
Finally, the opportunity came.
That night, as usual, Cassiel entered her room.
He fed on her blood and, just as expected, fell into his deep "sleep."
Cecilia lay in bed, quietly waiting.
She could hear Cassiel's steady breathing, feel the warmth of his body.
Her heartbeat quickened, almost threatening to burst out of her chest.
She knew she could not hesitate any longer.
It was now or never.
Taking a deep breath, she sat up in bed, pulling the dagger from her sleeve.
In the moonlight, the blade gleamed coldly, like the eyes of death.
She took slow, deliberate steps toward Cassiel, each one feeling like she was walking on the sharpest of blades.
Reaching his bedside, she looked down at his peaceful face.
In the moonlight, his face appeared pale, almost ethereal, yet strikingly beautiful.
She noticed his long eyelashes, gently fluttering as though dreaming, like tiny fans.
His lips were tightly pressed together, but his mouth curled slightly at the corners, as if he were having a pleasant dream.
He seemed so harmless, so… vulnerable.
A wave of conflicting emotions surged in Cecilia's heart.
She remembered Cassiel's "gentleness," how he had healed her wounds, the gifts he had given her...
Her hand began to tremble.
She realized, to her shock, that she couldn't do it.
No, she couldn't be weak!
He was a vampire. He was her enemy!
He had imprisoned her, taken away her freedom!
She had to kill him!
Cecilia repeated these thoughts to herself over and over in her mind.
She gripped the dagger tightly, trying to steady her trembling hand.
She pointed the dagger at Cassiel's heart.
One swift strike, and everything would be over.
She would be free.
But her hand felt heavy, as though it were made of lead, frozen and immovable.
Her mind went blank.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly.
Cecilia's hand shook more violently now, and sweat soaked through her clothes.
A wave of dizziness and weakness overtook her.
She knew she couldn't keep going like this.
If she didn't make a decision soon, she would break.
She had to choose.
Either kill him.
Or give up.
Suddenly, Cassiel's eyelashes fluttered.
Cecilia's heart skipped a beat.
She knew he was waking up.
She had no more time.
"What are you doing?"
A low, hoarse voice suddenly echoed through the room.
Cecilia froze.
She slowly turned her head to face Cassiel.
Cassiel was awake.
His eyes were wide open, staring at her with a look of confusion… and perhaps, disappointment?
A cold, suffocating fear and despair gripped Cecilia's heart.
She knew it was over.