Before dawn had fully broken, the slave camps were already filled with movement and noise. The cold morning air clung to the skin of the slaves as they were forced awake, their bodies still aching from the previous day's labour. The sky remained dark, painted in dull shades of blue and grey and the slave masters moved through the dorms with whips in their hands, shouting orders and banging loudly on the doors to force everyone awake.
"Up! Every one of you wretches! Up now!"
The slaves quickly rose to their feet, fear pushing away any trace of sleep as orders were barked across the camp. Unlike other mornings, the instructions they received were different. Instead of being driven immediately into exhausting labor, they were ordered to clean and wash not only themselves but also the entire slave camp once again in preparation for the arrival of the royals.
Surprisingly, the slaves did not complain about the extra work. In fact, many of them carried out their duties with unusual energy and enthusiasm, driven by a hope that today might change their lives forever. As they scrubbed floors, cleaned walls, and cleared away dirt from every corner, quiet whispers began to spread among them despite the presence of the slave masters.
"Gawd, this is the last day I'm staying here," one woman said happily as she scrubbed the ground, her voice filled with excitement despite the early hour.
One of her friends snorted softly, her tone laced with jealousy as she replied, "And how exactly are you so sure you'll be picked?"
The woman simply shrugged with confidence. "I just know," she replied.
Standing among them, Mara, usually the loudest and most cruel among them, was strangely silent. She clutched her cleaning brush so hard her knuckles were white, staring blankly at a puddle of soapy water.
One of the women nudged her lightly with her cleaning brush and frowned, "Mara, what is wrong with you? You have barely said a word since we started working this morning."
Another girl chimed in with faint smirk, "She did not even mock Hazel today. That alone is enough to tell that something is definitely wrong with her."
A few of them laughed quietly, expecting Mara to snap back with her usual sharp tongue, but she did not. Instead, she paused in her work, her hands tightening slightly around the brush she held. She let out a slow, heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly as a hint of sadness appeared in her eyes. When she finally spoke, her voice was lower than usual, lacking its usual confidence and bite.
"I just want to leave here. I'm tired... I'm just so tired of this place," she said, her words heavy with emotion."
The tone of her voice caused the others to exchange subtle glances.
One of the women hesitated before speaking again, her voice softer and more careful this time. "Have they been calling you at night again?"
Mara froze for a brief moment, and that silence alone was enough to answer the question. She quickly forced a small smile onto her lips, though it did not reach her eyes.
"It is nothing," she said, attempting to brush it off. "I am just tired."
No one believed her, but no one pressed further either. They all knew better than to ask questions that could not be answered.. Some experiences were shared only in silence, revealed only when someone chose to speak of them.
The sharp crack of a whip suddenly cut through the air, breaking the moment.
"Stop talking and finish your work!" one of the slave masters shouted as he moved through the camp, lashing the backs of some people with ruthless force.
"Finish your duties and go wash yourselves properly!" another one of them barked.
The slaves immediately hurried to complete their tasks. Once they were done, the slaves hurried to the back of the dormitories. There were no bathrooms, only large wooden troughs filled with freezing well water.
They washed quickly, scrubbing dirt from their skin with their hands and stones as best as they could despite the cold. When they finished their bath, they were met with a sight that nearly made them faint: lavish food. Trays of roasted meats, fresh bread, and fruit were set out.
The slaves stared at the food in disbelief before cautiously beginning to eat. As they were eating, they were now very excited for the coming of the royals.
After eating, they were instructed to gather in the courtyard and wait for the arrival of the royals.
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Hazel's Pov
We were all assembled in the courtyard, standing in rows as we waited for the royals to arrive as that was where the selection would take place. The atmosphere was tense, and the warnings given to us by the slave masters the previous day continued to echo in my mind.
Don't look at the royals in the eyes.Don't move unless asked.Don't speak unless spoken to.
Those rules alone were enough to make me terrified of them before even seeing them. and as I stood there among the others, I could feel my heart beating faster with each passing moment.
After what felt like hours of waiting under the growing sun, I began to hear the distant sound of horses. The steady rhythm of hooves hitting the ground grew louder and louder, and my heart began to race uncontrollably.
Around me, the other slaves grew tense, and some of them began to cry quietly, unable to contain their fear. Mandy stood beside me, silent, her body tense.
I remained still, trying to calm my breathing. I already knew I would not be chosen.
That kind of luck had never been on my side.
After some time, the sound stopped, and I cautiously lifted my eyes just enough to see what was happening. Then, I realized I was no longer breathing.
The carriages that had arrived were unlike anything I had ever seen before. They gleamed under the morning light, their golden surfaces reflecting the sun in a way that made them appear almost unreal. I had seen the masters' carriages before—clunky old boxes that smelled of leather. But these? These were pieces of heaven fallen to the world.
There were five of them, and while they were beautiful, one was far ethereal. It looked like it was carved from a single diamond.
Guards and a woman dressed in silks that cost more than the lives of everyone in this courtyard stepped out of the first lesser carriage surrounded the "heavenly" carriage, and a guard stepped forward to open the door. Moments later, one of the guards stepped forward to open the door.
A woman stepped out. No, not just a woman.
A princess.
She was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. She was breathtakingly beautiful, with pale, flawless skin and sharp, high cheekbones that gave her a striking and commanding appearance. Her black raven hair flowed down her back, and her red eyes held a cold intensity.
Another figure stepped out behind her, a man with deep brown hair and the same red eyes. There was a powerful aura about him that immediately made it clear that he was someone of high status.
The head slave master rushed forward immediately and bowed low to the ground, He bowed so low his forehead literally brushed the dirt, his face then stretched into a wide smile. I had never seen him behave like that before, and it felt strange. The royals did not even acknowledge him. They ignored him completely like he were a pile of horse dung, and despite being ignored, he continued to smile.
Then one of the guards stepped forward and announced loudly, "All hail Her Royal Highness, Princess Lysandra of the Pureblood Line, and Commander Adrian of the Alpha Team."
The courtyard fell into complete silence as the royals began walking toward us. Every step they took carried authority, and the air itself seemed to grow heavier with their presence.
We all lowered our heads further as they began to approach.
I tried to keep my head bowed like everyone else. But of course, because my life is a comedy written by the oracle who hates me for some reason, my body refused to cooperate. Then, like a slow-motion disaster, my eyes drifted up. The princess was looking right directly at me.
"You at the front." I heard a cold voice speak.
My heart skipped a beat. I panicked. I slammed my head down so hard I nearly gave myself a concussion. Maybe she was talking to Mandy or some other person?
"You. Ginger girl at the front!" the cold voice repeated, sharper now. "Raise your head and look at me."
I froze instantly, a nervous thought flashing through my mind.
I am the only ginger girl in this entire camp. I felt all pairs of eyes in the camp drilling into the side of my head. I knew I was going to die one day, but I really didn't think it would be today, and I certainly didn't think it would be because I have "bad neck syndrome." I could see the most famous headline of gossips in the next few days: Ginger haired girl beheaded because she did not bow her head in the presence of the royals.
Trembling and taking a deep breath, I raised my head. I caught a glimpse of her terrifyingly beautiful face and then immediately dropped my gaze to her chin. My heart was already pounding in my chest.
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Killian POV
Things in the west were far worse than expected. The plague had begun to spread quickly, and no one seemed to fully understand its origin or nature. According to those who had witnessed it, the illness began with weakness, followed by the appearance of rashes, and eventually led to death within a week.
The speed at which it spread was alarming.
I rode along the rough and deserted road, my expression calm despite the seriousness of the situation. Beside me, Noah remained silent, clearly aware of the danger that lay ahead.
Adrian's research had already confirmed that pureblood vampires were immune to the disease, which gave me some advantage.. However, my reason for traveling to the west went beyond simply observing the effects of the plague.
I had my suspicions.
I did not believe that this was a natural occurrence. Instead, I suspected that witches using magic might be involved.
That was why I chose to travel in disguise as a common vampire. If I approached openly as a prince, I would never uncover the truth, as humans and witches both harbored deep hatred toward our kind. Also, I haven't appeared in the west publicly so no one knows my identity.
As we continued along the road, the atmosphere gradually began to change. The surroundings grew unnaturally quiet, and a strange feeling settled over me, as though we were being watched. I slowed my horse slightly, my senses sharpening.
Noah was the first to speak.
"Do you feel that?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," I replied.
Before we could react further, figures dressed in black emerged from the shadows, surrounding us in an instant.
It was an ambush.
"Ambush!" Noah yelled, drawing his sword.
I remained calm as I observed them with a smirk on my lips.