Within the confines of the chambers that has been assigned to her, the maids gather round Bianca and rip her clothes off.

“Ah!” She screams, holding the fabric over herself. “What are you doing? I am perfectly capable of undressing myself.”

The maids ignore her as two run into the bathroom, preparing a bath for her. One walks over to the wardrobe and pulls out a long, purple dress while the other drops down on her knees, untying Bianca’s leather boots and slipping them off.

“No, really. You don’t have to do all these. I can do it myself.”

The girl on her knees responds in a soft voice. “We know you can do it yourself but these are the queen’s orders. She wants you to look the very best before the members of the royal court.”

The maids give the girl no time to adjust to the host of attendants.

Bianca is then thrown into discomfort at their unbridled respect as they pull her clothes off her body, grab her by the arms and walk her into the bathroom. Once her foot touches the surface of the water, Bianca shrieks but her groan of pain is ignored by the maids.

They submerge the unsettled girl under the cold water and pull her back up within seconds. She gets dizzy from the sudden movement and coughs, choking on the water. Her senses are then bombarded with rose scented petals as they drop into her bathing water. The next thing she feels are rough sponges scrubbing on her skin and she winces.

“Stay still. Your skin is so dirty. We need to scrub it perfectly clean.”

“But it hurts.” Bianca glares at the maids.

“Beauty is pain.”

Once her bathing session is over, the maids pull her out of the water, draping a bathrobe over her body. They then walk her out into her bedroom and sit her down at a mirror. Only then does Bianca realize how big her chambers are. Moving her head, she averts her eyes to the other side of the room.

“It will be helpful if you stayed still, Miss Rosefield.”

Bianca winces when a maid pulls at her hair. She then frowns at the total of three maids standing behind her with their hands in her black hair— their skins are as white as porcelain, a lot whiter than hers. Her eyes squint again when another pulls her hair, inflicting pain on her scalp.

The maid who previously dropped on her knees to take Bianca’s shoes off makes eye contact with her in the mirror. “You act like you haven’t ever styled your hair.”

“Well, I haven’t ever had hands like knives in my hair before.”

“And she has an attitude.” Another maid scoffs.

“I didn’t expect any less from her. But I supposed she would be a lot nicer and polite for all the work. Taking our ages into account, I should be in that seat. She doesn’t belong here but we’re letting her stay.”

“Did you see her skin when she walked in? She looked like she walked right out of hell— homeless and shabby.” The one handling the dress speaks. “She should be grateful we’re making her look human.”

“You speak like I’m not even here.”

“This is all to humble you. Being the first to kill a Vampire doesn’t mean you should be ungrateful. If you saw yourself in the mirror before we stepped in, you would stop whining about this treatment you’re getting.” The maid brushes Bianca’s hair violently.

Bianca clenches the robe in her fists. “Yes, I’m not nearly as pretty as you. I was born and brought up in the Academy where people train and starve countless hours because they’re constantly getting attacked, so yes. I look horrible. And in my next life, I will pick that over being spoilt scums like you.”

The maids flinch, shocked by the direct insult.

“You—”

“Girls, would you leave us?” The maid who took off Bianca’s shoes finally speaks up.

After shooting her pissed looks, the girls leave the room.

“My apologies on the behalf of the maids.”

“I can’t say you’re any different from them.” Bianca counters.

She really doesn’t intend to be mean and rude, it’s just the amount of pressure she’s feeling at the moment. The Queen is preparing a banquet to celebrate the arrival of a savior, a miracle, a sensation, a phenomenon and Bianca is nothing like the things the Queen describes her as.

“I would make sure to discuss their punishment with the Queen.”

Bianca’s view of the mirror is blocked when the maid walks in front of her to powder her face.

“No, don’t punish them. They aren’t wrong. I don’t belong here.”

“But you’re here now and that means you are meant to be here. I believe everything we go through in life has a meaning. If you’re here, it cannot be a mistake.”

Bianca scoffs. If only she knew.

“So, you belong here, Miss Rosefield.” The maid clears the way for Bianca to see herself in the mirror. “And you belong in this dress.”

Bianca slowly averts her gaze from her beautiful reflection to stare at the dress.

She is immediately put into the dress after she nods her head and she feels instant pain.

“Ah.” Bianca groans when the maid tightens the back of the dress. “Do you have to tie it this way?”

“I’m sorry, but all the ladies in the royal palace have their waists tied at 23 inches.”

“23 inches?” Bianca exclaims before gasping at the tug on her belly.

“All done.” The maid claps her hands before redirecting Bianca to the mirror.

Bianca’s lips parts when she sees herself in the mirror. The golden dress covers her feet, sweeping the floor any time she moves with its sleeves off her shoulders and stopping at her wrists. She has never been in a dress before. She always wore combat shorts and oversized tunics. Her eyes trail down the tight-fitting dress, afraid to touch it with her fingers.

“I cannot breathe in this.”

“If you couldn’t breathe, you would have died minutes ago.” The maid walks up from behind her, holding heels and a veil in her hands.

After making the final touches to enhance Bianca’s height and beauty, the maid places the golden, stylish veil on her head. It falls over her head and completely covers her neck.

“This is ridiculous.” She comments on the veil as she walks out of her chambers with the maid.

“It may be, but no one sees your face before the Queen and her sons do.”

Bianca’s heels pads on the concrete floors of the palace as she walks carefully behind the maid. Her breathing turns erratic the closer she gets to the throne room where the banquet is to be held.

“Are you nervous?” The maid glances back to smile at her, the girl’s brown eyes showing kindness.

“What makes you think that?”

“Your breathing is louder than your heels.”

Bianca chuckles nervously. “Sorry.”

“No need to apologize. It’s perfectly understandable that you’re nervous but I promise you, once you get in there, the nerves will flee.”

Bianca admires the girl dressed in her maid uniform, touched by her words. “What is your name?”

The girl glances back. “Elora.”

A smile forms on her lips, knowing that she may have found a friend in an unfamiliar place. “That’s a beautiful name.”

The girl giggles. “Thank you but it’s not as beautiful as the names I’m about to introduce you to.” She takes a left turn and Bianca follows. “To help you calm down, I’ll prepare you for what’s to come.”

“Okay.” Bianca nods, squinting her eyes behind the see-through veil.

“The Queen, Maryse isn’t the exact definition of nice, especially after the King’s death but since you’ve arrived, her smile has brightened.”

Bianca’s heart saddens.

“So, don’t worry. You’re going to get the best treatment from the Queen. And the crown prince, Luca is just the nicest and the most well-mannered man to ever exist in the Other-world. He’s easy to speak to and his smile can drown your worrying thoughts. So, when you’re feeling anxious, you can just walk up to him.”

Bianca’s ears move when the sound of chattering echoes from a room down the stairs. It takes her a minute to realize that it’s the throne room.

The maid’s footsteps slow down. “However, it’s disheartening that I can’t say the same thing about the Queen’s second son.”

They both stop at the entrance of the throne room. The maid, Elora then reaches her hands to the veil and starts adjusting it.

“The Queen’s second son?”

“Prince Alec. He’s nothing like his older brother. They do look alike but that’s just it. The manners were all absorbed by the Crown prince, leaving none for the younger one. So, for your sake, stay away from him, don’t even make eye contact with him, don’t say a word to him.”

Bianca frowns when the maid starts pushing her into the throne room. “Is he that bad?”

“Yes, he is, Miss Rosefield.”

Suddenly, the chattering noise that once filled the air is gone and silence consumes the atmosphere. Bianca snaps her head from Elora to realize that everyone’s eyes are now on her.

Approximately thirty pairs of eyes are on her.

Just a few hours ago, back at the Academy, no one took a second look at her because everyone deemed her as weak, unskillful and unimportant. She is still that way but she has lied to make herself important.

The Queen rises elegantly from her throne; her all-mighty aura sends a different vibe into the air.

Bianca gets a clear view of the throne which is set up with elaborate pump, raised with steps and under a purple canopy.

Taking in a deep breath, the woman with long blonde hair starts to address the royal court. “We, trapped in the Other-world, have suffered greatly for 220 years. We have existed in fear within the confines of a brick wall. We have existed in desolation, in misery, in torture, pain and agony. Every one of us gathered here tonight has all lost a loved one to the Vampires. I have lost my husband. We have lost our King. And our hopes to a better life have vanished.”

“So, it brings great pleasure to introduce with honor, the key to a better Other-world.” The Queen gestures her hands to Bianca. “The chosen one who would deliver us from the afflicting hands of the Vampires.”

Bianca gulps. Chosen one?

“Bianca from the family of Rosefield!”

The whole place erupts in cheers and Bianca walks further into the throne room.

Once she stops in front of the Queen, she is instructed to take off her veil and she does. Majority of the people gathered in the room, murmur and express their delight at her beauty.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?” The Queen walks down the steps of her throne, reaching to pull Bianca into a welcoming hug. “But half of her beauty is her skills and intelligence.”

Bianca’s nerves disappear when she receives a hug from the Queen.

“Come, let me introduce you to my sons.”

The Queen turns Bianca around to face the throne where two males are stood.

Bianca’s cheeks reddens when her eyes fall on the young man with a golden crown on his head. His dark-blonde hair resembles his mother’s; however, his dark-green eyes contrast his mother’s bright, blue eyes. The smile plastered on his face enhances his handsome features and Bianca soon finds herself swooning over him when he reaches his hand out.

She slowly places her right hand in his and he reaches it to his mouth and places a small, lingering kiss on her knuckles.

“I’m crown prince, Luca.”

She giggles. “I know.” When his forehead creases, she quickly puts herself together. “I mean, uh, I’m Bianca.”

The Queen chuckles to ease the tension before pointing to the second son stood behind Luca. “I also want to introduce you to Alec.”

Bianca reluctantly diverts her gaze from the handsome, crown prince. When her eyes land on the younger son, she gasps with her hands moving up to her lips.

“You!” She exclaims as she peers into the glaring eyes of the male.

There he is.

The same boy from the market.

The spoilt, overpampered child who thinks he owns everything in the world.

The Queen’s eyes widen at Bianca’s expression and she asks. “You two know each other?”

The boy straightens to his full height, towering slightly over his brother. Bianca swallows, jumping to the conclusion that he’s stronger and more dangerous than his older brother.

“Yes, mother. I know this disrespectful, dunderhead you call a savior.”

“Alec!” The Queen immediately shuns him. “You will respect her.”

Prince Alec keeps his gaze locked on Bianca without saying anything. His eyes roam around every part of her face, grimacing when he notices how different she appears now compared to earlier at the market. His eyes fall onto her dress and he smirks.

Bianca suddenly feels cautious under his gaze and she takes a step back. The maid has told her not to make eye-contact with him and she will obey the words of Elora.

“Bianca, you may be wondering why exactly I have invited you to the Forte lands.” The Queen addresses her. “You see, my son, Luca will be crowned King in three days. And mainly because of my husband’s tragic death,” Sadness swirls in her eyes. “I want you to stand my son’s side and protect him.”

Bianca’s eyebrows shoot up immediately while Prince Alec just scoffs at the conversation and walks away with a glass of wine in his hands.

Luca and the Queen ignore his rudeness.

“With you by my son’s side, you two will liberate the citizens of the Other-world and finally, once again, we shall be united with the real world.” The hope in her voice is clearly heard. “You can kill Vampires, Bianca and once all supernatural creature is dead, the brick wall will fall and we shall walk into the real world.”

This is very bad.

Bianca lowers her head, unable to stare the queen in the eyes.

The Crown prince is the most important person in the Other-world right after the Queen and he needs to be protected by professionals at all cost.

With the decision the Queen has made, she has put the life of her son at risk.

Bianca is the worst fighter at the Academy—ranked 283 out of 300 students. She has no fighting skills and she has never killed a Vampire. The only thing she seems to be good at is lying. How is she supposed to protect the crown prince?

The queen gives her one last smile before she walks off to the rest of the royal court.

She tries to bow to him but her dress doesn’t let her and the man picks up on the slight expression of pain on her face.

“We could loosen the dress if you want.”

Her cheeks burn in embarrassment. “No, I’m fine, your highness.”

“Since we’re both going to be around each other often, you can drop the titles.” He smiles down at her.

She breathes in shakily. “I’m not sure it’s ethical of me to do that, your highness. Your mother mi—”

“Okay, then when we’re alone call me Luca and when we’re with my mother you can then address me that way. I think that’s a good resolution?”

Bianca’s heart warms at the soothing voice of the prince. Elora’s right. He is nice and well-mannered.

Slowly, she starts to settle into this new change in her life. She starts to feel like she belongs in the palace, by the crown prince’s side. However, as soon as she accidentally makes eye contact with Prince Alec, her heart races.

She swallows when his unfriendly, piercing stare stays on her.

Something tells her that he won’t be nice to her.

Fortunately, she’s too exhausted to start worrying about the Queen’s second son. The day has been very different from her usual everyday life and it has drained the energy out of her. At the moment, she looks forward to going to bed and she can only hope that she feels more at ease once she wakes up the next day.