Olivia, who had only arrived in the morning had proven to be nothing short of her introduction by the afternoon. She had a very straightforward mannerisms, she always speaks plainly and honestly and proved to be useful.
Even Liora who was hard to please was taken to her immediately and even admitted that she was good.
"So,". Princess Eleanor said that evening seated beneath a weathered wisteria arbor, it's purple blossoms hanging low like cluster of grapes as she tilted her head to look up at Olivia who was standing behind her. "So you're half human and half vampire."
The afternoon sun filtered through the ancient oaks that bordered the small garden behind Princess Eleanor's chambers, casting dappled shadows across the flagstone path.
Liora who was seated beside her on the stone bench , wielding a large palm leaf fan, sweeping it back and forth to stir the afternoon warm air looked up at Olivia who was standing rigidly behind Princess Eleanor and even refused to sit in anticipation.
"Yes, Your Highness." Olivia answered, her expression as steady as stone.
Princess Eleanor exchanged a glance with Liora, who had stopped fanning and was now leaning forward with undisguised curiosity.
"I didn't think it's possible for vampires to… you know," Liora said, her cheeks flushing slightly, "have children. Even with humans."
Olivia's lip curled up ever slightly at Liora's words. "Nothing is impossible. That's the first thing you learn in a place like this." She gestured vaguely toward the castle's spires, visible above the garden wall. "Life finds a way. Or rather I'll just say it's complicated."
"Complicated how?". Princess Eleanor asked, tucking her legs beneath her on the bench.
Olivia shifted her weight, considering. "My hierarchy is actually quite low. I'm not a complete vampire, do you understand?. I mean I have the strength, the speed and the need for blood like other vampires but I can't be compared to them". She answered.
"I'm born of a vampire and a human maid so I'm not an actual vampire but a half vampire and half human so my rank and strength is actually lower than other actual vampire ". She paused for a while before she continued.
"I used to be bullied so badly because of it by others or I'll say we used to be bullied, we'll that was before I started training and now here I am, the most strongest ".
Princess Eleanor nodded in understanding and beside her, Liora resumed fanning though her eyes remained thoughtful.
They all sat in companionable silence for a while, the only sounds the rustle of leaves and the distant murmur of the castle.
Princess Eleanor closed her eyes, letting the warmth soak into her skin for a while before she opens her eyes and then she caught sight of the maids who had been scurrying around all afternoon at the main courtyard from the visible arch in the garden wall.
Maids hurried back and forth in an endless stream , carrying armfuls of velvet boxes and wooden crates and other stuffs she couldn't quite see clearly or even recognize from the arch in the wall.
"What are they all busy preparing for?. They've been scurrying around all day?". Princess Eleanor asked, genuinely curious.
Olivia blinked, as if the question surprised her. Then her expression smoothed and she answered. "They're preparing for Your Highness's wedding ceremony, of course."
Princess Eleanor's stomach tightened. She wasn't actually at all expecting a ceremony. "Oh". She said quietly, her mind coiling with dread in anticipation of the so-called ceremony.
Olivia's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "You might not know this, My Lady but it has actually been a long time since we've had a celebration or anything of the sort ".
Princess Eleanor was obviously taken aback by that as she frowned. "But the King always takes a bride from the human clan every decade. That's the treaty. So what's special about this time that he thinks it deserves a ceremony ?".
Olivia was quiet for a long moment as if thinking of an answer . When she spoke, her voice was lower, as if she were revealing a confidence. "Of course he takes a bride every decade from the human clan. But never like this. There is always no ceremony, no feast , they're just his bride in name".
Olivia continued. "But this time, with you, it is different. I guess it because you're different or special to him. The king has ordered a full ceremonial wedding this time and even invitations have been sent to every noble. There will be a feast, a procession, and a crowning." She paused, as if weighing her next words. "Even I am surprised."
Liora and Princess Eleanor exchanged a bewildered look. Liora's mouth had fallen open and even Princess Eleanor's own expression was no more composed.
Princess Eleanor opened her mouth to respond, but Olivia was not finished.
"I would wager that even the court might be having an intense argument about it by now". Olivia added, gesturing vaguely toward the castle's higher towers.
"An argument?". Princess Eleanor asked, lost. "About me?".
"Yes." Olivia tone was matter-of-fact. "The king insists on taking you as his bride and as his queen for reasons known only to himself. How could a vampire kingdom have a human queen? . That is probably the question being shouted in the council chambers even as we speak. But no one knows what he is thinking after all ". Olivia shrugged in conclusion.
Princess Eleanor pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the rapid flutter of her heart beneath her ribs. "Yes. Even I feel like he is two-sided, or something. He's so hard to understand."
She thought of Nikolai, of the way he always looks at her , so lovingly and with much tenderness that made her melt and yet in those moments she couldn't help feeling like he was not truly looking at her.
It was like he was looking through her, past her, at someone else.
"I mean". Princess Eleanor continued, forcing her thoughts away from his confusing gaze. " He could always take a vampire queen. There must be a hundred noblewomen who would leap at the chance. Why me?".
Olivia tilted her head, studying Princess Eleanor for a while.
"Honestly," she said, and her voice dropped to barely a whisper. "Everyone already thought Lilith would be his queen. Even I thought so. And I was surprised truly surprised when I heard he insisted on taking you as his bride instead."
Liora's fan clattered to the ground. "Lilith?". She repeated, her voice sharp. "Who is Lilith?".
Olivia's expression flickered, something between disdain and grudging respect. "She is one of the elders' daughters. One of the strongest warrior vampires in the realm. She has lead many raids and killed more men in battle than most generals. And she has made no secret of her desire to stand beside the king as his equal."
"And she believes it is her birthright. The elders have been whispering for years that their bloodlines should unite. That a pure vampire queen would strengthen the throne. Lilith is beautiful, dangerous, and utterly ruthless." Olivia paused, then added with a slight smirk. "Not that I like her that much. She is always proud and irrational. She once challenged a courtier to a duel because he complimented her dress incorrectly. Incorrectly! As if there is a right and wrong way to compliment a dress."
Despite herself, Princess Eleanor laughed and Liora joined in, though her laugh was more nervous than amused.
"I think," Olivia said, and her voice grew softer, almost gentle, "that you will make a better queen than she ever could. You have something Lilith lacks."
"What's that?". Princess Eleanor asked.
"Humanity. Compassion. The ability to see people like me, half-bloods, outcasts, the ones who don't belong as something other than tools to be used and discarded."