Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty

~Author’s pov~ 

Somewhere upstairs, Anastasia roamed around her huge room. Her teeth were biting on her lips with intensity as she continued to sigh deeply. 

A lot had started to go wrong for her. Ever since that human boy entered the palace. It felt like all she had planned out were starting to stumble upon each other. Her fingers curled against each other as many thoughts ran through her head. She no longer understood what was going on in the palace, especially with Lucien. They had been together for hundreds of years now but still nothing seemed to be coming together yet. 

Even though, they hadn’t gotten married yet like they were supposed to—Lucien had always treated her so well. She held such an important position in the palace but now? She wasn’t sure anymore. 

At first, she kept calm thinking it was nothing and Lucien was being like that because of the golden blood but now, it wasn’t looking that way anymore. Lucien was now giving more attention to the human boy than he had ever given her. 

She wouldn’t sit back anymore. 

She had to come up with something. 

A gentle knock sounded on the door, jotting her from her thoughts. She adjusted her hair before she opened the door. 

“Did anyone see you?”

A figure entered calmly, his eyes warily looking around as if trying to hide from people. He shook his head to respond to Anastasia as he walked further into the room and sat on the couch. 

Ana sat across from him, “You know the reason I called you right?”

He nodded, “I supposed it’s because of the human.”

Ana nodded, “Exactly,” her voice low and firm, “What do you suggest I do?”

“I can’t lose Lucien to that spoilt brat!”

The man responded, his face devoid of any emotion. “Are you sure about the King doting on him?”

He tilted his head and Anastasia hissed angrily. 

“You are not living here with us, are you?” 

He quickly shook his head, “I don’t want us to do anything on assumptions.”

“We are not!” She snapped, a frown registered on her forehead. “Team up with me or I ruin you!”

The man’s eyes widened, “No—it’s not up to that. I’m on your side.”

“Better,” she muttered. 

After a short while of deliberation between Anastasia and the stranger, they carefully left the room and disappeared into the walls. Anastasia, having discharged her visitor walked around the palace like she owned it. Her chins were up as she held onto the hem of her gown. 

As she was about to walk into the garden, she halted in her steps at some voices. 

The maids. 

Anastasia halted in her tracks, her eyes narrowing at the sound of whispers nearby. She moved silently, the heel barely making a sound as she leaned closer to the garden archway.

Two maids stood by the fountain, giggling like children.

“I swear, I saw him kiss him.”

“Kiss who?”

“King Lucien and the human boy. He literally held his waist like he owned him and kissed him in front of Young Master Nyx.”

“No way!”

“I swear on my life! And I think the human liked it. He was even blushing!”

Anastasia’s grip tightened on her dress. Her teeth clenched so hard that a headache began to pound in her temple.

They were laughing.

Gossiping like it was some royal comedy.

About him. About Lucien. About them.

That boy had turned the entire palace into a circus.

She was about to storm into the garden and silence them herself—drag those insolent maids to the dungeons and have them scrub the blood hallways for the rest of the week—when a small, startled gasp broke through her rising rage.

Elias.

Of course, it was Elias.

He had practically stumbled into her. His brows were furrowed as he took a step back, clearly not expecting her there.

“Oh—” he blinked. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

Anastasia’s first instinct was to snap. To throw a cold glare his way and make him feel small—make him remember where he stood in this palace. But then she remembered the gossip. The growing rumors. The way Lucien’s gaze softened when the human entered a room.

She took a deep breath. Her expression melted into something softer. Kinder. A lie.

“Elias,” she smiled. “What a pleasant surprise.”

Elias’s eyes widened slightly. “You… know my name?”

“Of course, darling. Why wouldn’t I?” She stepped toward him with careful grace, hands folded in front of her. “You’re quite popular these days.”

Was that sarcasm?

He couldn’t tell.

“I guess…” Elias muttered, unsure, eyeing her warily. “I just didn’t expect you to be so… nice.”

She laughed. Soft. Feminine. Deceptive.

“I deserve that,” she said with a little shrug. “I haven’t been kind to you since you arrived. And for that, I’m truly sorry.”

Elias’s lips parted, but nothing came out.

She smiled again, more warmly this time. “May I offer you something to drink? A seat? I promise not to bite.”

He hesitated. Every part of him screamed not to follow her. But he had been trying so hard to fix things—maybe this was an opportunity. A part of him wanted to believe she meant it.

“…Okay.”

Anastasia led him to the sitting room, her stride confident and poised. She gestured for him to sit while she poured them both a glass of chilled rosewater.

“I know I’ve been distant… maybe even cold. It wasn’t fair to you.”

Elias shifted in his seat, still unsure. “It’s… fine.”

“It’s not fine,” she said softly, placing his glass before him. “You’re a guest here. More than that, someone precious to the King. I want to understand you better. Your world. Humans. What you like. What makes you happy.”

That caught him off guard.

“You want to know about humans?”

“Yes,” she said smoothly. “I think it’s time I stopped being stuck in my ways and embraced change. For Lucien’s sake. And for the palace.”

Elias stared at her, eyes narrowing just slightly. “Is this because of Lucien?”

Her smile faltered for a split second before returning. “Partly. But mostly… it’s about me wanting to grow.”

Liar.

But he didn’t say it.

He only nodded slowly. “Alright… I guess I like basketball now. And burgers. With lots of cheese.”

She blinked. “Basketball?”

“Yeah. I joined the vampire training sessions.”

“…Interesting.” Her lips twitched. “And what else do humans like?”

Elias shrugged. “Sleep. Peace. Not being manipulated.”

Her eyes twitched at that, but she kept her composure.

He sipped his drink quietly, still suspicious.

After a pause, Anastasia folded her hands on her lap. “You must have been looking for your friends earlier.”

His eyes shot up. “You know where they are?”

“Yes, dear.” She smiled sweetly. “I sent them on a small errand. I needed their help with something personal. They’ll be back in two days.”

“Two days?”

“They’re safe,” she added quickly. “I know how much they mean to you. I didn’t want to worry you, but I suppose I should have informed you earlier. That’s on me.”

Something didn’t feel right.

She was too calm. Too… perfect.

Elias forced a smile. “Right. Okay.”

He stood up slowly, setting his glass down. “Thanks for telling me.”

Anastasia rose to her feet as well, a pleasant smile still plastered across her lips. “Of course. And, Elias?”

He paused.

“If you ever need someone to talk to—about human things or… Lucien—I’m here.”

He nodded once, muttered something under his breath, and walked away.

The moment he left, Anastasia’s smile vanished.

“Two days,” she muttered to herself as she walked to the window, watching the young human retreat down the hall. “Two days is all I need.”