Chapter 3: I’m A Vampire.
Salviana ate, though more out of necessity than enjoyment.
She would loathe returning to this suffocating dining hall again, but she knew it was inevitable. The hall served its purpose: to display the power of the royal family, a spectacle the king seemed to relish. The heavy silence pressed down on her, but she kept her gaze fixed on her plate, resisting the urge to glance to her right. Her husband sat there, his piercing gaze on her from the moment they took their seats.
What could he possibly find so intriguing?
She wasn't about to become a scapegoat by offending the king on her first day. So she ate.
At least the food provided a temporary distraction. Her attention drifted toward a particular delicacy, one of the many ornate silver platters filled with dishes she had never seen before. She glanced to her left, noticing the brooding prince beside her, his expression unreadable, hard, and distant. Just as she extended her fork to serve herself, she felt it—a cold touch that sent a shiver up her spine.
His fingers.
Cold as ice, trailing along the back of her neck. Her body tensed, and her utensils clattered against the plate as a soft, involuntary moan escaped her lips. The sound was so unexpected, so inappropriate, that her face instantly flushed.
I'm going to be a scapegoat, she thought bitterly.
His hand lingered, gently tucking her fiery red hair behind her ear. His eyes—empty yet intensely focused—studied her, unnerving her even more.