Leilania stood, revealing her silken blue dress, the fabric hugging her curvaceous form as she bit her bottom lip sweetly."Of course, may I take your arm, Alex?" she asked, looping her arm through his as they began their tour of the kingdom.
They ascended the spiraling staircase that wound like a living artery through the massive crystal tree that served as the heart of her realm. The first floor was a royal gathering hall, where noble families mingled in a chorus of laughter and silk. Conversation hushed the moment the princess appeared. The courtiers bowed deeply to her—then froze in unease at the sight of Alexandru. He merely inclined his head, offering a soft, respectful bow in return.
"I'm fascinated," Alexandru said as they walked arm in arm, "that you can recall every inch of this place purely from memory."
They continued upward, passing through the heart of the tree. At its center lay an immense garden, a forest within the forest—flowers of every hue, vines draping from boughs like ribbons of life. The air was thick with scent, intoxicating and bright. For Alex, it was overwhelming; his undead senses recoiled from the intensity. And then he caught a whiff of something far more unsettling—garlic. Grown fresh. He stiffened slightly but forced a smile.
The tour continued: the dining hall, the residential quarters, the smaller chambers where elven attendants moved with quiet grace. Each space carried the echo of Leilania's memories—her laughter, her lessons, her childhood whispers. Alexandru felt blessed to walk beside her through the place she had once protected so fiercely from his father's reach. More than the beauty of the kingdom, it was her presence—her serenity—that steadied him.
Finally, they reached the topmost chamber of the crystal tree: the alchemy lab."This is the Alchemy Lab," Leilania said softly. "Your mother's notes should be somewhere in here. It hasn't been touched much since she left."
The air inside was heavy with age. Glass vials lined the shelves like frozen tears, and the scent of old reagents lingered. Alexandru's crimson eyes roamed over the dusty tables. The equipment was archaic—nearly a century out of date, perfectly matching his mother's era.
"If her notes were here," he murmured, "whoever took her life might have destroyed them—or stolen them outright. You said it hasn't been touched much since? That means someone's been here… someone who knew." He frowned. "Just a hypothesis."
Leilania sighed and rubbed her temple. "To use this lab, one must file a request through the crown. But after my father's death and my coma, many came and went freely. Some must have taken what they wanted. Still, perhaps something remains…" Her shoulders drooped. "I'll stand by the door. I dare not damage anything."
Alex smiled gently. "Oh, Leilania, I doubt you could ever be a nuisance."
He moved swiftly through the room, opening drawers and lifting brittle pages. Finally, he found a collection of folders—his mother's handwriting unmistakable. He scanned a few lines, eyes glinting."How fascinating… She was studying blood—trying to synthesize it. She must have been years ahead of anyone else."
His eyes narrowed as he reached a side note in one of the journals:
If I can master this process, I must stay with him for months. Learn what he finds palatable, what nourishes him. I must keep this secret from Dalia and her friends.
He froze, lips parting slightly. Before he could speak, a sharp sound split the air—thwip!
The lab window shattered. An arrow tore through the air straight toward him. If he dodged, it would strike Leilania.In an instant, Alexandru moved. The world blurred as he lunged forward, pulling her down. The arrow grazed his back before embedding in the wooden wall with a heavy thud.
"Woah—are you alright, Princess?" he asked, holding her close.
Leilania's heart raced beneath him, her pulse drumming loud in his ears. Her body trembled as her soft chest pressed against his, their positions too intimate for either to ignore. When he sat her up, her gown had shifted slightly, revealing the porcelain of her shoulder. Her cheeks flushed crimson."I-I'm alright, m-my lord… T-thank you," she stammered.
Alexandru rose and peered through the broken window, his eyes glowing red. The shooter was gone."Someone tried to strike me, unaware of your presence. It's not safe for you to stay near me. Summon your guards and get to safety."
Leilania shook her head defiantly. "N-no! Alex, I want to help you." Her hand brushed his back—and came away wet. "You're hurt. Come with me."
Before he could protest, she called for her guards. Within moments, armored elves arrived, retrieving the arrow and saluting before handing it to her. She grasped Alex's hand and led him swiftly to her chambers.
"I'm fine," he insisted. "Just a scratch. Don't worry about me. But I can't let you be drawn into this danger."
The guards took their posts outside as Leilania seated Alexandru upon her vanity. She placed the arrow within a hovering orb of translucent liquid that pulsed faintly above her desk.
"Sarah!" she called, and a maid hurried in with bandages and salves. Leilania's focus was on the arrow, her lips murmuring an incantation as she examined it.
Alex watched her—then suddenly felt a numbness creep across his lips. His vision swam. His throat tightened. He gasped and fell to his knees, clutching at his neck. No air came. Panic flared as his blood slowed in his veins. His claws scraped the floor, desperate, animal.
"Just one more second… Hold on, Alex!" Leilania's voice trembled with urgency. Her eyes glowed faintly as she traced the wound on his back, her hands moving in divine precision. "Release!" she cried, tearing her palms apart. A spray of green venom burst from his wound, sizzling on the floor.
Air rushed back into his lungs, ragged and hot.
Leilania dropped to her knees and caught his head in her hands. "Alex—you need new fluids now! We don't have time for animal blood. Drink mine!" she ordered, tilting her neck toward him. "Sarah, cleanse his wound!"
The maid hesitated. "But, my lady, he may—"
"WE DON'T HAVE TIME!" Leilania shouted. "LISTEN TO YOUR QUEEN!"
"Y-yes, my lady!" Sarah obeyed, chanting over his back to purge the poison.
Alexandru's breathing steadied slightly, the scent of her blood filling his senses. His hands gripped her shoulders tightly, trembling. His fangs grazed the air just above her skin—but he stopped. His body screamed for it, his instincts howled. But his mind refused.
He hissed, his voice low and pained. "You're begging to die, aren't you!?" He shoved her back, staggering away like a wounded beast. His eyes flared crimson, his fangs dripping with saliva. "I WON'T! I CAN'T!" he roared, pressing himself into the farthest corner beside the bed.
Sunlight spilled through the windows, sharp and holy. It burned in his eyes, searing his skin faintly. He shuddered violently, shielding his face with his arm. The warmth that once merely bothered him now felt like punishment—a divine rejection.