The fresh ash scattered on the floor was nothing more than mere dust to Lane.
The maidservant's demise failed to evoke even a ripple of emotion in his eyes.
He turned his gaze away from the pile and began to scout the grandeur of the room.
On a carved table near the bed lay a book, its cover shimmering like an ancient metal.
Lane climbed down from the bed without hesitation.
Astria, sitting nearby, did not stop him; she simply watched his every move intently.
Lane reached the table and picked up the shining book with his small hands.
He became so lost in the radiance of the cover that he lost sense of the world around him.
He returned with the same calmness and sat back in his spot on the bed.
He opened the book and buried his face completely within its pages.
Astria watched him, her mind clouded with confusion—
'Can he read the words? Or is it just the scent and texture of the pages luring him?'
Lane's concentration was such that it felt as if he had drifted into another world.
Then, Astria gave a harsh command to a guard standing nearby, "Go inside and ensure every arrangement for the bath is complete."
The guard bowed and moved inward.
Just then, Astria's eyes fell upon another maidservant who was secretly, repeatedly glancing at Lane.
Who remained immersed in the book.
That terrifying glint returned to Astria's eyes.
Making her voice icy, she said to the servant, "Did you not just see what happened here?"
The servant began to tremble.
Astria's voice echoed throughout the room as she proclaimed, "Be warned... he is my Fiance. Know your place now."
Fiance?
The word was like an electric shock to every vampire in the room.
Such a title for a small child?
But Lane, whose face was still hidden behind the book, was absorbing those words.
From behind the pages, Lane's low and broken voice echoed.
Chewing on that new and heavy word, he repeated, "...Fi...an...ce."
The struggle with words was still ongoing when the energy of the room suddenly shifted.
Lane, who had been as still as a lifeless statue until now, suddenly moved.
Before Astria could comprehend, Lane reached out and firmly gripped the hand she had placed on his chest.
There was a strange strength and resolve in Lane's grip.
He looked directly into Astria's eyes with his deep, steady gaze.
This time, his words were not scattered.
With total clarity and a mysterious sense of authority, he called out— "Astria."
Astria's heart skipped a beat.
Hearing her name so clearly from Lane's mouth was like a bolt of electricity.
She faltered, an unknown fear and hesitation rising within her.
With a sudden jerk, she pulled her hand back from Lane's grasp.
Composing herself, she turned toward the heavy chamber doors and gave a calm yet commanding order, "Enter."
As soon as her voice echoed, two powerful vampire guards immediately marched in.
Reaching the center of the room, they knelt before Astria, bowing their heads to the ground in a respectful salute.
They remained there like statues, awaiting their Queen's next command.
Without looking at them, Astria said in her cold voice, "Bring clothes for him."
One of the guards, keeping his gaze lowered, glanced toward the small child on the bed—Lane.
Seeing Lane's shimmering eyes, he bowed his head in agreement and said, "Yes, Queen."
Astria then gestured to the second guard, "Summon the other maidservants."
"Prepare for his bath and a meal immediately."
The second vampire guard, also remaining on his knees, responded.
"As you command, Queen. I will arrange the bath and bring the maidservants at once."
An organized silence filled the room once more.
But Lane's grip and the way he spoke her name still echoed in Astria's mind.
Moments after Astria's command, the heavy carved doors opened once more.
Vampire maidservants and attendants entered, carrying silken garments and fragrant oils.
Sitting on the bed, Lane tilted his head slightly.
Watching every new face with intense concentration.
His eyes were now shimmering like a molten golden sun.
His silky blonde hair and innocent features made him look like a celestial being.
Although his face was entirely expressionless and void of emotion.
This very stillness made him even more captivating and mysterious.
The movement in the room came to a sudden halt.
The vampire attendants were completely transfixed by Lane's ethereal beauty and those radiant golden eyes.
Forgetting the presence of their Queen, they stared incessantly at Lane's hypnotic face.
To Astria, this silent admiration felt like venom.
She could not tolerate anyone else laying eyes on her 'Lane.'
Fuelled by jealousy and rage, Astria gestured toward the maidservant who was gazing at Lane.
Without uttering a single word, she reduced the woman to a pile of ash on the floor within a second.
The remaining servants lowered their gazes in sheer terror.
Lane looked at the ash on the floor with his steady gaze and then, looking back at Astria, asked in broken words.
"What... this...?"
The clouds of anger vanished from Astria's face in an instant.
She looked at Lane, and a gentle, tender smile appeared on her lips.
Bringing a strange softness to her voice, she said with calm composure.
"I have merely turned her to ash."
She signaled the guards to remain inside, and the room was once again swallowed by a heavy silence.
The fresh ash scattered on the floor was nothing more than mere dust to Lane.
The maidservant's demise failed to evoke even a ripple of emotion in his eyes.
He turned his gaze away from the pile and began to scout the grandeur of the room.
On a carved table near the bed lay a book, its cover shimmering like an ancient metal.
Lane climbed down from the bed without hesitation.
Astria, sitting nearby, did not stop him; she simply watched his every move intently.
Lane reached the table and picked up the shining book with his small hands.
He became so lost in the radiance of the cover that he lost sense of the world around him.
He returned with the same calmness and sat back in his spot on the bed.
He opened the book and buried his face completely within its pages.
Astria watched him, her mind clouded with confusion—
'Can he read the words? Or is it just the scent and texture of the pages luring him?'
Lane's concentration was such that it felt as if he had drifted into another world.
Then, Astria gave a harsh command to a guard standing nearby, "Go inside and ensure every arrangement for the bath is complete."
The guard bowed and moved inward.
Just then, Astria's eyes fell upon another maidservant who was secretly, repeatedly glancing at Lane.
Who remained immersed in the book.
That terrifying glint returned to Astria's eyes.
Making her voice icy, she said to the servant, "Did you not just see what happened here?"
The servant began to tremble.
Astria's voice echoed throughout the room as she proclaimed, "Be warned... he is my Fiance. Know your place now."
Fiance?
The word was like an electric shock to every vampire in the room.
Such a title for a small child?
But Lane, whose face was still hidden behind the book, was absorbing those words.
From behind the pages, Lane's low and broken voice echoed.
Chewing on that new and heavy word, he repeated, "...Fi...an...ce."
The broken voice emerging from behind the pages began to grow clearer.
Lane placed that heavy word on his tongue again, as if tasting it.
"...Fi...an...ce," he stumbled at first.
But in the next moment, he turned his head and fixed his radiant golden eyes directly onto Astria's.
This time, his voice was as clear as glass— "Fiance."
Astria froze for a second.
She tried to avert her gaze, as if attempting to escape the weight of that word, but Lane did not stop.
He began to repeat it incessantly.
As if trying to wring the hidden meaning out of every syllable.
Seeing his persistence, Astria gently took the shimmering book from his hands and set it aside.
"Do you... want this?" Astria asked softly.
Lane, who was now deciphering words like a puzzle, slowly nodded his head.
But his lips tossed the same question back— "Fiance?"
Seeing the curiosity hidden in his eyes, Astria realized he wanted to know the meaning of this bond.
She took a deep breath and resorted to gestures.
She pointed her finger first toward herself— "Me...".
Then, she turned the same finger toward Lane— "...You."
Finally, she joined both her hands together, symbolizing two souls merging into one.
Seeing this, a surge of excitement rushed through Lane.
Like a curious child, he propped both his hands on the bed and leaned completely toward Astria.
His innocent face was now incredibly close to hers, so close that their breaths began to mingle.
He whispered that word again, like a sacred chant— "Fiance?"
Lane's proximity, the innocence of his face, and that call shattered all of Astria's defenses.
She didn't even realize when her reason lost to her emotions.
Driven by an intoxicated impulse, she leaned forward and kissed Lane's tender lips.
Time itself seemed to stand still in the room.