(Eliza PoV
The faint sound of bare feet tapping against the marble floor could be heard as I warped in a thick cloak tried to stealthly sneak through the Sapphire palace halls.
For the last couple of weeks I have been sneaking out of my room during the night to the library to read up on the history of this kingdom, The kingdom of Luteria.
But the last week I had started notice strange people in the palace. Clerics belonging to the Curch of Light that my father, Crown prince Erik has been preaching to my grandfather about. And that has gotten a strong standing within the kingdom the last decade or so has been seen walking inside the palace.
It was weird.
But now, having members of a church or any temple for that matter walking around the palace was unheard of.
One morning a couple of months ago when the maids was preparing my daily dress and fixing my hair and makeup I overheard their usual gossip. They talked about how it was the first time that any member of any religion stepped inside the deeper parts of the Sapphire palace.
I have five maids that are in charge of my needs.
I have started to accept my life as a princess but one thing I do not like is this country.
Four of my maids are humans. The oldest around the age of mid thirty and the youngest the age of twenty.
Put then thre is one maid. She is around twelve and she is a beastkin. A black cat beast kin.
I have tried to talk to her but she is really reserved and shy. I have learned that her time is Kara.
The thing is, the four other maids are from lower ranked noble houses employed at the palace. But Kara...I found out that she is a slave that is bound to be assigned to me when I turn ten with a slave contract.
I hate it... it's disgusting...
Slavery is a mortal sin in my eyes. To rob someone of their freedom is horrifying.
But now as I am sneaking through the hallways towards the library I near my fathers study. The lights are on and I can hear voices from within.
"So Bishop Polos. How have you found the capital since your arrival?"
The voice of my father Eric can be heard as I close in on the slightly open door. I take a peak inside and there by the lit fire place my father sat in an armchair made of leather opposite a man. Who's grotesque large body barley fit inside his own armchair.
The man named Bishop Polos was dressed in fine black robes decorated with yellow stripes and jewls. He was obese and had thin hair with a greasy hue on his skin. His face had some pus filled pimples around his fat neck and a thick brow that made his eyes barley visible.
A voice that sounded like thick tar escaped this large man as he spoke.
"It's my first time here since the Cathedral was built. I like it...it is much cleaner now with less disgusting rodents running around the street."
My father nodded in agreement. "The so called rodents are being kept on leashes. Or at the farms of course."
"Good, good. By the way Eric?" Polos spoke in a informal tone with my father. Something that was clearly punishable if you did publicly. Speaking that way with royalty...who was this Polos to my father?
"Have you got anything to drink? My throat is killing me." My father got up out of his chair and headed to a cabinet that had Ice enchantment put on it to keep the things inside cold but not frozen. It was basically a refrigerator.
"I just got this in. One of the newest shipments from the farm." He held out a bottle filled with what looked like red wine.
"It's from the Elven farm. Aged one hundred years."
Polos eyes lit up. "The Eleves do make a good drink. I do prefer something less aged thought. You wouldn't have anything from Cowkin? Preferably aged 10 to fifteen?"
"Sadly no. The beastkin farm has been having some trouble lately." My father took out a glass and poured the red liquid in it. It seemed a little thicker that wine.
"Trouble? Do tell my dear friend. What trouble can some lowly beasts be making."
My father handed the glass over to Polos.
"Raiders from some group of bandit's has been hitting the farm and taking away the cattle."
Polos took a sip of his drink and his eyes opened up revealing the dark red pupils hidden behind his eyelids. "This is a splendid drink I must say." He took another sip before he looked over towards my father. "Do you need assistance with the bandit's?" He asked.
My father's face seemed to pale a little. "No we should be able to handle it. It's just some unknown group of bandit's."
"You know the curch owns the farms right? You are only allowed to operate them as a sign of good faith to prove yourself to us. You do still want to be blessed by our light?"
My father fell down on a knee and grabbed Polos hand that had its fingers covered in jeweled rings. "I am loyal to the crimson lighr. The curch of light is my guide." He said and then kissed one of the rings that had a large ruby in it.
"Good good." Polos said with a satisfied look on his repulsive face. "Now then, when it comes to your child. You only got a daughter right?"
"Yes, sadly Hellen could only birth me a daughter."
Hellen? This was the first time I ever heard my mother's name. I don't know what happened to her. But I do want to meet her again.
"Any plans for more children? You do need a son after all."
Eric shook his head. "Not now, my late brother has a son that I have adopted. I will have him be the centerpiece for now."
My cousin or rather my adopted brother. He is two years younger then me. I haven't met him yet as he is living outside of the capital in my late uncles estate.
I don't know how my uncle died, I never met him. The only thing I have heard is from the maids and their gossip. Some say he died in a fight against some monsters. Some say he was assassinated by 'beast scum'. But all I know is that his death was weird.
"Tristan is to be registered in The adventures guild school P.A.I.N in two years. And from there I will fullfil my promise to the Curch."
Polos gave a nod. "As promised you shall be blessed by the pope if this promise is fulfilled. But what of your daughter. Eliza? Is she being sent to the school too?"
"My daughter? Why? She has no schooling in magic or combat. There is no plans to teach her either."
"But she does have some promise no? I have heard that she is always in the library studying."
How does he know that? Well, I do spend a lot my time in the library during the day. But
I always made sure I wasn't followed. I tried to read in secret to make sure no one knows what I'm reading
"And of what I can deferment from the smell I got from her she has quite the future when it comes to magic if she is taught right."
My smell?
"Well...if you say so. But how can you know what she smells like when you haven't met her...wait..." My father's eyes met mine as he shifted his gaze towards the door.
"See, you didn't even know she was there. You have lost your touch Eric." Polos said as he let out a disgusting gutteral laugh.
"Eliza! What are you doing awake?"
"Know know Eric. Let me see this daughter of yours." Polos gaze fell on my and a feeling of dread crept up through my spine.
Polos seemed to sniff the air and then waved at me to approach. I hesitated before stepping into the room and approached him.
"I smell something interesting from you child." He looked over at my father and asked. "Has she gotten her disc yet?"
"No not yet." My father said an empty tone. "There has been no need for it."
I have read about the discs and always wanted to have one made.
"Hmm..." Polos suddenly grabbed my arm and poked me with his black fingernails a sip of blood came out and covered his index finger. He put it to his lips and tasted it. "Water and earth. Promising..."
Polos seemed to be thinking for a bit before a wide smile exposing his teeth showing two long fangs of his K-9 teeth. That's when it clicked. That's when I understood what Polos was. This man was not human...
"You should train her and send her with Tristan to the academy. She will be a good asset to iur goals." Polos took another sip from the thick liquid. That left red stains on the glass. I understood that was not wine, I understood...this man...was a vampire...