Capítulo 36: Sleepless night
Irene could not sleep the entire night, and her nightmare kept flashing before her eyes every time she closed them for more than a few seconds. She had never been this scared, and for the first time, she understood how frightening this bizarre world was.
At first, everything around her puzzled her. She was intrigued to find out more about the girl who was with her all the time, her father who had suddenly popped up out of nowhere and the King of Rothnia, Kieran Allendale, in particular. Though she intended to find a way to return home quickly, she also wanted to learn more about the people around her.
But now, she was filled with utter fear, all thanks to the latest nightmare.
'Why am I suddenly seeing my predator whenever I close my eyes?' She wondered as she leaned against her pillow. Until the nightmare, she saw her King, Kieran's masked face every time she shut her eyes. But this time, he had been replaced by the man who had attacked her and drank her blood.
A bizarre notion made its presence known, suddenly making Irene restless. 'Was my predator Kieran Allendale? Is this how he looks when he removes his mask?' So she thought to herself and tried to match the masked King with the man who had bitten her neck.
However, Irene shook her head in denial as soon as two people's faces entered her mind. "No way. Kieran could not be the man. Though both of them had red eyes, Kieran's was gentle and filled with indulgence while...." Irene shivered in fright when she recalled her attacker's sinister gaze. It was only bone-chilling and mortifying, unlike the King's that had made her heart flutter in warmth.
'He is not Kieran, but he has red eyes and he bit my neck to drink my blood.' Irene's eyes narrowed slightly before they widened in realization. 'Does that mean even Kieran is a vampire?' She was surprised to think how ridiculous her words sounded. 'Vampires are just myths. I must be hallucinating. They are just fictional.' She tried to assure herself, but somewhere in her heart and mind, she had already accepted the truth.
Irene could not ignore her horrible nightmare and its connection with the King. At first, she had marveled at the King's red eyes. Only after her dream did she understand what might be the reason for them to take such a mesmerizing shade of red.
Even though the thought of Kieran being a vampire was frightening, Irene somehow was not scared of him. 'Why do I not fear him? Is it because of the warm emotions I had seen in his eyes at the Mid Autumn Festival opening? Why does my heart say that he would never hurt me?' Irene placed her finger underneath her chin and thought carefully.
Even though her mind was muddled and unable to send her correct signals, her heart stayed determined and strong. All it said was for her to trust Kieran.
'Why do I have such strong feelings?' She pondered for this was the first time in her past life as well as her present that she found herself being attracted to someone. Though there was no shortage of charming men in her past life, nobody could intrude on the protective wall she had built around her heart. Their charms did not work on her and she had never found anyone attractive enough to date them, let alone start a serious relationship with them.
This was the first time her heart was fluttering in happiness and excitement at the thoughts of a man she was not even familiar with. Yet, Irene did not loathe the feeling. She did not avert to what was happening to her. Instead, her curiosity was piqued and she wished to know more about the man who had captured her and her heart at first glance.
Irene could not sleep well the entire night. Either her thoughts were occupied with Kieran or with her attacker. It was only at the wee hours of dawn that Irene's eyelids turned heavy and she eventually drifted off to sleep. She was so deep into her slumberland that she did not wake up when Reyna came to her once the first rays of the sun entered the room.
By the time Irene woke up, it was past breakfast. The sun was shining bright in the sky as it moved closer towards the time of noon.
"How do you feel now, Milady?" Reyna was just beside her bed and the moment Irene woke up, she saw her first.
"I feel good. How about you, Reyna?" Irene smiled lazily and stretched her arms.
Reyna sighed in relief from seeing her smile. She had been worried all this while, especially when her Mistress had not responded to her when she had tried to wake her up. It was only when the old Duke assured her that she calmed down and waited for her Lady to wake up on her own.
"I am good too, Milady. Shall I bring your breakfast here?"
"No, I will eat at the dining hall. Did Father eat his breakfast on time?" Irene queried. She had already realized that she was late and that it was the perfect time for brunch, not breakfast.
"Yes, Milady. His Grace ate his breakfast on time."
"Is he in the mansion?"
"Yes, Milady. His Grace is in the mansion. The royal court session starts only after lunchtime today." Reyna answered immediately and Irene nodded at her.
"Prepare my bath, Reyna. I have an important matter to discuss with my Father and then we shall walk around the streets. I need to see how the Mid Autumn Festival is celebrated." Irene pushed herself off the bed after dawdling for some time and was about to walk towards the mirror when Reyna's voice stopped her.
"Milady," Seeing the girl hesitate, Irene turned to her with a questioning gaze.
"Milady, His Grace would not be willing to send you out of the mansion after what happened to you yesterday."
Irene had already anticipated this outcome from her protective father. So, she did not comment on it. Instead, she just smiled with confidence. "Do not worry, dear Reyna. I know exactly what to do and how to convince him. You just prepare yourself for the festival."
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