Article 11 Règlement scolaire

Chapitre 2

I recognized the young man; he was the knight who shot me in the cemetery that night.

"So he's a prince," I muttered to myself. "Oh my god, what am I doing? He likes her!"

“The lady dancing with His Highness is like an angel. I have never seen such a lovely and beautiful girl,” said a gentleman who was not dancing nearby.

“She is a princess, didn’t you know, Count?” a lady nearby said. “There are many foreign princesses attending the ball tonight, and the prince is going to choose one of them to marry.”

"However, I heard that the prince's fiancée was already engaged before the ball."

"Really? Who?" The lady leaned forward.

The count lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, "Princess Margaret, the heir to Vinia and the prince's cousin."

"But...but the prince seems to really like the lady he dances with. I can tell he fell in love with her at first sight."

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [7]: "If she really is a princess..."

“Oh dear, that’s our neighbor.” A shrill, piercing voice rang out nearby. The count coughed and said nothing more.

I knew who it was, but kept my eyes glued to the dance floor, pretending not to notice. However, Mrs. Arno's three shameless girls squeezed in, the eldest, whose plump figure jiggled with weight, winked at me and said in a coquettish voice, "Oh, sir..."

"Miss, don't you have a dance partner?" I asked with a smile, and I saw the three sisters' faces light up with delight as they looked at me expectantly.

I bowed slightly. "I would love to invite a lady to dance, but I don't know..." I glanced at the three of them, feigning hesitation.

"I am the eldest sister, sir... Ouch!" I saw the little sister stomp hard on the eldest sister's foot, while the second sister, with her pockmarked face, twisted her arm hard. The fleshy ball grimaced in pain and kicked the two younger sisters, one foot each. Thus, a war broke out. It was probably only the palace guards who could separate the three sisters who were entangled together.

I bowed deeply to the three sisters politely, and then moved to another place.

Louisa danced with the prince, and I saw the happiness on her face, just like the happiness I felt when she kissed me. Is this what fate has given me? Punishment for abandoning God, punishment for falling into darkness? Is a vampire like me only fit to stay in a gloomy castle, far from love and joy?

I left the palace with heavy steps, and I don't know how I got back to my lodgings; it seems I bit a drunken fur trader to death halfway there. Anyway, lying in the coffin, I didn't feel hungry; I just wanted to sleep, to fall into a deep sleep and never wake up again.

I woke up.

Night, yet another night. I know I cannot live in the sunlight; I can only possess darkness. The night is my eternal, unwavering companion.

But why did I wander into Mrs. Arnaud's garden again? And why did I push open the kitchen door again when I heard Louisa's singing?

“Ah, sir, it’s you!” Louisa rushed to my side like a little bird when she saw me. “How happy I am to see you! You gave me the happiest night of my life. I love you as much as I love my father and my brother.”

"Father, elder brother," I said with a bitter smile.

"You know what?" She didn't notice the strangeness in my expression, just like any girl in love, eager to tell a friend about her experience last night.

"Um?"

“It’s the prince. I’ve seen him before.” She pulled me to sit by the fireplace. “He saved me from the clutches of death. I recognized him, and he recognized me too. His Highness told me that he fell in love with me the day he saved me. Sir, do you doubt it?” She noticed I frowned.

“I have no doubt about that,” I said quickly.

"Yes, he loves me." The girl breathed a sigh of relief, then lowered her head, staring at the glowing fire in the fireplace, her expression seemingly a little somber.

She remained silent for a long time, and I think she may have also noticed the difference in status between herself and the prince.

"Your stepmother and three older sisters are gone?" I asked, trying to make conversation.

“Yes,” Louisa smiled, “Julie, Madeleine, and Rhodes have been bragging to me all day about how wonderful the ball was last night. They said they saw the prince and a noble princess dance almost every dance; while an ugly girl like me, covered in dust, was only fit to spin around with the hunchbacked Ali, the doorman of the Saint-Cyr Abbey.”

"So, did they dance?" I asked, knowing the answer already.

“Julie said they danced all night with many young noblemen. Especially her, people lined up to ask her to dance, and she danced until her feet were swollen. But I saw that the three of them seemed to be dragged out by some guards. This morning, Rhodes frantically applied white powder to the bruises on his face. I don’t understand how dancing could cause such a reaction.” Louisa chuckled.

Thinking about the three sisters' ridiculous antics last night, I burst out laughing too. It's true, being with Louisa makes it easy to forget who I am. I love her silvery laughter, watching her sing and dance so joyfully. This is the feeling that youthful, vibrant life gives me, and I'd pay any price for her smile.

The miracles that happened last night have come true once again. I took Louisa's hand and helped her into the carriage. She kissed my cheek just like last night. I smiled gracefully, blessed her, and sent her off to the prince who had once shot me.

That night, I did not go to the palace; instead, I sat by the window and played my six-stringed lyre all night.

On the third day of the ball, feeling a bit hungry, I resumed my hunt in the city after seeing Louisa off. Perhaps I was distracted, because my hunt wasn't very successful. Besides, being in the capital of a kingdom, I longed for the most delicious and noble food—the blood of the aristocracy.

The palace, which housed the most nobles, was the royal palace, so I entered it once again.

Avoiding the guards, I silently climbed up the outer wall of the tall building. My ears listened to every sound around me, even the faintest breath. I listened intently to an open window, then leaped inside.

It was a very luxurious office. Before I could take it all in, I heard footsteps outside the door, and I quickly hid behind a tapestry.

The door opened, and I peeked out by lifting a corner of the tapestry. A tall, thin, and stern-faced senior priest walked in. Of course, I recognized him; he was the powerful figure in this kingdom, the prime minister to whom even the king often took orders, and also a cardinal.

The Prime Minister paced back and forth in his office. When a soft knock sounded, he stopped and stared excitedly at the door. The door opened a crack, and a woman in a hooded cloak slipped into the room like a cat.

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [8]: “Anna?” the Prime Minister called softly.

"Shh—" The woman gestured to the Prime Minister and carefully closed the door. Then she turned around, removed her hood, revealing a pale, beautiful face with eyes that shone like diamonds. "Yes, I am Anna, Queen Anna of Vinya."

Queen of Viña! You can imagine my astonishment at the time—how could she be secretly meeting with the prime minister of another country?

The Prime Minister opened his arms. Queen Anne hurried over and threw herself into his embrace. They kissed and held each other for a long time.

"Anna, it's been eighteen years. You know how much I've missed you," the Prime Minister said emotionally, stroking Queen Anna's slightly wavy brown hair.

"It was your father, sir, your prime minister father, who married me off to the King of Viña for political reasons. We both obeyed the needs of family and politics; you became a priest, and I became the queen. François, isn't it laughable? When we were young, we swore to be together for life. Do you remember, sir, the poem you recited to me under the moonlight—I do not believe that two true hearts in love can encounter obstacles: love is not love, if you find that circumstances have changed, you change accordingly, or if you see that the other has changed their heart, you plan to walk away."

Ah, no! Love is an ever-steadfast beacon, unwavering even in the face of storms…

Queen Anne pushed away the Prime Minister's arm and let out a chilling laugh: "Unwavering in the face of storms. Ha! Shakespeare's poems still echo in my ears, and you're already trying to persuade me to marry King Vinya. Sir, so God will not let you see your descendants—this is retribution!"

“Anna, I know you’ve abandoned our daughter,” the Prime Minister said weakly.

"Am I wrong? Can I take our daughter to Vinya?"

"But you can hand her over to me—"

"Give her to you? Bishop! I don't want you to raise her under any other name, and then one day marry her off to someone she doesn't love for some reason." Queen Anna stared coldly at the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister slumped into a high-backed chair to the side and remained silent for a long time.

Queen Anna sighed and slowly approached the Prime Minister.

“Anna, tell me, I don’t think you came to see me to blame me for some past events.” The Prime Minister crossed her fingers over her chest, raised her head, and her gray eyes darted around slyly.

Queen Anna smiled gracefully. "Sir, have you already figured something out?"

"The marriage of Prince Harry and Princess Margaret?" The Prime Minister tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair.

“You’re very clever; you guessed it right away. Yes, I need you to guarantee Harry and Margot’s marriage.”

"This is still a political and familial marriage, there is no love, Anna, no love." The Prime Minister waved his index finger. "Prince Harry has fallen in love with another girl."

“A girl whose background I don’t know,” Queen Anna said dismissively. “I’ve heard that your indecisive king has already agreed to the prince’s choice.”

"Did Her Majesty the Queen send you a letter?"

“My sister can’t persuade Harry. It’s said that the Crown Princess will be announced to the public after tonight’s ball. Sir, with your influence over the King and Prince Harry, you can change their decision,” Queen Anna said aggressively.

"You want me to follow my father's example and break up a couple?" The Prime Minister smiled mockingly at Queen Anna. "Anna, you yourself are a woman who would give up everything for power. Love? There is no love in royalty."

Don't you want to?

“Me? I’m someone who would sacrifice everything for political gain. I can sacrifice my love for you, and of course, I can sacrifice the prince’s love as well. But how I do it will take some time. Our Prince Harry is currently deeply in love, and I need to let him calm down. Anna, don’t rush!” The Prime Minister waved his hand at Queen Anna. “There will be no public announcement tonight! Your daughter will become the Crown Princess, I assure you.”

Queen Anne breathed a sigh of relief. "I believe you." The sharp glint in her eyes had vanished, replaced by a tender affection. She leaned down and gently kissed the Prime Minister's forehead, then straightened up, pulled on her hood, and said, "Goodbye, François."

After Queen Anna left, the Prime Minister sat there for a while, then got up and went out as well.

I emerged from behind the tapestry and quickly left the Prime Minister's suite in the palace. In the palace corridor, I encountered a slick-haired, arrogant young man. This fellow was just my type, so I swiftly dragged him into an empty room and thoroughly enjoyed him.

Wiping the blood from my lips, I couldn't help but think of Louisa. Poor girl! Lost in your passionate love with the prince, did you even think about the future? The future? Did I even have a future? I shook my head self-deprecatingly. At least Louisa got the love she desired, but what about me? Immortal loneliness, without even the right to love.

Walking through the ballroom, I heard light, cheerful music—was someone dancing the minuet? I suddenly wondered if Louisa was still dancing with the prince. Though unlikely, I still hoped for the chance to invite Louisa to dance.

I searched the entire hall, but Louise and the prince were not there. Disappointed, I left the palace and wandered through the royal gardens.

The garden was exquisite and luxurious, adorned with countless vibrant and fragrant flowers. The spring water gurgled and babbled, and the fountain's droplets sparkled in the moonlight like crystal beads rolling in the air. A gentle breeze carried the enchanting fragrance of laurel and the soft whispers of lovers.

It was Louisa and the prince's voices! I stopped and hesitated, standing behind an orange tree.

“Miss, this is the lily you dropped that day. I’ve kept it with me ever since. You see, even though it’s withered, it still smells sweet. My love for you is like this lily; even if my life withers, my love will live on.”

“Ah, Your Highness, I do not doubt your love, but…” Louisa hesitated.

"Then, miss, please don't disappear again without a trace. You know, you were like a seductive sprite. When my heart was filled with burning love and I wanted to confess to you, you vanished. I searched the entire palace in despair for your whereabouts. The next day, I was depressed all day long, imagining that perhaps you would never appear again, or perhaps what I saw was just an illusion. I was really worried that what I saw at the ball was not real, but only because of my strong love for you that I mistook a lady dancing with me for you. Miss, have pity on your loyal admirer, imagine his grief at losing you. If you never return, he may die of despair."

---Magpie Bridge Fairy

Reply [9]: "Your Highness—"

"My love, only now, holding your hand, feeling your warmth, feeling your trembling, do I truly believe in your presence. Heaven knows how happy I am to have you by my side. I would give all my wealth, even my entire kingdom, for your company. My lady, please tell me you love me, please tell me you want to stay by my side!"

"I love you, I love you!" Hearing Louisa's confession, I closed my eyes in anguish. "Your Highness, you saved me. The moment I woke up and saw you, I knew I had fallen in love with you. Your eyes were so passionate, your voice so gentle, I thought an angel had descended to drive away death for me."

“You are an angel! Miss, tell me you want to stay!” the prince said urgently.

“I—” Louisa hesitated, “Ah, Your Highness, do not doubt my love for you. Being with you is the greatest happiness of my life.”

"Me too."

For a long time, neither of them spoke.

My heart is heavy. Through the branches, I see two people embracing and kissing on a white marble bench. Moonlight bathes them, casting beautiful silver silhouettes. A nightingale sings its melodious song from the bushes, like a hymn of blessing for lovers in a sanctuary. But who will sing for me? A vampire like me, who has abandoned God, has no sanctuary to bless me. I am but a lonely ghost wandering in the wilderness, and no one will pity me. I regret coming here; I regret seeking impossible love. I can only have the love of death!

“Miss, do you agree?” the prince asked again, “Perhaps I should kneel down and propose to you. If you agree to my proposal, you will certainly stay by my side forever. I hope you will not say no, or I will die of heartbreak.”

At that moment, several beams of light lit up the sky, shot up, and transformed into countless dazzling stars.

"Ah, fireworks!" Louisa exclaimed in delight, standing up. The prince had no choice but to temporarily abandon his proposal and accompany his beloved to admire the beautiful fireworks rising in the sky. The entire palace was in a frenzy of excitement.

I walked dejectedly along a path toward the palace gate. Happiness was not for me; only darkness and death could embrace me.