Trapped With The Devil's Spawn

CHAPTER 6

TIARA THORNELLS

When I returned to my room, I sat quietly on the edge of my bed. The hallway outside had fallen into complete silence, not a single sound could be heard. I let out a deep sigh and glanced toward the window. Moonlight streamed gently through the glass panes, casting a cold silver glow across the floor. The chill in the air began to creep in, but I couldn’t muster the energy to light the fireplace. Instead, I lay down on my soft bed and wrapped myself tightly in a thick blanket, hoping it would be enough to keep the cold away.

Though my eyes were closed, my mind refused to rest. Delailah’s words echoed in my thoughts. She was right, those servant girls were endangering their own lives, offering up their blood to those so-called “princes,” even knowing the sacrifice could very well kill them.

It was heartbreaking. Girls like them put themselves in grave danger, clinging to the hope that the risk they were taking would be worth it.

The thought settled heavily in my chest. And in the depths of those lingering reflections, sleep finally claimed me.

“Everyone, get up now!” came the commanding voice of Mrs. Margot.

I blinked my eyes open and immediately turned to check the window. The sky outside was still dim, probably just around four in the morning. I hurried out of bed, pulled on the second pair of my standard uniform, and took out the hair tie lace I had recently bought.

It had handmade, artificial rose flowers on both ends, simple yet beautiful. I really liked the design. I remembered how the lady vendor styled my hair and tried to imitate her method. Thankfully, I was pretty good at blending the lace into my braid.

“Tiara? Are you awake?”

As I carefully braided my hair, a familiar voice called out from behind my closed door.

It was Delailah.

“Yes, I’m already dressed. Just fixing my hair,” I replied.

“What? You’re already dressed?” She paused, then added, “We’re supposed to bathe first.”

“Come on, join us at the bathhouse… that’s where everyone’s headed. Bring a change of uniform with you.”

“Sorry, I didn’t know,” I said with a sheepish laugh.

“It’s okay,” she answered gently. “I’ll just get my uniform. Wait for me, okay?”

I hurried to braid my hair, not bothering to be neat about it, and grabbed my uniform along with my underwear. To be honest, I still wasn’t used to the kind of undergarments they wore here. The panties looked more like drawstring shorts, and as far as I could tell, they didn’t even wear bras. The fabric of their vintage-style dresses was thick, probably enough that they didn’t need one.

With the clothes slung over my arm, I stepped out of my room and stood just outside my closed door, waiting for Delailah to come out of hers. The hallway was busy, servants were going in and out of their rooms, while Mrs. Margot made her rounds, inspecting each door to make sure no one was still asleep.

“What is that in your hair, Tiara?!”

I was startled by Mrs. Margot’s booming voice. I turned to her in shock as she strode toward me, her eyes locked on my braid. Before I could react, she grabbed the rose ornament tied at the end of it and ripped it off with force.

“W-Why, Mrs. Margot?” I stammered, confused and a little shaken.

She fixed me with a hard, disapproving stare.

“Do you have any more decorations like this hidden anywhere?” she demanded, holding up the rose she had just torn from my hair.

“N-No, ma’am… That’s the only one. I just bought it at Hawkin’s Market—”

“Roses like this are strictly forbidden inside the palace! If Queen Drucilla sees you with something like this, you’ll be punished!”

I immediately bowed my head in silence.

Was it really my fault? No one told me about that certain rule when I arrived. Apparently, there were still things they hadn’t explained to me. I wanted to answer, to explain myself, but I held my tongue. I was too low in rank to speak out, even if it was just to defend myself.

“What are you all standing around for?” she barked. “Get to the bathhouse and wash up!”

She stormed off, disappearing down the hall.

I glanced around. The other servants were looking at me, their expressions filled with concern. When Mrs. Margot’s presence was finally gone from the corridor, Delailah and some of her friends approached me.

“I’m so sorry, Tiara… We didn’t realize we hadn’t told you. Queen Drucilla hates anything about roses,” Delailah said softly.

I smiled at her reassuringly. “It’s okay. Really.”

“She scolded you pretty badly,” Elara said gently. “But I think she just panicked. If something goes wrong, she’s the one who gets in trouble. Queen Drucilla would come down hard on her, too.”

“I actually noticed something yesterday,” I said, thinking back. “I didn’t see a single rose in the palace gardens. Not even one variety. Is that some kind of weakness for vampires?”

They all shrugged.

“We don’t really know…” Sephora answered. “Maybe Queen Drucilla just doesn’t like thorns?”

“And besides that,” she added. “Vampires have a sensitive sense of smell. They hate strong odor... like garlic and other pungent scents. Oh, and one more thing…”

Her voice dropped slightly, her expression serious.

“When you’re on your period… don’t leave your room until it’s over. Not even for a second.”

“That’s an important detail to remember,” Railee chimed in.

“But life’s pretty easy for us when you’re on your period... especially if it lasts up to seven days. You don’t have to do anything. You’re just in your room all day!” Sephora remarked. “But then again, it’s also boring as hell, and you’re not even allowed to go outside.”

She scrunched her nose in disgust before adding. “And honestly, the thought that menstruation can trigger bloodlust in vampires? Gross. Like... It's ridiculous, right?”

“Well, it’s still blood after all,” Railee replied calmly. “Besides, the vampire royal highnesses can actually control their reaction to blood, but it’s still part of the rules. It’s also meant to keep things comfortable for them.”

“What other weaknesses do they have?” I asked, my curiosity piqued. “I mean, aside from that one... do they have anything else?”

“There are a few,” Sephora answered. “But they’ve pretty much learned how to overcome most of their weaknesses. For example, sunlight... they’re now immune to it. But still, they don’t really like it, so they rarely go out during the day.”

She paused, trying to think. “And of course…”

“Werewolves,” Delailah suddenly cut in, making all of us turn our heads toward her.

“Also, can we continue this conversation at the bathhouse instead?” she suggested. “If Mrs. Margot catches us here again, we’re all going to get a serious scolding.”

We all nodded in agreement and made our way to their bathhouse.

When we arrived, the first thing I noticed was the flurry of activity. The servants were busy drawing water from the indoor well, pouring it into an enormous wooden basin. Others were carefully carrying boiling water in massive pots, mixing it slowly into the basin to warm the cold well water.

Steam was already rising throughout the room, curling out through the open windows.

I joined in and helped draw more water. It didn’t take long before the basin was finally full.

One by one, we began undressing, stripping down to nothing but our panties. We were all girls, so I felt no shame in letting my bare chest show. Everyone else had already done the same, no one was wearing anything on top.

Each of us began pouring water over ourselves in silence, rinsing off the day’s weariness. I looked up, facing the four girls, Sephora, Delailah, Railee, and Elara. “Let’s continue our conversation from earlier…” Sephora said.

“So what do you think?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Who’s stronger... vampires or werewolves?”

“It depends,” Sephora responded thoughtfully. “There are times vampires lose the battle, and there are times they bring triumph. But personally, I think werewolves are cheaters sometimes....”

We all glanced at her.

“They use black magic,” she explained. “To grow bigger and stronger. That’s how they boost their power. But the downside is, it takes a long time before the black magic takes full effect. While Vampires are naturally powerful. They don’t rely on spells or enchantments. Their physical strength is unmatched... pure, raw power.”

Sephora began, a thoughtful look on her face. "The werewolves... Even though they are using black magic, they still have naturally enhanced strength... and they also possess agility and speed. So really, they’re just as powerful as vampires. If you had to choose between the two, you’d probably have a hard time picking.”

Then her tone shifted to dreamy expression. “But it’s always been my dream to see a werewolf in their human form... I bet they’re just as striking and handsome as the vampires!” she added with a girlish squeal.

Railee shot her a disapproving look. “You’re such a weirdo. Why are you sexualizing our enemy?”

Sephora flushed, waving her hands in defense. “It’s not like that... I’m just imagining what they might look like, that’s all.”

Elara, more serious than the rest, crossed her arms. “No matter how handsome they are, they’re still killers. Plenty of mortals die when they manage to slip past the barriers... especially in the poorer provinces.”

"So... none of you have ever seen a werewolf in their human form?” I couldn’t help but ask

“Not even once,” Delailah responded. “And honestly, I’ve never seen them in any form... not even their monstrous one. But if I ever do, I think I’d die from fear. They only show up during battles... when they launch their attacks.” Her voice dropped slightly, almost in a whisper. “They’re the ones who always start the chaos. It’s been about a year since their last assault, but we’re all still on edge. It could happen again at any time.”

“That’s why we’re lucky we still have healers,” Railee added. “They have spiritual powers... strong enough to create spiritual barriers to keep the werewolves out. But the problem is... those barriers aren’t what they used to be. They’ve gotten weaker. It’s alarming.”

“It’s alright,” Elara said reassuringly. “The vampires are still here to protect us.”

From what I was hearing, it was becoming more and more clear just how much the vampires had done and were still doing for humanity. Especially now that the spiritual barriers were weakening, without their help, we’d all probably be dead by now.

After bathing, we hung our freshly washed uniforms out in the sun to dry. Once that was done, we were each assigned a task.

I was on kitchen duty today.

“You seem pretty skilled with a knife, Tiara,” said Mrs. Claire, one of the cooks, glancing at me as I sliced through a pile of vegetables with practiced precision.

“Yes, I’m the one cooking…” I said, briefly pressing my lips together to stop myself. I almost revealed the truth about my life, how in my real world, I was completely alone and had to rely solely on myself.

I held my tongue firmly. “I help my grandfather in the kitchen, so I’m really used to doing this,” I answered cheerfully.

“No wonder… Your hands seem even more skilled than mine. You chop so fast and the slices are so even,” she said with a delighted smile. “But on the other hand…” I furrowed my brow as Mrs. Claire’s voice suddenly changed.

I caught her staring sharply at the woman sitting beside me. She gave that woman a cold glare, so I turned my eyes to my side and froze at what I saw.

“Stella, why are you moving so slowly? I’ve been telling you to peel and chop those white onions for ages, and you’re still not done?!” Mrs. Claire shouted.

Stella bowed her head. I lowered my gaze to her hands and my eyes widened in shock, both her hands were wrapped in bandages. Not just her palms, but her lower arms were covered too.

“If I come back and you’re still not finished, you’ll feel my wrath!” Mrs. Claire warned before turning away and leaving the kitchen.

I noticed how tightly Stella gripped the knife handle, slicing the onions carefully and slowly. I secretly observed the side profile of her face. She looked pale, her skin almost drained of color. I could sense her weakness.

“I heard about your fight last night with one of the servants,” I said softly.

“W-Why do you care?” she snapped harshly.

“Yes, I don’t care, but do you know what you’re doing?” I whispered. “Rumor has it that some servants have died because they were consumed by the vampire princes... Prince Dawn and Prince Zatan... Do you want to end up like them?” She pressed harder on the onion as she sliced and shot me a fierce look.

“I said, don’t interfere.”

"I'm not interfering... I'm just giving you a warning," I said firmly, my voice calm but serious. "Every single night, the vampire you serve waits for blood. There are servants willing to offer themselves, yes, but if it becomes too much... that might be what ends up killing you."

I didn’t sugarcoat anything. I went straight to the point.

"And I hope this also reaches that other servant you know... the one who keeps sneaking into Prince Dawn’s bedchamber. He only wants your blood, nothing else. And judging by how you look lately, you seem dangerously close to death. I’m not trying to scare you, but take a good look at yourself in the mirror…”

She bit her lower lip and said nothing more. The silence between us grew heavier.

“But if you really want to keep going like that, that’s your choice,” I added, a little colder now. “If you die, then you die. We’ll just bury you. That’s all.”

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. “I’ll slice those onions instead. Mrs. Claire might come back and find them still whole.”

Without another word, I picked up the onions one by one, carefully sliced them, and then quietly returned them in front of her as if she had done it herself. I didn’t want anyone to know I had helped.

After such a long and tiring day, by ten in the evening, we all retreated to our rooms. I quickly fell asleep, undisturbed by the noise. The night was peaceful, or at least it seemed so. I couldn’t be completely sure... perhaps another servant still visited the prince’s bedchamber under the cover of darkness.

“You’ve really been such a huge help here in the kitchen, Tiara. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to slice and prepare the ingredients much faster,” Mrs. Claire praised me.

Earlier today, right after we had all bathed at the bathhouse, she had personally looked for me to assign me to kitchen duty.

“I’ll handle all the slicing, ma’am. I can manage it now,” I whispered politely.

Stella wasn’t working with me anymore. I hoped she was alright. She hadn’t been feeling well yesterday.

“Tiara, I’ll be needing you here until tonight, alright?” Mrs. Claire reminded me once again, and I nodded respectfully in response.

I spent the entire day in the kitchen without stepping outside, not even for a moment. I ended up being the assistant to both the cooks and even the head chef. Honestly, I preferred it this way. I’d much rather stay here than be out under the harsh sun, it’s summer, after all. Cleaning feels more exhausting than cooking.

If I had a choice, I’d stay here forever.

“Tiara!”

I looked up and turned toward the open doorway of the kitchen. Standing there were four of my friends.

“Oh, you’re still working?” Delailah said, her tone a mix of surprise and concern. “We were hoping to ask you to come bathe with us at the bathhouse. It’s already past nine in the evening.”

“We still need Tiara in the kitchen, ladies,” came the calm voice of Mr. Lary, one of the chefs, stepping in gently.

“Are you preparing dinner for the royal highnesses?” Elara asked politely.

Mr. Lary nodded, confirming her guess.

“You guys go ahead,” I told them. “We won’t be done for a while.”

“Alright,” Railee replied. “But if you change your mind and want to come later, let us know so someone can help you fetch water from the well.”

I thanked her with a small smile, and they waved goodbye before heading off.

I wasn’t too tired tonight. I had managed to get several short breaks earlier in the day, so I felt much better than I did yesterday. We weren’t just preparing food for the royal family, everyone inside the castle needed to be fed, and we cooked for all of them at once.

Once the long preparation process was finally done, I helped Mrs. Claire lay out the dinner dishes on the rolling tray table. Tonight’s main course was a rare steak for the Royal Highnesses.

“Tiara, I’ll leave you here for a while. I’ll call for you if I need anything,” she said.

I gave her a quick nod in response, and she left, pushing the tray out carefully.

“Time for a break!” Mr. Lary called out cheerfully, and the rest of the staff agreed with grateful smiles. Everyone sat down and began enjoying the pastries the baker had made earlier.

I joined in, helping myself to one of the treats. This was one of the things I loved about being in the kitchen, no one stopped you from grabbing something to eat whenever you wanted. It felt like a small freedom, and in a place like this, that meant a lot.

“I see… so your grandfather was a healer,” Mr. Tudor, the sauce maker, said quietly. I noticed the group had begun talking about me. I suppose it was natural, considering I was still new here. Wanting to be part of the conversation and not feel out of place, I decided to join in and chat with them.

“Tiara?”

Just then, Mrs. Claire arrived. I immediately stood up from my seat to face her respectfully.

“I’m going to get some wine from the cellar,” she said. “After that, come with me.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied.

She left without another word.

When she returned a few moments later, we walked together through the corridor on our way to the royal dining hall. Mrs. Claire was still pushing the rolling tray table in front of her to deliver the dessert while I was holding a heavy silver tray, carefully balancing a wine bottle and three crystal wine glasses on top of it.

As we reached the far end of the hallway, I saw two royal guards standing motionless, one on each side of a tall, imposing door. Their presence made the atmosphere feel even more formal and more serious. When we were close enough, they opened both sides of the grand royal doors in perfect synchronization.

My brows drew together in a subtle frown, my curiosity and unease growing.

Strangely, while we were walking along the hallway earlier, I hadn’t felt nervous at all. But the moment those doors opened, an unexplainable chill crept into my hands. Goosebumps began to rise along my arms, and my entire body tensed as if sensing something unnatural in the air.

We stepped into an enormous dining hall. At the center of the room stood a long, ornate dining table, elegantly set. Several people were seated, some along the sides, and one at the far end of the table, clearly the figure of authority.

Candles were lit all along the center of the table, their flames flickering softly, casting a warm but haunting glow across the marble walls.

Above us, an elaborate candle chandelier hung from the high ceiling. Its golden light poured downward, illuminating the otherwise shadowy room and giving the scene an eerie, almost surreal atmosphere.

Mrs. Claire and I walked forward without speaking. The sound of our footsteps echoed with each step we took, merging with the occasional soft clinking of utensils and glasses from the table, sounds that seemed unusually loud in the stillness of the room.

I held the tray more tightly now, my fingers curling around the handles. This was the very first time I would lay eyes on the royal highnesses, beings I'd only heard of in whispers and stories.

My eyes were drawn to the person sitting at the head of the table. His presence was commanding. His chair was far more elegant and imposing than the others, almost throne-like in its design. Judging by the strong features of his face and the quiet authority in his demeanor, I had no doubt, that this had to be King Luther, the ruler of the vampires.

I bit down hard on my lower lip, trying to steady myself.

Why did I feel this way?

My chest suddenly felt heavy, as if something unseen were pressing down on me.

I knew I could manage nerves, I had done so before.

But this... this was different. This wasn’t just nervousness.

This is damn weird.

It felt like something deep within me was responding to their presence. And I couldn’t explain why.

My attention then shifted to those seated to the right and left of the table. I carefully studied their side profiles. They were indeed the sons of King Luther. At first glance, they looked like ordinary men, quietly eating their meals as if nothing was unusual. But the weight of their aura was heavy, almost oppressive as if I could sense a dark, negative energy radiating from them.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself because we were almost at the dining table.

But before we could get there, my eyes widened in shock as I suddenly stumbled over something.

The loud crash of bottles and glass breaking echoed throughout the vast room as they fell to the floor.

“T-Tiara!” Mrs. Claire whispered softly.

“I-I’m so sorry!” I panicked and quickly dropped to my knees on the cold floor, hastily picking up the shards of glass.

“Ouch!” I murmured as I felt a sharp sting, one of the shards had cut one of my fingers.

When I lifted my hand to look, my heart clenched tightly as I saw my blood flowing down my palm, dripping onto the floor.

An unsettling silence fell over the entire room.

My neck trembled as I raised my head to glance toward the dining table, and my body froze when I saw...

The red eyes of King Luther, Prince Dawn, and Prince Zatan glowing intensely, fixed on me as if they were ready to attack me.