Julia

  "Good m princess," Fined her as she was still in her pajamas on her way to the bathroom. "What shall I y out for you? Prince Fritz's fiancée and her parents have already arrived and will keep your family pany over breakfast. The vampires are expected for coffee iernoon. Just like your half-brother Torsten."

  "Good m, Finn." Julia receded. "Did you sleep well?"

  "Very, yes. And you?"

  "Not very, no." The presence of the vampires worried her and she had hardly slept. "Peter wao ask you to ge his suit. Did he ask you about it?"

  "Yes. He has. What I put out for you?"

  "Something solemn. After all, I get to know Fritz's fiancée."

  "As you wish." Finn disappeared into her dressing room and Julia got ready for the day ihroom. She already missed the hustle and bustle in her small hallartment. She hadn't seen Marko sihey had arrived and she saw Leopold only briefly. But here in the castle, where she was observed everywhere, she didn't want to risk aig their retionship. She did not want to be the princess who, in the eyes of others, took advantage of her servant. When she came out of the bathroom, Finn had already left. He had picked out a white dress with shimmering pearls and a light blue scherpe.

  On the way to the dining room, she met Lea. "Good M," she said, still a little sleepy.

  "Good M, Lea. Have you seen Fritz's fia?"

  "No. Presumably, she is already at the breakfast table and has to meet mum’s disagreement."

  "I'm looking forward to meeting her. However, I'm not looking forward to Mom's rea..."

  The two arrived at the dining room, from which they could hear soft voices. At the table sat the rest of her family, as well as a beautiful young woman with dark skin together with her parents, who seemed a bit intimidated.

  "Good M", Lea greeted and sat dowo Cleo. Julia sat dowo Peter, who was again sitting at the dining table wearing a dressing gown and with a pink pearl neckext to Julia's neckce. A sele of shimmering rings sparkled on his hands.

  After a short round of introdus, they talked about the professions of Pau's parents. Ge, her father, was a carpenter, and Lilly worked in a flower shop where Pau had helped out before taking the job at the hospital. The queen frowned but remained polite. Her gaze was cold.

  After breakfast, Julia spent some time with Fritz and Pau. She liked his fiancée. She was very quiet and polite, and very ied in the academy.

  Iernoon, the vampires arrived at the castle. Julia, together with Peter, watched from a window as dark carriages stopped in front of the castle. Her parents stood downstairs in the hall to wele the guests. Beautiful people with long light hair got out of the carriages. They all wore equally bright clothes. Servants protect them from the sun with umbrels, as the light was tht for their eyes. The eyes of vampires were desigo see at night. Julia aer also watched as servants, including people dressed in white, stepped out of two simpler carriages.

  "They don't seem very scary", Julia whispered, even though the vampires couldn't possibly hear them.

  "Are you sure?" Peter, who was still wearing his dressing gown, almost pressed his nose against the window. In addition, he wore colorful woolen stogs in his slippers, which Julia had not noticed at breakfast. "I think that's what makes them scary. I'm not looking forward to getting to know them right away. Do you think they drink bck coffee?"

  "As far as I know, they eat normal food, but they need extra blood. Why shouldn't they drink coffee? And why bck?"

  "Bck, because they're vampires? Noal?"

  The newers disappeared from their field of vision. But now they saw another, simpler carriage arrive.

  "That's certainly Torsten." Peter's gaze was glued to the carriage. "Another person I'd like to do without."

  The young man who got out of the carriage looked fusingly simir to her father, even from a distance. "So that's Torsten?"

  "Meet Torsten. A dazzling personality."

  "He looks like dad."

  "He does, right? Let's go to the firep ao know uests, little sister." Peter hooked up with her. "With a bit of luck, we'll survive today."

  "Your exaggerating, Peter."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Nobody wants to eat someone wearing only colorful socks and a dressing gown... You look like a pensioner whot to put on somethi ... With plenty of jewelry!"

  "Are you saying I look ridiculous?" Peter raised his eyebrows. "Me?"

  "Isn't that what you want?"

  Peter replied with a wink.

  Leopold

  He had st seen Julia briefly in the evening when he was supposed t her a hot chocote. They had talked, but he had to go back to the kit. There, he helped together with Marko, as a lot had to be prepared for the guests. All of them were here was hardly a free minute. Finn helped with dusting and otherwise took care of the princess's wishes. He had hardly seen him. o Leopold, Marko was cutting herbs. He seemed restless. His ears twitched from time to time. Presumably, this was due to the approag full moon. Finn also seemed a bit restless when they saw each other.

  Mr. Mühe also demahat they all wear a special uniform decorated with golden fabric to the ball. The uniform hung on the closet in the room of the three servants. The fabric seemed stiff and unfortable. As personal servants of the princess, they were to be dispyed like decorated trophies. He didn't like it.

  The other servants who would serve in the ballroom also wore a more festive uniform, but it was not nearly as ostentatious as those of Marko, Finn, and Leopold.

  He couldn't wait to return to the academy. There he was much freer than in the walls of the castle. And he missed Julia's pany. But he tried to ighis feeling as much as possible.

  Only a few weeks left, theion is ready and we are oep closer to freedom!

  Julia

  They sat together in the firep and drank coffee. The royal family seemed friendly, but their eyes seemed to lurk on Julia. Especially the prince, Marlon von Bluthof, hardly let Julia out of his sight. His sister, Annemarie, sat o Torsten, who seemed a little pale, and talked quietly to her. Queen Franka and King Heinrich talked to Julia's parents and her older siblings. They expressed their gratitude several times for the invitation. The adults talked about the strengths of their military, about medical advances... Julia barely listehe looks of the Vampire Prince worried her. His eyes were dark and they cked the pupil. In the light of the firep, they looked as red as dark blood.

  "Are you looking forward to the ball?", he asked her in a low, melodic voice. "It's supposed to be a big party. Surely you are excited? In our home try, we also celebrate big parties."

  "Is that so?" Julia tugged at Peter's colorful shirt, which he had exged for his dressing gown along with colorful cloth trousers. He wao 'get rid of the grandpa', he had said. The jewelry had remained and he now also wore a sparkling hair clip in his hair.

  "How are your parties?" Peter uood her silent request. "Are they different from our balls?"

  The prince smiled, showing his long, thin, and poieeth. "We alarty all night. And in summer, our balls take pder the stars. We dail sunrise, which we wele with a festive drink."

  "A drink?", asked Julia.

  "Blood. But only the fi, purest blood." The prince licked his lower lip. "Red as the sky of the rising sun."

  "How often do you drink blood?", Torsten now joihe versation.

  Annemarie answered his question. "At every meal, usually. But half a cub once a day is enough."

  Agathe, who had been listening to the versation, cleared her throat. "We're sorry we didn't prepare anything for you for coffee, but your well-being is taken care of at the ball."

  What? Julia aer exged surprised looks. She had to think of the people dressed in white... What had her manized? Hopefully, no human blood?

  Queen Franka nodded gratefully. "This is very kind, but we have taken care of our well-being. heless, we thank you for the gesture. It's going to be a feast for sure!"

  "We're really looking forward to the ball." King Henry took a rge sip of coffee, he drank it bck. Just like his wife. "This is a big event. A strong daughter. I'm sure you're very satisfied."

  "Certainly." Agathe nodded.

  "And have you thought further about our offer?", asked Queen Franka.

  Julia noticed how Marlon was looking at her closely. His gaze seemed hungry. What kind of offer?

  "Sure", Friedrich replied, looking at his wife.

  Agathe nodded. "We have an offer ourselves, but let's talk about it ter. Tomorrow? At breakfast? When the ball is over?"

  What kind of offer? What are you talking about?

  Fritz and his fiancée also exged worried looks.