Page 30 of The Ballad of the Vampire Prince

This is just the strange bond taking effect.If I tell myself that lie over and over, perhaps I will believe it.

“But isn’t this stealing, little mango thief?” I ask as soon as we reach the courtyard.

The girl freezes in her steps.

Her eyes blink.

Once. Twice.

“That’s right… I haven’t asked for Lord Wesley’s permission.” Her body trembles and she doesn’t move from her spot. It almost looks as if she’s malfunctioning for a moment.

“What have I done?” she mutters silently.

It was just a stupid jest from me, one I’m severely regretting right now.

Rhianelle looks horrified and pale like she had just committed the heist of the century. They’re just mangoes for gods’ sake.

“Can we put it back?” she asks with a whimper.

“It’s too late for that now,” I say quickly. “Better hide your loot. Someone is coming.”

Heavy footsteps march towards us at a steady pace.

The first to appear at the turn of the passage is a broad-shouldered male with short-cropped copper hair. A sense of authority ripples through him, from his manners to his well-tailored suit. The purposeful gait and weapon suggest he is built for battle as well as court.

His unwavering gaze meets mine for several seconds before they fall to Rhianelle. I don’t catch the flinch or falter in his heart rate over my presence.

Brave,I suppose.

The same can’t be said to the two cowering guards trailing behind him. Their fear is tangible and displayed clearly in the bulging whites of their eyes.

I’ve killed people for crowns, weapons, and kingdoms before. Today I will kill them for mangoes.

Rhianelle steps forward to greet them.

“Your Highness, I hope you’re having a lovely evening—”

“I stole your fruits,” she confesses immediately.

What a terrible thief…I almost shake my head.

A suffocating silence falls in the hallway as the lord stares at her with confusion in his eyes. I calculate the best angle to slash his throat without splattering blood all over us.

But the male responds with a warm chuckle. “The orchard and garden have been abandoned after Vincent’s passing. I can’t afford to spare someone to tend to them with the orc’s frequent attacks on the border. You’re welcome to take anything you want, Your Highness.”

The guy speaks to her at a respectable distance but it’s still a little too close for my liking.

“Thank—”

“Rainer mentioned to me of your love for books,” he interrupts her gratitude.

Nel gives him a light nod. “I do love them.”

I hate it when another male talks to her as if he knows her better than I do. They probably do know her better. But I fucking hate it.

“This is a key to my private collection in the library.” The lord awards a small medallion to the palm of her hand. “It’s nothing like the Towers of Tarnarys or the Grand Valor Emporium in the Capital but I am quite proud of it.”

He gives her a smile that makes my guts clench.