My Most Precious Human

It took me more than an hour to wash off the blood from my body, then to wipe the stains I left on the floor. Afterwards, I wore a night gown that was prepared for me in my chamber, and I lay down in bed. It was a restless and mostly sleepless night. This wasn't the first time I was haunted by nightmares, but this time they were far too vivid. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Carla's face covered in blood and her expression distorted by an agonizing grimace. In my nightmares, she kept calling my name, begging me to save her while I was locked inside my cage, using all my strength to break the bars. After waking up screaming for the third time, I kept my eyes open until dawn.

I got up from bed at 6 AM and spent half an hour washing my face in cold water to reduce the swelling in my exhausted face. Afterwards, I sat on the bed and anxiously waited for someone to come for me. I didn't even grab the door handle by myself. I figured that walking out of this room wouldn't be a good thing. I could easily picture myself getting lost after passing through a single corridor anyway…

I tried to ponder over it, but I couldn't tell if I was endangered or not. I found my situation surreal, to the point I silenced my rational thinking. I didn't know what to expect.

"Why was I brought here? Is the owner of this house truly the silver-haired man that I have met before? Is my blood really that unique? Will I be sucked out of my blood now?!" I kept wondering, feverishly.

At the same time, I started recalling the time when I met the silver-haired man before. He had a chance to drink my blood while I was unconscious, but he didn't. Perhaps my blood could have been a cure for his condition when he had had an accident. He had the strength to push me away, and he could have used this strength to bite his teeth into my flesh, but again, he chose not to harm me. That gave me hope that he wasn't a bad person. He certainly was arrogant, but not necessarily evil.

An hour after I woke up, someone finally knocked on my door.

"Y-yes?" I called hesitantly.

"My name is Martha. I will be your personal maid. May I come in?" I heard the female voice coming from behind the door.

"Um… Come in, please," I said, surprised that someone was going to serve a prisoner.

I sat on the bed straight like a properly mannered lady should and waited for her to enter. The door opened, and she walked into my room. She was wearing a black and white, modern-type uniform. She wore a simple, yet elegant black A-line dress with thick straps and a buttoned-up, long-sleeved white shirt with a mandarin collar underneath. It certainly wasn't what I expected a maid in a vampire palace to look like. I softly chuckled, mocking my imagination.

"Is there something wrong?" she asked nervously.

I replied, "No, not at all," and smiled at her.

pile of neatly folded clothes she carried in her hands on my

I responded, curling my feet under

she noticed

she stated as if she wanted

was some kind of special guest, but I didn't know if I could ask her anything. I stared at her with my mind conflicted about whether to stay quiet or pop

must have seen the weird expression on my face.

after you meet our Master,"

will I meet

him. Please, wear your clothes and

dress lying on the top of

for you, Miss." Martha bowed then

flared dress with a shallow neckline complimented my waistline, and its length

lovely heels for me, and then she led me to the dining room, where I was supposed to meet the owner of the castle. We walked through long, bright castle corridors, taking turns a few times along the way until

I can lead you, Miss. You will have to enter yourself." She bowed, then hurriedly turned around

she was already gone before I could voice out my words. I sighed and opened

hesitantly, cautiously stepping onto

heard a deep, alluring

breath and walked inside. Suddenly, I found myself in a bright room with a row of large windows on one side. There was a long, dark wooden table standing alongside those windows. The silver-haired man was sitting at the end of it. He was gazing straight into my eyes as he could see right

right side, resembling a loyal adviser. I could see why those at the auction referred to him as "the Duke's aid," but wouldn't that imply that the

the heir of the Calvet Castle, one of the five

meet you… officially," I