The Crown's Obsession (WN)

Music Recommendation: Come Crashing by Digital Daggers

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The young girl held the front part of her dress, making sure she wouldn't trip and fall, quickly walking through the narrow alley, which was darker compared to the place she had just stepped out of. She could feel her heart pounding. Her red eyes carefully looked behind her, making sure she wasn't being followed by the guards right now.

Lucy Hawthrone was in her teens, a vampiress who was the only daughter of Laurence Hawthrone, king of Devon. She had come out of the castle in the carriage, wanting to get some fresh air, but she hadn't been able to do it with the two guards who had followed her, drawing unnecessary attention to herself from the people.

Now away from the crowd and standing in a deserted place, she felt she could finally breathe. There was no one to hover over her, nor was there anyone to tattle what she did to her mother or grandmother.

What Lucy didn't realize was that when she had stepped into the alley, she had walked far enough that had led her away from the town's market, and the place was much shadier that she was not supposed to be at.

"Are you lost, beautiful?" asked a person from behind her, and Lucy quickly snapped her head around and saw a man standing in the narrowed alley. The man wore tattered clothes, and his hair looked like he hadn't washed it in a long time.

Not having spent a lot of time alone by herself, especially outside the castle, her red eyes looked at the person with keen interest. People around Lucy were often well dressed in silk fabrics and were always in a presentable state.

"Do you know which way from here leads to the outside part of the market?" asked Lucy, but at the same time, she heard something snap behind her. Turning her head, she caught sight of two more men standing on the other end.

"Where do you want to go?" asked one of the men, "We can help you by taking you to your destination."

Lucy could sense that she had gotten herself into trouble. She bowed her head, "That won't be necessary. I think I changed my mind. I will go back to the market."

She quickly started to walk, turning her head back to see the two men who stood in their places, without moving from there and somewhere it worried her that the man she walked past would stop her, but when he didn't, she let out a sigh of relief which was short-lived.

"You look like you come from a wealthy family. How much do you think they would pay us if we kidnapped you?" asked the man she had passed by, and she soon came to see one more man, who blocked her way.

Lucy smiled, laughing a little, "You have got it wrong. I am one of the maids who works in the castle. You have got the wrong person," she said, her feet coming to a halt. She could sense the other three men at the back, making their way towards her, and her hand clenched the side of her dress.

"I don't remember when was the last time I saw a maid as pretty as yourself, wearing clothes made of silk. Especially being followed by the two royal guards," said the person in front of her who had a bald head and who continued to block her way.

"My mistress likes to give me clothes when she is pleased with my service. I think it would be wise if you get her, rather than me who has nothing to offer," stated Lucy, her hand slipped into her dress pocket and clutching on to the dagger that was in there.

"You are princess Lucy, aren't you? The royal guards don't follow anyone or anything in this part of the town," chuckled the bald man.

Lucy quickly pulled out the dagger from her dress pocket that she often carried with herself. It was a gift from one of her relatives, and she treasured it. No one ever knew when or who would come to attack her, and she carried it with her so that she could protect herself when she stepped out of the castle.

"Don't come near me, or I will kill you," she threatened them, turning front and back with her hand raised and pointing the sharp dagger at them. They were humans, and she was a vampiress. She could handle them by using her vampire strength, thought the princess to herself.

The men around her chuckled, "A weapon like a dagger doesn't suit you, princess. You should throw it away unless you want to get hurt." The bald man was quick to catch hold of her hand that was idle, believing she was just an innocent flower in the wildness of the world.

But Lucy surprised him by stabbing the man's other hand that had tried to snatch the dagger, "Argh!" he groaned in pain, not expecting her to attack him. She quickly raised her leg to kick him, and it would have worked, but with the number of layers that her dress consisted of, her leg barely made a hit as the dress cushioned the man from being hurt from her kick. She used the dagger again to stab his shoulder before pulling out the dagger. "Catch hold of her!" yelled the man in pain.

Lucy had started to run through the narrow alley, trying to find her way back, and she finally realized how far she had come from the marketplace. The people who were at the back suddenly appeared in front of her, making her stop her heels.

How did they get there so quickly?! They were mere humans!

"This is going to cost you, princess," said the bald man right behind her, and before she knew it, he snatched the dagger that she had in her hand and placed it against the front of her neck.