The road to Castle Cretzia was long and bumpy.

Evelynn’s bum was numb and sore from sitting in the carriage for hours on end. She longed to get out and stretch her legs. Hell, she’d much rather the comfort of horseback than suffocating in the carriage a moment longer. Being stuck in close quarters with her two sisters set her teeth on edge.

Justine, she didn’t mind as much, except for the child never stopped talking or bouncing up and down in her seat. Margaret sulked the entire two day journey. Pouting and glaring out the window as the scenery around them changed from bright green forests to barren, empty lands covered in ice.

The North was a harsh kingdom. The winters were long and frigid. Barely anything grew in the mountains and the roads were always blocked by ice and snow. Vampire’s thrived in the cold and didn’t need to eat, which is probably why they claimed it as their own so many centuries ago. All they needed was a few human subjugates to feed off of every now and then.

Evelyn glanced out the window, praying to whatever Gods would listen, that their ride would soon be over. If she had to listen to Justine yammer on about the Prince for one more minute, someone would end up with a knife in their eye.

Just as she was about to snap at her younger sister, she caught sight of the red brick castle, nestled between two mountains. Marking the boundary of their land and the entrance to the North, the great Kingdom of Leon.

She sighed a breath of relief at the sight of Castle Cretzia. They finally made it.

If she ever had to do this arduous trip again, she was riding with her brother and father. Margaret and Justine could keep each other company just fine on their own.

The carriage pulled off the road, pulling to a stop down an icy side road. The horses nickered in protest. Frosty air blew out their nose as they stomped their feet against the frigid terrain.

Evelyn nearly kicked the carriage door open before one of their coachmen could open it for her. She hoped out of the stifling box and almost danced at the feeling of being free.

The air was cold, much colder than she was used to down in the South where it seemed like summer would never end. Her warm breath came out in puffs of white. Her cheeks stung and the tips of her fingers were already numb.

Turning back, she saw her brother exit his own carriage, their father just behind. She walked over towards them while the servants prepared their cold weather attire. They couldn’t very well show up to Castle Cretzia without wearing the right clothes for the North.

“Father,” Evelyn bowed her head slightly upon sight of her father, as was custom.

“Evelyn, dear. How was your ride?” King Linus asked, a small smirk playing on his lips, as though he already knew the answer.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes at her king before smiling falsely. “It was quite entertaining. Margaret was a joy to be around and Justine couldn’t stop talking about how handsome the Vampire Prince is,” she leaned in to whisper, knowing it would get him back for sticking her with her sisters for two days straight. “I believe Justine wishes that the Prince will choose her as his bride. Something about, living forever, or some nonsense,” she waved her hand flippantly.

The King nearly choked on the air he breathed. His face turned bright red, his eyeballs nearly popping from their sockets. If Evelyn didn’t know any better, she might actually be worried for him. But no, this was the look of a parent who believed his youngest daughter wished to become immortal.

King Linus cleared his throat, regaining his composure. Evelyn tried her damndest to stifle a laugh and only somewhat succeeded by the look on her brother’s face that was now breaking out into a full blown grin.

“If you’ll excuse me,” the King said, before walking with determination towards his youngest.