“Hello, son!” greeted Nicolae. “What are you up to in your room?”

   “Hi, dad!” greeted Jonathan, attempting to hide some of the new clothes that he got for Maria. “Nothing. Just tidying up the room.”

   “Oh! That’s good!” said Nicolae. “When you’re done, your mother needs you downstairs.”

   “Okay, dad,” said Jonathan.

   Jonathan wasn’t able to sell Maria’s gold coins just yet, at least not without doing research on how to find coin collectors in the village, but he had enough cash in his savings to proceed with the shopping. With a handful of t-shirts, trousers, shorts, and footwear, he believed the items that he got were sufficient.

   But now, all he needed left was to buy Maria some underwear. Obviously, as a boy, he couldn’t just go into the lady’s area and buy them. What would people around him say? Thus, he ordered them online, and addressed the delivery to the castle hall, much to the confusion of the delivery man. Maria, coming across the packages, after waiting for the delivery man to leave, felt baffled as well. Upon close inspection on the contents, she realized that Jonathan may have told them to drop them in the castle.

   “So, this is a bra,” she commented, holding one up to her bosom. “And it fits too!”

   Days later, on a weekend, Jonathan found the time to visit the castle again. The parents had gone hiking in the countryside together, and it could take hours till they got back. That left Jonathan with enough time to sneak out without being seen carrying the items to Maria. On his way, he even took the time to buy lunch for Maria.

   As he got into the hall, announcing his presence, Maria, awaiting his return in excitement, ran down the stairs, and stood in front of Jonathan.

   “Jonathan, welcome!” she greeted, formally bowing and, then, giving Jonathan a hug. “I’ve missed you so much!” she said, squeezing him tight.

   “I’ve missed you too,” said Jonathan, hugging Maria  as well.

   Maria let go of Jonathan, giving him the chance to drop the bags down.

   “I received the bras, and the other underwear,” said Maria. “But, why did you send strangers to drop them instead of you?”

   “They were delivery men,” Jonathan explained. “I used my phone to order them online; I was embarrassed to go by myself into a lady’s store.”

   “Ah! I understand!” said Maria. “Thank you so much.”

   “You’re welcome, Maria,” said Jonathan.

   “Hey, bring the items upstairs, so I can choose something to wear,” said Maria. “Did you get me a phone?”

   “I sure did,” said Jonathan, lifting the bundle of bags that had the phone up.

   Wasting no time at all, the pair soon found themselves in the corridor upstairs. Jonathan was told to wait outside, as Maria tried out her new outfits, occasionally talking to Jonathan through the bedroom door.

   “Jonathan,” asked Maria from the other side of the door, “I had been observing the maidens of this generation, but why do most of them now wear pants, and not skirts?”

   “I can’t explain really,” said Jonathan, “but probably due to change in taste by a young generation before  mine, and the clothes makers making them common.”

   “That’s probably it,” said Maria.

   “Did you wear an underpants?” asked Jonathan.

   “’Underpants?’” wondered Maria. “Oh, yes! But, they got smaller compared to what I was familiar with,” she commented. “But, I may be wearing them wrong. There is this tag... thing... on each? Is it the front, or the back?”

   “The back,” said Jonathan.

   “Then, I’m wearing it correctly,” said Maria.

   Silence filled the room for a while, leaving Jonathan wondering if Maria was having any issues.

   “Maria, are you okay?” asked Jonathan.

   “I’m fine,” said Maria. “I’m just experiencing difficulty clipping my bra from behind.”

   “Should I come in and help?” asked Jonathan.

   “No!” Maria nervously laughed. “I’m done! And, besides, I have not forgotten how uneasy you made me feel when you stared at me like that.”

   “I said I was sorry,” said Jonathan.

   “That’s alright. I hold no fault on you,” Maria assured. “You were just trying to figure out my bra size, and, admittedly, you got the measurements correctly.”

   “Thanks,” said Jonathan, feeling rather modest. “I did try my best. Wasn’t sure if I got it right without going into a physical shop.”

   “You did well,” said Maria. “I’m now putting on an upper garment.”

   “You mean ‘t-shirt?’” wondered Jonathan.

   “’T-shirt?’ So that’s what they’re called?” asked Maria. 

   “Yes,” said Jonathan.

   There were no further words between the pair for a while, but, then, Maria bellowed, “Come inside!”

   Thus, Jonathan opened the bedroom door, and walked in. He was a bit confused when he didn’t see Maria anywhere near the bedroom, which had her dirty old robe, and a hair band over it, or the dressing table.

   “This way,” instructed Maria.

   Maria stood next to her bedroom window, with the afternoon sun offering Jonathan, with his eyes widened in astonishment, a clearer view on Maria’s clothing.

   “So...,” said Maria, with cheeks turned red, “how do I look? Do I look like... the... umm... most beautiful girl you’ve ever seen?” referring to the pair’s first encounter.

   “Very,” said Jonathan, feeling attracted to Maria, much to her delight.

   But, then, something threw Jonathan off. Maria was actually standing at the front of the window, with daylight touching her. Unlike how sunlight could destroy a vampire, Maria looked as healthy as a human.

   “What?” said Maria, feeling rather concerned.

   “The sun,” said Jonathan. “It isn’t hurting you.”

   “No,” said Maria, smiling at Jonathan, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. “In fact, I haven’t told you everything about myself.”

   “What’s that?” asked Jonathan in a curious tone.

   “I’m not a full vampire,” said Maria. “I’m only half-blood.”

   “What’s ‘half-blood’?” asked Jonathan.

   “I was born human,” said Maria.

   “Oh!” Jonathan exclaimed. Now, he was all ears.

   “My memory is blank,” Maria admitted, “but I think, in my past life, I was dying from a grave ailment.”

   “I’m so sorry,” said Jonathan, feeling very concerned, grabbing her palms. “So, what happened?”

   “I think I was saved,” said Maria, “by drinking a medicine from a chalice.” Jogging her memory, and biting her lips, she commented, “I think.A.. my uncle added something to boost its effectiveness: his vampire blood.”

   “Wait,” Jonathan pointed. “Your past sounds similar to the stories of the sleeping heir. But, that means...?”   

   ”Yes,“ said Maria with a faint smile. “Jonathan.... I am the sleeping heir.”

   “You what?” bellowed Jonathan.

   And, thus, Jonathan’s quest to find the sleeping heir came to a shocking conclusion. He took a few steps back, and, in shock, kept his eyes on Maria.

   “I can’t believe it,” he exclaimed. “I’ve found you! This whole time!”

   But, then, his excitement turned to confusion.

   “Wait,” he said. “The last time I came, I asked if you knew anything about the sleeping heir, and you promised to look around for clues. Why didn’t you say that you were her?”

   “That’s because,” said Maria, with her head facing down, and happiness turned to sadness, “I don’t want to be her.”

   “Maria?” said Jonathan, as she made her way to her bed where she sat.

   “Remember when I yelled at you, saying that the earliest of visitors treated me like garbage?” asked Maria. “I’m not so sure if I’m anyone’s heiress, or a princess of a generation I don’t even know. Who’s going to accept a half-blood vampire as their leader?”

   “I would,” said Jonathan, putting his hand on Maria’s back to comfort her, as he sat next to her, “and a lot of people at the village would too. Maria, you’re a humble and sincere girl. For generations, people had missed you, and some still kept their hopes up for your return.  Maybe not all, but I’m sure some of us will accept you, no matter what you look like.”

   “But are you sure?” said Maria, as she looked Jonathan in the eye with hope.   

   “I know it,” assured Jonathan. “Listen, my parents have learned more about the legend than I have. I will consult with them for advice on what we should do next.”

   “Thanks, Jonathan,” said Maria. She rested her head on Jonathan’s shoulder, smiling with her eyes facing Jonathan. “Even if I’m no longer a princess,” said Maria, “I’m still grateful for having you in my life, making me feel happy whenever I’m feeling sad. I couldn’t ask for a better boy.”

   “You’re welcome,” said Jonathan, feeling a bit modest. “You want to hear something?”

   “What?” asked Maria.

   “I’m glad to have you too,” said Jonathan, leaving a wide smile on Maria’s face.

   Silence filled the room, with the pair smiling and staring at each other. With Maria’s head still on his shoulder, hesitating at first, Jonathan placed his hand around Maria’s waist, prompting her to draw closer to  Jonathan for better comfort. The pair, at this point, may be seeing each other as more than just good friends.

   “Jonathan, may you show me how to use my phone now?” asked Maria.

   “Okay,” said Jonathan.