I looked out of the balcony of my room, and as I looked out the window, I could see that the castle was now more guarded. There were guards at the foot of my window, next to the other towers near mine and on the terrace. Annoyed, I went into my room, closed the window and also the curtains. I went to the next room, where I kept my wardrobe and there, I locked myself in; I wanted to cry from rage, he has always treated me like a useless girl... I knew that I was capable of much more.

Standing on the floor of the next room, from my cloak pocket, I took out the gifts that Ion had given me, I smiled.

- Ion, now I can call you by a name my love.

I got up and sat on the dressing table chair, I opened the notebook that Ion had just given me. I quickly looked for the page where I had his portrait. God! his drawing technique was so beautiful, it was unique. With my finger I followed the lines of the drawn portrait of his face; he was still as handsome as a human.

The features that caught my attention from the first time I saw him were his beautiful hazel eyes, which used to be bright green when he was human. His hair was so black and now it was silver. But something I couldn't take my eyes off of were his beautiful red blood lips. They were the same color and shape when he was human.

I was so focused on the portrait of my beloved Ion when someone knocked on my bedroom door. I left the next room and headed to the door, without opening it.

– Yes?

– Princess, can I come in?

It was Lestat, what the hell did he want now? Wasn't it enough that he had been the reason for the argument with my father? And now what?

– What do you need?

- Can I talk to you for a moment?

I paused, remembering my father's words: "Lestat told me about his feelings for you." No, I didn't want to be alone with him! It would be awkward to have him around now that I know his intentions.

- Irhin?

- No, Lestat. I'm getting ready for bed.

Lestat didn't answer right away.

- Can we have breakfast tomorrow, Irhin?

What should I say? Damn it! My "princess" values; I was taught not to say "no" to an invitation to eat, it's not polite to turn it down.

- I don't think I'll get up early, Lestat.

- I'll wait until you get up.

I wasn't going to leave my bedroom door until I gave him an answer.

- Okay, Lestat, good night.

- Sweet dreams, princess.

I didn't answer him any further. This situation was already awkward for me.

The next morning, I woke up early, oddly enough. As I sat up in my bed, I saw a red rose on my pillow beside me. It had a small piece of paper underneath it; I took it and opened it.

"I'll wait for you in the back garden, Irhin."

It was a note from Lestat, that was his handwriting. Lucy must have left it there, I sighed reading the note and stood up.

As I left my room, there were five soldiers, three in front of my room and two on either side of the door. Great!

- Good morning!

The soldiers responded in unison to my greeting. I went down the stairs and then at the bottom was Lestat. He had his armor on and a smile on his lips.

- Princess, good morning!

He extended his hand to help me down the last few steps.

- Good morning.

I didn't take his hand; I finished going down the stairs and bowed to him in greeting.

- You look amazing this morning.

- Thank you, you too.

I tried to behave a little distant with Lestat, I don't want him to think I'm interested in him.

- I prepared breakfast for you in the garden, so you can have a different view.

- Thank you very much.

We walked towards the garden; he was by my side. I must admit that Lestat is a good gentleman. He has excellent manners and is very polite, all the time he escorted me until we reached the garden, he had prepared one of the tables in the garden and it was so beautifully decorated. It had many roses of various colors; it was quite colorful. There were the palace cooks and the cleaning girls; with whom I made a great friendship.

I tried to behave a little better, so I could treat Lestat as a friend. It really bothered me that he was so serious about things in the palace; But we were good friends in the past. Since Lestat's father died, he has changed a lot. I can well understand his hatred and resentment.

I remembered who had killed Lestat's father. It had been my beloved Ion. My father always wondered why Darklion hadn't turned Lestat's father into a vampire, like him. Also, how was it possible for all the wounded soldiers to return without being bitten by vampires. I had to ask Ion.

- Is everything okay, Irhin?

Lestat spoke to me, bringing me out of my thoughts.

- Of course! I'm sorry, what were you telling me?

- I was telling you about when we played hide and seek in this garden, do you remember?

- Of course! I was barely eight years old, and you...

- Fourteen, every time my...

Lestat paused; those memories involved his father.

– when my father came to report his findings to the king and to train new soldiers.

– Your father was wonderful, Lestat.

– Until he had to go that day to attack that bastard.

– Lestat, calm down. Your father didn't become a vampire; and your family managed to give him a good burial. That should be comforting.

– Comforting, Irhin? Calm down, you say? That fucker killed my father!!! He pierced a sword through his back, coming out through his chest, through his heart.

- No, wait, I don't mean that! Listen, I'm just saying...

- Don't say ANYTHING! You don't know shit. The war we're facing is to protect the people we love, the town and the countries under your father's rule. You're nothing more than an ignorant little princess who should just stay in her little castle living a "happy" life with all her servants.

WHAT DID LESTAT JUST TELL ME?! I couldn't resist any longer and raised my hand; the blow was heard loudly. I slapped Lestat so hard on his cheek that my hand was left with a strange burning sensation. I stood up from my seat.

- You're nothing more than an arrogant man; you want to have details with me and then spit your venom in my face. If I spend my time locked up here it's because my father has done so by locking me up in the castle! not letting me learn to take care of myself, because those are the "king's orders". To protect me? Protect me from what? Perhaps from the air itself.

Lestat had placed his hand on his right cheek where I had just slapped him, his expression was one of astonishment.

- My father couldn't get over my mother's death and he thinks that locking me up here will protect me from everything. But he's wrong, I'm not an "ignorant little princess" as you've called me. I'm a woman, being a princess doesn't define me, I'm more than this and if I wanted to, I'd give up everything here. I don't want this life if I can't learn to do things for myself... Don't you dare call me a wealthy princess because I'm not, I want to be part of everything my father and the lieutenants do. Give my own opinions, but he doesn't allow me because I'm a "woman" and for him and now for you I'm just a stupid little princess.

- I-Irhin I...

- Don't ever give me a single invitation, Lestat. And don't ever speak to me again...

I took out of my pocket the paper that Lestat had given Lucy and the red rose; I left it on the table and left. Lestat stayed there. I went up to my room and locked myself in, I didn't want any more shows, and I didn't want my father's sermons.

I sat on my bed; I was shaking. I looked at my right hand that I had slapped Lestat with; it was red, and it felt hot. I had never slapped anyone in my life. God! What had happened to me?

I got out of my bed and went to my desk near the window, there was my notebook and the notebook that Ion had given me the night before. I took both out of the drawer and then opened the notebook that was Ion's and hugged him tightly, I opened it to the page where the human portrait of him was drawn, I lay on my bed looking at him.

- You have a really beautiful eyes.

I quickly fell asleep.