Franka

The night promised to be wonderful.

Franka and Coletta had been back at their parents' estate for two days now. Her stepfather stayed at the castle to attend a council meeting. Their mother was busy with tea parties. As a result, she had little time for her daughters. But the two were used to it. And luckily for them, they weren't expected to partake in the stiff tea pleasure. No. She and Coletta also had guests over.

Franka's best friend Malea was visiting, while her mother was drinking tea with Franka's mother. Malea was a half-vampire from a noble family. Her father, Nicolo von Graustein, had married a human woman instead of a vampire. Malea often talked about how upset her grandmother still was, since she had foreseen him for an arranged marriage. But Nicolo didn't like the vampire his mother had chosen for him.

Of course, this was not detrimental to his position within the nobility. The nobles, in particular, were very keen to regard humans as equals, even if they drank their blood. Half-vampires, on the other hand, were considered deplorable existences because they lived longer than humans but were weaker than purebreds. Franka thought this was silly. Malea was far from weak.

She would soon start studying at the university. Malea wanted to research better methods to preserve blood. Until now, vampires used a special vinegar, which they obtained from the bitter berries of a bush that grew close to the swamps. The special properties of the fruit made it possible to preserve it. As a result, however, preserved blood tasted slightly bitter. To get the bitter note out of the blood, it was sweetened with sugar or with honey.

"What do you think? How long will you be gone?", Franka asked her friend. The two had made themselves comfortable on Franka's bed and were lying head to head next to each other.

The walls of Franka's teenage bedroom were painted dark purple. Matching the dark furniture and grey bed linen, which she had embroidered with purple flowers. The ceiling was adorned with a painted starry sky, which the two girls looked at.

"A few years, I think? Three years of study, natural sciences, alchemy, and then research. However, I hope to be able to start research while I am still studying. Do you want to study? Together with me?"

"No. At least not for several years", Franka muttered. "Coletta is currently thinking about it. And from grandmother, I heard that Prince Heinrich will also study. But she didn't know what. She hopes that he will study politics. Or economics."

Is he supposed to inherit the throne? Is it decided?", Malea wanted to know.

Franka shook her head. "Nothing has been decided yet. No. I have heard that the Council is now pushing for a decision. A few councilors would like to see my stepfather and then Kevina on the throne. That's what Father told me. She is the eldest grandchild."

"And Kevina wants to inherit the throne?"

Franka sighed. "I think so, yes. Just like my uncle. By the way, grandfather told me that the new university offers a short course of study in the field of politics. For the sons and daughters of the nobility who do not want to study for a long time. Many are already involved in the family business. Maybe that's what I'll do. Then, I would be at the university for half a year. Grandfather would like that. He said it was just the right thing for me."

"He said that? Interesting. But... Just so briefly?" Malea sighed. "What a pity. But you've never liked to spend hours in class."

"I'm too impatient for that!" Franka stuck her tongue out at her friend. "I don't like to sit on my butt for a long time. My private tutors have always forbidden me to tap my feet or fidget in any other way. The lessons were just exhausting. And then, I couldn’t listen to anything about half of the lesson. I've read up on most of the knowledge. When I had my peace and quiet and could fidget with my feet as much as I wanted."

Malea shook her head, laughing. "You are incredible, Franka. Hey, is it true? My father told me that the queen was planning another ball. Does she?"

"It's true. Oh!" Franka remembered something. Abruptly, she sat up. "Grandmother sent me a letter! The seamstress is here!"

Confused, Malea also sat up. "What seamstress?"

"So! Grandmother heard about a particularly talented seamstress! And she ordered her to the castle! Poppy Freirot! A cute name. Don't you think? Poppy. That's so cute!" The words gushed out of Franka. "In her letter, grandmother writes that the seamstress has arrived. Grandmother is thrilled with her talent and therefore will have dresses sewn for Coletta and me. For the ball. Oh! And for Kevina. She was there when the seamstress arrived. Prince Heinrich might get a new suit if the seamstress can sew everything in time for the ball. But it's only a few weeks until then. The invitations should be sent out soon."

Sighing, Malea lay down again. "I hope I'm invited!"

Franka rolled over on her stomach and rested her head on her hands. "Me too. That would be funny."

"And Prince Heinrich?" Malea grinned with red cheeks. "He'll be there too, yes? The handsome prince? Heinrich the Handsome! That's what my other friends call him. Do you think he has a girlfriend? Or even a fiancée?"

"I don't know. And I don't care!", growled Franka.

At the same moment, the door of her room was thrown open and Coletta, followed by her three friends, came rushing in. Lasse, Lotta, and Romy von Gelbstich had been invited, together with their mother.

"Franka! Malea! Come! We're playing charades!", said Coletta.

Franka grimaced. "Charades?"

"Yes. But a special charade. Charade with dirty words!" Lasse winked at her and Malea. His sisters giggled softly.

"Come on!" Coletta urged the two of them. "It's going to be fun. We've already written down a lot of indecent things!"

"So... While you're here, Coletta... Do you know if Prince Heinrich has a girlfriend? Franka's answer was anything but helpful", Malea asked calmly. She skillfully ignored the invitation.

"Oh! Prince Heinrich!" Romy grinned. "I'd marry him right away!" Lotta nodded.

"Me too!", Lasse announced and received a swipe from Lotta.

"Not if I'm faster!", she said.

"I don't know either", Coletta muttered. "Why? Are you interested in him, Malea?"

"Of course! I'd take it right away!" Malea pulled Franka's pillow over her head. "But he just doesn't notice me! Am I not pretty enough?"

Malea was very pretty. She had inherited her mother's black hair and brown eyes. That half-vampires did not have red eyes was very rare, as vampire genes were dominant. But Malea's eyes, just like the eyes of vampires, were pupilless.

"So you don't want to play charades with us? Do I understand that correctly?", asked Coletta, now slightly sour.

"Yes!", growled Franka. "But go and have fun."

"You're missing out on the fun of your life! We have words like dirty slob, dick face, ass with ears…" Lasse grinned broadly. " Pussy – We mean the cat, of course. It's all very ladylike."

"I can tell." Malea rolled her eyes. "You’re impossible."

Coletta snorted indignantly. "If you think so." She and her high-spirited friends left the two alone again.

"How do you play a dick face?", asked Malea.

"I don't want to know..." Franka chuckled embarrassedly. "But knowing Lasse, he will be very creative. What do you think? Should we go to the garden?"

"Gladly. Yes."

While Franka played tag in the garden with her friend, she remembered her former childhood friends Fanele and Renelle. The last time she had seen them was on her tenth birthday when she had invited the two of them. After that, they grew apart. Franka had nothing in common with them anymore. And that had become painfully clear on her tenth birthday...

They had quarreled. Today, she knew that the two of them were just jealous of her sudden wealth and all her beautiful things. This was nothing dramatic, and in this case, it was to be expected. But it broke their friendship.

Franka missed the light-heartedness of her past commoners' life.