Aria opened her eyes slowly, dawn light slipping through her bedroom window. She barely turned her head on the bed, and there stood Elizabeth by the wall, her maid outfit pristine, the black apron perfectly pressed.

  The vampire gave a faint smile, just showing her fangs, and raised a hand in a gentle wave.

  “Good morning, miss,” Elizabeth said, her voice calm but with a warm edge as she tilted her head.

  Aria nodded once, a sharp, precise gesture, and slid her legs out of bed with that icy calm that never left her. Her feet hit the cold floor, and Elizabeth hurried over, kneeling beside her with a towel in hand.

  “Happy birthday, miss!” she burst out, her tone rising slightly as she handed over the towel carefully. Her hands trembled just a bit, and she smiled wider, like she was waiting for a reaction.

  “Thank you,” Aria said, her monotone voice cutting through the air as she took the towel.

  Before she could use it, a low laugh rumbled from the shadow under her feet, and Esmeria’s voice emerged, deep and steady.

  “Happy birthday, little one. Six years already, huh? Quite a milestone,” Esmeria said, pleased.

  Aria tilted her head just a fraction, glancing at the shadow for a second.

  “Thank you,” she repeated, as dry as before, and started wiping her face with mechanical motions.

  Elizabeth stood up, clasping her hands in front of her as she watched with shiny eyes.

  “Today’s a special day, miss,” she began, her voice soft but quick as she gestured a little. “We’re celebrating your birthday party. The trip takes about three hours, so we’ll get there with plenty of time.”

  Aria nodded again, setting the towel on the bed with a precise move.

  “Understood,” she said, her cold tone echoing in the room as always.

  Elizabeth swallowed, scratching the back of her neck with one hand as her smile twisted slightly.

  “B-but… there’s something else,” she stammered, dropping her gaze for a second before looking back up. “You can only bring one maid… Though, of course, Esmeria can hide in my shadow or María’s, so…”

  Elizabeth paused, her fingers twisting nervously.

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  “I… I’d like to know who you’ll pick this time to join you for something so important.”

  Her voice came out shaky, and she lifted her eyes to Aria with a mix of hope and fear, like she braced for rejection any second.

  Elizabeth pressed her lips together, waiting, and the shadow under Aria’s feet stirred faintly, as if Esmeria was listening too.

  But before the silence stretched too long, Aria spoke, her flat voice slicing through.

  “You’ll go.”

  Elizabeth blinked fast, her mouth parting slightly.

  “Huh?” she blurted, leaning forward with trembling hands. “S-sorry, miss… can you say that again? I think I heard wrong,” Elizabeth said, her tone rising as she cupped a hand to her ear, like she genuinely doubted her senses.

  Aria turned her head to her, those light green eyes locking onto the vampire without a blink.

  “You’ll come with me,” Aria repeated, her voice cold and exact, not a hint of doubt.

  Elizabeth froze, her hands dropping to her sides as her eyes widened.

  “Me?” she murmured, pointing at herself with a shaky finger.

  ‘ME?!’ she thought, her mind doing flips as she swallowed hard. ‘I thought she’d pick that human…’

  Elizabeth remembered the day Aria went shopping for her birthday dress, how she’d dragged María along without even glancing at her.

  Elizabeth clenched her fists for a second, her pale face going whiter.

  “A-are you sure, miss?” she stammered, leaning in a bit more.

  Aria tilted her head just a touch, her eyes studying her with that icy calm.

  “Don’t you want to go?” Aria asked, her dry tone cutting the air like a knife.

  Not want to go?

  Obviously, joining her on this day would be a huge honor for Elizabeth!

  Though she didn’t care much for humans, due to the agreement the queen had made, she had to keep herself in check.

  Elizabeth took a breath, whipping her hands to her head so fast she smacked herself with her knuckles.

  “No, no, no!” she yelped, shaking her head frantically. “Of course I want to! It’s an honor, miss!”

  Elizabeth bowed so eagerly her forehead slammed into Aria’s with a dull thud.

  “Ow!” Elizabeth cried, jerking back fast as she clutched her head. “Sorry, sorry, sorry!” she shrieked, flailing her hands like she could erase the mistake.

  Her eyes filled with panic, and she stumbled back, nearly tripping over the bed.

  “I’m a little clumsy… I’m so sorry!”

  The shadow under Elizabeth’s feet shook hard, and Esmeria’s voice came out in a low growl.

  “Elizabeth, you idiot!” she barked, her deep tone rumbling through the room. “How dare you hit the miss with your clumsiness? Control your emotions, moron!”

  The shadow rippled more, like it wanted to leap out and smack the vampire itself.

  Elizabeth opened her mouth to argue, her hands shaking as she pointed at the shadow.

  “I’m so sorry…” she wailed, her voice hitting a childish pitch. “It was an accident, Esmeria, I’m still kind of…”

  But before she could go on, Aria raised a hand with a crisp gesture, slicing the air like she’d hit a button.

  “Stop,” Aria said, her cold, monotone voice echoing in the room.

  Elizabeth snapped her mouth shut, her hands dropping as she swallowed hard.

  The shadow stilled instantly, and silence fell, heavy and sharp.

  Aria turned her head to Elizabeth, her eyes pinning her without a flicker.

  “I want to go to the dining room for breakfast before we leave,” she said, her tone flat as ever.

  Elizabeth blinked fast, nodding with an awkward jerk.

  “Y-yes, miss!” she blurted, her voice still wobbly as she clasped her hands in front of her. “Of course, I’ll take you right now!”