Chapter 2

I returned to the empty room alone.

Ever since I moved into the manor, Enzo had given me the master bedroom and chosen to stay in the guest room himself.

We rarely saw each other.

In truth, I knew how impossible our marriage seemed to everyone else. I was human, while Enzo was a pureblood vampire prince.

By their standards, Vanessa, a pureblood vampire like him, was far more suited to become Lady Vane.

Our marriage had been nothing more than a transaction from the very beginning.

Back then, my father had been framed, and the entire Ashford family business had suffered a devastating blow. It was the Vane family who approached my father first and helped our family through the crisis.

Afterward, the Vane family made two requests of my father.

The first was that the Ashford family, once it was back on its feet, would use its influence in human society to help them deal with matters they could not handle openly while keeping the existence of vampires hidden.

The second request was me.

The secret negotiations between the two families went smoothly, and the partnership proceeded without any problems.

And without knowing anything about it, I became the bride promised to the Vane family.

No one had ever asked for my opinion.

But from Enzo’s perspective, he had also been forced into this marriage. He believed that he and Vanessa had been separated because of me, making me the person who had ruined their relationship.

I had imagined my wedding more than once.

Perhaps it would have been on a sunny beach, or perhaps in a castle garden. My husband would love me, and we would exchange vows surrounded by the blessings of our family and friends.

But I never imagined that my wedding would take place on a starless night.

The person standing beside me was a vampire I had never met before. There were no flowers, no applause. Apart from one elder, the only people present were the servants of the manor.

When the elder handed the ancient parchment to me, I had already accepted the reality of the arrangement. I pierced my finger and prepared to seal the blood bond with him.

But Enzo frowned and took a step back.

He looked at me.

“Both you and I know what this wedding is really for. There is no need to seal the blood bond. But even if you insist on marrying me, I will never acknowledge you as my wife.”

After saying that, he disappeared into the darkness.

I remained frozen in place, trembling as I felt the sympathetic or indifferent gazes of the elder and the servants on me.

At that moment, I only felt humiliation.

What I failed to understand was that being a human bride rejected by her vampire husband would leave me isolated and helpless—not only that night, but for the next three years.

Once, when I became seriously ill and was bedridden, it was Ingrid, the manor’s steward, who found the Vane family physician for me.

But when the doctor discovered that I was human, he refused to treat me.

His reason was simple: he only treated members of the Vane family.

I weakly explained, “I am Enzo Vane’s wife. I am also a member of the Vane family.”

But the doctor only looked at me coldly.

“You claim to be the prince’s wife, but you never sealed the blood bond with him. Besides, how could a pureblood noble like the prince possibly marry a human woman?”

It was the first time I had taken the initiative to call Enzo.

I wanted him to confirm that I was his wife, even if it was only once.

But he did not answer the phone. He did not even reply to the messages I sent asking for help.

In the end, it was Ingrid who took pity on me and contacted my family to find a human doctor. Only then did I receive treatment.

Over the years, she had been the only person in the entire manor who acknowledged my identity and the only person who genuinely cared for me.

The next morning, for the first time, I stopped arranging my life around Enzo’s schedule. I got up on a bright, sunny morning.

Ingrid was slightly surprised when she saw me preparing to leave.

“Lady Vane, are you going out? Should I arrange for someone to accompany you?”

“No need.”

I smiled, then continued, “Ingrid, could you bring me a few packing boxes? I need to pack up the clothes in the bedroom.”

As always, Ingrid agreed. But as she looked at me, she hesitated before asking, “Lady Vane, are you leaving the manor?”

“Yes.”

I did not hide it from her.

“When will you return? Do you need someone to go with you?”

I was silent for a moment before shaking my head.

“I won’t be coming back.”

She froze for a moment.

But when she realized that I was not joking, she quickly understood.

“Of course, Lady Vane.”