6. MEAN GIRLS

Winter’s POV

Tonight, I would marry the Vampire Crown Prince.

Since the day I was chosen as his bride, I had lived each day in fear. Every night, sleep brought no comfort, only nightmares that ended the moment I opened my eyes.

But I had run out of mornings to end the nightmares. Tonight, the nightmare would become my reality.

The sharp click of metal locks snapping open tore me from my thoughts.

They had come for me.

I remained seated, forcing myself to look calm, though terror churned violently beneath the surface.

The heavy door creaked open, revealing four guards waiting in the corridor. Their captain stepped inside.

“Lady Winter,” he announced, his voice devoid of warmth. “The preparations are complete. We will escort you to the bridal chamber.”

I looked past him at the armed men filling the hallway.

They don't look like they were here to escort a bride. They looked like they came here to deliver a condemned prisoner to her execution.

As if they feared I might make one last desperate attempt to escape before they handed me over to the vampires.

My hands trembled in my lap. Before anyone could notice, I curled them into tight fists, pressing my nails into my palms.

Then I gave a single nod, rose from my seat, and followed them without protest.

There was no point in resisting. Even if I refused, they would only drag me away, just as they had when they first locked me inside this room.

The moment I stepped into the corridor, two guards took hold of my arms. Not roughly, but firmly enough to remind me that I wasn’t free.

The captain walked several paces ahead, while two more guards followed behind us. Surrounded on every side, I couldn’t help but wonder if they truly believed I would somehow overpower five armed men.

Just two armed men would have been enough. They were just afraid of me running.

I kept my eyes forward as they led me through the palace halls. The guards moved without hesitation, turning down each corridor as though they knew every passage by heart.

Of course they did. They had likely walked these halls more times than I ever had.

A gentle breeze brushed against my face when we stepped into the royal gardens.

I blinked in surprise.

I had no idea where they were taking me. I did not even know where the bridal chamber was, but I had assumed it would be somewhere inside the palace.

I drew in a deep breath and tilted my face toward the sun.

After being confined for so long, I had almost forgotten how warm sunlight felt against my skin, or how sweet the fresh air smelled beyond the walls of my room.

A small smile touched my lips.

For one fleeting moment, I forgot where I was going.

The royal garden was breathtaking, like a hidden paradise tucked away from the rest of the world. Flowers bloomed along the winding paths, leaves rustled softly in the breeze, and the quiet beauty of it all made the garden feel impossibly peaceful.

Then laughter broke through the stillness.

My brows drew together. It was loud and carefree, close enough to tell me we were about to come upon others in the garden.

As we rounded a tall hedge, three familiar figures came into view.

Princess Bianca, Lorena, and Giselle sat beneath the shade of a flowering tree, enjoying afternoon tea.

They were laughing together, completely absorbed in their conversation, looking as though they did not have a single care in the world.

“Your Highness,” the guards greeted in unison, lowering their heads to Princess Bianca.

Only then did the three of them notice our presence.

I remained frozen as their gazes met mine.

Princess Bianca had always been close to Lorena and Giselle. When we were younger, the three of us were often brought to the palace as companions to the princess, but Bianca had never liked me.

Then again, no one ever liked me.

Bianca welcomed Lorena and Giselle easily, and they made it clear that I was never part of their circle. The only time they would talk to me was when they needed a target for their humiliation, cruel jokes, and torment.

At first, I tried to win them over. I tried to fit in and follow them in hopes that they would accept me, but after all the psychological trauma I went through because of them, I just stopped trying.

The bitter irony was that Lorena and Giselle were only my stepsisters. They carried none of my father’s blood, yet Bianca treated them as though they were the true daughters of a noble house.

Perhaps, the only reason why they get along so well is because Princess Bianca was every bit as cruel and spoiled as they were.

Looking at them now felt like being dragged back into my childhood era. The three of them were still together, enjoying each others company, while I stood apart from them in misery.

A sharp tug at my arm pulled me from my thoughts.

The guard beside me gave me a warning glance, reminding me to bow before the princess.

I lowered my head at once before anyone could accuse me of inciting rebellion.

Princess Bianca acknowledged the guards with a graceful nod. “You may rise.”

The guards straightened at once.

A faint smile played on Bianca’s lips as her gaze settled on me. Beside her, Lorena and Giselle wore the same satisfied expressions I had seen countless times before. They looked at me not with pity, but with quiet triumph.

“Where are you taking her?” Bianca asked, though there was something in her voice that told me she already knew the answer.

“To the bridal chamber, Your Highness,” the captain replied.

“Oh, of course. You’re getting married tonight.” Bianca’s smile widened with unmistakable mockery. “Congratulations, Winter.”

Beside her, Lorena and Giselle pressed their lips together, barely containing their laughter.

I gritted my teeth. “Thank you, Princess,” I replied, swallowing the cutting remark that rose to my tongue.

I had endured this kind of cruelty since we were children. By now, I knew better than to give them the reaction they wanted.

Lorena pressed a hand dramatically to her heart. “Your sacrifice for the kingdom will never be forgotten, Winter. Everyone will remember how bravely you gave your life for peace between our kingdoms.”

“Oh, it won’t be that terrible,” Giselle added. “At least you’re marrying someone who looks like you.”

For a moment, the three of them exchanged knowing glances. Then they burst into laughter, unable to hide it any longer.

A lump formed in my throat. I lowered my head, struggling not to let their words sink any deeper than they already had.

"What's going on here?" A man's voice suddenly cut through their laughter, making them stop.