RUNAWAY BRIDE: BEAUTY AND THE BEASTChapter OneThe Girl in the AtticLucia learned very young that some houses were colder than graves.Her father's house was one of them.It had once been a beautiful manor overlooking the kingdom of Eldoria, but famine had stripped it of its glory. The gardens were dead. The fountains were dry. The servants had disappeared one by one.Only three people remained.Lord Cedric Vale.His wife, Lady Seraphina Veyra.And Lucia.Lucia was not Seraphina's daughter.She was the daughter of Cedric's first wife, a gentle woman who had died when Lucia was seven.Seraphina had never forgiven Lucia for surviving her mother."You have her eyes," she often said.Lucia had never understood why that sounded like an accusation.By eighteen, Lucia had become little more than a servant in her own home.She slept in the attic.She ate after everyone else.She wore dresses that had belonged to Seraphina's daughters before they left for wealthy marriages.Every morning before sunrise, Seraphina woke her."Get up."Lucia would sit up quickly."Yes, Lady Seraphina.""Water.""Yes.""Firewood.""Yes.""Kitchen.""Yes."Lucia never said no.She had learned what happened to girls who did.One winter morning, Lucia accidentally dropped a porcelain plate.It shattered.Seraphina stared at the pieces.Then she looked at Lucia."You broke your mother's favorite plate."Lucia's face went pale."I'm sorry."Seraphina crossed the room.The slap sent Lucia against the table."You always were like her."Lucia touched her cheek."Like my mother?""Stubborn.""I didn't mean to—""I don't care what you meant."Seraphina grabbed Lucia's chin."You should be grateful I allow you to remain in this house."Lucia said nothing.Seraphina released her."Clean it with your hands."Lucia stared at the broken porcelain."What?""You heard me."She knelt.A sharp piece cut her finger.Blood dripped onto the floor.Seraphina smiled."Now clean it."Lucia did.That evening, she climbed to the attic and cried silently.She pressed her bleeding hand against her chest."I hate this place."A wind moved through the broken window.The candle flame beside her flickered.Then she heard something.A whisper."Then leave."Lucia froze.She turned.Nobody was there."Who said that?"Silence.Then, from somewhere beyond the forest, came a distant roar.Lucia stepped toward the window.Far beyond the dead fields stood the Blackwood Forest.The forbidden forest.The place where people disappeared.Lucia stared into its darkness.She didn't know it yet.But something inside those trees had been waiting for her.For eighteen years.---Chapter TwoThe Hunger of EldoriaThe famine became worse.Children collapsed in the streets.Farmers sold their homes for sacks of grain.People fought over scraps of bread.Then came the decree from the palace.The kingdom needed food.Lord Malachi Ravenscroft, the richest nobleman in Eldoria, possessed enormous grain reserves.He agreed to release them.But he demanded payment.A bride.Lucia discovered the truth when she overheard Seraphina speaking to her father."She is eighteen."Cedric sounded exhausted."Seraphina, she is my daughter.""And she is the only thing we have left."Lucia stopped outside the door.Seraphina continued."Malachi will give us enough grain to survive.""What happens to Lucia?""She becomes his wife."Cedric was silent.Lucia covered her mouth.Her heart hammered."No."Seraphina's voice became colder."You wanted to save everyone.""I know.""Then sacrifice one."Lucia backed away.She ran upstairs.Her father found her later.She stood beside the window."Is it true?"Cedric couldn't look at her."Lucia...""Are you giving me to him?""I'm trying to save you.""No."She laughed bitterly."You're saving yourself."Cedric's eyes filled with tears."I am sorry."Lucia stared at him.Those words were worse than hatred.Because he meant them.Three days later, her wedding was announced.Lucia was to marry Lord Malachi Ravenscroft.A man nearly three times her age.A man known throughout Eldoria for collecting beautiful things.And never letting them go.---Chapter ThreeLord RavenscroftMalachi arrived at the manor the evening before the wedding.Lucia saw him from the staircase.He was dressed entirely in black.His silver hair was slicked backward.His eyes were pale and emotionless.He looked at Lucia.Not at her face.At her body.Lucia immediately felt sick."So this is the bride."Seraphina smiled."Lucia."She forced Lucia forward."Come greet your future husband."Lucia curtsied."My lord."Malachi walked around her."Beautiful."Lucia said nothing.He lifted her chin."You'll learn obedience."Her heart raced.Seraphina smiled."She has always been obedient."Malachi looked at Lucia."Are you afraid of me?"L

previously on the King's Virgin maid ...... -CHAPTER SIX — THE LOST PRINCESS Elena barely slept after learning that the blood of the royal family did not flow through her veins.She sat beside the window of her chambers, staring at the moon.For weeks, she had wondered why the king looked at her differently.Why her presence unsettled him.Why the portrait of his dead mother looked so much like her.Now she had more questions than answers.A soft knock came at the door.Elena turned.Martha entered carrying a tray."You should eat.""I'm not hungry.""You haven't eaten since morning."Elena looked down at her hands."Martha... who am I?"The old servant slowly placed the tray on the table."I was hoping you would never have to ask that question.""Then you know something."Martha sighed."Your mother was called Seraphine."Elena's heart began beating faster."She was a witch.""Yes.""Was she evil?"Martha immediately shook her head."No. She was powerful. That is not the same thing."Elena looked toward the window."Why was she hunted?""Because your grandfather feared her.""My grandfather?""The former king."Elena's mouth fell open."King Alaric?"Martha nodded."Your father was one of his most trusted knights. When he discovered that the king intended to kill your mother, he helped her escape.""What happened to them?"Martha's eyes filled with sadness."Your father disappeared.""And my mother?""Everyone believed she died."Elena whispered, "But you don't believe that."Before Martha could answer, a loud crash came from outside.The doors burst open.Lucien's guards rushed inside."Your Majesty has ordered everyone to remain in their chambers!"Martha immediately stood."Why?"The captain looked frightened."There has been an assassination attempt."Elena stood."Against the king?"The captain shook his head."No."His eyes moved toward Elena."Against you." ---CHAPTER SEVEN — THE ASSASSIN Elena barely had time to react.A dagger flew through the open window.Lucien appeared from the corridor at the exact moment the blade struck the wall beside Elena's head."GET DOWN!"Elena dropped.Lucien drew his sword.Three masked men emerged from the shadows.The guards attacked.The room erupted into chaos.Steel collided.One assassin slipped past the guards and lunged toward Elena.She screamed.Lucien reached her first.His sword moved with terrifying speed.The assassin collapsed.Silence filled the room.Lucien stood over the body, breathing heavily.Then he turned."Are you hurt?"Elena shook her head."No."He crossed the room and grabbed her shoulders."Are you certain?"She nodded."I'm fine."Lucien released her.Only then did Elena notice his hand was bleeding."You're hurt.""It's nothing.""You're bleeding.""I said it's nothing."Elena frowned."Sit down."Lucien stared at her.Nobody ordered the king to sit.Nobody.But Elena walked toward the table and opened a medical box."Sit."Something about her voice made him obey.He sat.She carefully cleaned the cut on his palm.Lucien watched her."You should be afraid.""I am.""Then why aren't you shaking?"Elena looked up."Because you're here."His expression softened.For a few seconds, neither spoke.Then the door opened.The captain entered carrying one of the assassin's weapons."Your Majesty."Lucien looked at him."What?"The captain swallowed."We found this."He placed the dagger on the table.The royal crest was engraved into its handle.Lucien's face became cold."That crest belongs to the royal guard."The captain nodded."Exactly."Someone inside the palace had ordered Elena's death.Someone close enough to the king to obtain a royal weapon.Lucien rose."Double the guards around her quarters.""Yes, Your Majesty.""And no one enters her chambers without my permission."The captain bowed.Lucien looked at Elena."This changes everything."--- CHAPTER EIGHT — THE QUEEN MOTHER Lucien spent the entire night searching for the traitor.He questioned guards.Servants.Ministers.Even members of his own household.Nothing.Every trail ended in silence.Then, just before dawn, he entered the chambers of his mother.Queen Mother Isabella was sitting beside the fireplace.She didn't look surprised to see him."I wondered when you would come."Lucien closed the door."You know about Elena."Isabella remained silent."Mother."She slowly raised her eyes."Yes."Lucien's jaw tightened."How long?""Since the day she entered this palace.""Why?""Because I knew her face."Lucien stepped closer."You knew she looked like my mother.""I knew she looked like Seraphine."He froze."Seraphine?"Isabella stood."Your father's greatest mistake was believing he could control magic.""What does Elena have to do with magic?""Everything." DAUGHTER Lucien took Elena into the deepest part of the palace. The underground library had been sealed for decades. No servant was permitted to enter. Hundreds of books lined the walls. Elena looked around. "Why are we here?" "Because I owe you the truth." Lucien placed a book on the table. "Your mother was a Moonborn witch." Elena laughed nervously. TBC

THE KING'S VIRGIN MAID :true beauty A Fantasy Romance -- Every girl dreams of becoming the wife of a rich billionaire .......Elena a poor, innocent, softhearted maid in the imposing palace of king Lucian xiv okay...u might think it's a dream come true but getting the attention of the king could bring frustrations... especially for a weak girl like Elena,or thing really take a drastic tur . . . CHAPTER 1 . The King Who Feared Nothing King Lucien Valerius was feared throughout Eldoria. At thirty, he had conquered three rebellious provinces, defeated an invading army, and executed enough traitors that mothers used his name to frighten disobedient children. He was beautiful in the dangerous way a blade was beautiful. Tall. Powerful. Cold. And utterly untouchable. The palace servants knew better than to look directly into his eyes. Except for one. Her name was Elena. She was a young maid who worked in the royal kitchens. She had no noble blood and no influential family. Her greatest ambition was simply to earn enough money to keep her younger brother safe. One evening, she was ordered to deliver the king's dinner. She entered the enormous dining hall carrying a silver platter. Lucien looked up from his documents. "Come here." Elena approached nervously. "What is your name?" "Elena, Your Majesty." "Look at me." She obeyed. Their eyes met. Something strange happened. The king forgot what he had been reading. And Elena forgot to breathe. Neither understood why. But someone watching from the shadows understood perfectly. A woman whispered: "The prophecy has begun." --- CHAPTER 2 The Prophecy Elena knew nothing about prophecies. Lucien knew even less. But the old royal seer had warned him years ago: «The woman who will destroy your kingdom will also be the woman who saves your heart.» Lucien had dismissed the prophecy. Until Elena arrived. He began requesting her presence during meals. At first, it was harmless. Then he started asking her questions. "What do you think of the palace?" "It's beautiful." "Do you like living here?" "I like the kitchen better." Lucien almost smiled. "Why?" "Nobody expects me to pretend there." He stared at her. Everyone in his court pretended. Everyone lied. But Elena had no reason to flatter him. That made her dangerous. And fascinating. Then one morning, Lucien received an anonymous letter. STAY AWAY FROM THE MAID. He burned it. The next morning, another arrived. SHE IS NOT WHO YOU THINK SHE IS. This time, Lucien kept it. --- CHAPTER 3 — The Girl in the Garden Elena found an injured white wolf in the royal garden. She secretly treated its wound. When Lucien discovered her, he was furious. "That creature could kill you." Elena looked at the wolf. "It hasn't." "You don't know that." "Neither did it know whether you would kill it." Lucien went silent. No one had ever compared him to an injured animal before. "You're not afraid of me." "I am." "Then why do you speak to me like this?" Elena smiled faintly. "Because you haven't given me a reason to hate you." Lucien couldn't stop thinking about those words. That night, he ordered his guards to investigate Elena's family. The report arrived before dawn. Nothing unusual. Her family had been poor for generations. No connection to magic. No connection to royalty. No secrets. Lucien finally relaxed. He shouldn't have. Because the investigator had been paid to falsify the report. --- CHAPTER 4 — The Forbidden Wing Elena accidentally wandered into the forbidden wing of the palace. She discovered an enormous locked chamber. Inside was a portrait. A woman who looked exactly like her. Elena dropped the candle. The portrait showed a queen wearing a crown bearing the symbol of the moon. At the bottom was a name. Queen Evelyne Valerius. Elena stared in horror. She heard footsteps. Lucien entered. He saw the portrait. His expression changed completely. "Where did you find this?" "I don't know who she is." Lucien didn't answer. "Your Majesty?" He stepped closer. "You look exactly like her." "Who was she?" "My mother." Elena's heart stopped. "But... everyone says the queen died twenty-nine years ago." "She did." "Then why do I look like her?" Lucien had no answer. For the first time, the Black King looked genuinely afraid. -- CHAPTER 5 — The Queen's Secret Lucien ordered Elena confined to her quarters. She was furious. "You cannot imprison me!" "I can." "Why?" "Because I don't know what you are." Elena's eyes filled with tears. "I'm Elena." "I know." "Then trust me." Lucien looked away. "I want to." That answer hurt more than anger would have. That night, an old servant named Martha visited Elena. She revealed a secret. The late queen had given birth to twins. One child was Lucien. The other disappeared. Everyone believed the second child had died. Martha whispered: "She was a girl." Elena's blood ran cold. "Where did she go?" Martha looked directly at her. "She was taken." -- THE STORY CONTINUES IN THE NEXT SERIES.... THE KING'S VIRGIN MAID: royal blood