The Vampire's Runaway Bride

I do not know when I began to slumber, nor how long I had been asleep, but when I awoke, I found myself lying in a crystal coffin, a blood-red crystal coffin without a lid, with a faint sweet fragrance lingering in the air. This sweet scent, I recognize it as a sleep-inducing drug. Lying on a feather bed covered with dark red velvet fabric, the soft pillow beneath my neck was also of a moderate height; perhaps this is why, despite feeling as though I had slept for a long time, I felt no discomfort. Slowly sitting up, what met my eyes was a sea of blood —the crystal coffin was placed in the center of a blood pool filled with fresh blood, the crimson liquid tinging the transparent crystal coffin with a bloody hue. I surmised that I must have lain here for a very long time. "You have awakened..." A very cold voice came from not far away. I turned my head and saw a man dressed in a black brocade robe, walking step by step towards me along the stone platform in the blood pool. The black brocade robe made the man's already pale face even more bloodless, his light red lips tightly closed, his wavy brown hair cascading down to his ankles, concealing his pale left cheek, yet unable to hide his pale green eyes. "Your Majesty..." Looking at the face that was both familiar and strange, the title I seemed accustomed to using naturally escaped my lips. "It seems that even after four hundred years of slumber, you can still recognize me the moment you lay eyes on me..." The man's lips slightly parted, revealing a set of sharp and pointed teeth hidden beneath his pale thin lips. A smile of joy mixed with mockery rose on his pale face, his green eyes narrowing slightly as his lips opened again, "My dearest queen..." Queen... am I? I do not know, for I no longer remember. To be precise, I remember nothing now except that the man standing before me is the king, and I have even forgotten my own appearance and name. Perplexed, I leaned over the edge of the crystal coffin, the blood-red pool reflecting my face— a small nose, a cherry-small mouth, a slightly gaunt pointed chin, large eyes filled with deep melancholy... Is this... really me? Slowly lifting my head, I looked questioningly at the man who now stood beside the crystal coffin, "Your Majesty... who am I really?" "You are my queen," the man knelt on one knee beside the crystal coffin, reaching out to touch my cheek, his cold voice slowly reaching my ears, "You are the only queen of my bloodline..." Bloodline? I widened my eyes in disbelief, staring at the man's face as he gave an evil grin, opening his mouth to reveal two long fangs. I raised my hand to my chest, no beat! I closed my eyes in despair. Indeed, am I also a vampire? Upon realizing that I had lost my memory, I saw a flicker in the man's eyes, and then he gently lifted me from the crystal coffin. My hands naturally climbed up his neck, obediently burying my face in the crook of his shoulder. This action, as if deeply etched into my soul, came to me naturally, yet my heart was filled with unease. He told me that he is the king of the bloodline, but I can call him Lirad, because I am his only queen—Heatherlyn. "Lirad..." I softly repeated the name, trying hard to search my mind for any information about it, even just fragments of memories or a few words would be good. But... I can't remember anything. Lirad carried me up a long flight of stone steps and gently placed me in front of a bronze door, raising his hand to point at it, "My dearest queen, this is our palace." I assumed that the palace he referred to must be beyond the bronze door that stood before me. I'm not sure how Lirad managed to open the door, but I witnessed it slowly swing open before my eyes. Indeed, when Lirad said this was a palace, he was not exaggerating. Even devoid of any servants, the grandeur and majesty of the palace itself were truly awe-inspiring. The golden walls were adorned with exquisite paintings of red roses, each flawless bloom even more enchanting against the golden backdrop. Eight cylindrical pillars in the hall supported the heavy ceiling, which too was painted with large red roses. At the center of the ceiling hung a circular crystal chandelier, holding hundreds of red candles. The lit candles cast a warm glow on the golden walls, making the entire palace even more dazzling. In the center of the hall was a long table, upon which vibrant red roses were displayed, each in full bloom. Looking up the staircase, I saw a painting of a beautiful woman. Her features bore a resemblance to mine, yet her expression was entirely different, wearing a smile of happiness. Her wavy black hair cascaded gently over her shoulders, flowing down and eventually hidden by the surrounding gorgeous red roses. This woman was stunning. Could it be... me? "This painting was commissioned by Countess Shaman over four hundred years ago, before our wedding took place," Lirad gently wrapped his arm around my shoulder, placing a kiss on my forehead and looking at me with tenderness, "My queen is still as beautiful and charming as ever..." Beautiful and charming? Is that how I am now? I thought to myself that Lirad must truly love me, otherwise, how could he say such endearing words to a woman who looks like a monster? Lirad led me up the stairs, and I noticed that red roses seemed to be everywhere—on tables, walls, in paintings, and even carved into the stairs. Reaching out to touch the carvings on the staircase, I couldn't help but smile. "You have always loved red roses, so I had our palace decorated accordingly," Lirad gently enveloped me in his arms, his hand covering mine as we both caressed a rose petal together, "For four hundred years, the decor here has never changed..." Four hundred years without change! I turned around in surprise, looking at Lirad in confusion. Isn't it monotonous to keep the same decor for four centuries? "I will always love you, no matter what," he said, as if reading my thoughts. Why did I slumber? I dared not look into Lirad's eyes; those green orbs held a magic that seemed to draw my soul in. In truth, I wanted to ask why he didn't seek a new queen if I had slumbered for so long, but a voice inside me warned not to inquire, not to delve deeper... "You were cursed by a witch to protect me and our people, that's why you fell asleep..." Lirad seemed reluctant to speak of it, his answer hesitant. To protect Lirad and... our people? In that case, I must have been a decent wife, a capable queen... But why does a voice keep wailing in my ear, telling me there's more to this story... I looked into Lirad's eyes, seeing no deceit there. With a slight tug at the corner of my mouth, I managed a difficult smile, not wishing to probe further into the matter.