THE PRINCE WITHOUT A HEART

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The Prince Without a Heart

The Substitute Bride

At the Duke’s mansion, Bella was scrubbing the floors while quietly humming a song.

Whispers had been spreading throughout the mansion that the vampires had agreed to a truce with the humans. Bella didn’t really understand what the truce was about, but she could tell it was something important.

“Bella, the Duke calls for you in his study,” the head chef said.

Bella froze.

Her mind immediately began searching for anything she could have done wrong.

Fear crept into her heart.

She wiped her shaking hands on her clothes, removed her apron, and nervously made her way toward the study.

She knocked.

“Come in,” Alaric called from inside.

Bella slowly opened the door.

The moment she stepped inside, she noticed the gloomy atmosphere.

Claire, Charles, and Evelyne were already there.

Claire’s face was streaked with tears, and her eyes were puffy from crying. Evelyne looked furious, while Charles and his father wore worried expressions.

“Take a seat, Bella,” Alaric said, motioning toward the chair beside him.

Bella sat down quietly.

“I’m sure you’ve heard about the truce between the humans and vampires.”

Bella nodded.

“It involves a marriage union,” Alaric continued. “And Claire was chosen as the bride.”

Bella glanced at Claire.

Her heart sank.

She suddenly had a terrible feeling about where this conversation was going.

“You are also my blood,” Alaric said, his voice becoming colder. “And I cannot watch Claire get married to that Vincent of a man.”

Bella’s eyes widened.

“So…”

Alaric stared directly at her.

“You are going to replace her.”

Bella froze.

“What?”

Her voice trembled.

“They asked for Claire, not me. I disagree!”

CRACK!

A hand struck her cheek, making her lose her balance and fall to the floor.

“And who do you think you are to disagree with me?” Alaric shouted. “I didn't ask for your permission. It was a command!”

Bella sat on the floor, trembling.

Her cheek stung, but the pain was nothing compared to what she had just heard.

So I’m the substitute.

They had never treated her like family.

They had never cared about her.

But now, suddenly, she was their family because they needed someone to sacrifice.

“I refuse,” Bella said, her voice shaking but firm. “You said with your own mouth that we don’t share blood. But now suddenly we do? Pathetic.”

Everyone stared at her in shock.

Evelyne’s eyes burned with anger.

“I will not be your sacrifice!” Bella continued.

Evelyne finally snapped.

“You will do as the Duke says unless you want to end up like your dead mother.”

Bella froze.

Her entire body went still.

“You…”

Her voice barely escaped her lips.

“You killed her.”

Tears filled her eyes.

“You killed the only person who ever cared about me.”

For years, Bella had wondered what happened to her mother.

But now everything was beginning to make sense.

Evelyne gave a cold smile.

“Ah, you think you’re so smart? And perhaps you’re thinking about giving up completely?”

She paused, then looked toward Claire.

“What was the name of that annoying little maid again? The one with the bobbed hair?”

Claire looked at her mother.

“Susan?”

“Ah, yes. Susan.”

Bella’s heart stopped.

That single name shattered every thought in her mind.

She couldn't let Susan suffer because of her.

Tears began rolling freely down her cheeks.

“Don’t hurt her,” Bella sobbed.

She knew what Evelyne was capable of.

And she knew no one would ever give Susan justice.

Just like no one had given her mother justice.

Bella lowered her head.

Through her broken sobs, she finally nodded.

“I’ll do it.”

Perhaps…

Maybe they would kill her there.

Maybe she would finally meet her mother again.

Alaric stood up.

“Then start packing. You leave tomorrow morning. Meet me in my office before you leave for the carriage.”

With that, he left the room with Evelyne.

Only Charles and Claire remained.

Claire stood up and gave Bella a dark smirk.

“Don’t worry. I’ll dress beautifully for your burial day.”

Then she walked out.

Charles stood up next.

“As much as I don’t wish this upon you, I don’t want it to be my sister. She’s my twin, and I love her. So don’t mess this up.”

He left.

Bella slowly stood and returned to her chores.

She still couldn't believe what her life had become.

───

Susan immediately noticed Bella's tear-streaked face.

She dropped the mop in her hands.

“Bella, what happened?”

“They want to make me the bride.”

Bella's voice broke.

“They want to use me as a substitute. I don't want to go. I'm so scared.”

Susan stared at her, confused.

Bella explained everything.

The truce.

Claire's replacement.

The threats.

And finally, the truth about what Evelyne had done to her mother.

Susan’s face instantly went pale.

She was terrified.

But then she forced a smile.

“Don’t worry, Bella. Everything is going to be alright. Maybe… maybe it was meant to be. You never know.”

Bella didn't reply.

She simply stayed in her friend's embrace, crying quietly.

───

The next morning came far too quickly.

Bella packed her few belongings and wore the worn-down gown Evelyne had given her.

A maid helped fix her hair.

Before leaving, Bella stood in the doorway of the small room she had once shared with her mother.

So many memories lived within those walls.

A single tear slipped down her cheek.

She turned away and went to find Susan.

“I’m really going to miss you,” Bella whispered.

Susan smiled warmly.

“I’m sure you will.”

Bella didn't notice the strange glint in Susan’s eyes.

She turned and left.

───

Bella arrived at the Duke’s study.

Alaric was sitting behind his desk with a serious expression.

He pushed a contract toward her.

“Sign here.”

Bella looked down at the paper.

“From now on, you are Claire. Do not let anyone think otherwise. If your identity is discovered, your cover will be blown.”

Bella swallowed hard.

Then she picked up the pen and signed.

Alaric leaned back.

“You are not going there to become some housewife.”

Bella looked up.

“You are going there as a spy.”

Her heart began pounding.

“Find their weaknesses. Anything the humans can use against them. Anything that can help us get rid of them.”

Bella froze.

Her heart slammed against her chest.

“The kingdom is counting on you,” Alaric said coldly. “Don’t mess this up.”

He waved his hand dismissively.

Bella immediately left.

Outside, the carriage was waiting.

She climbed inside and looked back at the mansion one last time.

The place that had given her both good and terrible memories slowly disappeared behind her as the carriage moved farther away.

Bella kept staring through the window.

She didn't know what awaited her in the vampire kingdom.

She didn't know what Vincent Valemont would do when he discovered his bride wasn't Claire.

And she certainly didn't know…

that this journey would change her life forever.