Outside the Eisenhardt estate, Magnus, Duchess Eleanora, and Madam Gertrude stood silently, their gazes fixed on the approaching carriages. The rhythmic clatter of horses' hooves echoed beyond the gates, signaling the arrival of their guests.
Finally, the grand iron gates swung open, revealing two luxurious carriages — one pristine white, the other deep black — slowly making their way up the cobbled path. They came to a graceful halt at the entrance of the estate.
Servants moved swiftly, expertly unloading the carriages. They carefully lifted ornate chests and finely wrapped packages, each box handled with the utmost respect, reflecting the high status of their owners.
From the white carriage stepped Duchess Helena von Rosethorn, dressed in a delicate light blue lace gown, a floral-adorned hat resting gracefully atop her head. Beside her stood her 11-year-old son, Adrian — dark-haired, his face a mix of gloom and barely concealed irritation as he cast a bored glance around the estate.
Then, the door of the black carriage opened. Out stepped Lord Sebastian von Eisenfeld — light blonde hair , with sharp aristocratic features, dressed in an immaculate white suit. Following him, holding his hand, was his 9-year-old sister, Annaliese. She wore a light pink dress, her bright eyes sparkling with curiosity as she took in the grandeur of the surroundings.
Helena approached her sister Eleanora and Madam Gertrude, and they embraced warmly.
"Eleanora, Madam Gertrude, I am so delighted to see you both again," Helena said with genuine warmth.
"I am as well, my dear," Eleanora replied with a bright smile.
Gertrude also smiled gently. "So am I, Helena. Arvendale has missed you. And I have too, of course."
Helena then turned slightly, her eyes resting on Magnus. She softened her usually sharp gaze and made an effort to smile.
"Magnus," she said with a light nod, "The last time I saw you, you were just a boy. Now, you have grown into a man."
Magnus allowed himself a faint, barely noticeable smile. He took a step closer to Helena, bowed his head slightly, and replied in a formal tone, "Welcome, Aunt Helena."
Just then, Sebastian fixed his icy gaze directly on Magnus. His expression held the usual hint of mischief, his lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "Well, look at you," he said, his voice deliberately low and dripping with sarcasm. "Still keeping that cold, lifeless face of yours, Magnus? I almost thought you were a walking corpse."
Magnus met his stare with an unblinking, stone-cold expression. He stepped forward, his voice calm but cutting. "And you still think you're funny, Sebastian? Unfortunately, your humor is like a whistle in a pitch-black cemetery — noise without meaning."
Sebastian took a deep, furious breath, his hands clenching into fists, but he said nothing. This time, Magnus had defeated him with words, shattering his pride.
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I made my way to the large library in the city center. Dark clouds gathered in the sky, carrying the damp, heavy scent of impending rain. I climbed the creaking stone steps and pushed open the heavy wooden door. Inside, I felt the whispering of the old walls and the faint, musty scent of aging paper.
Near the back of the library, beside a crackling fireplace, sat the old librarian. He wore small, round glasses and had shoulder-length white hair that framed his wrinkled face.
"Ah, hello, Layla," he said, his voice soft and slightly raspy. He slowly closed the book he had been reading and lifted his head to look at me. "What kind of book are you looking for today?"
I hesitated, glancing around at the rows of towering bookshelves. "I'm not sure yet. Perhaps you could recommend something, sir?"
He smiled, rising slowly from his wooden chair. His footsteps made the old floorboards creak as he moved between the shelves. After a few moments, he carefully pulled a thick, leather-bound book from a high shelf.
As he handed the book to me, his eyes gleamed with a hint of mystery. "Here, this one. It's about vampires. Very interesting. Give it a try."
I looked at the cover of the book. It was thick, dark in color, and decorated with mysterious symbols. As my fingers touched the cool leather surface, a strange shiver ran through me.
"Thank you, sir," I said with a small smile, hugging the book to my chest.
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I was walking back to my grandfather's cottage from the library. My footsteps were quiet on the forest path, but suddenly, I caught a glimpse of a dark figure moving in the shadows. Its eyes glowed a blood-red, piercing the darkness. My heart began to race with terror. Without looking back, I broke into a run toward the cottage.
When I burst through the door, I saw my grandfather standing in the corner of the room, staring at a pile of gift boxes. My chest still heaved with fear, my breath coming in shaky gasps.
" Grandpa, who sent these boxes?" I asked, my voice trembling.
My grandfather lifted his head and gave me a gentle smile. "Your father sent them, Layla. They're dresses, for your upcoming visit to the Eisenhardt estate."
I glanced at the boxes, a sense of unease creeping into my chest. "What's inside, Grandpa?" I whispered.
My grandfather opened one of the boxes and pulled out a delicate dress. "Dresses, shoes, and jewelry," he said, holding up a fine, thin necklace.
I glanced at the boxes once more, but the heavy feeling in my chest didn't go away. The image of the dark shadow in the forest still lingered in my mind...
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It was night. In the grand hall of the Eisenhardt estate, the von Rosethorn and Eisenhardt,Eisenfeld families had gathered around a richly decorated dining table. Candles flickered, casting a warm glow, and the hall was alive with the soft hum of conversations. Magnus took a sip of his tea, his cold, sharp eyes fixed on Sebastian, who sat across from him. Sebastian met his gaze with an equally icy stare.
Helena von Rosethorn glanced at Magnus with a slight smile. "Eleanora, I hear that Magnus is getting married," she said, raising her voice slightly.
Magnus's mother, Eleanora, shrugged with a gentle smile. "Yes, we visited the Laurent family as matchmakers, and we decided it was the right choice."
Madam Gertrude took a sip of her tea and spoke in a steady tone. "The Laurent family will be visiting the Eisenhardt estate tomorrow night."
Helena's eyes sparkled as she smiled. "Oh, then we'll get to meet them as well."
Helena's 11-year-old son, Adrian, glanced around the table with a gloomy look, his eyes landing on Sebastian's 9-year-old sister, Annaliese. She was a charming, fair-skinned girl, staring back at him with a small frown, her brows slightly furrowed in annoyance. Adrian mirrored her expression.
"Are you staring at me again?" Annaliese said in a cold tone, narrowing her eyes.
Adrian's face flushed red, and he quickly looked down. "I wasn't staring at you! You were the one who looked at me first," he said, trying to defend himself.
Annaliese pursed her lips slightly. "Liar," she whispered, her gaze still fixed on him.
At that moment, Helena crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. "Children, don't argue," she said, her voice gentle but firm.
Just then, Sebastian shot a mocking glance at Magnus. He had been looking for a chance to provoke his old friend. "So, Magnus, how do you imagine your life with your future wife?" he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Magnus gave him a cold, piercing stare, then calmly set his teacup down on the table. "That is my business, Sebastian," he replied in a dismissive tone. "Perhaps you should focus more on your own family problems."
A brief silence fell over the hall. Sebastian's lips twitched for a moment, but then he let out a forced laugh. Yet, even his laughter quickly faded under Magnus's icy gaze. Magnus took another sip of his tea, his eyes moving slowly over the others around the table. He continued the evening with a calm facade, though something unsettling stirred deep within him.
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Emily stood by the tall, velvet curtains in her lavish room, gazing out at the night sky. Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her deep, chestnut eyes were lost in thought. Just then, the door creaked open, and her stepmother, Charlotte, entered the room, approaching her with a stern expression.
"My dear," Charlotte said, placing a hand on Emily's shoulder. "Make sure you prepare well for tomorrow's meeting. You must be the most beautiful woman there."
Emily tore her gaze away from the window and looked at her stepmother. "Of course, mother," she replied in a proud tone.
Charlotte took a deep breath, her eyes flickering with a hint of worry as she spoke more slowly. "But... be careful. Layla will also be there. She's quite a striking beauty as well. She might catch Magnus's attention."
Emily pressed her lips together, a small, confident smile curling on her lips. "Magnus is not the kind of man who pays attention to women, mother. He's completely absorbed in his own affairs. When I met him that day, he didn't even glance at me."
Charlotte looked away, clenching her teeth slightly. "Still, be cautious. Evil often comes from where you least expect it, my girl," she said in a cryptic tone.
Emily narrowed her eyes, casting one last glance at the window. Her heart suddenly felt uneasy, though she refused to acknowledge the faint, creeping fear inside her.