Vampire Queen : Fated Love

The evening unfolded in a peculiar harmony of emotions. Josh, seated beside Sarah, held her hand tightly, his face glowing with the kind of happiness that radiated pure joy.

His eyes never left Sarah's, and her occasional smiles only fueled his elation. He was blissfully unaware of the silent waves of disapproval and disappointment brewing among his siblings.

Eithan stood at a distance, leaning casually against the ornate wooden pillar in the hall, his arms crossed. His carefree nature masked the growing frustration he felt inside.

They were here on a mission given by their father, not for romantic indulgences. Yet here Josh was, completely derailing the focus of their work with his impulsive decision to propose to Sarah.

Eithan's lips tightened into a faint scowl as he watched them. He had always prioritized the family's tasks, and this careless move from Josh felt like a betrayal of their purpose.

---

Ruhr, meanwhile, sat in one corner of the room, polishing her nails, though her mind was far from relaxed.

To her, Josh was just a younger brother—a reckless and naive one at that. His sudden proposal had thrown a wrench into their carefully maintained balance.

She didn't trust Sarah, nor did she like how quickly Josh had jumped into something so serious without consulting the family.

Her brows furrowed as she glanced at them.

"Immature,"

she muttered under her breath, loud enough only for herself.

Adi, perched on a chair nearby, also seemed dissatisfied. Despite being the youngest, he often viewed Josh's actions critically, and this was no exception.

He folded his arms and stared at his brother with narrowed eyes. How could Josh forget about their purpose and focus solely on Sarah?

Adi shook his head and mumbled,

"Brother's got no sense of timing."

Yet, despite his disapproval, he remained quiet, perhaps out of respect or hesitation.

---

Albert, on the other hand, was in his own world entirely.

The youngest after Adi In family and there cousin, he had the heart of a boundless energy that made him the life of any gathering.

Seeing Josh and Sarah together was a source of amusement for him rather than concern.

He skipped over to them with a wide grin, grabbed both their hands, and began dancing around them, chanting senseless phrases.

"Josh and Sarah, sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Albert sang, his voice full of playful mischief.

Josh chuckled, playing along with his younger brother's antics.

"Oh, Albert, you're such a clown," he said, ruffling Albert's hair affectionately.

Albert tilted his head and shot a curious look at Josh.

"Hey, big bro, are you gonna marry Sarah and have lots of babies?"

His innocent question earned a hearty laugh from Josh, who seemed unbothered by its absurdity.

"Maybe, little guy. Maybe," Josh replied with a grin.

Sarah, too, joined in the lighthearted banter, laughing softly at Albert's antics.

"Albert, you're too funny,"

she said, her tone sweet and gentle, perfectly masking her inner turmoil. Her eyes flicked briefly to Eithan and Ruhr, both of whom remained visibly unimpressed.

---

Leo, standing by the doorway, watched the scene unfold with a mix of confusion and apprehension. Sarah's act had caught even him off guard.

He had always trusted her to execute her plans meticulously, but this sudden engagement felt rushed, even for her. He scratched his head, wondering what exactly her intentions were.

"Does the queen have a deeper strategy here, or has she lost her touch?"

he thought to himself. Despite his doubts, he remained silent. His loyalty to Sarah was unwavering, and he chose to trust her judgment.

Josh, oblivious to the tension around him, continued engaging Albert's playful questions with enthusiasm.

The happiness in his voice was palpable, and for a moment, even the stern Leo found himself admiring Josh's genuine affection for Sarah.

---

However, the tension in the room didn't dissipate.

Eithan finally pushed off the pillar and walked over to the group, his usual carefree demeanor in place but his tone carrying a sharp edge.

"Josh," he began, his voice calm but firm,

"don't forget why we're here. This isn't some romantic get-a-way. We have responsibilities."

Josh's smile faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered, brushing off Eithan's comment with a wave of his hand.

"Come on, big brother. Can't I have one moment of happiness? This is a big deal for me."

"It's not just about you, Josh,"

Eithan replied, his eyes narrowing.

"You're part of this family. What you do affects all of us. Keep that in mind."

Josh opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Ruhr chimed in, her tone icy.

"Eithan's right. This whole thing feels rushed and irresponsible. You're acting like a child, Josh."

Ruhr's words stung, but Josh tried to maintain his composure.

"You don't understand," he said, his voice defensive.

"I love her."

Ruhr snorted, rolling her eyes.

"Love? Or just infatuation? You've known her for what—a few Day's? This isn't some Romantic movie nor drama."

Josh clenched his fists, clearly frustrated.

"You'll see," he said, his voice low but determined.

"Sarah is the one. I know it."

---

As the argument simmered down, the room fell into an uneasy silence.

Sarah remained quiet, watching the family dynamics unfold with interest. Her plan was working perfectly.

The cracks in their unity were already beginning to show, and she intended to exploit them further.

Albert, sensing the tension, tried to lighten the mood.

"Hey, let's all listen to a song! That always makes things better, right?"

he said, his voice full of hope.

Ruhr, still seated on the bed, sighed and nodded.

"Fine, Albert. Play something upbeat. We could all use a distraction."

Albert grinned and quickly set up his music player.

A lively party song filled the room, and despite the lingering tension, he began dancing on the bed, his energy infectious.

Even Adi cracked a smile, and Ruhr couldn't help but laugh at her younger brother's antics.

Eithan, though still troubled, decided to let it go for now.

He knew there would be time later to address the situation with Josh more thoroughly. For now, he allowed himself to relax, if only slightly.

---

Meanwhile, in the quiet of her own thoughts, Sarah was already planning her next move.

Josh was hers now, and through him, she would gain even more influence. But her ultimate goal was far from achieved.

She would bide her time, playing the role of the loving fiancée while subtly sowing discord within the family. Her revenge would be slow and calculated, but it would be absolute.

As the party song played on and the family tried to regain some semblance of normalcy, Sarah smiled to herself.

"One step closer," she thought.

"Soon, they'll all fall."