Chapter 19: + Hermit +

The night was young, but Luna felt the weight of many evenings upon her.

In the aftermath of her unsettling encounter with the Vampire King, Luna was hastily ushered back to her designated seat. With her new title of High Priestess and the Vampire King's threatening proclamation that he would end anyone who dared touch her without his consent, Luna found herself isolated.

The unintended benefit of her newfound protection was that she had ample time for her mind to wander and for fatigue to take hold. She stifled a yawn, tears forming in the corners of her eyes from exhaustion. As the legends had often whispered, vampires never sought the embrace of sleep — especially during their bacchanalian revelries.

The court's Concubines, with Lady Clarence at the forefront, were already deeply engaged in tending to the needs of the Vampire King and his courtiers. Luna watched from her peripheral vision as the room transformed into a tableau of uninhibited desire. It was as if she was an unwilling voyeur, peering through the keyhole of a forbidden world. Both men and women cast off their garments with abandon, normalizing nudity in the vast hall.

For Luna, this raw display was both foreign and jarring, so much so that her skin prickled with unease.

Resting her head in her hand, she gazed aimlessly into the distance, overwhelmed by the spectacle. The thought of partaking in a meal seemed inconceivable amidst the frenzied coupling around her.

Desperate to distance herself from the escalating debauchery, she tapped Cederic's leg beneath the table. The military general, engrossed in the attentions of a voluptuous woman, barely noticed her first attempt. When she tapped him a second time, he pulled away from the woman's embrace, momentarily breaking their intimate moment. With a mischievous glint in his eye, Cederic whispered something into the woman's ear, eliciting a delighted giggle.

With a neutral expression, Luna watched as the impish general began to approach her.

"Please, Cederic, I need to leave this place," Luna whispered urgently.

"My Lady," Cederic responded, his voice laced with exasperation, "if you expect me to act as your personal attendant, do remember to address me with the proper honorifics."

Luna offered him a smile, dripping with feigned sweetness. "I have a question, My Lord. As the newly appointed High Priestess of this Kingdom, and perhaps the King's potential savior, where do I stand in the hierarchy?"

Cederic's eyes narrowed. "Your recent elevation doesn't grant you the right to be arrogant. Prove yourself before flaunting your status. My respect wasn't handed to me on a silver platter – I earned it through my feats on the battlefield."

Luna waved her hand dismissively, her amusement evident. "Relax, My Lord. I merely jest. I find solace in the fact that no one can harm me without the Vampire King's explicit permission. It's a comforting thought, isn't it? Especially if someone, perhaps even you, harbored any treacherous intentions."

Cederic's smirk held a hint of menace. "If I truly desired it, I could arrange your demise, My Lady."

"But who would then step forward to save our King?" Luna countered, confidence in her tone. "Would you rather wait a century, or humor my request?"

He sighed in exasperation. "What do you desire, Luna?"

"Discretion," she replied. "I wish to leave without drawing attention. After all, as the Kingdom's military general, assisting me might free you of my presence."

He raised an eyebrow. "Your request?"

"I yearn for my chambers and solitude," Luna confessed. "The spectacle here is not meant for the eyes of a virgin High Priestess. Such exposure may tempt me into acts I'd come to rue."

Cederic's smile was both sly and mocking, a stark contrast to his youthful appearance. "That isn't my concern, is it? Anyway, Elder Fei should be the one guiding you to your room and briefing you on your forthcoming tasks."

Luna's expression grew more somber. "Have you seen the venerable elder in this hall?"

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