Luna went inside the mansion, and one of the maids took her to her room together with the kid. They entered the room, which was located on the upper floor of the mansion. Unlike her other room, this one was painted gray. She went in and took a seat on the soft bed.
"Is this life just full of fighting and blood and killing? What kind of a life is this?" she said to herself, tugging at her neck. She was still wearing the long dress. The little girl was just looking at her, blinking.
"I'm still young," she mumbled like a curse and threw her body on the bed. The little girl just watched her.
"What a good king," she complimented, slowly rising up.
"Are you hungry?" she asked the girl.
"I'm still full," she replied, her little voice filling the quiet room.
"Oh, ok."
"Will you drink some water then? You must be thirsty," Luna asked. She walked to the table and poured a glass of water for the girl. She brought it to where the girl was standing. Kneeling down, she handed the glass of water to the girl.
"Thank you, sister," she said, accepting the glass and drinking slowly.
After she drank half the cup, Luna collected it and placed it back where she had picked it up.
"Is this my new home from now on?" the girl asked, and Luna nodded with a little "hm."
"Yayyyy! Let's play! Will I have friends?" she asked.
"Maybe later. For now, just chill, ok?" she said, hugging the girl.
---
Simon and the others were back at the vampire's palace, frustrated. They didn't get Luna, and the operation didn't go as expected. Simon went to his room and freshened up. After that, he lay down on the bed, closing his eyes as flashes of memories lingered.
"Luna! Stop! What are you doing? Let her go now, please!" Simon begged. In all his years of living, he had never loved someone this much.
He begged Luna, but Luna still killed the girl—the only woman he ever loved. Luna pierced the knife into her chest.
"No!" Simon screamed. Ever since he had existed for more than seven centuries, he had never cried. But now, he could see himself crying. His eyes flashed open as he breathed deeply. He stood up and went to the mirror, only to see his eyes glowing green. He was startled and took two steps back from the mirror.
"Big bro?" Shane pushed the door open, seeing his brother's green eyes.
"Stay away from me! Get out of my room immediately!" Simon was usually ruthless, but when he was vulnerable, he looked adorable.
"It's okay, brother," Shane said, closing the door behind him.
"It's an order!"
"And I don't want to follow that order."
"Shane—"
"Simon, stop! I'm not a baby! Have some confidence in me," Shane said, and with that, he casually walked over to the bed and threw himself onto it.
"What the hell are you even doing? Get up immediately!"
"'Immediately, immediately.' I wonder why he loves that," Shane thought to himself.
"Okay fine, I'm up," he said, standing up from the bed.
"Your eyes are still glowing green, bro. But why? This is the second time I've seen your eyes like this..."
"Shut up!" Simon snapped. "What are you doing in my room anyway? Get out immediately!"
"Immediately!" Shane mumbled lazily.
"I just wanted to ask how to prepare the noodles you made the other day," Shane said, and Simon was taken aback.
His green glowing eyes turned back to a dim, beautiful red.
"Wow, bro, it's red again," Shane said. Simon hurried to the mirror and saw his eyes return to normal.
"Are you making the noodles? Yes or no?"
"Shane, why not make it yourself and leave me alone?" he sighed. This brother of his loved doing things at the wrong time.
"No? That's why I need you. I really don't know how to make it myself, and I really love your skills in cooking," he said, and Simon looked at him, amusement dancing in the corners of his eyes.
Simon was good at almost everything, including Ezekiel. The both of them had lived for a long time and learned a lot of things. Simon loved being praised, and hearing this from his little brother? He would love to impress the boy even more.
"Okay, Shane. Let's go to the royal kitchen." Shane smiled. He knew Simon loved impressing him—showing that he knew almost everything.
The both of them went to the kitchen, and all the maids gave them space to pass. Shane took out the noodles while Simon was chopping vegetables.
For some kind of reason, the news had reached all the princes' ears that the second prince was about to cook. All the princes gathered in the kitchen.
"Brother? Are you about to cook?" the one next to Shane asked, amusement in his gray eyes.
"Yes, Andrew! He is about to cook!" all the princes cheered him on, and Simon took a vegetable and placed it on the cutter. He started chopping, and he was done in just ten seconds. Everyone watched and cheered him on while Simon smiled proudly.
Soon, the noodles were ready in just two minutes. All the princes were very happy, and for a while, Simon forgot his nightmare and was happy with his brothers. He poured the noodles into a bowl and called all the princes to come and have a taste.
"Brother? The noodles were only for me," Shane complained.
"When did I ever say that? I made this for my younger brothers—and you're obviously not the only younger brother I have."
"I'll love to taste it!" they said. Simon gave them each a small bowl.
"Max, why are you even eating my noodles? You said you and I aren't friends," Shane said. "Brother? Why did you give my enemy food?" Shane said, and Maximus glared at him.
"It's true! You and I are no longer friends, brother," Max muttered slowly. "But when did I ever tell you I'd be enemies with noodles?" he asked, and all the princes laughed.