Claimed by the vampire prince

Chapter 77: Chapter 77

Circe woke to the sound of soft shuffling somewhere within the room. Her eyes were dry and scratchy as she slowly pried them open, squinting against the light streaming through the partially drawn curtains. She blinked a few times, her surroundings gradually coming into focus.

She was in Ragnar’s room, on his bed, no less, just as she had been every morning for the past three weeks, despite her countless attempts to evade him. No matter where or how she drifted off to sleep, she always seemed to wake up here, in this same space that smelled faintly of cedarwood and him.

Three maids moved quietly about the room, but their presence didn’t alarm her. It was the usual hour they came in to prepare her bath. However, instead of buckets of water or fresh linens, they held trays and platters, each one laden with food. Glazed pastries, fruits, cream custards and fresh bread filled the room with a warm, inviting aroma that made her stomach twist in confusion more than hunger.

This was certainly not routine.

Circe furrowed her brows as she pushed herself to sit upright against the headboard. The sheets rustled as she moved, catching the attention of the maids, who promptly turned toward her and dipped their heads in a graceful bow.

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes before gesturing vaguely in the direction of the small, round table now completely covered with what looked like enough food to feed at least four people.

"What is all this?"

One of the maids answered without hesitation, " His Highness requested that his breakfast be brought here."

Circe blinked, startled by the unexpected explanation. Ragnar never ate in his room. Neither did anyone else. Meals were always taken in the dining hall. She was the only one who had broken that tradition, and only because she had been deliberately avoiding eating with him and everyone else since they returned to Amris. Her brother had become her only means of getting sustenance, sneaking food out of the kitchens and into the library for her whenever he could.

So why now?

She gave the maids a small nod, silently dismissing them. They took the cue and began to file out of the room one by one. Just as the last one exited, Ragnar stepped inside, the door closing behind him with a quiet click.

His eyes landed on her immediately, as though his mind was tethered to her by an invisible string.

He took in the tousled state of her hair, the sleep still lingering in her eyes, and the unimpressed expression curling her lips when she met his gaze. Despite it, something in his chest eased at the sight of her.

"You’re up," he said softly. "Come. Have breakfast with me."

Circe narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious. "Why would I do that?"

He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he made his way to the table and pulled out one of the two chairs, beckoning her over with a simple wave of his hand. freewebnovёl.ƈom

"You haven’t been eating in the dining hall lately," he said, his tone even.

He didn’t mention that he knew about how Rowen had been sneaking food to her all this time. The cook had reported it to him the very first night she caught the boy creeping into the kitchens after dinner. From that moment on, Ragnar had quietly arranged for an extra plate to be left out after every meal. The kitchen staff had been instructed to turn a blind eye whenever Rowen wandered in to retrieve it.

He didn’t want Circe starving herself out of stubborn pride, and that was the only way he could think to help her without forcing her hand.

Circe scowled. "And why do you think that is?"

"Let’s not argue," he said, sighing. "It’s far too early in the day for that." Then his voice softened, quieting into something that almost sounded like pleading. "Please, come sit with me."

She stared at him, surprised. Since the day she had met Ragnar, she had never once heard him ask anything of her, let alone pleaded. Not even when she had threatened him with her dagger. And yet, here he was, sounding almost... sincere. The shift unsettled her but it also oddly appeased her.

Her lips twitched with some unreadable emotion before she finally released a slow sigh. Tossing the covers aside, she swung her legs off the bed and rose, her steps unhurried as her bare feet padded against the cool stone floor.

Instead of taking the seat he had pulled out for her, Circe walked around the table and took the other chair opposite him.

He chuckled quietly under his breath as he lowered himself into his seat as well.

They began to eat in silence. The atmosphere was surprisingly calm but it was still laced with unspoken tension.

Circe was midway through lifting a piece of strawberry tart to her mouth when Ragnar broke the silence between them.

" Lady Maelis is hosting a ball for one of her sons and I want you to accompany me."

Her hand froze mid-air, the fork paused just inches from her lips.

She slowly lowered it back to the plate. "Is that a command or a request?" she asked, tilting her head and raising a brow in challenge.

The way she was staring at him now made it very clear that he had to pick his next words carefully.

Ragnar straightened in his seat and met her gaze with a mixture of amusement and patience. "It’s a request."

She folded her arms over her chest, clearly not letting him off the hook. "Then phrase it like one."

This woman would be the death of him.

His lips twitched, fighting a smile as he inhaled deeply and schooled his tone.

"Princess, would you like to accompany me to the ball Lady Maelis is hosting in a few days?"

She scrutinized him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, at last, she said, "And if I refuse?"

"You’re still coming with me regardless."

She shot him a sharp glare, but to his surprise, she didn’t argue further.

"Alright then," she said.

His brows lifted slightly. He hadn’t expected her to agree so easily.

Circe would normally have fought him tooth and nail over any other matter. But Lady Maelis had left a lasting impression on her the first and only time they visited her estate. Circe wanted to know more about her.

There was something about the older woman that intrigued Circe deeply. Perhaps it was because Lady Maelis, like her, was a human woman who had married into the world of vampires and managed to survive it. But Circe suspected there was more to it than just their shared circumstances.