Days drifted by like falling leaves at the University of Franza.
Vienna had settled in—somewhat. She'd made a few friends, grown accustomed to the rhythm of her classes, and familiarized herself with the corners of the city. But no matter how hard she tried, one thing continued to disrupt her peace.
Valus.
Her vampire neighbor. Her classmate. Her unexpected academic rival.
And her biggest headache.
At first, Vienna had brushed him off as a distraction—a rich, cold vampire who walked like he owned the world. But then the results of their exams came out. Vienna topped the list. Valus came in second.
She had been ecstatic. Thrilled. Finally, something to prove she was still the best, even outside her homeland.
But her joy was short-lived.
That afternoon, while staying behind to finish a case study, Valus approached her without a word. Before she could even greet him, he poured an entire cup of black coffee across her papers.
"What the hell?!" she gasped, standing up in disbelief. "Are you insane?!"
But the moment she looked into his eyes, her breath caught.
Valus grabbed her by the jaw—gently, yet possessively. Their faces were inches apart. His icy gaze locked onto hers.
"This is a reminder, witch," he said in a dangerously low tone. "Know your place. No one surpasses me. Not even in academics."
And just like that, he was gone.
Vienna stood frozen in place. Humiliated. Angry. And... shaken.
From that day on, she kept her head down. Avoiding him at all costs.
---
The cafeteria became her safe haven.
One day, while seated alone in a quiet corner, her tray filled with comfort food, Jacob approached her with his usual sunny smile.
"Mind if I join you?" he asked.
"Sure. Go ahead," Vienna replied softly.
Over the following days, they grew closer. They shared a sense of humor, an interest in outdoor adventures, and even made plans to go fishing together during the long weekend. Jacob was warm, charismatic, and above all—safe.
He didn't pour coffee on her notes.
---
But fate had other plans.
After class one afternoon, as Vienna was packing her things, a shadow fell over her desk.
"You're avoiding me," a cold voice said.
She didn't need to look up.
Valus.
She stood and met his eyes. "Yes," she said flatly. "Because you told me to know my place. And I've decided my place is far, far away from you."
She tried to walk past, but his hand shot out and gripped her arm—tight.
"Valus, what is your problem?" she snapped, yanking herself back.
"You. You're my problem," he said, voice low and tense.
Their eyes locked again—and this time, she saw it. Something raw. A flicker of emotion in those normally lifeless emerald eyes.
Then—
"Vienna!"
Jacob's voice sliced through the tension like a blade. He rushed to her side, gently pulling her away.
They left together, but not before she glanced back.
Valus stood there, fists clenched, jealousy written all over his face.
---
Later, at a cozy coffee shop, Jacob stirred his drink slowly.
"Are you and Valus... together?" he asked.
Vienna nearly choked. "What?! No. Absolutely not. He just—he threatened me, that's all. Told me not to compete with him or something bad would happen."
Her hands trembled slightly as she lifted her cup.
Jacob frowned. "Stay away from him. You don't know who he really is."
She blinked. "What do you mean?"
Jacob hesitated, then leaned in. "You probably think he's just a high-ranking vampire. But he's more than that. He's the next ruler. The Vampire Prince."
Vienna went silent.
"You're joking," she whispered.
"I wish I was. But I'm not. His friend, Arron? He belongs to the family of royal butlers. They only serve one bloodline."
It all clicked. The arrogance. The rage. The piercing pride when she surpassed him.
She had embarrassed the heir to the Vampire Throne.
Vienna let out a shaky breath. "No wonder he said I was the problem…"
---
Meanwhile, across the city, the underground club buzzed with music and energy.
In a private VIP room, Valus sat slouched, empty bottles scattered across the table. Arron, ever the loyal friend, leaned back with a sigh.
"You've had enough, man," he said.
"I want more," Valus muttered.
Arron arched a brow. "You usually hate drinking. What's going on with you?"
Valus dropped his head on the table, lips barely moving.
"Why does it hurt… when I see her with someone else?"
His voice cracked. "I try to be near her… and she runs. I want to protect her, but I always end up… hurting her."
Arron's eyes widened.
Valus. The cold-hearted Vampire Prince.
In love?
He had never seen his friend like this. He thought it might be Merrine or someone from the noble courts.
But now, it was obvious.
Only one woman had gotten under Valus's skin.
Vienna.
Arron chuckled quietly and shook his head. "So that's it, huh?"
Valus didn't answer. He was already asleep—finally at peace for the night, his dreams haunted by a witch who refused to bow.