Vampire Queen : Fated Love

The house was unusually quiet after their return from the old mansion.

Each family member retreated to their rooms, relishing the comfort of being home again.

After unpacking, they took long, refreshing baths to wash away the fatigue of the trip.

The familiar scent of home lingered in the air, and the routine of life seemed to settle back into place.

But for Josh, the peace was short-lived.

The weight of his decision to marry Sarah pressed heavily on him, and he knew there was no avoiding the inevitable confrontation with his father, Max.

---

The Confrontation

After a few hours, Josh found himself standing outside his father's room.

He hesitated for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked lightly and pushed the door open.

Inside, Max was sitting on an armchair, his imposing figure radiating authority.

Alia sat beside him, holding his hand, her expression calm but concerned.

She looked up as Josh entered, immediately sensing the tension.

"Dad," Josh began, his voice shaky.

"I need to talk to you."

Max raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp and unyielding.

"What is it?"

Josh hesitated, then blurted out,

"I want to marry Sarah."

The room fell silent. Max's expression darkened, and his grip on Alia's hand tightened.

"Sarah?"

Max's voice was dangerously low.

"The daughter of our servant, Leo?"

Josh nodded, standing his ground.

"Yes, Dad. I love her."

Max rose from his seat, his towering presence filling the room.

"Do you even understand what you're saying, Josh? I sent you to the old mansion to handle work, not to waste time on some ridiculous romance!"

Josh flinched but didn't back down.

"It's not ridiculous, Dad. I love her, and she loves me."

---

Alia's came

Alia quickly stepped in, her tone soothing.

"Max, calm down. Let's hear him out. Maybe this isn't as impulsive as it seems."

Max turned to her, his frustration evident.

"Alia, you know our family's position. We are of high standing. Sarah is not suitable for our son. Her father works for us! This is about more than love; it's about our legacy, our reputation!"

"Dad,"

Josh interrupted, his voice firm.

"You always talk about legacy, but what about happiness? I don't care about high class or low class. Sarah is important to me, and I won't give up on her just because of her background."

---

The conversation quickly escalated into a heated argument.

Max: "You're blinded by infatuation! Love doesn't build a future—status and stability do!"

Josh: "That's not true! Love is what matters most! Sarah makes me happy, and isn't that what you want for me?"

Max: "What I want is for you to think logically! Do you know what people will say when they find out you're marrying a servant's daughter?"

Josh: "I don't care what people say! I care about Sarah!"

Alia watched the two of them, her expression torn. She gently placed a hand on Max's arm, trying to calm him down.

"Max, maybe we're being too harsh. Josh is old enough to make his own decisions. If he truly loves Sarah, shouldn't we at least consider it?"

---

Max's anger began to subside, though his expression remained stern. He turned to Josh, his voice quieter but no less firm.

"You're determined about this, aren't you?"

Josh nodded, his gaze unwavering.

"Yes, Dad. I won't change my mind."

Max let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples.

"Fine. But don't think for a second that I approve of this. You'll have to prove to me that she's worth it. If this ends badly, it's on you, Josh."

Relief washed over Josh's face, and he nodded.

"Thank you, Dad. I promise, you won't regret this."

Alia smiled softly, squeezing Max's hand.

"See? It's not so bad. Let's give them a chance."

Max didn't respond, but his silence was enough for Josh to know he had won—at least for now.

---

Aftermath

As Josh left the room, he felt a mixture of relief and apprehension.

The argument had been intense, but he had stood his ground.

Now, he just needed to prove to his family—and especially his father—that his decision to marry Sarah was the right one.

In the hallway, Josh ran into Eithan, who had been eavesdropping from a distance.

"Dad gave in, huh?"

Eithan said with a smirk.

"Kind of,"

Josh replied, running a hand through his hair.

"It wasn't easy."

"Of course it wasn't,"

Eithan said, clapping Josh on the shoulder.

"But hey, at least you didn't back down. Good luck, little brother. You're going to need it."

Josh chuckled, grateful for his brother's support.

Despite the challenges ahead, he felt more confident than ever in his decision.

---

Josh in his room

Josh couldn't contain his happiness after finally receiving his parents' reluctant approval. A smile was plastered across his face as he entered his room, the tension from the argument with his father finally fading.

The moment he closed the door behind him, he let out an excited cheer, his voice muffled by the room's walls.

"This is it!" he whispered to himself, his heart racing with joy.

Without bothering to change out of his clothes, Josh threw himself onto his bed, sinking into the soft mattress.

He grabbed a pillow and hugged it tightly, imagining it was Sarah.

"You're mine now, Sarah," he murmured, his voice tender and filled with affection.

"No one's going to stop us—not Dad, not anyone."

He closed his eyes, letting his imagination run wild.

In his mind, he pictured Sarah in a white wedding dress, her radiant smile lighting up the room as they exchanged vows. He thought about the life they would build together, the laughter they would share, and the family they might one day have.

---

The Fantasy

Josh's dreamlike state grew deeper as he started whispering to the pillow.

"Sarah," he said softly,

"I'll take care of you. I'll make you the happiest person in the world."

He imagined her leaning in close, whispering back,

"I trust you, Josh."

The thought sent a wave of warmth through him, and he tightened his grip on the pillow, burying his face in it.

---

Falling Asleep

The day's events had exhausted Josh, and his excitement was finally giving way to drowsiness. Still clutching the pillow as though it were Sarah, he felt his eyelids grow heavy.

"Soon," he whispered before drifting off,

"we'll be together forever."

Josh fell into a deep sleep, his dreams filled with images of Sarah, their future, and the happiness he was determined to fight for.

In that moment, he looked utterly at peace—like a child who had just won his greatest treasure.