In my previous life, on the day my sister and I attended the Witch Covenant's mating ceremony, I saved a fallen vampire prince.

To repay my debt, the prince, upon returning to his clan, immediately declared that I would be his future bride.

A year later, I gave birth to a pureblood heir—the only successor of the entire vampire lineage.

The prince was overjoyed. On the day of his coronation as King, he sealed a blood bond with me, declaring me his eternal companion and queen. From that moment, I was revered by all races.

My sister, meanwhile, chose a powerful werewolf Alpha, only to fade into obscurity as one among his many lovers. Her jealousy of me spiraled into madness. During a full-moon ritual held by the witches, she pushed me into an abyss, leaving me to die from the fall.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw her running toward the direction of the vampire prince's misfortune on the very day of the mating ceremony. I knew then: she, too, had been reborn.

But what she didn't realize was this—becoming the prince's bride was easy. Winning his heart, bearing his child, now that was as impossible as climbing to the heavens.

A witch's power is born of desire—an ancient law etched into our bloodline.

Once a witch comes of age, the magic within her begins to surge and churn, desperate to bond with a powerful mate to regain its balance. Without that union, the long nights ahead will consume her, the untamed magic devouring its host from within.

Fearing that we might seek pleasure recklessly and invite disaster, the Elders of the Covenant decreed that the first duty of every newly adult witch is to choose a suitable partner—an alliance meant to strengthen our ties with other races.

Today, we had just arrived at the sacred altar and barely had time to study the diverse males gathered before us when the girl beside me nudged my arm.

"I saw your sister, Ella, on the way here. She kept running toward the Shadow Forest, and no one could stop her. Is she not joining the ceremony?"

The moment she spoke, everything clicked into place.

It seemed I wasn't the only one reborn. My dear sister had returned from our previous life as well.

And the way she rushed toward the Shadow Forest… no doubt she was chasing her dream of becoming the vampire queen this time.

Before I could respond, a sudden chill swept through the hall. Outside, dark clouds smothered the sky.

In an instant, gloom swallowed the day as several magnificent black‑and‑gold carriages—drawn by nightmare beasts—descended from above. A contingent of vampire envoys stepped forward to announce the prince's decree.

My heart tightened. From past experience, I knew exactly what this meant: Prince Alexus had arrived to claim his so‑called "lifesaving savior."

In my previous life, my sister intentionally made things difficult for me, ordering me into the Shadow Forest to pick moonlight blossoms for her. By sheer accident, I stumbled upon a man lying unconscious—ambushed and left for dead by his enemies.

I had planned to use a witch's life‑energy to revive him and, while at it, appease my own most primitive desire.

But when he awoke, he pressed the sovereign blood‑crest of the vampire clan into my hand. He revealed his identity as the vampire prince and immediately sent a bloodline transmission declaring me his future mate.

The Witch Covenant held a middling place among the races, and such an honor had never befallen us. Naturally, I had no right to refuse. A few simple words sealed my fate.

Yet the vampire race—rulers of the night—harbored a brutal secret.

To carry a pureblood heir, the mother must nourish the fetus with her own life essence. And because vampire blood is overwhelmingly domineering, no ordinary woman can withstand it. Most die within months, drained of vitality, taking the unborn child with them.

By a twist of fortune, I survived. Not only that—I gave birth to the sole pureblood heir of that generation. Overjoyed, the vampire prince formed an eternal blood bond with me on the spot.

Decades later, when Alexus ascended as Vampire King, I naturally became his one and only queen, basking in a lifetime of privilege and honor.

My sister, who had chosen the werewolf Alpha, soon learned the truth: he was astonishingly promiscuous, surrounded by lovers. She could never become his Luna.

He met with her only once a month—far from enough to satisfy a witch's nature. She lived in misery, drowning in tears each day.

When the witches' Full Moon Festival finally arrived, Ella lured me to a cliff and pushed me over the edge. The terror of falling to my death is something I will never forget.

Now, surrounded by the Elders of the Covenant, Alexus appeared before the crowd—holding my sister's hand—his expression full of tender affection.

"Ella is pure of heart," he announced. "She saved me in the forest. From this day forward, she is the bride I've chosen."

Following protocol, I knelt. My sister looked down at everyone with barely concealed triumph.

But where she could not see, the corner of my lips curved upward.

'My dearest sister… since you're so determined to die, I suppose I'll simply help you along.' I thought to myself.

A vampire prince's wedding is a grand event—hundreds of times more important than our own mate‑selection ceremony.

My sister, I, and several of our fellow witches were all brought to the vampire clan's Shadow Castle. We were forbidden to take even a single step outside and were ordered to focus entirely on preparing every detail of my sister's upcoming marriage.

Running my fingers along the blood‑crystal necklace Alexus had sent especially for Ella, I felt nothing.

It was beautiful, yes—but in my eyes, it was nothing more than a death charm.

In my previous life, the gifts I received were a hundred times more luxurious than what my sister now enjoyed. Women across the continent imitated my every word and gesture. But only I knew the price I paid—how much suffering I endured—for the child growing inside me.

Before I could examine the necklace further, one of my sister's maids hurried toward me.

"Miss Lila, the future princess consort requests your presence."

Me? At a time like this, shouldn't my sister be busy with her wedding attire? Why would she suddenly remember a sister who supposedly meant nothing?

Though doubt lingered in my heart, she was now the prince's publicly acknowledged fiancée. I had no authority to refuse.

The moment I reached her chamber, I saw Alexus stride out with his robe open, a satisfied smile on his face. I lowered my head at once. He did not spare me a single glance.

His scent was unmistakable—blood and roses, that lingering fragrance a vampire exudes after intimacy. I knew immediately that my sister had already slept with him.

It couldn't be helped. Once a witch comes of age, she loses control when facing a man she desires. Her body naturally draws her closer. It was one of our fatal flaws.

My sister reclined gracefully on the bed, a sheer silk cover draped lightly over her. It did nothing to hide her alluring figure.

When she saw me enter, the smile faded from her face. Slowly, she lifted a finger and pointed toward an embroidered pattern on the table.

"You stitched this? Good."

I didn't dare move. She had spent our entire childhood beating and scolding me—when had she ever spoken a kind word? And remembering how she pushed me into the abyss in our past life, my heart pounded uncontrollably.

Seeing that I remained still, she suddenly sat up. She grabbed a candlestick from beside her and slammed it against my head.

Blood blurred my vision. I bit down on my fury and fell to my knees.

My reaction seemed to please her. She drawled lazily, "I called you here so you can witness how I earned everything I now possess. You'd better keep those restless thoughts to yourself and stop hovering around Prince Alexus. Otherwise…"

I lifted my gaze and met hers. "As you wish, Your Highness."

She froze for a moment, startled by the calm in my eyes. Then she strode over, seized a fistful of my hair, and hissed, "Lila, did you really think I don't know? You're reborn too, aren't you?"

At the word reborn, a shadow flickered through my eyes.

She snorted and hurled the embroidered pattern at my face. "You grew up in the witches' forest. How could you possibly know the Blood Rose sigil—a symbol only royal vampire queens may use? And you still dare lie to me!"

I sighed softly, pressing a hand to my forehead as I pushed myself to my feet.

"Ella, I have never wanted to fight you. I will never appear before the prince."

She scoffed without the slightest concern, her fingers brushing mockingly across my cheek.

"You think I'd lose to you? A plain little nobody? Even if you wanted to compete, you wouldn't stand a chance."

I fell silent.

Some things remained unchallenged not because I lacked ambition—but because I intended to live longer.

Only a fool clings to the glittering poison that leads to her own ruin.

The vampire prince's engagement ceremony lived up to the clan's legendary reputation. Even an engagement alone was executed with breathtaking grandeur. Not only did countless mysterious supernatural beings attend, but they also brought lavish gifts—a clear demonstration of respect.

Ella appeared in a vibrant red gown, her face flushed with excitement as she held Alexus's hand and walked into the expectant crowd. At last, she had achieved the position she had long dreamed of; her happiness was impossible to hide.

When her eyes fell on me, she tilted her head with a mocking smile and silently mouthed: Trash.

Yes, I was trash. But she was about to step into hell itself, so I wasn't sure which of us was more pitiable.

Her smile, however, was short-lived. Alexus pressed a cup of wine into her hand.

"Drink. In the presence of the elders, our engagement is now official."

My sister eagerly accepted it. Just as she raised the cup, a sharp metallic scent wafted from the wine. She froze in horror and instinctively flung the cup away. "Silver powder! There's holy silver in this wine!"

Holy silver was a witch's natural nemesis. Even a grand sorcerer with a millennium of experience could not withstand a sip of holy silver wine. It wouldn't kill, but it would temporarily nullify one's magic and confine the victim to months of agonizing illness—a living death.

In my previous life, I had faced the same situation, yet I never once thought of refusing. I knew my life was insignificant compared to the dignity of the entire vampire clan. To embarrass Alexus in front of so many would forever reduce our relationship to one of mere utility.

In the past, I had steeled myself and drunk it. The rest of the ceremony passed in a haze; my head felt heavy, my body sluggish. But Alexus did not care in the slightest. In his eyes, I was only a tool—a means to repay a debt and bear heirs. Who ever cared about a tool's feelings?

Ella, oblivious to the gravity of the situation, pouted and clung coquettishly to Alexus. "I won't drink this!"

She didn't notice the shadow that darkened his face. Surrounded by so many witnesses, he held back, his tone patient but firm. "Ella, this is an ancient vampire tradition. Don't be childish in front of everyone."

Ordinarily, anyone would yield when the high and mighty vampire prince spoke. But she seemed blind to the approaching danger, stubbornly refusing. "I don't care about this stupid tradition! Witches despise holy silver. I never want to see it again!"

Her words enraged the vampire elders present. To them, consuming an object that countered one's partner was a symbol of loyalty and submission. By refusing, my sister had publicly insulted them.

Some nobles quietly grumbled, questioning whether the bride understood her place—and even casting doubt on Alexus's judgment.

Alexus's patience snapped. "I'll say it once more. Drink it."

Ella froze, utterly shocked at his harshness. Trembling, she raised the cup of holy silver wine and downed it in one gulp.

But it was too late. The mood had already shifted, the ceremony's decorum disrupted. After completing the ritual, Alexus strode away, not sparing her even a glance.

Ella stood there, stunned. Just yesterday, they had shared tender, intimate moments—how could a single sip of wine ruin everything?

I let out a quiet, bitter laugh. She was far too naive.

Nothing mattered to the vampires more than their reputation. A bride was merely a decoration, a tool to enhance the clan's image. She actually believed she could influence the prince's will?

Her "good life" had barely begun—and the real trials were still waiting.