Call me Marino

"Do you need a ride to the University?" Sebastian asked, and Elliana looked up before nodding.

No one mentioned what happened last night. However, it was obvious everyone was thinking about it one way or the other.

The usual soft innocent glint in Elliana's eyes was missing today and was replaced with hints of fear.

The constant smile on her face was nowhere to be seen. Sebastian didn't like a second of it. It had been a couple of days only, but he was getting used to her smiles now. It almost looked illegal to see her without a smile.

Even Miss Zoya was worried about the princess. Her screams last night horrified her, and she wondered what kind of dream the princess had that left her traumatized to this extent.

Lucas stood in the corner, watching everything with a sigh.

As much as he was happy that Sebastian was stepping closer to Elliana, since last night his caring actions were proof, he didn't want that to happen at the expense of Princess's happiness.

"Have you eaten enough?" Sebastian asked after some time, and when Elliana, who was barely eating anything today, didn't answer him, he stood from his place and forced her to stand, catching her off-guard.

He looked at his watch. There were still a good few minutes before they needed to leave.

Without explaining what he was doing, he picked her in his arms and took her to the terrace before placing her down. Elliana looked at him, unsure of what he was trying to do. If it had been any other time, her heart would've already been racing at this time.

His captivating hazel eyes, as he forced her to look at him, made her blink twice as her heart felt content.

"Mr. -"

"What is it? I want to know what is troubling you," Sebastian didn't waste a second and came straight to the point.

He didn't want her to be late for University.

However, Elliana looked into his impatient eyes and thought he was probably angry about her screams last night. She was loud indeed. She didn't want to disturb his calm but couldn't help herself when she felt so scared. The only person she could think of - She sighed before smiling sadly inside her mind.

She had no right to scare everyone like this when she wasn't even properly a part of the Kingdom. Though she smiles at everyone most of the time, it doesn't mean she doesn't notice or hear maids gossiping about her.

Most of the time, it's along the lines of how the prince was probably controlling a lot around the princess because he doesn't like humans, especially the hunter's bloodline. Elliana was well aware that people, apart from the ones who interact with her, really accept or like her.

It wouldn't come off as a surprise to her if Sebastian told her that he was being good because this marriage was decided by his grandpa, who was important to him.

With a sigh, Elliana raised her gaze from his shirt to his eyes again.

With a forced smile, Elliana started, "I am sorry about last night. It must've disturbed you. I know it was wrong of me to shout and scream like that. Next time I will try to keep my mouth shut. Or, if possible, is there a soundproof room here? I can't really control my screams in my dream, but if this palace has a stronger soundproof room, then I will shift there and-"

"Have you lost your mind?" Sebastian cut her off, and she gulped.

The prince was getting angrier. She could feel it.

"Do you think I am annoyed about your screams? Do you think so lowly of me?" Sebastian asked, and Elliana widened her eyes before quickly shaking her head.

"That's not what I mean, Prince Marino, I just -"

"Marino," He said, and Elliana looked at him confused.

Sebastian looked into her deep eyes, which looked so innocent and pure at the moment that he could not help but think of tainting them.

He stepped forward before cupping her cheeks and placing his forehead on hers.

"Call me Marino," Sebastian said.

He didn't know what was happening to him, but the more he thought of staying away from her, the more he felt attracted and drawn to her.

"Call me," he said, and Elliana gulped, her heart finally picking its pace.

He smelled good. She didn't know what kind of aphrodisiac it was, but it made her want to stay close to him.

His cologne and body smell was so good that Elliana wanted to rub her nose on his chest and take deep breaths.

If she had to choose between smelling flowers and wet soil and Mr. Marino, for the first time, she would choose a person over nature.

She raised her hands subconsciously and fisted them around his shirt, her heart pounding against her ribcage as she basked in his presence.

"Say it, Elliana," Sebastian opened his eyes and distanced his face only enough to look into her eyes properly.

Seeing her face up so close, he was tempted to take off his mask and -

"Marino," Elliana's voice put a pause to his thoughts, and his pupils dilated a little.

With a smile under his mask, he pulled her closer, hugging her close to his chest. This was the first time she said his name to his face, and he didn't know why, but he felt so calm hearing her say it. With his head placed over her head, he leaned over the railing, shocking all the guards who witnessed this scene.

"Now, are you ready to tell me what happened last night?" Sebastian asked, and Elliana hummed.

"It was a nightmare. A voice was calling out to me. She was dreadful. I haven't felt something like this ever before. For the first time in my life, I wanted to live. And that's why in my moment of panic, I called you," She paused as if contemplating whether to say her next words.

"I know I am a bother to you because I am a human, but I have started to trust you to protect me," Elliana's unadulterated words brought Sebastian out of this whatever trance he was in, and he distanced himself from her slightly.

"I will," he said without even realizing it, and Elliana smiled.

"Thank you for not judging me about the incident and helping me throughout the night. I will try not to be so bothersome to you," Elliana paused before she held his hand, forcing him to look at her.

"My human and mortal self probably irritates you a lot, and I know you control many urges around me. I know that it displeases you sometimes. That's why I am sorry for all that. Maybe not immediately, but I will work harder to become a worthy wife for you," Elliana's heartfelt words made Sebastian stiff.

'I will work hard to be a worthy wife' He repeated her words in his head, suddenly feeling guilty.

"You will be late for University. Let's get going," Sebastian said, and she nodded at him.

The entire journey from the palace to the university was a quiet one today. Lucas looked at the two of them a couple of times, not saying anything, unsure if his prince was angry or displeased about something. He definitely looked deep in his thoughts.

Just like yesterday, Sebastian dropped Elliana at some distance from the University gates.

However, rather than asking Ambrose to drive off, he actually waited for Elliana to walk inside the gates.

Elliana mindlessly walked to the University with a distant smile on her face. The thought of Mr. Marino asking her to call him by his name without the honorifics still made her heart quicken its pace.

It was different today. He has never behaved like this with her. The way he placed his forehead on hers and cupped her cheeks, especially hugging her so tightly, everything made her heart skip a beat.

Elliana didn't know what kind of feeling this was. It almost felt like her heart was aching but in a good way. It was all because of that nightmare, and as much as it scared her, the aftermath of it was really in her favor.

She sighed, the memories of his intense gaze when he asked her what was wrong flashing in front of her eyes.

If she hadn't been in the university and her room, she would've squealed loudly by now. That's how happy she was, and it was visible in the way she was walking too.

As she walked mindlessly and was about to enter the University, someone jumped on her from behind, and she nearly squeaked in shock.

"What the -" she started before looking at who it was and couldn't help but smile at his boyish smile.

"Seriously? Is this how you greet someone the first thing? You almost gave me a heart attack," Elliana said, and Daniel grinned before winking at her.

"My charm is just like that. Girls often find their hearts skipping a beat," Daniel said proudly, and Elliana chuckled.

"So you know how to laugh too?" She heard another voice and turned to her left, where Alex was walking.

"Why? Did you think I didn't?" Elliana asked, and he was about to answer when another voice interrupted him.

"I am sure that's because of how robotic you sound," Alcinder scoffed, still not believing that they were walking with a girl, that to be a human, who was the center of their attention.

"Well, I have been told that my robotic voice is very soothing. Nice to meet you too, Mr. Alcinder," Elliana scowled, and Daniel laughed at her before pulling her cheeks, making her swat his hand away.

"Hey!" She scowled even harder, and the guys laughed.

Unknown to them, a man sitting in his car, who witnessed everything, was glaring at them so hard that if looks could kill, they would've been buried six feet under the ground.

Lucas looked at the scene and sighed.

"It looks like Miss Zoya was right. Our princess is already so famous, and it's just the second day of University. Who would've believed she would catch the gaze of two most prominent vampires studying here on her first day? She is surely charming. Who do you think will make the first move -" Lucas paused when he felt murderous glares on his back.

He turned his head towards Ambrose, who sat there with thinned lips.

His expression clearly showed his displeasure since Lucas had put both of them in a spot now.

"Why did you stop, Lucas? Continue what you were saying," Sebastian's voice was atrociously cold and filled with sarcasm.

"What are you waiting for, Ambrose?! Why are you not starting the car already?" Lucas said loudly before clearing his throat, and Ambrose rolled his eyes at the guy's tactics to get out of the situation.