The door to my office opens violently as my dear brother storms in.

"Maribelle! Is it true that your daughter ran away?"

Making sure to stay perfectly calm, I respond:

"It is. Do you have an issue with that?"

"An issue? Of course I do! What will the nobles say if they learn of that? You managed to calm them down by picking a successor, in no small part thanks to our efforts to keep her origins secret, but now you went and let her run away!?"

I lift my hands up, then gently move them down to invite him to stop being angry, or at least stop shouting.

"Look, she's still too attached to her previous life as a human. She thinks she doesn't belong here, and that going back to the city where she lived for over three decades is the only real option she has."

Carasi is now walking in circles as he gesticulates wildly.

"But she's a vampire! And a princess at that! Where else would she belong but here?"

"There are no arguments we can present that will convince her that her place is here, among her kin. This is something she needs to experience for herself. As a parent, part of my job is to give her the freedom to learn by herself. She will live as a human once more, and realize that she cannot fit in anymore. Then, she will come back, and we will warmly welcome her."

Carasi stops, looking down on me with daggers in his eyes.

"How can you be so sure she will return?"

"Have a bit of faith. She's your niece, after all."

"I remain unconvinced."

I smile and shrug, then grab a small notebook on my desk. As I flip through the pages, I say:

"She managed to merge parts of a few of our spells to create a new one that lets her go back to the way she used to look. She's incredibly talented, and will make a great queen one day. Stifling that growth will only end up hurting the future of the kingdom."

"And what do I say to the nobles once they learn of this?"

"Tell them that she went on an infiltration mission, with my blessing. It's technically not a lie."

"I guess it's not. However, if things ever get too dangerous for her, I will request that you drag her back here, or I will do it myself."

"Thanks, I knew I could count on you."

This gets him to start fuming again as he rushes out of my office.

I flip to the last page of my notebook, where I noted the address to her new apartment. I'm thankful she hasn't yet noticed the bat following her around, but I might have to recall it and let her go without surveillance for a while, to minimize the risks of being spotted.

I lean back into my chair, the notebook in my arms. Oh, my dear daughter, how I will miss you, but I have every faith that this will prove a beneficial experience for you. Grow stronger, show the world just what you're capable of, and become worthy of succeeding me on the throne. As your mother, I'll gladly welcome you back once you're ready.