Danielle was hesitant at first. She took a breath. Then, she nodded.
"Very well. "
She stood up. She made to follow after him. Her brother followed along too from a short distance. He was keeping his eye on the vampire prince. She glanced over at the prince as they walked. She waited for the prince to say something.

Keir

For a few minutes, they walked mindfully and listened to their inner thoughts as nobody dared to break the silence. Keir felt tempted to touch the branches of the rustling trees, yet restricted himself to small head movements to take in the wonders of nature. His hundreds of years on this planet had never decreased his admiration for the world's tiny miracles and even his worries seemed to dissipate with the wind.
"Your highness, do you frequently visit the gardens of your castle?"

Danielle took a breath.
"On occasion whenever my father was busy. My brother would keep an eye out for me so I could enjoy it."
She just managed to keep from sighing. He brother narrowed his eyes but not in anger or suspicion that time. He was concerned for his sister. He frowned as he continued to watch them and follow them.

Keir

Keir looked over his shoulder to catch a glance at the princess brother and gave him an almost imperceptible nod before he concentrated his attention on her. "I am glad the two of you have such a close bond", he replied. His calm demeanour didn't reveal his true thoughts: Danielle's brother was truly obsessed with her and would use his power to thwart every single one of his plans to speak to her in private. Well, nobody had said it would be easy, yet the prince shouldn't underestimate Keir's advantages as a vampire. He couldn't protect his sister inside the vampire castle.
"What else do you do in your spare time?", he asked the princess as they approached the castle.

Danielle managed a nod. She noticed him, then, looking at her brother. But, she didn't say anything. She blinked when he asked about what else she did in her spare time. She sighed at that. She shook her head.
"I...do not have much spare time, and haven't in a long time."
She frowned and looked at him.
"It has always been lesson after lesson after lesson. Or even various royal duties. I rarely had any time to enjoy myself except for those few occasions when I visited the gardens and such."
She looked saddened after that.

Keir

He noticed her worried expression and paused the long walk through the forest for a few minutes. "I truly understand you. Duties are mandatory but time-consuming and I can't imagine how frustrating this must feel for you as a human." He respectfully nodded his head, his eyes not giving away his frustration. How could they dare to treat her like an animal in a zoo? The poor girl was frightened. Frightened of her artificial cage and freedom at the same time. Every cell of his body was itching to wrap a hand around her brother's neck and tell him to leave. He needed her for himself, how else could he show her the life she deserved as his future Queen? He didn't attack her brother. He barely looked at him. He couldn't afford a confrontation...for now.
"As the future Queen of my castle, you will no longer attend any lessons. As soon as the holy crown touches your head, you will be the one to instruct others", he said half-jokingly, half-serious. With a wry smile around his lips, he resumed their walk, furtively looking heavenwards to assure a safe trip.

Daniel sighed and nodded when she heard that he understood about duties and such. She was confused when they suddenly stopped walking for a bit. She, then, blinked in surprise when he declared that she would not be attending any more of her lessons. She heard him mention a crown and such. The princess bit her lip. Danielle managed another nod at that. She didn't know if he was joking, serious, or both. She could never really tell with nobility and royals. She noted a wry smile but didn't comment on it and she tried not to think about it. Then, the princess followed along when their walk resumed. She noticed that her brother had narrowed his eyes again at the vampire prince. The look in her brothers eyes suggested that he wanted to do something to the prince but could not because of circumstances and laws and such. She sighed a bit again at that point.
"...very well. If you say so."
She did not really know what else to say. She was silent for a time. When she finally spoke again, she was quiet about it.
"....at least my mother isn't around to see what my father planned for me. It would have broken her heart."

Keir

Keir took a deep breath but didn't pause this time. She was a pawn in her family's game. Her life revolved around marriage, as it deemed her worthy in their eyes. This was not the time to judge her words, however harsh they may be.
"Have you and your mother had a close relationship?", he distracted her attention from her father to encourage her to speak more freely. Despite her soft voice, she still mystified him. He couldn't tell, whether she would accept their marriage without protest or rebel against it.

Danielle gave a nod.
"She was kind, sweet, and regardless of being born nobility, she was loved by others. She was the best mother a girl could have growing up. She wanted me to be able to be myself. She allowed it when it was just me and her in the room."
She sighed. She fought a tear.
"It was devastating when she fell deathly ill and even more so when she passed away."