The bed covers were soft and comfortable, and Angelina smiled as she slowly awoke from her slumber. She felt something that was neither too soft nor too hard. When her eyes were fully opened, the blankets were sprawled, but Angelina's head wasn't on her pillow.

Her body stilled, and she noticed Vlad lying on his bed with his hands behind his head, looking down at her. She realized that her head was on Vlad's chest, and her body was clinging to him. "EEK!" Angelina immediately got away from him too quickly, making her fall from the bed. 

Vlad was amused. "Good morning to you, too."

"What the heck!? Why was I-I-!?" Angelina stuttered as she stood from the floor and went to the nearest wall. "You pulled me towards you, didn't you!?"

Vlad rolled his eyes as he slowly sat up in his bed. "You jest. I woke up earlier than you. I was about to get up, but then you moved onto me. You seemed to enjoy it." The Voivode chuckled as he got off his bed. "You smiled when you did."

The young woman's body and face turned warm. She couldn't believe that she had subconsciously moved herself toward Vlad. "Wh-Why didn't you move or wake me up? I could have moved."

"What fun would it have been if I had done that? I would have much preferred to have seen your expression. Now, the sun is slowly setting, and there is one thing you will do before you leave."

"You still want me to do more? I woke up with the embarrassing fact that I..." Angelina noticed that Vlad's amusement was extended as his smirk widened. She didn't want to give him more satisfaction than he already felt. "Wh-What do you want?"

Vlad walked past a small wooden cabinet with a mirror. "Comb my hair." He then got a small wooden chair, sat on it, and waited for her. It was silent between them, and Angelina's embarrassment slowly dissipated. Vlad was full of surprises. Angelina slowly walked toward him until she stood behind him. A comb was seen on the left side of the wooden cabinet, and she grabbed it. Vlad's reflection was noticed, and his eyes were still as he eyed her reflection. "Must I keep waiting? I will not harm you, woman."

"It's Angelina." He rolled his eyes as he motioned her to do what he asked. Angelina took the comb and slowly brushed his hair. "Y-You have nice hair."

"Of course, I must ensure that I am taken care of. Your hair, however, is quite in disarray."

"I don't have the appropriate things to care for my hair. If I were at home, then...I would have taken better care of myself." The duo was silent; Angelina glanced at Vlad, who looked at ease. "Can I ask you something, Vlad?"

Vlad raised an eyebrow. "You may."

"H-How does it feel to be in your position?"

The question was unexpected; he slowly looked at Angelina's reflection. "What do you mean, my position?"

Angelina stopped combing his hair. She felt that asking that question was a bad idea, but after last night, it made her think if there was a side to Vlad that he couldn't express to anyone. "I don't mean anything with disrespect, Vlad. I know you are a Voivode; I imagine it is a huge responsibility. I can't imagine the pressure to keep the stability of your land and people. I was curious about how you feel about it?" Angelina noticed Vlad's expression in the mirror; he became serious. "S-Sorry, I shouldn't have asked." She waited for him to speak or make a sound; he did neither. His eyes were emotionless, making him look frightening. 

Surprisingly, Vlad pointed to his hair; Angelina continued brushing his hair. "It is a responsibility. My older brother, Mircea, was supposed to be Voivode after my father passed, but he and my father were killed. That occurred while my younger brother and I were prisoners of war for Sultan Murad II."

"I'm so sorry. I can't imagine the anger and pain you must have felt."

"Their court betrayed them just to put my cousin on the throne. I swore revenge and swore that once I became Voivode, I would bring glory to Wallachia and God Almighty."

Angelina felt pity for him. He had lost his childhood and felt so much resentment. Vlad felt he had to regain what his family had lost and keep their values. His time was so cruel that he didn't know what stability was. "I-I can't say that I understand how you feel, but I can understand why you feel and think you do." That was when she remembered the boyars and their wives who were impaled. Vlad called them enemies and traitors; he was always surrounded by enemies who sought the chance to destroy him. Vlad had to be vigilant to survive. "If I were in your position, I would be lonely."

The Voivode tensed, and Angelina stopped combing his hair. He was no longer looking at Angelina's reflection; he looked away. "You may leave. Ioana will inform you when you are to arrive at my chambers. She is waiting for you outside."

The comb was put back in place, and Angelina immediately left the room, leaving Vlad alone. His eyes were on the mirror when he ensured he was alone. Vlad was surprised that he answered her question. He wouldn't care about the riff-raff, but Angelina bravely asked him. The Voivode also surprised himself by expressing what he felt and thought about. Not even his wife or close counselors knew. Looking at his reflection, he saw the one thing he had always seen since childhood: exhaustion.

Vlad was tired.

He was tired of facing enemies on all sides and of being paranoid. Vlad slowly slumped his head onto the cabinet table.