Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 88: A Royal Rant

Chapter 88: A Royal Rant

Elder Alfred was enjoying his tea time when an unexpected sensation hit him. He was so surprised that he let the cup slip from his grasp. The delicate porcelain shattered on the floor, drawing the immediate attention of his personal knights, who rushed into the room.

Rather than reassuring the knights, Elder Alfred remained motionless. His eyes were wide with shock. Servants scurried to clean up the broken pieces of the ceramic cup, but he remained unresponsive.

"Your Excellency, is something wrong?" the knight asked again, pressing for an answer. He began to think that something was definitely wrong.

Upon receiving no reply, he exchanged a worried glance with his colleague and issued a firm command, "Fetch Sir Julius and Lady Tanith."

It was the right call. Sir Julius was the Head Guard, and he could offer insights into any security breaches and take measures to ensure the safety of Elder Alfred and the overall mansion.

Meanwhile, Lady Tanith was Elder Alfred’s trusted aide. She would likely understand the elder’s condition and know how to assist him.

Shortly after, both of them arrived, with Lady Tanith arriving first since she was nearby. She was calm but her movement was rushed and urgent.

"What happened?" she demanded of the guard, stepping closer to Elder Alfred, who was still frozen.

"We have no idea, My Lady. His Excellency was enjoying his rest after a hectic week like usual, and suddenly, he dropped his cup and froze. He hasn’t moved since," explained the guard.

Lady Tanith examined Elder Alfred’s exposed skin, finding no signs of illness or curses. The curtains were drawn, and the sun had set, so there was no chance of sun exposure causing his condition.

"Fetch a basin of cold water and a fresh towel. Also, bring me fresh blood from young animals," Lady Tanith ordered with authority.

Meanwhile, Sir Julius inspected the room. He traced the walls with the tip of his fingers and peered outside the window. He found no indication that anyone had slipped in unnoticed.

"It looks secure, but I’ll barricade the perimeter, just in case," declared Sir Julius.

"Good idea. Let’s proceed with that," Lady Tanith agreed decisively.

After Sir Julius exited the room, the servants returned with a basin of cold water and a fresh towel. Lady Tanith dipped the towel into the water and gently wiped Elder Alfred’s hand, massaging his fingers with care.

Elder Alfred had been paralyzed by shock, so intense it had affected him physically. Lady Tanith’s soothing touch gradually brought him back to reality.

He gasped as if he had just emerged from a thousand-foot depth of the ocean. Clutching his chest as he regulated his rapid breathing, Elder Alfred met Lady Tanith’s calm and steady gaze. It helped him to ground himself in the present.

"Your Excellency, are you alright?" Lady Tanith asked softly.

Once the elder regained his composure, he commanded with urgency, "Summon the other elders! Now!"

***

King Valentin’s patience was thin, to begin with, and now it had completely snapped. His voice thundered through his study, shaking the walls.

"How could you move so slowly? Do you not realize how urgent this matter is? What have you been doing that you can’t get a single thing done right?"

It was the most he had spoken in one outburst in a long time. Normally, his fury was conveyed through deadly glares, but this time, mere looks were insufficient to express his dissatisfaction.

Slamming his palm on the table, he gritted his teeth and turned his fiery gaze to the knights assigned to the special task.

"I extended the negotiations deliberately to give you more time, and you can’t even complete the job with the tools and baits I provided," he growled, his eyes piercing into each knight in the room.

The knights stood with their hands behind their backs, keeping their heads as low as possible in remorse.

"They had no outside contact, Your Majesty. The only message we intercepted was from the Alpha’s family, demanding he cease negotiations with the vampires and return to Wintertooth immediately."

"Incompetent fools!" King Valentin said through his gritted teeth. He raised his hand and waved it in the air, sending the knights sprawling with an invisible force. "Get out!"

The knights scrambled to their feet and hurried out of the study, coughing up dark blood and clutching their injuries to suppress the pain. They feared that showing their misery would only exacerbate the king’s anger.

Knock. Knock.

King Valentin lifted his gaze to the door, momentarily pulled away from his rage. A servant entered and announced, "Your Majesty, Her Excellency Alera is seeking an audience."

Elder Alera was one of the most powerful and respected elders in the kingdom, known for her wisdom. She was also the only one who knew the whole truth. The king trusted no one but her with his secrets.

Though he was the king and one of the most ruthless vampires in Eira, King Valentin held a deep respect for the elders. He adjusted his coat and straightened his posture, preparing to receive such an esteemed guest.

"Let her in," he commanded. His tone was noticeably gentler than before.

The female elder walked into his study with grace, clasping her hands together in front of her stomach as she moved without a sound. Her long silver hair was flowing freely.

"Your Excellency, what an honor to have you visit me. You should have summoned me to visit you instead," the king said respectfully.

Though custom dictated that a king should bow to no one, Elder Alera was practically his mentor, so he lowered his chin slightly in acknowledgment.

"Oh, don’t trouble yourself. I enjoy my excursions away from that hellish manor. You know how my great-grandchildren can be—noisy and overly excited," she said, sitting on the sofa without being offered.

She chuckled and continued with a jesting tone, though she meant every word, "They have too much energy, and I have too little patience."

King Valentin flashed a slight smile—something he had never done for anyone, but Elder Alera had been the mother figure he needed throughout his life. She guided him when he was lost.

"You don’t look well. Is it not going as planned?" Elder Alera asked.

As expected, Elder Alera knew him better than anyone else. He sighed, walked to the sofa, and sat down. "There’s no progress. How much longer can this kingdom survive if everyone is incompetent?" he lamented.

Elder Alera smiled warmly. Her gaze was soft and understanding. "Aren’t you expecting too much from them?"

The king leaned back, frustrated. "I placed the werewolf’s book in the secret chamber, and I’m certain one of their troops has seen it because its position was changed. Yet, nothing has come of it."