The Royal Revenge -
Chapter 102: Out for Blood
Chapter 102: Out for Blood
"Merry meet, my fellow men and women of the great vampire kingdom," the presider spoke. "It is with a heavy heart that we laid to rest our beloved King and Queen tonight. Their deaths are a great loss to the vampire kingdom, just as the Crown Prince Dominick had been killed in his righteous battle for our people several weeks before this tragedy happened."
Murmurs began to rise in the palace halls. Each family who was convinced their tiny drip of blood relation to the dead monarchs could levy their way to the top were giddy. Only a select few were silent, observing the whole fiasco as it went.
"The King Raxus and Queen Zephyrine Ardorlean has now officially joined the Netherworld along their beloved son. This then brings us all here to convene who the next rightful heir to the throne is," the presider added.
The bastard prince scoffed silently at the obvious disregard to his existence. He still held the princess’ hand in his, and Elys felt how his grip tightened as they listened further to the nobilities discussing the rite of succession.
’They didn’t even mention Aleksander’s name nor spoke whether he was an option to succeed the throne,’ Elysianne thought at the back of her mind. ’It goes to say that he truly needs to establish his power over the rest of the nobilities to be able to get to the crown.’
Elys squared her shoulders and listened in on the gossip around them. The two of them had joined a handful of the spectators in what looked like a court room. The noble families were seated nearer the podium where the presider was.
After the murmurs had hushed down to a tolerable volume, the presider waved for someone to take his place in the pulpit. A woman with an otherworldly feature walked to the front. She held her head high, her hair of blonde locks trailing behind her like a cape.
"The High Priestess Naya will now read to us the laws that govern the throne’s succession before we begin put forward our candidates," the presider said as he exited to the side.
The woman batted her long lashes, and then spoke to the crowd in a clear voice, "Merry meet, vampires of the West Kingdom. It is written in our book of laws that when a monarch dies or vacates the throne willingly, the first-born son sharing his blood shall inherit the crown. But now that the Crown Prince Dominick dying in the hands of the enemy, while Prince Aleksander is assumed lost during the failed invasion, we find ourselves lacking a rightful heir."
Aleksander stiffened with the mention of his name.
He knew the palace and the church didn’t put an effort to find him when they didn’t announce their return from escaping the Eastern Kingdom, but it still made him mad to think about it.
The princess felt her husband’s reaction, and gave him a squeeze to remind him to stay calm. She didn’t think that Aleksander would burst out in anger as he used to do, nevertheless, she had to make sure. Elys then turned her attention to the High Priestess Naya.
The High Priestess beckoned an acolyte to bring a large book with a golden spine. She opened it with a heavy thud, and the woman flicked through the papers with thin and elegant fingers until she stopped when she found the section she was looking for.
The High Priestess cleared her throat and said, "It is stated here in the book of laws that should there be no available direct descendant from the late monarch’s bloodline, the eldest son of the strongest noble family within the kingdom shall be deemed fit to succeed and sit at the throne."
Elys noticed the excited whispers of the noble families. The Farvars were silent, but she knew they were the most likely family to push their way for the crown.
The High Priestess waved a hand to silence the crowd. When she regained their attention, she continued, "To determine the noble son fit for the crown, the presider will be using Mana Orbs that will glow in accordance to the amount of mana one has as he puts his hand over it."
"Mana Orbs," Elys scoffed, "well, that would be quite a handy item for such a specific purpose."
"They are items that the knights and all vampires serving the monarchy are subjected to in order to determine if they are powerful enough to protect the kingdom," Aleksander explained. "And in this sense, to determine the best vampire to succeed according to the vampire book of laws."
After reading the rite of succession, High Priestess Naya let the acolyte take back the golden-spined book. Her head turned to the nobles and said, "All noble families who are present today shall be deemed fit to nominate an appropriate heir to the presider when he calls each house out."
The presider moved back to the podium, and High Priestess Naya returned to her seat with the other clergy of the vampire church. Acolytes then lined up with Mana Orbs for each of the noble family’s candidate.
"Farvar family, Rosso family, Igniss family, Elnua family, Ravinia family," the presider summoned the vampire noble families, "present your candidates and the Mana Orbs shall determine the worthiest vampire for the crown."
One by one, the noble sons were presented to the presider.
"Would this be the right time?" Aleksander wondered.
"No," Elys whispered to him, "let them present their candidates first. That way, you would know who to be wary of and chose who are strong enough to be a probable ally."
"I was just kidding," Aleksander smirked, "But I have to say, aside from your powers, I am finding your intellect as interesting and charming. Perhaps we can make this marriage work out in the end."
"Don’t even think of falling in love with me," Elys said.
"We won’t know that," Aleksander responded. "Things might change. You have known my worst side, but not yet my best."
Elys rolled her eyes beneath the layers of her lace veil and mask.
The prince should already know that she was out for blood and not for silly things such as love.
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