The Royal Revenge
Chapter 170: Of Insolence And Threats

Chapter 170: Of Insolence And Threats

The Western King and Queen returned to the capital center shortly after they left the scene. Sir Wiriam and several priests from the vampire clergy were discussing the cause of the fire, but none of them were close enough to the truth as much as Elys and Aleksander were.

The moment the vampires noted the King and Queen’s return, the murmurings instantly died down. Every knight went down on their knees, while the priests bowed down their heads in respect.

"Your majesty," Sir Wiriam greeted Aleksander, "you have met Priest Mora."

Mora flashed Aleksander a kind smile despite his face being hidden behind his mask, "Greetings your majesty. My priests and I have come to your knights’ aid to get the situation down to a controllable level."

Aleksander nodded in acknowledgement, "I thank you for your service, Priest Mora, as well as the rest of the vampire clergy."

"It is but what little we could do to help. The main abbey is practically nearby. It would be a sin for us to sit still while the capital burned slowly," he responded.

"That is true, I agree," Elys added in.

The vampire stiffened and turned his head towards Elys’ direction. He didn’t say a word to engage Elys in their conversation.

She didn’t see Priest Mora’s face behind his mask, but she could tell from his body language that the vampire really didn’t appreciate her voicing out her opinion. She lifted her chin as she stared at Priest Mora’s way, and ultimately the vampire turned his attention back to Aleksander.

"High Priestess Naya sent only the best of the vampire clergy," he continued.

The priest’s actions were not left unnoticed by Aleksander, but he chose not to raise his voice with it as he felt it wasn’t going to be beneficial to both Elys and him.

They need to get close with the vampire clergy, as majority of the vampires in the Western Kingdom followed the church’s teachings. Even if Aleksander knew the clergy was totally against him, he must keep up with his pretense to preserve some sort of peace between them.

At least for now that he and Elys were still going about the first steps of their revenge plans.

"How were you able to put out the fire?" he eventually asked the priest.

"Through our faith and hard work, your majesty. Nothing is impossible for a vampire that wants to save his home," Priest Mora replied.

Aleksander didn’t like his reply. All the more the fact that he could hear the other priests behind him stifle a laugh.

Priest Mora was asked a clear question, yet the vampire answered Aleksander in a playful manner – not even a hint of seriousness was in his voice. Did he think of Aleksander as a joke?

’Well, it might as well be that way,’ Aleksander thought at the back of his head. ’They still believe that damn lie the late Queen Zephyrine spread out about me.’

Aleksander’s hands clenched tightly into fists. Thankfully his sleeves were long enough that it hid his hands beneath the fabric. Elys on the other hand was more conspicuous, and she showed her displeasure immediately with Priest Mora.

"You dare to answer your King like that, Priest Mora?" she asked him, her hand raised beside her and a ball of whit energy teeming at the center of her palm, "Why don’t you try and do that again, and I will blow you up and let you burn under the heat of the sun?"

Priest Mora turned to Elys and said, "Your majesty, I never meant to displease you. If I have offended his majesty, he would have said it, yes?"

The young king doubted the priest was regarding him with respect with his half-assed reply to his question. Aleksander would have lashed out on him, but he wanted to return to the palace as soon as possible, as the heat was killing him despite the protection his mask gave.

Aleksander turned to his Knight Commander and addressed Sir Wiriam, "Convene back at the palace, while leaving several to investigate further the damages this fire has caused the capital center. I will hold a meeting shortly after an hour."

Sir Wiriam bowed his head and said, "Yes, sire!"

"Come on now, wife," Aleksander turned to Elys, "We shall not waste time with those that does not take us seriously."

The King made a quick side-eye towards Priest Mora, but their expressions were well hidden beneath their masks. It wouldn’t matter any longer what was painted on their faces, the young king only meant to read the priest’s mind.

He had been trying to do so for a while now since they began conversing, but to his dismay, Priest Mora seemed to be on high guard. He emitted a strong shield of mana all over him, and despite Aleksander’s concealed attempts to read his thoughts, Priest Mora was unreadable.

"Fine, very well then," she replied to Aleksander with an irritated sigh.

Elys made it clear that she was displeased with the priest. She whipped her hand and dispelled the ball of energy that had already amassed into a size of a man’s head in her hand.

It was only meant to intimidate, but the young queen would be lying if she was to deny the fact that she wanted to hit the insolent priest.

Right off, the King and Queen rode off back to the palace and with them Sir Wiriam and a handful knights followed them suit. Priest Mora and the rest of the priests and a portion of Sir Wiriam’s knights stayed behind.

The vampire priest stared at the entourage returning to the palace and then he sneered.

+++

As soon as Aleksander and Elys returned to their shared chambers, the vampire king immediately locked the doors to their chamber.

The chamber’s curtains were already closed, and Aleksander undressed his cloak as well as threw away his mask over to the wall.

It bounced off with a loud thud, and Elys turned just in time as Aleksander’s eyes landed on her.