The Royal Revenge
Chapter 186: The Traitor

Chapter 186: The Traitor

The whole Vampire High Court erupted in a crescendo of woes and anger. They couldn’t believe that they were forced to change their ways with such a drastic move, and to think that it was actually a human that made it final.

Suddenly, amidst the angry cries of injustice with the vampires, there rose the rumors of Aleksander’s curse on the kingdom. Once more, the issue was raised into the spotlight, and several vampires began to discuss in heated voices.

"This is truly because of that bastard’s curse," one whispered with vehemence.

"Why did he even agree to that crazy human’s ideas anyway?" another complained.

"The late Queen Zephyrine was right, he will bring the kingdom into ruins!"

Aleksander merely rubbed the sides of his cheeks as he listened in with the clamor of the vampires. He and Elys knew this would happen, but they wanted to test something out before they would have their plans fully executed.

Would a few of the vampires be worth saving at all?

The young king never thought of it before. He couldn’t remember a single vampire in the whole Western Kingdom who had sided with him. Back in the time where he was shoved into the dark, not a single damned mouth decided to stand up and ask if there was injustice against him.

’Well, going against my father was utterly unthinkable too, but nevertheless, not even a single one had expressed their dismay,’ he thought to himself.

His wife wanted to save her people, and he tried as hard as he could to accommodate her plans as well as incorporate his revenge on those that belittled and mocked him before.

High Priestess Naya stood as she smirked at the uprising of the monarch’s subjects – clearly, she enjoyed the idea of the destabilization of Aleksander’s rule. But obviously, Aleksander did not share the same sentiments.

Originally, Aleksander had discussed with Elys that he didn’t mind if the whole kingdom should go in flames. However, he realized it would be a waste to trample on a developed kingdom when he could just rebuild it according to his preference.

And for that to happen, a purge of those against him and his wife’s wishes needed to be executed.

Right now, with the revelations of the Vampire High Court’s true colors against human slavery, he finally was able to determine which ones to keep by his side and which ones that were as good as dead.

The young king sat comfortable in his throne, his silver eyes instantly flashing as it changed into its dangerous golden hue. A lot had been considered into the execution of the next steps that he and his wife had thought of.

Aleksander turned towards Marquis Lanz. The vampire felt a sudden lump in his throat and his heart started to beat wildly inside his chest. It was as if a feral animal was thrashing within his ribcage and wanted to burst out of him.

The instructions given to him prior the meeting was only brief. It didn’t even provide him an idea what it was supposed to be exactly, nor what the end goal for it was.

With a slight nod, the young king signaled the loyal secretary into going through with their plans.

Marquis Lanz breathed in and out, calming himself or else he wouldn’t be able to execute the king’s plans thoroughly. He raised his arms beside him, put them forward, and gathered mana into the tips of his fingers.

The vampire then turned his wrists, and with a flicking motion as if to orchestrate the start of music, snapped his fingers. All of a sudden, the dark walls and ceilings of the High Courts turned into a kaleidoscope of mirrors of different sizes. Several also materialized midair, and one that was directly in front of Aleksander himself.

Elys closed her eyes, and a smile was etched on her pretty face. Her ladies in waiting followed her, as well as Cordelia and a handful of those who were deemed loyal to them.

"What are they doing?" Lady Beatrice asked no one in particular, noticing the peculiar acts that the queen and her ladies did.

"What is the meaning of this Marquis Lanz?" Archduke Keane asked.

Aleksander smirked and a sardonic laugh escaped him. His golden eyes were shining.

"Whenever you are ready, Marquis Lanz," the young king spoke to his secretary.

The vampire nodded and immediately proceeded with their next step.

The mirrors he had procured out of thin air started to rearrange themselves, connecting and disconnecting at a strategic angle until they created a pattern with which enabled Aleksander’s eyes to be visible to everyone.

Aleksander then stood from his throne, and announced with firm voice to his words, "How dare all of you to spew ill words against your king? I have been forgiving since my coronation, but your disrespect is no longer tolerable."

A flash of golden shimmer crossed Aleksander’s eyes, and immediately all of the vampires that saw the reflection of his eyes from the mirrors turned limp. There were several who were able to resist the young king’s magic, but they were too few to even bother – his wife could take care of them if they do make trouble.

He turned to the High Priestess Naya and smiled at her.

"What are you meaning to do with this, King Aleksander?" the High Priestess hissed at him.

All of her priests and acolytes that were brought into the High Courts had fallen under Aleksander’s influence. And although they weren’t thrashing in pain – which was a relief that the sadistic Aleksander usually did – High Priestess Naya was still bothered.

She raised a hand and a greenish glow surrounded her, and then spread out to the rest of the clergy who sat together in a group. Slowly, one by one they returned to consciousness, and Aleksander clicked his tongue in displeasure.

"I cannot find the right words to say, and perhaps it could be because I don’t want to say it even though I might find the right one," Aleksander muttered under his breath, "you seem to be able to dispel my magic so easily, High Priestess."

"I am powerful, your majesty, King Aleksander," High Priestess Naya told him, "Even your father dared not to clash with me."

"Well, that was because you see eye to eye and share the same ideals," Aleksander spat at her. "Whereas I, I am totally different."

The young king stood from his throne and walked towards his wife. He touched her lightly on her shoulder, and Elys started to open her beautiful ruby eyes. She turned to her ladies in waiting and said, "You may open your eyes now."

Aleksander’s control over visions was heavily dependent on eye contact. The mirrors were used to somehow help with that part, as it looked anyone would be seeing the young king’s eyes as if they were standing in front of him.

Cordelia opened her eyes and stepped forward, knowing all too well that Elys was bound to ask her something to do. And like her assumption, Elys did meet her gaze and pointed towards the vampire clergy.

"Who among them, Cordelia?" she asked.

High Priestess Naya was confused what Elys was asking of her maidservant, another filthy human that came from the slaves. The vampire clenched her fists, and asked, "Why do you say such words, Queen Elysianne?"

Elys didn’t pay heed to High Priestess Naya’s question.

Instead, she waited patiently for Cordelia to identify the traitor who seemed to be conniving with the Eastern Kingdom. Elys didn’t want to go to the drastic options immediately, as she did wait for Aleksander’s plan to succeed as well.

The old woman on the other hand, had already scanned the whole High Courts the minute they had entered. By the time that the vampire clergy arrived, Cordelia kept her lips sealed as she tried not to give them away.

The ladies in waiting behind Cordelia started to get jealous of her. Questions rose at the back of their heads. Most notably, Countess Rusiana’s eyes were practically shooting daggers at Cordelia.

"This is quite an favorable turn of events, your majesty," Cordelia smirked as her brown eyes turned to look at the vampire clergy, "it seems like we hit the jackpot and the traitor you are searching for is within this room."

Lady Beatrice could hear the others conversing from where she sat, and assuming it was safe to open her eyes now, she took a peek and saw the extent of the King’s magic on everyone else weaker than him.

"What does she mean by a traitor?" Lady Beatrice muttered under her breath.

Elys smiled with glee in her fiery eyes as Cordelia raised a finger to point at the person that she saw conversing with Sir Noa.

The King and Queen, and the rest of the conscious people inside the room followed Cordelia’s finger as she identified the suspect.

High Priestess Naya turned around, and then saw the nervous and sweating face of one of her priests, "Mora?" she whispered in disbelief.