Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 108: Revenge Served Cold

Chapter 108: Revenge Served Cold

"Your Majesty, it’s reported that His Excellency Elder Alfred has extended an invitation to Margrave Nicholas," an aide informed.

King Valentin hummed thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair. He had expected retribution from the elder; it was only a matter of time.

Better to confront it now than live in anxious anticipation.

Elder Alfred was not the type to stay silent after such a public humiliation. His plan had failed, and he had been betrayed by his own allies. How enraged must he have felt?

The king had heard of the harsh punishments Elder Alfred had distributed to those elders and nobles who had betrayed him.

Apparently, the elder had commanded them to kill Riona in the name of the world’s safety.

Yet, instead of eliminating the Blood Moon child, they had tried to capture her, hoping to harness her power for themselves. Whoever controlled the Blood Moon child would become the world’s strongest being.

"And how did Margrave Nicholas respond?" the king inquired.

If the margrave had considered the situation carefully, he would likely have hesitated to join Elder Alfred’s grand scheme of revenge, especially given his daughter Cielo’s friendship with Lisbeth.

But if his primary concern was his family’s business, then aligning with Elder Alfred might seem like the best option. Without a powerful patron, Margrave Nicholas had lost his privileges.

No noble could thrive without special privileges, and nearly all high-ranking nobles were tied to an elder in some way. The only exceptions were the direct descendants of elders, who enjoyed privileges by birthright.

Elders were highly respected, and many sought their favor to gain protection, knowledge, and valuable connections. This allowed the elders to grant privileges to their loyal supporters, creating a powerful network of influence.

In return, nobles provided elders with their portion of the votes, which kept the elders’s position in the assembly, as well as their authority.

"He asked for time to consider the offer," the aide replied.

If Margrave Nicholas hadn’t given a direct answer, it likely meant he was buying time to find a tactful way to decline the invitation.

"Shall I arrange a meeting with Margrave Nicholas, Your Majesty?" the aide suggested.

To prevent Margrave Nicholas, a noble with significant military prowess, from aligning with Elder Alfred, King Valentin needed to secure the margrave’s loyalty.

Though not an elder himself, King Valentin had enough authority and power to guarantee a comfortable life for the margrave.

Additionally, their daughters’ friendship could be a compelling reason for Margrave Nicholas to form an alliance with a stable and established power rather than a risky, emerging one.

The main problem was Emperor Kaan.

The emperor had come to the kingdom with unification in mind, and any hint of internal conflict could play directly into his hands.

The discord between the vampire king and the elders might give him the perfect opportunity to subdue the kingdom by exploiting its divisions.

"Organize a welcoming banquet for the emperor. Invite the margrave and discreetly inform him to meet me during the event," the king instructed.

A secret rendezvous at the banquet would be an ideal setting to discuss such a significant political maneuver.

Not only would Emperor Kaan be occupied by guests eager to engage with him, both for his position and his striking appearance, but this secret discussion could also proceed unnoticed by Elder Alfred’s watchful eyes.

"Right away, Your Majesty. I’ll draft the rundown, menu, and guest list for your approval," the aide replied, bowing before leaving the office to begin his preparations.

***

King Valentin wasn’t the only one preparing for Elder Alfred’s potential mutiny. As soon as Lady Maris caught wind of it, she began to take action as well.

Nobles loyal to her sneakily informed her of Elder Alfred’s plans. While the elder was rallying support, Lady Maris reached out to the nobles within her own circle.

Being a woman, she concentrated on winning over the noble ladies and the wives of powerful officers. Tonight, she had gathered these influential women for a midnight Bloody Mary cocktail party.

Despite her common birth, Lady Maris was well-accepted among the noble ladies, largely due to her keen insights and the influence she had over the king. Though they had been initially skeptical, many had gradually opened up to her.

However, tonight was different. Lady Maris noticed several women fidgeting uncomfortably, keeping to themselves rather than engaging with her.

They were likely attending out of necessity, not wanting to be ostracized or left out of high society.

Lady Maris had anticipated this and had intentionally invited these hesitant women, knowing they wouldn’t want to risk being outcasts.

"Good evening, Margravine Rosalie, Margravine Anastasia, Landgravine Hestia, and Lady Leora," Lady Maris greeted each of them warmly, making a point to address them by name.

The ladies responded with hesitant smiles, exchanging uneasy glances, as if bracing themselves for a sharp remark or hidden agenda from Lady Maris.

Lady Maris noticed the reluctance in the room as the ladies delicately sipped their drinks. "Isn’t it remarkable," she began.

"How swiftly the seasons change? One moment, everything is calm and predictable, the next, the winds of change are upon us, threatening to flip everything we’ve come to know," she continued.

Margravine Rosalie replied with a noncommittal nod. "Indeed, the kingdom does seem to be experiencing a... shift." She was the most senior of the ladies and the wife of the most powerful officer among them.

Lady Maris smiled gently. "Oh, shifts like these are inevitable, don’t you think? Especially when certain individuals believe they’re entitled to more than they deserve."

Landgravine Hestia raised an eyebrow. "Are you referring to anyone in particular, Lady Maris?"

So this is how you’ll play it? Lady Maris thought.

She decided to put her cards on the table for everyone to see. She let out a soft, knowing laugh.

"Let’s not pretend we don’t all know who’s been stirring the pot lately. Elder Alfred’s ambitions have been the talk of every salon, haven’t they?"

The ladies had been careful to avoid bringing up the elder’s name, but now that Lady Maris had opened the door, which intensified the tension.

"His Excellency has always been... determined," Lady Leora said cautiously. "But it’s hard to say where that determination will lead."

Leaning slightly, Lady Maris said, "Precisely, and that’s why it’s important for us to consider where our loyalties truly lie. That includes our husbands."

The ladies gasped, dumbfounded by the mere thought of poking their noses into their husbands’ business.

"It’s easy for you to say since your husband holds you in such high regard. However, it doesn’t apply to every lady in the kingdom," Margravine Rosalie remarked.

Lady Maris decided to press further. "True, but we have our own ways of influencing those discussions, don’t we? Subtle, perhaps, but just as effective."

Margravine Anastasia, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. "You’ve always been a master of subtlety, Lady Maris. But some might say subtlety is a dangerous game to play when the stakes are this high."

"Only if you’re on the wrong side of the game. And I’ve always believed in choosing the winning side."

The ladies fell into silence. Lady Maris could see the unease in their eyes and doubt in their minds. She decided it was time to sway them.

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