Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 121: Not Impressed, But Highly Amused

Chapter 121: Not Impressed, But Highly Amused

Elder Alfred flinched, startled that Emperor Kaan had somehow learned about his intentions before he’d even voiced them.

He shifted uncomfortably, glancing desperately at Lady Tanith, silently pleading for guidance.

Lady Tanith, meanwhile, had really hoped Alfred could manage to look at least somewhat respectable in front of someone of Emperor Kaan’s rank. But alas, that expectation was apparently as unrealistic as a talking unicorn.

With a quiet sigh of resignation, she said, "We have come to understand that Lady Riona is a dangerous force. She should never have been allowed to roam free, yet His Majesty the King has done just that, ignoring His Excellency’s sound judgment."

Her voice remained steady and her expression unchanging as she spoke. It was clear to Emperor Kaan who the true strategist between them was.

Meanwhile, Elder Alfred was busy demonstrating exactly how not to behave when one believes they have the competence to rule a kingdom.

Power had clearly deluded him into believing he was fit to rule a kingdom. In some ways, perhaps he was—but not always, and certainly not now.

"And now," Lady Tanith continued, "with danger looming over us, we can no longer deem His Majesty the King fit to rule this kingdom. His judgment has faltered."

She held his gaze steadily, which caught the emperor off guard—she was the first woman of her rank who hadn’t averted her eyes before he did.

"It is clear that a new, wiser leader is needed—one who prioritizes the public good over personal sentiment," she concluded.

"I see," Emperor Kaan responded curtly, his lips curling slightly as if he were tasting the flavor of the conversation.

"You would make a far better leader than that young king ever could," Elder Alfred blurted out, which was unintentionally hilarious.

He referred to King Valentin as the ’young king’—a curious insult, given that Emperor Kaan was even younger than this so-called ’younger’ king.

The irony completely escaped Elder Alfred, who was too focused on tearing down his own monarch and bending over backward to impress the emperor.

Lady Tanith, on the other hand, silently begged her master to stop talking before he dug them into an even deeper hole. But the elder was beyond saving.

Emperor Kaan leaned back in his chair, clearly entertained by the spectacle. With a chuckle, he crossed his legs and flashed a smile, the kind that both charmed and mocked at once.

"You think so?" he asked, teasing. "Even though I’m not even a hundred years old yet?" He was eager to see just how far Elder Alfred would stumble over his own words now.

Before Elder Alfred could make things worse with his ridiculous ramblings, Lady Tanith smoothly cut in.

"Leadership isn’t defined by age. Your Majesty has proven yourself to be an extraordinary ruler over a vast empire. You’ve single-handedly brought entire kingdoms to their knees. That alone speaks volumes of your prowess."

Emperor Kaan turned his gaze to Lady Tanith. His smile remained, but his eyes flashed with the kind of dissatisfaction reserved for someone who’d just spoiled a perfectly good joke.

She’d stolen his entertainment right as it was getting good.

"You’ve got quite the way with words, Lady Tanith," he remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Feeling completely ignored as Emperor Kaan focused all his attention on Lady Tanith, Elder Alfred desperately tried to get back in the conversation.

"She is, right? I mean, I found her!" he blurted out, like a kid trying to impress a teacher with a crayon drawing.

After years of being an elder, Elder Alfred’s social skills had deteriorated into a strange mix of clueless arrogance and blind confidence. He was used to sycophants buttering him up and agreeing with everything he said—so naturally, he figured the emperor would fall for the same routine.

"And I personally appointed her as my aide," he added, puffing up like that little fact would win him a medal or something.

Unfortunately for Elder Alfred, Emperor Kaan was immune to such transparent attempts at validation. Barely acknowledging the elder’s comments, the emperor cut straight to what really interested him.

"So, why exactly is Riona dangerous? What have you discovered?" Emperor Kaan asked, neatly sidestepping Elder Alfred’s attempt to score conversational points. It left the elder awkwardly hanging in the background like an uninvited party guest.

"Because she’s the Blood Moon child, of course!" Elder Alfred revealed.

Lady Tanith’s heart sank. Before the meeting, she had made it clear to the elder not to confirm Riona’s identity to the emperor.

Though rumors had spread throughout the kingdom, Lady Tanith believed it was too dangerous to reveal the truth outright.

The emperor’s true intentions remained a mystery, and without knowing where his loyalties lay, she couldn’t afford to hand him such a powerful piece of information.

Emperor Kaan’s support was crucial; they needed his vote to secure their position. They had even offered him the throne. But now, with the secret exposed, she feared he might exploit the Blood Moon’s power for his own gain.

It was too late to take it back. Lady Tanith closed her eyes, regret swelling in her chest, but remained silent. What was done, was done.

"Tell me, why exactly should I help you?" Emperor Kaan’s face betrayed no reaction to the revelation, leaving Lady Tanith uncertain whether he could be trusted.

Elder Alfred whined, "Don’t you despise Valentin? He’s so full of himself. He barely speaks, and when he does, all he does is object to everything!"

With Emperor Kaan showing no signs of interest in the elder’s whining, Lady Tanith began her argument, "Under your command, vampires will unite. We will fully support your endeavor."

Lady Tanith maintained her composure, her hands resting lightly on her skirt as she kept her spine as straight as a rod.

"It’s absurd that we’ve been scattered across different kingdoms in the first place. Vampires are inherently superior to other beings. It’s only right that we set the rules and ensure others follow them."

She had heard whispers of the impending unification long before the emperor’s visit.

If Emperor Kaan shared Elder Alfred’s obsession with supremacy and power, appealing to his ego with the promise of leading a united vampire empire would be the most effective approach.

"You seem to have misunderstood, Lady Tanith. I don’t require your help to achieve my goals. Your offer falls short of my expectations, and I’m afraid I won’t be extending any assistance," Emperor Kaan declared, his tone icy and final.

With that, he rose from his seat and exited the room with the kind of grace that suggested he was done wasting time.

Elder Alfred stood frozen, his mouth hanging open in shock. He had been certain the emperor would side with them.

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