Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 169: A Child’s Warning

Chapter 169: A Child’s Warning

Lisbeth had hoped her friend fared better than she did, but that hope didn’t come to fruition.

Cielo had rushed to the king’s office, only to be met with the expected resistance. She was barred from entering, as Margrave Nicholas and the king, along with the kingdom’s top generals, were deeply engrossed in matters of state.

"Children shouldn’t be here," warned Margrave Boris sternly.

Cielo clenched her teeth, silently cursing Elder Alfred. Not only had he given them the wrong location, but also the wrong time.

Before she was permitted to enter the palace’s main gate, she had already sensed the enemy’s ominous presence creeping closer. The chill in the air told her the enemy army was far too near for comfort.

"Margrave Boris, you know I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t urgent. I need to speak with His Majesty the King," Cielo pleaded, her tone steady but filled with urgency.

But Margrave Boris was a cautious man, always mindful of protocol. He knew the king had little patience for disruptions, especially from a child. The last time the princess had burst in unannounced, King Valentin had barely restrained his fury.

"I shall relay your message," the margrave offered coolly, his expression unreadable.

Cielo bit her nails, anxiety creeping in. If someone else conveyed the message, she feared it wouldn’t be taken seriously. After all, who would believe a child’s warning? She needed to convince the king that she was telling the truth.

"Please, Margrave," Cielo urged, her voice faltering but determined. "This is truly important. I have to speak with him."

"If you insist on delivering it yourself," Margrave Boris replied sternly, "you will wait until the meeting ends. The king won’t tolerate another interruption. The kingdom’s security is at stake."

"Exactly!" Cielo snapped, frustration boiling over. "That’s why I need to speak to him!"

She groaned in frustration, but Margrave Boris’s expression remained unmoved. Reluctantly, she gave in, allowing him to relay the message on her behalf. She could only hope it wouldn’t be too late.

Cielo explained everything, though Margrave Boris, unlike Lisbeth or Lumi, didn’t seem convinced. He listened, but she sensed doubt behind his eyes, as if he thought she was mistaken—or worse, had misheard something.

Of course, she thought bitterly. Adults never trust a child’s word. They think we’re just making things up for attention.

She refused to give up, pressing harder with her explanation. Cielo insisted her information was reliable, and that King Valentin must not delay.

"The enemy is likely breaching the east gate as we speak. The only ones defending those walls are Her Highness and Lumi!" she stressed, her voice rising in desperation.

Margrave Boris sighed, a weary resignation in his tone. "Alright. I will inform His Majesty," he said, though it felt more like he was humoring her than actually grasping the urgency of the situation.

As Margrave Boris disappeared into the king’s office, Cielo paced restlessly outside the door, frustration gnawing at her. She wanted nothing more than to burst in and warn her father directly, to shout the truth loud enough for him to hear.

But she knew her father’s ironclad adherence to decorum. Margrave Nicholas believed in the proper order of things, even when the kingdom’s safety was at stake.

If only she hadn’t been raised to follow those same rules, she would have already stormed into the room. At this moment, she wished for just a fraction of Riona’s wild courage—her reckless disregard for protocol.

Minutes dragged by like hours, and when Margrave Boris finally emerged, his unhurried, calm demeanor made Cielo’s heart sink. No one moved that slowly when their kingdom was on the brink of disaster!

"His Majesty has received the information and will consider his next move with your tip in mind," Margrave Boris announced with a calm detachment.

Cielo stared at him in disbelief. Consider? That wasn’t enough. Desperation took over as she grabbed his sleeve. "Please, you have to make him understand how urgent this is!" she pleaded. "Explain how dire the situation really is!"

Suddenly, a deafening boom echoed from uphill—an explosion. Cielo’s heart dropped. "The west building!" she gasped. Without hesitation, she darted to the nearest window, shifting into her bat form in a flash of dark wings.

Soaring high into the night, she surveyed the blinding lights coming from behind the palace’s west wing. It was worse than she feared. Smoke and debris clouded the air, and the palace’s west wing was ablaze. She flew back at once, reappearing in the hallway in her human form.

"Look for yourself, Margrave!" Cielo urged, her voice frantic. "That explosion—it’s Elder Alfred’s magic, I’m sure of it. The west building is under attack, and Princess Lisbeth is the only one defending it!"

Margrave Boris might have dismissed it as another childish fear if not for the explosion that had rattled the palace walls. The noise alone wiped away his doubts.

Without a word, he leaped out the window, transforming into his bat form mid-air. His wings were huge and powerful, and with each mighty flap, he soared higher, surveying the scene in the distance.

Moments later, he landed back in the hallway and, without hesitation, rushed into the king’s office, not even bothering to shut the door behind him.

Finally, Cielo thought. This is how it should’ve been from the start. She couldn’t help but think of Lisbeth, wondering if she was holding on well with Lumi.

Time had slipped by too quickly since Cielo left them to warn the king. She considered leaving now that Margrave Boris had taken action, but she remained doubtful. Was it enough?

Before she could decide, King Valentin burst out of his office, transforming into a massive bat—far larger than Margrave Boris—and flew out the window, his wings cutting through the air with authority.

Margrave Nicholas followed closely, shouting commands as he went. Seeing Cielo still standing in the hallway, Margrave Nicholas stopped, surprised. "Cielo? Why are you still here? You should be home. This isn’t a child’s game."

Even her father dismissed her. But Cielo stood firm, resolute. "Father, I will join the fight. Lisbeth and Lumi are already doing their part. I won’t be the one who contributes nothing to this kingdom. If I ever hope to follow in your footsteps, I need to prove my worth. And this is my chance."

Margrave Nicholas hesitated, his expression clouded with worry as he silently weighed the risks. This was his beloved daughter, after all.

But Cielo was right—she needed this chance to prove herself. A true warrior didn’t shy away from battle out of fear. This would be her first real test, a lesson no words could teach.

At last, with visible reluctance, Nicholas bent down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Then let’s show them who we are," he said, his voice firm but tinged with the concern only a father could feel.

Cielo’s eyes lit up with determination. "Yes, Father!"