Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 51: Winning Enemies

Chapter 51: Winning Enemies

Riona thought she had Baron Ludwig under her wraps. She was over the moon, thinking about how easy it had been, only to be crushed by reality.

"Is this about the petition?" he asked.

"Uh, yeah. So, you’ve heard."

Riona didn’t expect him to bring it up like this, and she didn’t know how that knowledge would play in convincing Baron Ludwig to support her.

But she had never been one to think too much, anyway, so she stopped thinking and just said what she wanted.

"You see, there’s a record stating that my mother’s life was in danger, and if she happened to die, we must look for anyone who would benefit from it," Riona stated, leading the conversation.

Baron Ludwig hummed softly to himself and thought for a while before saying, "His Majesty the King."

Riona looked at Thorin and Puck, and couldn’t hide her excitement as the baron went in the direction she wanted.

"That’s quite an accusation, I would say," Baron Ludwig added.

She explained, "There is no concrete proof, but I’m leaning on that theory. Since you’ve heard about the petition, I’m sure you’ve also heard about my admittance to the Nightwarden. Once I’m officially a Nightwatch Novice, I will investigate this case."

Riona was not in a position of power. Knowing that, Thorin suggested appealing to these nobles’ loyalty through Riona’s mother instead of relying on what Riona could give them.

She was glad that she didn’t have to sweet-talk the nobles into doing anything for her. They would all be doing it for her mother. Since Riona thought of her mother as an angel because of her mother’s sweet personality, she naturally assumed that her supporters also thought the same.

But she was soon proven wrong.

"What’s in it for me?"

It was natural for someone to calculate the pros and cons before doing someone else a favor. That must be what Baron Ludwig was doing. Still, it came quite as a shock to Riona.

She came to this manor to shock the baron, but he played a reverse card and shocked her. Riona opened her mouth but closed it again. Stuck, she searched Thorin’s face to beg for his help.

"We think—" Thorin began.

"I’m asking you, Riona. Shouldn’t you be the one to answer?" Baron Ludwig didn’t take his eyes off her. He had never looked at the werewolves as if landing a gaze on them alone was shameful for him.

"It’s alright. Go on," Thorin whispered by her side.

"I thought you were on my mother’s side. Don’t you want justice for her?" Riona said what was on her mind, regardless of how strategic it was.

Baron Ludwig smiled, but Riona couldn’t understand what was so amusing about their conversation. Weren’t they talking about someone’s death and a possible murder?

"You’re cute," the baron said casually. "You’re still too green, so you don’t know how this world works. A ridiculous thing like blind loyalty doesn’t exist."

At those sentences, Thorin sighed and lowered his head. Riona didn’t know what his gesture meant. What she knew for sure was that this couldn’t be good.

"It’s—"

Baron Ludwig leaned forward and turned serious. "Even in the past, blind loyalty was stupid. It often led to unnecessary deaths. Why would I, in this age and day, put a stake on my chest when it doesn’t benefit me? So, tell me, Riona, what’s in it for me?"

Riona gritted her teeth. "What do you want?"

The baron laughed, and the serious expression on his face disappeared. "Oh, dear. That’s not how things work. You don’t ask me what I want. You need to offer me something. Shouldn’t you do some research before coming here and asking for my help?"

"H-help?" Riona hated that word.

"Gold," Thorin whispered, keeping his head low to hide it from the baron. But Riona turning to her side and scrutinizing the Alpha werewolf gave way.

"You’re really just a kid," Baron Ludwig commented, eyeing Thorin for the first time before returning his gaze to Riona. "If you’re this immature and short-sighted, how can I trust you?"

Riona clenched her fists. Her blood started to boil.

"You couldn’t even think for yourself. Asking for a werewolf’s help? How are you different than your uncle? You’re two peas in a pod! Fur lickers! If you succeeded in dethroning your uncle, you’ll cooperate with the werewolves, anyway. I see no benefit in helping you."

Now it was an insult directed at her, and she couldn’t just receive it without fighting back.

"Just so you know, Baron Ludwig, I do not need your help. I came here thinking that you thought of my mother fondly. I did this for you, alright? But this is how you respond to my kindness."

Riona bounced up and snapped, "You’re just old, but you’re certainly not wise. Stop lecturing me and don’t say licker this, licker that! Can’t vampires have the freedom to befriend other races? Anyway, the thought that vampires are superior to other races is obsolete."

She turned to Thorin and said, "Let’s go! We shouldn’t stay here longer, lest we will contract his racism fleas."

Thorin and Puck rose from their seats and made their way out of the drawing room. Riona returned to the table and shoved the snacks into her mouth, glaring at Baron Ludwig while she was inhaling the delicacies before leaving.

Riona put on her sun-protection clothes, and while she wanted to channel her anger by being aggressive towards the servants, she realized that the servants did nothing wrong.

"Why did we even come here?" Puck exhaled.

"We learned something, at least," Thorin said.

She sneered, "Yeah, we learned what a blockhead he is."

"Riona, if I may say something about your diplomacy skills..." Thorin waited for Riona’s response, and when she gave none, he continued, "I believe you should be more careful with your words. Slighting the nobles wouldn’t give you what you want. Sometimes, in politics, we must know when to retreat, when to attack, and when to stand up for ourselves."

"Gaahh!!! I don’t care about that! Ugh, I just really want to leave this place. Hey, your master is a real prick. How can you work for him?" Riona asked the servants, who were surprised by her boldness.

"Come on, Riona. You’re going to make them lose their jobs." Thorin pulled Riona gently but strongly.

Despite Thorin’s suggestions for improvement, a similar situation happened quite a few more times. Instead of forming allies, Riona was more skilled in gaining enemies.

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