Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 95: Elders Gone Wild

Chapter 95: Elders Gone Wild

The elders exited Elder Alfred’s mansion and dispersed.

Most of them returned home to summon the nobles in their alliance to make a move, while others chose to visit their noble allies right away.

Despite Elder Alfred’s decision and the lack of voiced objections, not all elders planned to follow him.

Those hoping for a change devised a plan to kidnap Riona. By pretending to save her from her aggressor, they aimed to make the Blood Moon child feel indebted to them, ensuring her support for their cause.

Elder Alfred, however, thought everyone was on the same page as he didn’t see any benefit in allowing the Blood Moon child to run rampant.

He was old-fashioned and a staunch preserver of tradition. He valued the history and stability of the system. The system had endured for a reason, and it must be something worth maintaining.

Elder Alfred summoned the nobles in his alliance to his manor.

He was restless as he waited for their arrival, tapping his fingers on the armrest while muttering to himself. He stood up and sat down countless times as he couldn’t quell his unease.

The Blood Moon child’s enlightenment had occurred hours ago. What could she have done by now? That brazen girl might have already destroyed the inner palace.

It wasn’t impossible for her to extend the destruction to the entire palace if the king remained too merciful. Elder Alfred shook his head, unable to imagine the carnage Fangless was about to unleash on the Kingdom of Eira.

"His Majesty has been such a fool. I’ve told him a thousand times to expel her from the kingdom while he still could. She’s been nothing but trouble. Why did he insist on keeping her?" Elder Alfred groaned in frustration.

The Elders Assembly was a powerful organization, one even the king must respect and listen to. Yet, despite their influence, the Assembly could not make any political decisions on its own.

"Now that Fangless has received enlightenment, King Valentin has no choice but to listen to us elders," Elder Alfred mumbled, nodding to reassure himself.

"Your Excellency," a servant announced from the door, "your guests have arrived."

Elder Alfred straightened his posture to appear confident and composed despite his inner turmoil. "Let them in."

The nobles and their representatives entered the room one by one. After they were all seated, the elder disclosed the news about the Blood Moon child.

While not everyone viewed her emergence as a bad omen, none dared to oppose Elder Alfred. They knew the consequences of falling out of his favor, so they expressed their support vehemently.

"What must we do, Your Excellency?" asked one noble.

"We shall follow your lead," said another.

Elder Alfred smiled and let out a breath of relief. He was glad to see these nobles’ loyalty to him. "We must eliminate this liability before she turns against us."

"Your Excellency, Fangless is currently imprisoned in her chamber by His Majesty. How should we proceed?" a noble inquired.

The proper course of action was for Elder Alfred to speak with King Valentin about his insights and suggestions.

"I shall speak with His Majesty about this," said Elder Alfred. "I will ask him to execute the Blood Moon child and bring peace to this kingdom."

"What if His Majesty refuses?" asked one noble.

The king had the right to decline and implement his own decree to handle the situation.

Elder Alfred smirked and looked at the noble with the utmost confidence. He was certain he could sway the king, but even if the unexpected happened, he had a backup plan.

"Gather your knights and prepare for the worst. If the king hinders our path, we will take charge," he said. "Position your men near the palace gate. Time is of the essence if things go awry."

***

The royal physician had examined Riona and found nothing physically wrong. The reason for her persistent unconsciousness, according to Elder Alera, was the shock of the power of the Moon.

The state of enlightenment was complex and overwhelming, and if someone forced it upon the unprepared Blood Moon child, her body might not withstand it.

She was certain, but Elder Alera assumed someone had accelerated Riona’s enlightenment. The problem was, she didn’t know who had done it.

When asked about the motive behind it, the elder hesitated before telling him that the power of the Moon could break the spell he had cast around the room.

Meaning, it was possible that Riona herself had accelerated the enlightenment just so she could escape.

In response, King Valentin increased the number of knights guarding Riona’s chamber. He replaced the previous guards with elite Royal Guards to ensure her safety while she remained unconscious and to prevent her from leaving once she awoke.

"Your Majesty, His Excellency Elder Alfred is seeking your audience," announced a servant, bowing deeply before King Valentin.

As Elder Alera had expected, the other elders had become aware of Riona’s true identity. Elder Alfred must have come to discuss the issue.

Entering the audience room, Elder Alfred bluntly asked the king to send Riona into exile.

"A Blood Moon child is dangerous enough, but this is no ordinary Blood Moon child. She is a wild bat, and we have no idea what she might do with the power of the Moon," he argued.

"I understand your concern, Your Excellency," King Valentin said after a sigh, deliberately displaying his displeasure. "I shall take your insights into consideration. Thank you."

Elder Alfred’s eyelid twitched in offense. "I believe you’re mistaken, Your Majesty. I am not making a request. This is a demand. My loyal followers will take the necessary actions if you lack the resolve."

His open aggression turned the atmosphere tense. King Valentin glared at the elder. The only reason he remained seated on his throne was out of respect for an elder.

However, Elder Alfred had gone too far, and the king was losing patience.

"I must remind you of your place, Your Excellency," King Valentin said in a low, menacing voice—a clear sign of his suppressed anger. He rose from his seat and approached the elder.

"I will handle the matters of this court. Keep your nose where it belongs, and it certainly doesn’t belong here," he growled, stopping only when he was inches away from Elder Alfred.

The confrontation was on the verge of becoming dangerous as both vampires refused to back down, driven by their goals and pride.

The escalating tension was interrupted by a commotion outside the chamber. People could be heard screaming, accompanied by the clanking of swords.

A knight barged into the audience room without announcement, panting for breath. "Your Majesty, the nobles are attempting to take Riona away," he said urgently.