Just as Lucius foresaw, Volke was hesitant to help him. Even though Silvan was a prisoner and had lost all his status as royalty, Dorian had entrusted Silvan to The Guardians. And if Silvan died under his supervision, it would surely damage his relationship with the crown.

Lucius tried to convince him that Silvan was a master manipulator, and the Ducas family still had significant influence among the Lilith Bloodline, which often produces manipulators just like the fallen prince. For this reason, there was a disproportionately high number of Lilith Bloodline politicians in the government and the Crown Council. If Silvan lied during the trial and riled up these people, it would gravely damage Dorian’s reign.

“Dorian still had some soft feelings for his half-brother, which is why he hadn’t executed him yet. But Silvan is a liar and will do anything to save his own life.“The anxiety and worry on Lucius’s face were compelling and genuine, but Volke was not that easy to fool.

“Does he have something on you?” Volke asked forthrightly.

Lucius’s heart skipped a beat, but he kept his composure. He remained silent for about a minute, trying to decide whether telling a big lie to cover the truth was a good idea. But Volke needed to hear something plausible. Something aghast and wrong enough that it made sense that Lucius wanted to kill Silvan.

Lucius had already fabricated the lie before this conversation in case Volke asked him any similar questions. It was a horrible lie and possibly would greatly change Volke’s impression of him, but it was much better compared to the alternative.

“Silvan seduced me. We had an affair. And he threatened to tell Dorian if I didn’t help him. I used it and double-crossed him.” Lucius blurted out, “and that is why I cannot let him talk to Dorian. It will be the end of my marriage.”

Volke raised his eyebrows in disbelief, “you had an affair with Silvan.”

“Yes.”

“Well, now I guess it makes sense...” Volke studied him curiously, “I thought you said you love your husband?”

“I do. But for the longest time, it was unrequited. And I resorted to finding that affection from someone else.” Lucius continued his lie, plastering a mixture of guilt, regret, and wistfulness on his face to solidify the impression, “I was weak, and I knew it was wrong. It was my biggest regret.”

Volke rubbed the stubbles on his chin, considering the whole situation. He liked Lucius, and the divorce between the new king and the first human royal consort could end in disasters, even wars. And should Dorian choose another consort from a household less friendly to werewolves, it would jeopardize the delicate balance that took so much effort to build.

Seeing that Volke was moved by his performance, Lucius continued warily, “or...you don’t have to really kill Silvan. You mentioned to Dorian that he hadn’t shown signs of recovering yet, right? He could have just succumbed to the poison and fell into hibernation. As long as that hibernation is a deep one.”

“I will have to sit on it,” Volke replied cautiously after a prolonged silence.

Lucius’s heart was in his throat for the next two weeks, especially after Volke left Emberton for Crowsnest Ridge. He wished that Florian was still here so that someone could share this burden...or even better, Florian could have taken care of it for him.

Dorian said Florian disappeared after he jumped into the pit. Was he in Anthor now? Did he give them the Durchville Witch’s blood?

Lucius didn’t know what would come out of it, and he didn’t want to admit that he was...regretting giving it to Florian. Perhaps if he could just wait longer and had more faith in Dorian, he would have made a different decision...

If Dorian could bring peace between humans and vampires, the blood would only bring more harm than good.

But withholding it also felt wrong...all humanity’s future was in his hands. Was he really in any position to just put all the stakes on one vampire? Even if that vampire was Dorian?

At least it was the blood of a First Generation rather than an Elder, so the chance was Division Nine won’t be able to do much with it. But that brought another problem: now that he owned a drop of Elder blood, should he give it to Anthor?

Lucius didn’t know what he should or would do.

While waiting for Volke’s reply, Lucius was busy reforming certain regulations for the royal households and court etiquettes, mainly regarding the treatment of the slaves. He ordered all human slaves in Vermilion Citadel to be given proper, hygienic living conditions, sufficient nourishment, medical attention, reasonable working hours, and regular day-offs like the vampire servants. No vampires were allowed to mistreat or force any slave into performing certain services. And any brain implants and consumption of meat were strictly forbidden.

Just as he prefigured, his orders were met with substantial resistance. Some younger, more brash nobilities complained, and many challenged his authority by not following the new stipulations. However, the opposition was largely thwarted after Lucius publicly punished several valets, maids, and even two barons who broke his rule in front of the court.

Lucius knew that a considerable group of nobilities, especially those older ones, hated him to the bone even if they smiled and bowed to him in court. Those more “old-fashioned” vampires couldn’t stand that they had to obey the orders given by a lowly human. But Lucius didn’t care. As long as Dorian was on his side, no one would dare to challenge him.

Lucius’s next step was to release all the humans in the Citadel from slavery and give them jobs as regular servants if they had nowhere to go. And if they would like to return to human countries, he planned to arrange some trains and guards to transport them safely out of Eternia.

As he was mentioning the plan to Dorian during their dinner together, a piece of startling news arrived at Vermilion Citadel.

The Head Stewart hastily entered the dining hall, his expression solemn and somber, “Sorry for interrupting your dinner, Your Majesty. But there is an urgent matter I thought you would want to hear.”

Dorian and Lucius exchanged a puzzled look. Sherriden was a prudish person and would never have disturbed their dinner unless it was something unusual. Dorian put down his glass of blood and said, “What’s wrong?”

“A message from Chieftain Volke has arrived. Prince Silvan has fallen into hibernation this morning.”

The silence lasted for several seconds and then was terminated by a sudden, sharp sound of glass shattering. Dorian crushed the glass in his hand, and blood stained his fingers and splashed on his chin.

“How is that possible? I heard his condition finally began to improve two days ago.”

“Chieftain Volke said it was likely a terminal lucidity.”

Dorian didn’t show much emotion on his sturdy countenance, but Lucius knew a tempest must be raging in his heart. He hadn’t gotten to talk to Silvan after their scheme, and now he likely would never have the chance.

Lucius quietly grabbed Dorian’s blood-stained hand. And his warmth slightly calmed the shock and anger, and sorrow slowly crept into the depth of his irises.

“Perhaps...it’s for the best,” Dorian muttered pensively.

Lucius nodded, “He may still wake up one day. ”

“It’s strange. I never heard that orge blood is capable of putting a powerful Apostle like him into hibernation. They usually fully recover in several months.“Dorian frowned in misgiving.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

“Maybe he did it to himself, so he doesn’t need to go through trial and be sentenced to death by fire like his mother.”

“Maybe...” Dorian sighed wistfully. Almost all his close families were gone by this point. His mother, father, and brothers. Even his half-sisters were exiled after the trials.

All he had left was Lucius.

He tightened the grip over Lucius’s hand and turned to Sherriden, commanding with his usual deep, resonant voice, “Make some arrangements and bring his body back.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Albeit it pained Lucius to see Dorian grieved for his broken family, the news greatly relieved Lucius. All the obstacles had gone, and he was finally safe, finally able to relax and enjoy the bright future with Dorian.

One week later was the Grand Opening of The Crown Council after the recent new election, and Dorian and Lucius would attend as the reigning monarchs. It was the first Crown Council after Dorian’s succession and the first one with ⅓ of werewolf members. It had to be more grandiose than any recent Council Openings.

Lucius stood before the mirror, letting the valets adorn him with layers of regalia and jewelry. He had to admit that vampires made much better clothes than humans, and he could barely recognize himself with such a panache.

Dorian entered the room in a similar but slightly more muted and dignified attire, and he looked exceptionally glamorous today. And from the way he ogled at Lucius, he thought the same about his consort.

“You look...very Kingly.” Lucius bantered as he glanced at Dorian through the mirror.

“And you look very... vampire.”

“I guess it’s a compliment?“Lucius slightly turned around, checking his extravagant robe and mantle, “it’s a bit too gothic, but I like it.”

“Are you nervous?” Dorian asked, “Have you memorized your speech?”

“My speech is only like three lines. You just worry about your own speech, ok? Yours is at least two pages...”

“If you forget any line, just signal me, and I will take it over.”

“Alright, alright, stop being a mother hen, husband. I promise I won’t fuck up your first Council Opening.”

The servants had been accustomed to their gags and quickly finished their job and left the room. Ere long, the Head Steward reported that the cars were ready for them.

They kissed before left the room.

The new King and Royal Consort stood abreast on the open carriage and traveled from Vermilion Citadel to the Hall of Imperial Assembly, which was only several streets away. Many vampires and werewolves gathered along the security lines to glimpse the new rulers in person.

Lucius smiled and waved to the people, feeling everything was almost unreal. One year ago, when he first landed in Emberton, he had never thought that one day he would be ruling this immortal land with a husband that he didn’t even want to marry.

It all worked out, somehow. He was fortunate.

Little did he know that things would go directly into hell for him in about two hours.

It happened right after Dorian’s speech, during the Initial Response. When Marquis Sebastian Beaumont, who was a close friend of the Ducas family, suddenly stood up and claimed there was a mistrial for one of the royal family members.

Dorian’s countenance darkened with smoldering anger, and everyone in the Hall felt it as the lights dimmed and flickered, and the air became colder.

“All trials were conducted in the Supreme Court with proper procedure. This is hardly the right place and time to bring up an already settled matter, Marquis Beaumont.”

“Please forgive my bluntness, my King. However, one person still hasn’t gotten a chance to speak for himself, and his testimony is crucial to Eternia’s safety and future.”

A boding premonition sunk into Lucius’s stomach. He didn’t know who Beaumont was talking about, but somehow he knew it would lead to something terrible.

Dorian’s cold stare fixed on the Marquis, “Who is this person?”

The Marquis bowed slightly, “please allow me to summon him here.” He then gestured to a guard. As the guard opened the door, everyone in the Assembly Hall gasped in shock.

Lucius’s eyes widened, and fear spread in his guts like a plague.

The vampire strutting into the Hall was emaciated and gaunt, yet one could still tell that he used to be beautiful and powerful as much as the new King.

Dorian stood up from his throne. His countenance was overtaken by bewilderment.

Silvan, who was supposed to be in deep hibernation, kneeled before his brother and bowed his head:

“I come to beg forgiveness and atone for my crimes, My King.”