Chapter 2: The Royal Family

The majestic hall was built so gorgeously with many sparkling ornaments, the walls a few times higher than the average height of a human; they were painted in tapestry.

Such a sight, the sense of ancientness of the palace would definitely attract Irena's admiration if it were an archeological site for tourist attractions. However, at this moment, she had no attention to spare, for her eyes were looking straight ahead.

She hadn't seen them within her eyesight before, but she could sense their presence. Standing on each side of her, Stelian and Edmund were also awaiting the king's order.

The king didn't seem old. He looked like he was in his early thirties, his eyes shone with wisdom and brilliance belonging to a capable monarch. His shoulders were sturdy, straightened with the sense of majesty. His silver hair was cut short, and the color of his eyes was bright like gold.

Neither cold nor warm, he was better at controlling his facial expressions than his eldest son, Stelian. Even now, after she had met him a few times in the past, she still couldn't figure out his current attitude towards her.

Accompanying a monarch is like accompanying a tiger. Irene knew that familial affection in the royal families was scarce like a barren desert. The country was the most important above anything else.

Anyway, what hadn't she experienced before? The vast experience told her that living creatures are all fickle.

"Irene Hildegard greets His Majesty." 

Royal children and nobles didn't need to kneel to the king, but commoners had to.

King Darien didn't immediately respond to her greeting. His indifferent eyes fell on two figures accompanying her.

"Stelian, Edmund. You two are dismissed." His tone was neutral, flat, and lacking emotional fluctuations.

Stelian was still standing in his position, his cold eyes emotionless. The father and son were really alike at that moment. Meanwhile, Edmund hesitated. He threw a worried look at Irene.

Until a moment later, Stelian exited the hall room as the king ordered. Edmund could only reluctantly follow his eldest brother, throwing one last look of encouragement at Irene.

After the magnificent, tall door was softly slammed shut, the remaining figures were only her and the king. The atmosphere was slightly tense. Probably because of the earlier stern words of command directed at Stelian and Edmund, the slight pressure lingered on.

Irene didn't make any more sound, waiting for the king's order with great patience. Her unrelenting eyes were gazing straight at the figure sitting on the huge throne, courageously.

"Irene." The king called her name.

All her attention was placed on the king, and before she could respond, he already continued his words. "How are you in Blackcourt City?"

Irene was taken aback. In her heart, she cursed Stelian a hundred times for being such a tattletale.

At the same time, there was a question in her heart. Was this king asking for the condition of Blackcourt City or her? She was slightly confused.

"I am already used to living in Blackcourt City, Your Majesty." As she said that, she finally noticed the flash of emotion in his eyes. It was brief, and if not for her extreme keenness, she wouldn't have noticed it.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly and she pretended not to notice it. She continued. "It is a great and prosperous city."

A pause of silence hung in the broad hall. In his deep voice, the king asked again, "How about giving you another city? I heard that there is a lot of movement in the Forest of Beasts lately."

Was this testing her?

It didn't matter. She was pretty satisfied with this city anyway. As for Forest of Beasts...

"This subject is already content with Blackcourt City. I hope that His Majesty will let this subject continue to govern the city under the supreme law, in accordance to the practice of the noble vampire race. As a city lord, this subject knows she still lacks the wisdom and leadership to qualify to be one, but she is willing to learn. I beseech His Majesty to grant this subject's wish."

The long speech echoed in the empty hall nearly devoid of life. The tone of her voice was full of confidence, fully displaying the attitude of the subject of a king. There was not the slightest timidity, polite and courteous, but not overly subservient.

The king was silent, and invisible pressure descended into the broad hall.

Irene didn't even blink, gazing at King Darien with an honest attitude. She calmly faced his stare that seemed to penetrate through her heart for her true thoughts.

"Alright. I will grant your wish." What felt like to be a hundred years later, King Darien finally spoke.

Irene curtsied, softly thanking him for his decision. She didn't want to be in this room any longer, so she quickly excused herself.

As she took unhurried steps out of the room, she could feel his gaze on the back of her head. She didn't look back. Until she was out of the room, she didn't give him another glance.

Irene's small face was emotionless. Her sharp, frosty eyes swept over every palace maid who dared to steal glances at her. Surprisingly, some palace maids and guards still politely greeted her. For those who were still bothered to put up a front with her, she still generously gave a slight nod as an acknowledgement. 

Aloof, maintaining the loftiness of a royal descendant.

She took a quick glance at some guards and assessed their physical bodies. It came as no surprise that they were many times better than the guards stationed in Blackcourt City.

These guards could at least fight one beast. What about the guards in Blackcourt City? They needed to form a group just to deal with one, or at least those were the guards she had assessed until now.

As a city which was directly adjacent to the Forest of Beasts, thus making it prone to the attacks of such deadly creatures, how could the defense be so lax?

If there was no one playing in the dark, she wouldn't believe it. As this thought crossed her mind, her eyes flashed coldly.

"Irene?" A voice called out with surprise. 

She turned to her left, where the voice came from. In the hallway, Queen Alvira was standing with a gentle expression on her face.

"Irene greets Her Majesty, Queen Alvira." She curtsied. As she stood straight again, her face was without any emotional fluctuation.

"You should just call me Queen Mother Alvira, His Majesty..." she covered her mouth. Her face was instantly filled with worry.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Irene didn't look offended. She still didn't act in accordance to her request.

"I am sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned that." Queen Alvira shook her head. She had a benevolent expression on her face. The tiara above her red hair further enhanced her beauty. Especially those green eyes, making her look like a delicate flower.

Queen Alvira was the mother of Stelian, the first queen of the king. It had become a rule that whoever ascended to the throne, taking the role of the king, had to have four queens.

Royal children possessed power greater than normal vampires or even nobles. In order to strengthen the race, the king should have as many children as possible. However, royal heirs were hard to conceive. The more powerful, the harder it was for them to have children. It was a rule applied to nearly every race.

On average, for each queen, usually there was only one descendant born. However, it seemed that this generation was a bit special. There was a girl and a pair of twins.

Stelian and Edmund were practically only her half-brothers. She had an older biological brother, who had also taken a territory to govern like Stelian for himself.

Her mother was Queen Adrianne, the third queen. Thinking of her mother, her heart turned bitter. As quickly as the emotion emerged, she quickly erased all the untimely thoughts. She recovered all her senses. 

"As a compensation, how about you join me to enjoy a drink together?" Queen Alvira still had the same kind expression. It was the kind of face that would make one unable to reject, especially when the one inviting had such a good intention.

Irene's thoughts flashed fast. Her expression was still neutral, unable to detect any joy or sadness. She nodded politely, her lips pursed lightly. "It would be my pleasure, Your Majesty."

"That's great." Queen Alvira said excitedly, her face full of compassion and motherly care.

The picture was truly like a royal family member who care about each other. The palace maids wandering about sneak a glance at them. Their eyes looking at Queen Alvira were filled with admiration.

"Let's go to the northern royal garden. You rarely visit the palace. It would be great if you lived here." She continued, then her eyes suddenly were full of distress. "If you need anything, you can talk to me. No need to be shy. Stelian can also take care of you in the North Territory. If you want anything, just tell him."

Irene smiled, probably the first smile since she had entered the palace today. However, none could tell whether it was genuine or not. The passerby perhaps thought that it should be like this.

The queen was not so chatty on ordinary days. She probably liked this newly-returned royal princess? If so, then this one of the most noble women in the entire vampire race was most likely to be her backer in the future.

Irene was walking straight ahead, her eyes weren't wandering around, but she could still sense the changes nearby. The palace maids and guards quickly adjusted their expressions once they saw the queen's attitude and heard her words, which were clearly filled with care towards her.

"Your Majesty is kind," Irene responded back.

"Child, it indeed should be like this. We are one family after all." The queen replied in a gentle tone.

Not long after, they arrived at the northern royal garden. Using a teleportation array was more efficient, consuming less energy.

With her blood remaining unawakened, she also had difficulty teleporting. The teleportation array saved her a lot of trouble.

As she stepped into the royal garden, she was greeted by various lush trees and blooming flowers. The potency was even several times greater than these other royal gardens. The trees were more green and the flower was wider in diameter and richer in the number of petals. They attract a lot of critters, and beautiful colorful small birds and all kinds of butterflies.

"Your Majesty's royal garden is the most beautiful I have ever seen." Irene complimented, there was a slight admiration in her tone.

"If you like the garden, you can come here whenever you like. You can accompany me tending the flowers or just admiring them." Queen Alvira said.

"Your Majesty grew these flowers herself?" 

"Of course." Queen Alvira nodded, then shook her head. "It isn't my contribution alone. There are royal gardeners here. They are personally appointed by His Majesty."

"His Majesty really cares about Her Majesty, Queen Alvira," Irene said meaningfully.

The conversation ended when they arrived at the place where the little party was held. It was similar to a tea party held by European noble ladies. The difference was in the kind of drink they were drinking.

There was already someone at the party. A woman with arrogance painted between her eyebrows. She was wearing a long red dress with expensive and eye-catching jewelry. One look and people would know that she was a noble.

"This is the only princess of the vampire race who was picked from outside?" She asked with a frown at the maid beside her. Her voice was neither loud nor small, but it was enough for people around to hear her question.