It did not take long to arrive at the king's palace. It had an appearance that resembled early Victorian architecture.
The knights that guarded the area were surprised to see two carriages and a demonic figure land in the front of the palace.
They immediately made moves to surround the two vehicles and the casually dressed Valerian.
The king was the first to exit and announce that both Valerian and Alexander would be guests of the royal family.
"Lord Valerian," The king walked over to the vampire accompanied by the girl with raven hair and the knight that had abstained from the battle, "I would like to formally introduce you to my daughter, Princess Thalia Eliana Saras."
The girl with raven hair lightly curtsied and Val gave a gentleman's bow.
"This is my other son, Prince Nikolai Rainier Saras." The knight took off his helmet, revealing a handsome and youthful appearance.
He looked the same age as Valerian but possessed an air of maturity and capability that was rare in the young. The prince gave a humble bow and Val returned it in kind.
"Excellent, now that the introductions are out of the way, they will act as your guides during your stay here. I have to go and prepare for tonight's banquet." The king left without giving Valerian a choice in the matter.
Valerian turned to look at Alexander who, despite his years of experience and etiquette, was smiling uncontrollably like he had heard a terribly funny joke at a funeral and trying his best not to burst into laughter.
Alexander was also a high ranking figure but next to Valerian, he was treated like air, valuable but invisible. Alexander had never felt so free in his life.
Even in his own family, he could not just sit back, everywhere he went he was treated with respect then put front and centre.
He was the one that had to sit through boring banquets one after the other while nobility tried to push their sisters and daughters toward him.
Yet, now his liege and Ancestor was the one who was suffering this annoyance.
Yes, the king had shamelessly put both his son and daughter forward, hoping the son would strike a common interest with the vampire or that the Archduke of Vermeer would take a fancy to his beautiful daughter.
Herein lay the problem with mortal nobility, the more respectable and ancient a being of a long lived race was, the less interest they took in people who were not even three hundred.
Vampire nobles were also much more reluctant to take on mortal brides and Gift them. They feared diluting their noble blood and siring weak progeny.
Alexander could not guess what Valerian, the oldest vampire of them all, was thinking but he could tell that from the look his Ancestor had given him that he was at a loss.
Alexander knew what was coming next though. It had happened every time he was at a noble's estate. Their daughters would step forward and say...
"I am sure that my Lord is tired from the all the excitement of today. Would you like to take a tour of the palace gardens. They are the best in the kingdom." Thalia asked with a smile that could charm a devil.
That was it. Alexander lost control at that moment and started laughing like a naughty child.
******
Valerian sat in a chair in a guest suite reserved for visiting high nobles at the palace. They had taken a tour of the palace, the gardens and even the art collection.
This was the life in court for mortal nobility? Them living past ninety was a miracle if their lives were this dull. One could die of boredom if their lives were like this day in and day out. No wonder the crown prince was a tactless dullard.
Valerian would not feel physically exhausted even if he walked for ten days around the palace without sleep or rest yet he still felt drained by the tediousness of all the interests of royalty.
He understood why Alexander's mood was so agreeable and bordering on jolly.
The greedy vampire had tried to excuse himself and leave Val to the two siblings during the seemingly never-ending walk through the garden but in a shameful moment of pure pettiness Valerian outrightly ordered Alexander to stay.
Of course, Alexander's joyful mood took a steep decline afterwards as he was forced to endure the rest of the tour as well.
When they were finally set "free" Alexander went to his own room then went to attend to Valerian.
Alexander had been in the room looking for any sigils that could allow Valerian and himself to be spied on and cast wards to block them.
When he finished, he sat down across from Valerian who seemed to be bored.
Alexander was about to say something when a knock drew his attention.
"Enter." Valerian's tone was solemn. Valerian had little to fear in this current world but that did not stop him from dreading another tour or whatever else the royals and nobility did to pass the time.
The door opened and the royal siblings, Prince Nikolai and Princess Thalia entered the room.
Seeing the two enter, Valerian and Alexander stood up to greet them.
"Royal Father, was curious to know how the Lord Jata found his Imperial Highness finds his accommodations?" This prince was way introverted for a man of his station. He barely spoke during the tour. He was not aloof. It was more accurate to say that the boy seemed nervous.
Only when he did not open his mouth did he really seem intimidating to others which is why the boy often remained silent.
A bashful princess was a delicate flower but a sheepish prince was a target for the wolves and damaging for the royal family image.
Valerian stopped being concerned about the boy's anti-social nature and his mind swung to being referred to as His Imperial Highness.
"The rooms are fine." Valerian was not in the mood for anymore talk.
He was not really interested in being "friends" with them or their wolf of a father who was the real criminal for throwing the boring duo onto the vampire.
At receiving such a short reply, the prince seemed to have nothing to say and an awkward silence seemed to prevail for a moment.
Thalia instead steeped forward.
"The banquet will begin in a few hours, my lords. Unfortunately it will not be enough time for the royal tailors to prepare something but there are some stores of repute that we could go to, if need be perhaps? I, myself, need to find new trinkets for my outfit."
Valerian was not unfavourable to the idea of going shopping.
It did not matter how backward the kingdom was in his eyes, it was still a new culture that he had never seen before.
There might be some redeeming quality in some of their fashions and fabrics.
Yes, shopping was a pleasant idea but the issue and the reason Val would reject was because he did not want to go shopping with those two.
He had a feeling that if he spent a few more hours with them "touring" the stores, he would willingly release Samael just to escape the monotony and cruelty of the situation.
Did the king know how boring his offspring were? Each moment felt torturous. Each world flowery and meaningless.
Valerian started to think that this was beginning to feel less like a coincidence and more like punishment.
"No thank you, I have plans for what I will wear tonight and I will get ready but please, take Alexander with you. I am sure he would love to go."
Valerian cast a glance at Alexander whose face still had a smile but his eyes looked like a wounded animal.
'Is my Lord truly that petty?' Alexander wondered.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the royal siblings and a reluctant Alex left Valerian to some peace and quiet.
The vampire been to search his storage for something to wear. He made his choices then began his preparations.