Having made an agreement with the magus, they were set to leave the next day. Valerian walked out of the tower and found Alexander and a group of knights waiting by the entrance.
"My Lord, the king has requested an audience with you." Alexander bowed and spoke softly.
Valerian looked at the group of knights.
"Seems a bit excessive for a request."
"News of what happened at the banquet has quickly spread." Alexander spoke in an even quieter voice. "No one wanted to approach you on their own."
Valerian smiled sheepishly and nodded.
"Lead the way."
*****
"I want to marry him!"
"You will bring disaster upon us if you press this issue! He was shown no interest in you!"
"I will not accept this, father!"
"It is not for you to accept, Thalia. You can marry whomever you choose after this but as your father and king I forbid this!"
Valerian and Alexander looked at each other and looked away. They could hear every word being said in the king's study even though the place was warded. They stood outside the doors patiently waited.
The doors suddenly opened and the princess ran out in tears. She froze when she saw Valerian, their eyes met for a moment, she looked less refined, less like a princess and more like the young girl she was.
Embarrassed and heartbroken she left.
The king walked out of the study, wanting to continue talking to his daughter but stopped when he saw Valerian.
"I am sorry, Your Highness. No one told me you were here. Please, come in."
This was the first time, the king had addressed Valerian as 'Your Highness'. Valerian learned that as an Archduke of the empire he was to be addressed as 'Your Highness' only those related to the royal family could be addressed as 'Your Imperial Highness'.
Valerian could not imagine how much Alexander had paid to make that title happen.
Valerian closed the doors to the study then turned to face the king.
The king looked tired. His buttons were undone, his hair was a mess and his eyes looked like they were made of glass.
The king offered Valerian a drink and proceeded to pour one for himself as well. The king paused for a moment then handed Valerian the drink he made him then took the jug of wine and his own glass.
The king and the boy who looked like he had just become a man sat down opposite sides as equals.
"I wish to apologise for all that transpired before. Prince Finn was upset because I stripped him of his title as the Crown prince. I have every intention of making prince Nikolai the successor to the throne." The king said and looked at Valerian as if waiting for a response, maybe even permission.
A king asking for permission on which of his sons would assume the throne after him was an act of subservience usually found in vassal states.
Valerian did not speak and instead sipped his wine. The king took this to mean that Valerian was agreeable and continued to speak.
"I also owe you a heartfelt thanks. After you displayed your strength, many of the nobles who worked against me switched factions and joined mine. I have been told that one of the Dukes of my kingdom, Duke Raizen has contacted the Assassin's Guild and put a marker on your life."
"Your kingdom seems to bring me more trouble than I expected." Valerian said in a tone of his usual indifference.
This coldness made the king even more anxious. He quickly gulped down his wine and poured himself another.
"I understand. I will have his family and all those tied to him arrested and killed."
To this, Valerian decided to respond.
"There is no need for that. I do not need your protection or you to avenge me. I will handle it. It would also start a civil war in your kingdom. I suggest that you think of a cover story for when all those people die so suddenly."
The certainty in Valerian's words that he could kill a Duke, erase his household and allies in his kingdoms so easily without alerting anyone would have at one point made him laugh at the foolishness of the person who said it.
But he had seen the abilities of the vampire before him and the subordinates under him. The king was absolutely convinced and absolutely frightened. He drank more wine as if it were water and poured himself another.
"Understood. Matters of compensation, you have been unjustly treated thrice while in my kingdom while you also disciplined my arrogant son and helped bring stability to my court. You have helped me more than I can say yet you have suffered for it and I seek to make that right."