Karl was also mad at what his dad had said. He turned to look at Amelia. She felt his gaze at her. She lifted her head, met his eyes, and smiled. The smile didn't reach her eyes, but then she turned back to her food and continued eating. Everyone was staring, their eyes fixed on Amelia, waiting for her response. But she chose to remain silent, as though nothing had happened, and focused on her meal.
In that moment, a whirlwind of emotions churned within Amelia. Behind her smile, a storm raged. Anger, hurt, and frustration swirled beneath the surface, threatening to overflow. Yet, she maintained a facade of composure, not allowing her true feelings to be fully exposed.
Amelia's smile, though forced, was a subtle defiance, a quiet rebellion against the expectations placed upon her. It was a shield, masking the vulnerability that lay beneath. But as quickly as the moment came, it passed. She turned her attention back to her plate, resuming her meal as if nothing had disrupted the atmosphere.
The silence that followed was palpable. The eyes of those around the table remained fixed on Amelia, awaiting her response, her words. But she chose not to give them the satisfaction. Instead, she conveyed her defiance through her actions, refusing to let the king's words define her.
Karl turned to look at his father, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and determination. He knew what was coming, the weight of his father's expectations pressing down on him. With a deep breath, he replied simply, "No."
The king, seemingly unfazed by Karl's response, maintained his composed demeanor. He spoke calmly, his voice carrying an air of authority, "You know you need an heir. Your blood type is different from ours. You need an heir to carry on this blood."
The room fell into a tense silence as the gravity of the moment settled upon them. Karl's heart raced, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. But he maintained a calm expression and remained silent.
Karl turned to his father, his eyes filled with defiance. "I don't care about having an heir," he declared, his voice tinged with determination.
His father's face contorted with anger, and he bellowed, "NONSENSE! You need to bear an heir, and your human wife here cannot bear your children. You know the consequences of this forbidden love if you both try." The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, the tension palpable.
Amelia, sitting by Karl's side, felt a surge of confusion. This wasn't the first time she had heard about the forbidden love between vampires and humans. Karl had mentioned the high price to be paid for such a connection. Her curiosity piqued, she yearned to uncover the truth.
As the room filled with charged emotions, Amelia found herself caught between the intense conversation of father and son. The air crackled with a mix of fear, defiance, and a longing for understanding.
The king looked towards Amelia's face and noticed her expressionless look. He grew even more livid, as he had planned on angering her during dinner. With a furious tone, he spoke to Karl, "Before you ascend the throne, you will need to bear an heir. It is a crucial criterion for you to become king."
Amelia's head snapped towards the king, finding his demand ridiculous. She muttered to herself, 'Why this now? He had given Karl the criteria of getting married before ascending the throne.' Her eyes stared deeply into the king's soul, her dark and intimidating gaze sending shivers down his spine. Feeling her piercing stare, the king averted his gaze, fearing that she could see right through him.
Amelia reasoned within herself, 'Is this man actually trying to taunt me?' She glanced at the other vampires at the table and continued eating, trying to brush off the king's provocation. Karl, on the other hand, looked at Amelia, then back at the king, and firmly stated, "I will produce an heir, but I will not engage in intimate relations with any of these women, I won't be sleeping with any. I will provide my seed, and they will carry the child."
Amelia felt relieved by Karl's response, as she didn't want him to intertwine his body with these women. "NONSENSE!" The king blew off his words as nonsense once more, but Amelia couldn't hold back her frustration. She snuffed her hair and looked directly at the king, questioning him, "What is wrong? You asked for an heir, and he has agreed to provide you with one. Everyone heard you when you stated the criteria for him to ascend the throne. He has accepted to fulfill that requirement. Let the matter lie."
The king, along with everyone at the table, was stunned by Amelia's boldness and her unwavering defense of Karl's decision. She pushed her chair back, away from the table and stood up "I'm done eating, the meal was delicious, you have an amazing chef," and with that she left the dining area with Karl following behind her.
Amelia's eyes narrowed as she watched the young maidens enter the palace. She couldn't help but feel a sense of disdain towards their presence. It seemed that the king had arranged for them to arrive earlier than expected. With a roll of her eyes, Amelia continued on her way to their room.
As Karl approached her, apologizing for his father's actions, Amelia raised her hand, signaling him to stop. She looked deeply into his eyes and assured him that there was no problem. "Like he said, your blood is different," she stated, her tone firm yet understanding. "I don't fully understand what that means, but it's fine. However, my blood is different too, and I also need a child too."