The banquet ended on a high note, with the hall still buzzing with the energy of celebration.
Edmund finally felt relieved as the heavyweight he felt the whole time began to reduce. He had made it through the demonstrations, the confrontations, and the myriad social intricacies without losing his composure.
He stood at the grand entrance of the hall, bidding farewell to the many dignitaries who had come to celebrate his essence awakening.
Princess Elara, despite the earlier slight of Edmund choosing to dance with Sasha instead of her, approached him with a forced smile. Her golden hair framed her face like a halo, and her sapphire eyes were still bright with an inner fire, though her words were cordial.
"Prince Edmund," she began, her tone sweet but laced with a hint of annoyance, "I do hope you will visit our kingdom one day. I would love the opportunity to show you true hospitality."
Edmund nodded graciously, keeping his tone polite. "I appreciate your invitation, Princess Elara. Perhaps one day I shall take you up on it."
Elara's smile didn't quite reach her eyes, but she curtsied elegantly. "Until then, Your Highness," she replied, turning away with a swish of her emerald gown as guards and servants followed behind her.
Other human royals took their leave, some more graciously than others.
"We shall see each other again soon, Prince Edmund. I trust our kingdoms will continue to prosper in peace."
"Of course, Your hignesses," Edmund replied, bowing slightly. "Safe travels back to your lands."
Not all the farewells were as courteous. A few human nobles, still holding onto their disdain for the vampire kingdom, offered curt nods or no acknowledgment at all as they left. Edmund kept his face neutral, unwilling to let their insolence spoil the evening.
As the last of the guests departed, Edmund noticed a few figures lingering behind. The vampire emperor had invited several human kings for a private meeting in a hidden chamber within the palace.
Those who waited for their sovereigns included Princess Diana, who stood by a column with a look of impatient boredom on her face.
Princess Diana had raven-black hair that fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and her green eyes were sharp with curiosity. Her lips were painted a deep red, and her gown was a striking shade of midnight blue, accented with silver embroidery.
She tapped her foot impatiently as her gaze occasionally drifted over to Edmund.
Edmund decided to ignore her, pretending not to notice the way her eyes followed him as he made his way out of the hall. He needed some air, and more than anything, he wanted to retreat to his chambers and process the events of the night.
As he moved through the winding corridors of the palace, the shadows seemed to grow longer and darker. The soft glow of the torches did little to dispel the creeping sense of unease that had settled in his stomach.
Just as he was about to take a turn towards his chambers, a soft voice called out from the shadows.
"Edmund..."
He instantly stopped as his senses became on high alert. The voice was unfamiliar but strangely compelling. He glanced around, seeing no one.
"Who's there?" he called out, his voice steady.
"Over here," the voice whispered from a dark corner near the end of the hallway.
Curiosity got the better of him. He took a cautious step forward, peering into the shadows. Suddenly, he felt a force pulling him, and the world around him seemed to warp and twist.
His vision blurred, and he felt himself being dragged into a strange, distorted space.
The next thing he knew, he was standing in a different place, a dimly lit chamber that seemed to exist outside the normal boundaries of the palace. The walls were dark, almost pulsating with an eerie light that seemed to come from within the very stone.
And there, standing in front of him, was a face he hadn't expected to see.
Raidin, the eldest son of the emperor, and the former crown prince, stood before him. Raidin looked older than Edmund remembered, with short, dark hair and sharp, angular features. His eyes were a piercing shade of crimson, but they softened as soon as they met Edmund's.
"Raidin..." Edmund whispered, shock and confusion evident in his voice. "What are you doing here?"
Raidin's face broke into a wide smile, and before Edmund could say another word, his brother rushed forward and hugged him tightly, as if afraid Edmund would disappear if he let go.
"Edmund," Raidin whispered urgently into his ear, "there's no time to explain. I needed to see you."
Edmund pushed back slightly, trying to look Raidin in the eyes. "What's going on? Why are you here? What's happening?"
From Edmund's memory, the last time they made contact was nearly ten years ago. Raidin had been gone for so long and the narrative spread in the Kingdom about him wasn't a good one. However, from what Edmund could recall, Raidin had never been mean to him.
Raidin shook his head quickly with an expression of urgency. "I can't stay long so they won't notice I'm gone. But you need to take this," he said, pressing something cold and metallic into Edmund's hand.
Edmund looked down to see a dagger with a glowing glass hilt. Inside the hilt, a minuscule greenish serpent seemed to swim through the glass as its eyes glittered with an unnatural light.
"What is this for?" Edmund asked in confusion. "Raidin, what are you talking about?"
Raidin's eyes flickered with fear, and he glanced over his shoulder as if expecting someone to burst in at any moment. "They know of your existence, but they don't know of your identity. When you go for the exchange, they will come for you. Only use this when you're in a very precarious situation."
Edmund's mind raced with questions. "What exchange? Which people? How do they know about me? What am I supposed to do with this?"
Raidin shook his head. "There's no time to explain. When the time comes, you'll understand. Just trust me."
"But—" Edmund wanted to retort.
Raidin's eyes softened, and he placed a hand on Edmund's shoulder. "I love you, little brother," he said softly. "Stay safe. And remember, not everything is as it seems."
Before Edmund could say another word, Raidin pushed him forcefully back toward the wall. The strange chamber began to swirl around him, and he felt himself being pulled back through the dimensions.
The world spun, and he stumbled, falling out into the familiar hallway of the palace.
He caught himself against the wall while panting heavily.
He looked around, disoriented, trying to find the hidden door or passage he had just come through. But there was nothing—only the solid stone wall.
"Raidin!" Edmund called out, but there was no response. He banged on the wall, searching for some hidden lever or secret panel, but the wall remained unyielding.
Frustration and confusion boiled inside him. He glanced down at the dagger in his hand, its strange, glowing hilt still shimmering with that unnatural light. The serpent inside seemed to shift and writhe as if aware of its new surroundings.
"What exchange?" Edmund muttered to himself. "What is going on?"
He knew he couldn't linger there. Anyone could come upon him, and he needed to think—needed to figure out what Raidin's cryptic warning meant.
He slipped the dagger into his belt, concealing it beneath his tunic, and hurried back towards his chambers. A thousand questions ran through his mind with no answers.
As he made his way back, his thoughts were a chaotic whirlwind. What was Raidin's true purpose in coming to him? Who were "they," and why does knowing of his existence mean? And what was the significance of this dagger? Could he even go to anyone with this? Was there anyone he could trust about his crazy experience this night?
Edmund reached his chambers, closing the door behind him. He leaned against it, taking a deep breath. He needed to think, to make sense of everything that had just happened.
He glanced at the dagger again, feeling a strange connection to it, as if it were more than just a weapon.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. He quickly concealed the dagger and opened the door a crack. It was Sasha...
"Edmund," she said softly, "are you alright? You've been gone a while."
He nodded, managing a faint smile. "I'm fine, Sasha. Just… thinking."
She looked at him closely, sensing the turmoil within him. "Is something wrong?"
Silence...
"If there's anything you need to talk about…"
Edmund hesitated but then shook his head. "Not yet, Sasha. But thank you. For everything."
She nodded. "Alright, Your Highness..."
She proceeded to change his sheets and tidy up a few spots before she left.
Edmund closed the door and leaned back against it.
"If he says I'll understand when the time comes... Then perhaps, I should trust him," He muttered while taking out the dagger again.