Minutes later, Edmund lay on his back staring at the ceiling, while three beautiful consorts nestled beside him. Each woman was a vision of allure, their presence designed to arouse and seduce.
The bed, with its heavy crimson and gold silks, was large enough to accommodate several people comfortably. The candlelight flickered softly in the grand chamber, casting long shadows on the walls and illuminating the room.
To his right was Celeste, the striking young woman with raven-black hair cascading over her shoulders. Her emerald eyes sparkled with mischief as she ran a finger lazily down his chest.
On his left, Seraphina, the statuesque blonde, rested her head on his shoulder, her golden locks shimmering in the candlelight.
At the foot of the bed lay Lilith, a petite redhead. Her fiery hair contrasted sharply with the dark sheets. She reached her hands slowly up his shorts, trying to feel for something that had refused to transform from its wormy state.
Despite the sensuality that surrounded him, Edmund couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration.
Even with three beautiful women beside him, his impotence lingered.
He reached out hesitantly, fondling Celeste's soft, voluptuous mounds, hoping for a spark of desire that might overcome the blockage.
'Damn... It's really smooth and soft... My fingers sink into them effortlessly...' Edmund felt they were softer that his ex's boobs.
A small tinge of guilt pricked into his skin at this moment.
'Well, even though she visited occasionally while I was in jail, she did break up with me so I'm a free agent... Why should I be hung up on an ex from a different world,' Edmund decided to throw any thoughts of her to the back of his mind.
However, he couldn't deny that he missed her and definitely missed their passionate moments. Passionate moments he couldn't recreate right now because he was impotent...
Celeste stirred at this moment as her eyes fluttered open. A sultry smile spread across her lips.
"Your Highness," she purred, pressing his hand against her even more firmly, "it all belongs to you."
Edmund tried to respond to her advances, but his body remained unresponsive.
Despite the inviting softness of her skin and the seductive look in her eyes, he couldn't muster any arousal. The reality of his condition gnawed at him.
He pulled his hand away gently as a sigh escaped his lips. "This is useless," he muttered under his breath.
'I need to unlock my essence.'
Seraphina noticed his frustration and propped herself up on one elbow. "Is everything alright, Your Highness?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine concern.
Edmund decided to shift tactics. If he couldn't get it up, perhaps he could engage them in conversation. "I'm fine. Just... The usual I guess. Why don't we talk instead?"
The consorts exchanged surprised glances. This was not the Edmund they knew. He was usually distant, if not outright dismissive. Why would he suddenly want to talk to them?
The change in his demeanor piqued their curiosity.
"Talk?" Lilith echoed, her blue eyes wide with surprise. "About what, Your Highness?"
"Well, for starters, I'd like to know your names," Edmund replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I feel like we haven't been properly introduced."
Celeste chuckled softly. "I'm Celeste, Your Highness. I've been in your service for almost a year now."
"Seraphina," the blonde added, her voice smooth and melodic. "I've been here for a bit longer than Celeste."
"And I'm Lilith," the redhead said, her voice tinged with a playful lilt. "I've only been here for a few months."
Edmund nodded, genuinely interested. "Tell me more about yourselves. How did you come to be here?"
Celeste leaned back against the pillows, her emerald eyes thoughtful. "I was born in a small village near the eastern border. My family was quite poor, but I was always told I had a... certain allure that could blossom more should I train my essence. One day, a recruiter came to our village looking for women to serve in the palace. It seemed like a good opportunity, so I came here."
Seraphina smiled wistfully. "I come from a family of merchants. We traveled a lot, but I always wanted to see the capital. When I was old enough, I decided to join the palace. It's been an interesting experience, to say the least."
Lilith's eyes twinkled with amusement. "My story's a bit different. My family was involved in the court. When I turned eighteen, my parents thought it would be advantageous for me to serve in the palace. They were right; I've learned so much."
Edmund listened intently, appreciating the chance to understand them better. "It sounds like you've all had quite the journeys. And how do you find life here?"
Celeste sighed, her gaze drifting to the ornate ceiling. "It has its ups and downs. The palace is beautiful, and we're well taken care of. But there's a lot of... pressure."
"Pressure?" Edmund asked, genuinely curious.
Seraphina nodded. "Yes, there are always expectations. To be perfect, to be pleasing. And with your... condition, it's been even more challenging."
Edmund chuckled as he felt dryness in his throat. "I can imagine. It must be quite frustrating to have a prince who can't... perform."
Lilith's laugh sounded both light and musical but there was an underlying sorrow; "You could say that, Your Highness.
Edmund could guess that every failure to get his thing up was met with an earful.
Something he understood about authority and power is that whenever there is some sort of mishap, someone has to take the blame.
Despite the existence of his impotence having nothing to do with them, Edmund could guess that being unable to fix it must be something they were constantly getting blamed for.
"But you're surprisingly pleasant tonight. It's a nice change," Lilith added.
Edmund smiled, feeling a bit more at ease. "Well, maybe it's time for some changes around here."
Celeste raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Changes, Your Highness?"
"Yes," Edmund said, his tone more serious. "I've realized I need to be more... proactive. For starters, I want to get to know the people around me better. Like you three."
Seraphina's eyes softened. "That's very kind of you, Your Highness. We appreciate it."
Lilith leaned in closer, her playful demeanor returning. "And what else do you have in mind, Your Highness?"
Edmund grinned. "Well, let's just say I'm planning to turn things around. But for now, let's enjoy each other's company. Tell me more about what you do for fun."
The consorts began to relax, sharing stories and laughing together. Edmund found himself genuinely enjoying their company. They spoke of their favorite pastimes, and palace gossip, and even shared a few harmless jokes about the nobles.
Celeste recounted a particularly humorous incident. "There was this one time, Lady Beatrice came to court with a hat so large it knocked over a candelabra. The flames caught the drapes, and it was chaos! We had to douse the fire, but Lady Beatrice was more concerned about her hat."
Edmund laughed heartily, imagining the scene. "I can just picture it! Did the hat survive?"
Seraphina shook her head, giggling. "No, but Lady Beatrice still swears it was the finest hat in the kingdom."
They all laughed together. For the first time in a long while, Edmund felt a connection to those around him that had been sorely lacking.
As the night wore on, the conversation shifted to more personal topics. Celeste spoke of her dreams of seeing the world beyond the vampire kingdom, Seraphina shared her love of music and dance, and Lilith revealed her passion for art and painting.
Edmund listened intently, fascinated by their stories and aspirations. He was also gaining more insights about things that occurred within the palace grounds and the kingdom as a whole that was usually kept under wraps.
He was learning...
...
...
...
Within a grand imperial room covering a magnificent space, crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The surroundings were draped in rich fabrics of crimson and gold, with intricate art pieces depicting the Darkblorn Kingdom's storied past.
At the center of it all stood an incredibly beautiful and mature-looking woman, her presence was commanding yet exuding visible bloodlust. One would find their bodies twisting in fear just by being in her presence.
She wore a flowing gown of deep burgundy which shimmered with every movement. A crown of gold and rubies rested on her head, signifying her royal status.
Her dark, wavy hair cascaded down her back, and her eyes, a piercing shade of blue, held a cold, calculating intelligence. As she stood before a tall mirror, her gaze was fixed on her immensely prideful reflection.
Behind her, a vampire in robes knelt with his head bowed low. His eyes glowed faintly with a supernatural light, a sign of his power and subservience.
"Your Majesty," Malachi began as his voice trembled slightly. "I must apologize. I do not understand why the crown prince is not dead yet."
Her eyes narrowed as she turned to face him. "Did the venom reach the crown prince as planned?" she asked, her tone icy.
Malachi nodded, his fear evident. "Yes, Your Majesty. I am certain it did. The prince consumed it, yet he still lives. I cannot fathom why the venom has not taken effect."
A look of fury crossed Melisande's face. With a swift movement, she drew blood from her wrist. The crimson liquid flowed in a swirling line, twisting and turning until it formed a rope that snaked around Malachi's neck, tightening like a noose.
"Your failure is unacceptable," she hissed.