The following days were filled with various activities. Master Lucius pushed Edmund to his limits in their training sessions, teaching him the intricacies of blood cultivation.
While...
Lady Vivienne and her team worked tirelessly to prepare Edmund for the banquet. They dressed him in the finest garments, ensuring every detail was perfect and thought him how to act in a royal manner.
Despite the chaos, Edmund's mind often wandered back to the confrontation with his father and the questions that still lingered.
Edmund did his best to focus. Master Lucius was a demanding instructor, pushing Edmund to harness his blood essence to its fullest potential. They practiced Blood Fusion extensively, with Lucius teaching Edmund to merge his blood with other materials to create formidable weapons.
"Focus, Edmund," Lucius commanded during one intense session. "Feel the blood within you, let it flow into the weapon."
Edmund concentrated, feeling the warmth of his blood essence surge through his veins. He held a dagger in his hand causing the blade to shimmer as his blood merged with it. The dagger glowed with a dark red light, the edge becoming sharper and more lethal.
"Good," Lucius praised, nodding in approval. "Now, use it."
Edmund moved swiftly while swinging, causing the enhanced dagger to slice through the training dummy with ease. The power he felt was exhilarating, and he could see the potential for Blood Fusion in combat.
Next, they worked on Internal Accumulation. This wasn't what Lucius wanted to teach Edmund initially because he didn't expect him to be capable of using such an ability. He was shocked to discover that Edmund could in fact manipulate his blood internally to this extent.
He then explained to Edmund about the specific regions he should apply that to so as to amplify their functions.
Edmund practiced channeling his blood essence to different parts of his body, feeling the effects as his strength and speed increased.
...
...
Melisande stood in front of a grand, cracked mirror. The reflective surface was marred by deep fissures from which a dark, viscous blood slowly seeped, pooling at the base of the frame.
Her face, stunningly beautiful yet marred by a scowl, was framed by flowing, midnight-black hair. Her eyes, glowing with a sinister crimson light, reflected a menacing aura of bloodlust.
She stared into the cracked mirror with dark and tumultuous thoughts. The air around her seemed to thrum with an almost tangible tension.
A knock on her chamber doors interrupted her brooding. She didn't turn but called out, her voice cold and imperious. "Enter."
Lucien stepped into the room with a mixed expression of frustration and impatience.
"Mother," Lucien began, his voice taut with barely suppressed anger, "Edmund has awakened his essence."
Melisande's scowl deepened. "I am aware, Lucien. I am working on a solution."
Lucien's composure snapped. "I want the crown prince title! This is my birthright!"
In a flash, Melisande's hand struck across his face.
Pah!
The sound of a crisp slap echoed in the chamber. Lucien staggered back, clutching his cheek in shock.
"Control yourself," Melisande hissed with blazing eyes. "Do not lose your temper. You are destined to be the next emperor, but not if you act like a petulant child."
Lucien's eyes narrowed, but he nodded, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "I apologize, Mother. But seeing Edmund being the talk of the kingdom in a positive light, makes my blood boil."
Melisande's expression softened slightly, though her eyes remained hard. "Remember, Lucien, no one else will become the next emperor besides you. Raidin, your eldest stepbrother, lost all chances of ever claiming the crown prince title because of my schemes. That left the title to Edmund, but I will ensure he either loses it or loses his life."
Lucien's lips curled into a twisted smile. "I trust you, Mother. But we must act swiftly. The longer Edmund remains the crown prince, the more support he garners."
Melisande nodded, her mind already concocting plans. "Leave the details to me, Lucien. You focus on maintaining your composure and preparing yourself for the future. When the time comes, you will take your rightful place."
Lucien bowed slightly. "As you wish, Mother."
He left the chamber with a look of twisted satisfaction. As the door closed behind him, Melisande turned back to the cracked mirror, her expression one of ruthless determination.
She paced her chamber as her mind was filled with thoughts and plans. She needed to remove Edmund from the equation, but it had to be done discreetly. An open attack would raise too many suspicions and could backfire disastrously.
She stopped by her alchemy table, cluttered with various vials and ingredients. Her fingers danced over the glass bottles, selecting a few. As she began mixing a concoction, her mind continued to weave a web of deceit and danger.
"How to make it look like an accident?" she mused aloud, her voice a soft, sinister whisper. "Perhaps an assassination would be too obvious. But an 'unfortunate incident' during his training or at the upcoming banquet…"
Her eyes gleamed with malevolent delight. "Yes, that could work."
She worked quickly, her hands moving with the precision of a master alchemist. Soon, a vial of dark, swirling liquid sat on the table before her. She held it up to the light, watching the shadows play across its surface.
"This will do nicely," she murmured, a wicked smile curling her lips.
"You may have escaped death before but now that you have awakened your essence... you have unlocked more options for your possible demise."
She proceeded to stand to her feet. "Now, to ensure it reaches its intended target."
Meanwhile, Edmund was immersed in his training.
Edmund moved swiftly, slicing through a series of training dummies with ease. Each strike was precise and powerful, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
"Excellent," Lucius said, nodding in approval. "Your movements are getting better and your strikes are more decisive now."
As the sun began to set, signaling the end of another day of intense training, Edmund and Sasha sat together in his chambers.
"You're making quick progress, Your Highness," Sasha said with a look of admiration.
Edmund smiled. "Thank you, Sasha. But I can't shake the feeling that something is off. Why does my father want to keep the light essence a secret?"
Sasha sighed, her expression thoughtful. "Perhaps he is just trying to protect you. There are many secrets in the royal family, Edmund."
"Protect me from what?" Edmund inquired.
"I don't know," Sasha shook her head while Edmund laid fully on his bed with a sigh.
...
Back in her chamber, Melisande was finalizing her plans.
She summoned one of her most trusted aides, a shadowy figure known only as Malachi. He appeared silently in her chamber, bowing deeply.
"You summoned me, Empress?"
Melisande turned as her eyes gleamed with a sinister light. "Yes, Malachi. I have a task for you. One that requires the utmost discretion."
Malachi nodded. "I am at your service, Empress. What do you require?"
She handed him the vial of dark liquid. "This. Do you understand what this is?"
Thorne took the vial with slightly widened eyes. "I understand, Empress. It will be done."
"Good," Melisande said, a wicked smile playing on her lips. "Make sure it is done before the banquet. I want no mistakes."
Malachi bowed again and disappeared as silently as he had come, leaving Melisande alone with her thoughts. She returned to the cracked mirror, watching the blood seep from the fissures.