Edmund inclined his head head as well. "Your Majesty, King Dreyforious, Your Highness, Princess Diana, welcome to Darkblorne. It is an honor to have you join us."
Princess Diana curtsied gracefully. "Thank you, Prince Edmund. I have heard much about you and your kingdom."
Edmund smiled. "All good things I hope."
Princess Diana giggled lightly; "If only..."
Edmund nearly choked on his own tongue as he managed a cough that threatened to spill out.
"I suppose your father, the vampire Emperor didn't see us as important enough to welcome personally," King Dreyforious voiced with a smile despite the masked dissatisfaction.
"King Dreyforious and Her Highness Princess Diana are certainly very important guests to the Darkblorne Kingdom. Father will definitely greet you himself once he arrives. I hope you enjoy the banquet. Please, make yourselves at home," Edmund managed to quell things before any escalation.
Princess Diana shot him a glance and smiled before stepping in with her father.
As the hall filled with guests, the atmosphere grew more vibrant. Music played softly in the background, and laughter and conversation filled the air. Edmund moved through the crowd, engaging in polite conversation and making introductions.
He encountered Lord Thorne's son, Peter, a handsome young vampire with a serious demeanor and dark, brooding eyes.
"Prince Edmund," Peter said with a respectful bow. "Congratulations on your essence awakening."
"Thank you, Peter," Edmund replied. "I appreciate your kind words."
Nearby, Lady Isabella was chatting with a group of young nobles, her laughter ringing out like a bell. Edmund couldn't help but notice the way her eyes sparkled with mischief.
As he made his way through the crowd, he bumped into a figure. Looking down, he saw the thirteen-year-old Aragon, Lucien's younger brother, staring up at him with wide eyes.
"Hello, Aragon," Edmund said with a smile. "I'm surprised you came."
Aragon grinned. "I wanted to be at the banquet. It's so big and exciting!"
Edmund chuckled. "It is, isn't it? Are you enjoying yourself?"
Aragon nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! But there are so many people. It's a little scary."
Edmund arched a little. "Stick with me, and you'll be fine. I'm glad you're here."
Aragon beamed. "Thanks, Edmund."
As the evening progressed, the guests were seated, and the feast began.
The grand hall within the palace was a sight to behold, filled with the most influential figures from across the Darkblorne Kingdom. Luxurious decorations adorned the walls, and the tables were laden with the finest foods and wines. A sense of excitement and anticipation hung in the air as the banquet began.
At this point, Edmund had been dragged away by the royal coaches to change his dress so he was nowhere to be found.
At the center of the hall, a male vampire with white hair and a deep, commanding voice took the stage.
This was Lord Alistair, a well-respected noble and tonight's master of ceremonies. He tapped a glass with a silver spoon, the clear, ringing sound bringing the room to attentive silence.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this most auspicious occasion," Lord Alistair began with a voice that resonated through the hall. "We gather tonight to celebrate the essence awakening of our crown prince, Edmund Rigorial Alucard the Twenty-Seventh. But first, let us welcome our esteemed guests."
He began to introduce the noble families, each one receiving polite applause from the audience. "House Velorn, House Thorne, and House Farnese," he announced, each name met with nods and bows. "We are honored by your presence."
Next, he turned to the human royals who had traveled from neighboring kingdoms. "And now, let us welcome our distinguished guests from the human kingdoms. King of Dreyforious of Eryndor and his daughter, Princess Diana."
More human royals, dressed in luxurious garments, entered the hall with an air of superiority.
King Dreyforious's hair gleamed under the chandeliers, and Princess Elara's golden locks flowed gracefully. They moved with an arrogance that made the vampires in the room bristle towards the front where they were welcomed to seat as extinguished guests.
One of the newly arrived human nobles, a mage with a haughty expression, glanced around disdainfully. "These accommodations are barely adequate," he muttered to his companion. "I expected more from the vampire kingdom."
Another mage, a tall woman with icy blue eyes, sneered at a maid who was serving drinks. "Watch where you're going, girl. You almost spilled wine on my gown."
The maid bowed quickly as her face paled with fear. "I'm sorry, my lady."
The vampires around them seethed with rage but kept their composure, bound by the peace treaty that prevented them from retaliating. Similar occurrences had happened since the human royals arrived. It would seem that they didn't regard the vampires.
Lord Alistair continued the introductions with a smooth and untroubled voice despite the underlying tension.
"And now, the moment we have all been waiting for," he declared. "It is my great honor to present to you our crown prince, Edmund Rigorial Alucard the Twenty-Seventh."
The doors at the far end of the hall opened, and Edmund entered. His presence commanded immediate attention. Some had already seen him earlier when he welcomed important guests in but nonetheless, he was even more blaring now.
He was dressed in a finely tailored suit that accentuated his royal bearing. His golden eyes scanned the room, taking in the sea of faces turned towards him. The hall buzzed with murmurs and whispers as he stepped forward.
As Edmund made his way to the center of the hall, the guests applauded, some more enthusiastic than others. The evening was filled with traditional vampire performances, including music and dance.
During a brief intermission, Edmund was approached by a young woman. She was strikingly beautiful, with raven-black hair and icy blue eyes. Her gown was a masterpiece of dark silk and shimmering jewels. This was Princess Elara.
"Prince Edmund," she said with a smooth voice laced with visible condescension. "I am Princess Elara of Haven Bark. I've heard much about you."
Edmund inclined his head politely. "Princess Elara, welcome to Darkblorne. I hope you find our hospitality satisfactory."
She smirked. "I suppose it's adequate, though not quite what I'm used to."
Edmund bristled inwardly but maintained his composure. "We aim to please."
Sasha approached with a tray of drinks in her hands. "Can I offer you something to drink, Your Highness?"
Princess Elara looked Sasha up and down, her disdain barely concealed. "No, thank you. I'd rather not partake in something handled by... the help."
Edmund's eyes flashed with annoyance, but Sasha placed a calming hand on his arm. She didn't need to say a word before he understood what she meant.
Edmund had seen the human nobles act condescending since their arrival but didn't think much of it till Sasha was the recipient.
He took a deep breath while forcing a smile. "As you wish, Princess Elara."
The evening continued with more performances, each one showcasing the talents and traditions of the vampire kingdom. The guests were entertained, and the atmosphere grew more relaxed, though the tension between the vampires and the human royals remained visible.
At one point when everyone was making small talk with Edmund, a nobleman approached and posed a question that had been on many minds. "Prince Edmund, during the phenomenon in the throne room, what color appeared in the flames?"
Edmund hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. "The flames were crimson, signifying the awakening of my blood essence."
The nobleman nodded, seemingly satisfied, and the room relaxed. Everyone believed that Edmund had only awakened one essence, as expected. He kept it a secret just as his father instructed.
The time came for the royal vampire traditional dance finally arrived. Lord Alistair announced it with great fanfare, and Edmund stepped onto the center stage.
The room fell silent with eyes on him as he began the dance. He moved smoothly and precisely, taking every step with care.
The music swelled, and Edmund flowed through the intricate steps. His body moved with a fluidity and grace that captivated the audience.
When he finished, the hall erupted in applause as the guests rose to their feet in admiration.
"Well done, Your Highness!" Sasha whispered from the sidelines with shimmering eyes.
As Edmund stepped off the center stage, Sasha approached to smoothen his clothes and they chatted jokingly about how things went.
"I did quite well didn't I?" Edmund said with a smirk.
"If by well, you mean jumping from side to side like a frog, then you're right," Sasha voiced in response.
"You naughty little..." Edmund and Sasha both chuckled fondly.
Their relationship seemed to have drawn the attention of both vampires and humans in the surroundings.
Princess Elara who was talking to other nobles noticed as well; "I don't care if he is a vampire... He is incredibly hot."
"Careful with what you say, princess, Vampires have super hearing," Another female noble with an extremely buxom appearance and grey hair voiced.
"I wouldn't mind if he heard that Sweeney," Princess Elara stated.
"Oh looks like it's dance time. I'm going to pull him away from that lousy lowlife maid," Princess Elara added while stepping forward.
Ball music had begun playing and Lord Alistair announced that the floor was open for everyone to dance.
Princess Elara approached with a smug smile. "Prince Edmund, may I have this dance?"