The tension in the banquet hall reached a boiling point. Lucien's eyes gleamed with a dangerous red light as his lips curled back to reveal his elongated fangs.
His nails extended into sharp claws, digging into the flesh of his palms, drawing thin lines of blood.
His vampiric energy radiated around him, sending ripples of surprise throughout the room. Even the most seasoned nobles and warriors present could feel the raw power emanating from him. They weren't aware that he had already cultivated his vampiric power to such a level.
Edmund could feel his blood pulsing faster as his heart pounded in his chest, but his face remained calm and collected.
He knew he was no match for Lucien in terms of sheer power. Lucien had been a vampire for much longer; his essence was far more cultivated. Edmund, on the other hand, had only been a vampire for a little over two weeks. But he knew he couldn't show any signs of hesitation. Fear would only feed his little brother's ego.
Lucien's voice came out as a low, menacing growl, "What's the matter, Edmund? Afraid now?"
Edmund's golden eyes met Lucien's glowing red gaze without flinching. "Is displaying your little kitten claws supposed to scare me? I am not impressed."
The hall was buzzing with background noise. Human royals whispered among themselves with looks of intrigue and mockery.
A human prince with a sneering face commented loudly enough for those around him to hear, "Oh, this should be interesting. A newly awakened vampire facing an experienced one. What arrogance."
Another human noblewoman chuckled. "They're like children squabbling over a toy. It's quite entertaining."
Princess Elara watched with sharp eyes, her lips curled in a slight smile. "Indeed, let's see if the crown prince of vampires can truly hold his own against his younger brother."
The hall was a symphony of hushed murmurs and whispers with every eye focused on the two brothers. Edmund could feel everyone's gaze of mixed curiosity, disdain, and hope...
Lucien's aura flared, and he took a step forward ready to pounce. The air around him crackled as his bloodlust rose. Edmund squared his shoulders, his hands balling into fists, preparing himself for the inevitable clash.
But just as they were about to lunge at each other, a voice boomed through the hall, filled with authority and anger.
"Enough!" The vampire emperor's voice cut through the noise like a blade. "You two will cease this foolishness at once!"
The command was followed by a surge of his vampiric aura, so overwhelming and powerful that it brought every conversation in the vicinity to a screeching halt.
The air grew heavy with an immense pressure that seemed to force everyone down, like an invisible hand pressing them into submission. Even the human kings and mages, who were normally unshakable, could feel the strain. Eyes widened, and breaths were held. No one dared move.
Edmund felt his knees tremble under the weight of his father's power, his very essence felt like it was being crushed, but he kept his stance, refusing to bow. Lucien, too, was immobilized, his bloodlust retreating under the might of their father's aura.
"Father..." Lucien began, his voice strained, but the emperor cut him off with a glare so fierce it could burn stone.
"Silence!" the emperor commanded. "You disgrace this hall with your childish quarrel."
He turned to the vampire guards stationed nearby, his voice cold and commanding, "Take Lucien away. Confine him to his chambers until he sobers up."
Two guards, their faces tense with the effort of standing under the emperor's aura, stepped forward and took hold of Lucien by the arms. Lucien struggled for a moment, but even he dared not defy his father directly in front of the entire assembly. He spat on the ground as his face twisted with rage.
"This isn't over, Edmund," he hissed before the guards dragged him away.
The emperor's aura slowly receded, and the air in the hall seemed to lighten, though tension still hung heavily over the crowd. He looked around as his gaze swept over the human and vampire dignitaries alike.
"I apologize for this scuffle," he said with a more controlled tone that still carried an edge of authority. "Let us not allow this moment to spoil the celebration. We shall continue with the ceremony."
A murmur of agreement rippled through the hall as the guests relaxed and began to return their attention to the proceedings.
Edmund stood strong despite his racing heart. He was very much aware of how he would have fared if the confrontation had snowballed into a physical exchange but he had successfully masked his emotions with a calm exterior.
He felt Sasha's reassuring presence by his side as her hand lightly touched his arm.
"You did well, Your Highness," she whispered.
Edmund nodded subtly, his gaze returning to the front of the hall as Lord Alistair stepped forward once more. "We now continue with the presentation of gifts, honoring our crown prince on this auspicious occasion."
A line of vampire nobles began to form, each bearing a gift.
Lord Velorn was the first to step forward. "Your Highness," he began, his voice deep and resonant, "I present to you a vial of Elder Blood, taken from one of the oldest and most powerful vampires of our lineage. It will strengthen your essence and fortify your abilities."
Edmund accepted the gift with a gracious nod. "Thank you, Lord Velorn. Your generosity is greatly appreciated."
Next came Lady Evelyn, her emerald eyes gleaming with a hint of pride. "Prince Edmund, I offer you Red Root Sacred Grass, a rare herb known for its healing properties and ability to enhance a vampire's vitality. May it serve you well in the days to come."
Edmund bowed his head slightly, accepting the gift. "Thank you, Lady Evelyn. Your thoughtfulness is a true blessing."
The gifts continued, each more lavish and unique than the last. "Heavenly Score Wine," offered by Lord Thorne, "The Blade of Nightshade," a beautifully crafted dagger, and "The Wyrm's Tear," a rare gem with mystical properties.
The human royals also stepped forward to present their gifts, though their expressions were less enthusiastic. King Dreyforious offered a chest filled with gold coins and rare jewels. "A token of goodwill from our kingdom," he said with a diplomatic tone.
"Thank you, King Dreyforious," Edmund replied, his smile polite but distant.
Princess Elara approached next, her demeanor cool and confident. "Prince Edmund," she began, her voice smooth and practiced, "I present to you a Mirror of the Moon, an artifact said to reveal the hidden truths of one's soul."
Edmund raised an eyebrow at the gift, sensing there might be more to it than met the eye. But he accepted it graciously. "Thank you, Princess Elara. A most intriguing gift."
The human nobles scoffed quietly as they watched the proceedings, clearly unimpressed with the gifts presented by the vampires. "So archaic," one murmured. "These vampires and their trinkets."
Sasha, standing close to Edmund, leaned in and whispered with a smirk, "Ignore them. They wouldn't know true value if it bit them in the neck."
Edmund suppressed a chuckle, nodding in agreement. "I suppose so."
The ceremony continued smoothly as the tension from earlier dissipated while the gifts were being exchanged and the guests began to mingle once more.
The vampire emperor, still seated above in his grand chair, watched everything with an inscrutable expression. Edmund caught his father's gaze for a brief moment.
The emperor's face remained a mask, but Edmund thought he saw a flicker of something—approval, perhaps? Or maybe it was just curiosity.
Regardless, Edmund knew he had a long way to go to prove himself worthy of the Crown Prince title. But tonight, he had taken a step, and he intended to take many more, with or without anyone's approval.