Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate-Chapter 142: The Banquet No One Wanted

The grand hall was lavishly decorated. Servants hurried around to make sure everything was just right. Each one had their own job to do.

At the heart of this effort was Miss Olive, the head maid. She carefully checked every corner to make sure the hall was spotless.

She didn’t stop there—she also made sure the path leading to the hall was perfect, knowing that guests would notice it as they passed through. She even inspected the route Emperor Kaan would take to reach the hall.

The banquet was a big event, but none of the servants knew the true motive behind King Valentin’s decision to host the welcoming banquet for the emperor.

Margrave Boris, holding several sheets of paper that detailed the event, constantly compared the preparations to his plan. He watched the servants closely to make sure everything was on track.

The servants and kitchen staff didn’t like Miss Olive because of her strict attitude, but Margrave Boris appreciated her for being so thorough. She never missed a thing, and her efforts always led to success.

"Your Majesty, everything is ready. I’ve sent word to Margrave Nicholas, and I’ve arranged a special room for the meeting," Margrave Boris reported to King Valentin.

Normally, the host of such an event would prepare several empty rooms for important guests, as well as for themselves. These rooms allowed the guests to rest comfortably or have private conversations without interruption.

The king, of course, had a room of his own, but everyone knew it was the one at the far end of the corridor. Holding a secret meeting there would be unwise, as it would be like announcing the plan to everyone.

To keep the meeting hidden, Margrave Boris had arranged a different room for the secret meeting, ensuring no one would know about it or even suspect its existence.

"Has he responded?" King Valentin asked as he stretched out his arms, allowing his most trusted servants to help him get dressed.

Though he disliked being fussed over, he understood that, as a king, there were times he had to accept it—especially when it came to the complicated attire required for special events.

The conversation between him and Margrave Boris was usually highly confidential, so the king ensured only the most trusted servants were present.

To eliminate any risk, he had taken the extra step of hiring deaf and mute servants, ensuring that nothing said in his chambers could ever be repeated outside.

"No, Your Majesty. We’ll have to wait and see if he shows up," Margrave Boris replied.

King Valentin pressed his lips together, deep in thought. Along with the looming threat of mutiny, one thing troubled him the most: dark magic.

"Any updates on the investigation?" he asked.

Since there was only one investigation that mattered, he didn’t need to explain further. Margrave Boris immediately understood. Folding his hands behind his back, he shook his head.

"They’ve made some progress, but to avoid running into Emperor Kaan’s men, they’ve had limited time to act. They’re also moving individually to avoid drawing attention and blowing their cover," Margrave Boris explained.

The special task force had found someone who could detect dark magic, but they were still waiting for the right moment to secretly bring her into the palace without getting caught.

King Valentin nodded. "What about the Nightwatch?"

He was referring to Sir Kai, who had been sent on a solo mission as part of a larger plan. Margrave Boris responded, "According to his most recent letter, he’s reached the border of the Kingdom of Eira."

"Hm..."

The Nightshade Coven was hiding somewhere, and no one knew their exact location. Even if someone did, they wouldn’t reveal it to King Valentin without a good reason.

The king knew Sir Kai’s chances of finding them were slim, but it was better than sitting idle in the palace.

Only the Nightshade Coven had the power to stand against Emperor Kaan if things went wrong in the future.

King Valentin couldn’t stand not having a backup plan. Even though it was a long shot, it was still a plan—so long as Sir Kai did his job well.

Margrave Boris checked his timepiece, then tucked it back into his coat. "It’s time, Your Majesty. We need to leave now."

The margrave led the way, with servants opening the doors as they passed, and King Valentin followed closely behind. The hallway was quiet and empty, so peaceful it was hard to believe a grand banquet was taking place in the same building.

Waiting by the door was his beloved, Lady Maris, dressed in the same color as him, creating the appearance of a perfect couple. Though they weren’t officially married, King Valentin always made sure she felt welcomed and respected in the palace.

He extended his arm, and Lady Maris gracefully linked hers with his. Taking her hand, he kissed the back of it and said, "You look beautiful, my love."

"And you, my dear," Lady Maris replied with a smile.

From where he stood, King Valentin could hear the loud, vibrant music accompanied by a beautiful female voice. As he and Lady Maris walked into the grand hall, all eyes turned to the king.

The music quieted down, but the singer’s voice perfectly matched the king’s every step, making his entrance even more impressive.

The singer was a stunning woman—a human with dark hair, which was a striking contrast to the silver-haired vampires. Her icy blue eyes reminded him of Riona.

Noticing the king’s particular interest in the human, Margrave Boris leaned in and said, "She’s Zuri Artig, a famous opera singer from a neighboring continent."

King Valentin wasn’t that interested but said nothing in response. As he reached the throne, the music picked up again, and the guests returned to their conversations.

Scanning the room, he spotted Emperor Kaan seated at his table. Instead of mingling, the emperor simply waited for people to come to him.

As the main part of the event, Emperor Kaan gave a short, general speech. He hated being the center of attention and was eager to leave the banquet. He resented King Valentin for hosting the event without consulting him first.

Once the speech was over, the emperor quietly left for his designated room to rest.

King Valentin saw this as his chance to slip away as well. He leaned over to Lady Maris and whispered, "Please keep the guests entertained. I have things to attend to, so make sure no one notices I’m gone. More importantly, don’t let anyone near my private room."

"Of course, Your Majesty," Lady Maris replied with a nod.

In the separate private room, Margrave Nicholas was already waiting. He bowed as King Valentin walked in.

"I’m sure you know why I’ve called you here," the king said.

"Your Majesty, I’m at your service," Margrave Nicholas replied. "I’ve held off on replying to His Excellency. I will refuse him if you tell me to. Just give the word."

King Valentin gave a small, controlled smile—after all, he had an image to maintain.

"Actually, I need you to join the elder’s group," the king said, leaving Margrave Nicholas stunned.