Chapter Two-Hundred-And-Five
**3rd Person POV**
It was no longer a hush matter. The noble ministers had convened to discuss the vampire raids. The vampiress had become even more aggressive the previous night. They had managed to kill two persons and leave about five others injured.
“The situation is worsening very quickly,” Minister Avdonin was saying.
“So they changed their tactics, they now disguise themselves as wolves or bears and attack people. It's pretty cheap even for them,” said Tyler, who had been forced out of his vacation because of this problem. In fact, he had not made it home from his trip but he'd had to come to the palace first.
“Cheap but quite effective. They are also avoiding elite places; they are only targeting remote places where there is less security,” added Lord Edvin.
“I understand the situation. Before, we began experiencing raids like that happening in the Blood Moon pack. I hear the vampire raids there are quite bad. We need to find a way forward,” said Alpha Dagen.
“If I may, Your Majesty?” quipped Princess Charlotte. Some of the ministers shifted uncomfortably in the hall. They did not like it when Charlotte was present as she was rumoured to be Queen Emily's heir. To them, she was here only to spy on them but no one would dare raise any such concerns. Saying anything of a sort could cost one's head.
“Please, go ahead,” returned Dagen who was blind to the tension in the room.
“I disagreed with Queen Emily when she said I should go to Dome to attend their ball. However, I have had some time to think it over and I believe it would do us good if we acknowledge the existence of the vampires as our equals in this world. If we do so, we can address their rogue dissidents who have come to raid our streets and if they refuse to acknowledge and call their people to order then we would take their inaction as an act of war,” Charlotte said.
Not everyone was pleased with her but they could not deny that what she said had no sense in it.
“We would appear weak if we accept their invitation to a wedding; it's absurd,” said Minister Avdonin.
“On the contrary, they invited us first which means that they have acknowledged our existence. We should honour their invitation and proceed to discuss the raids with them. It could be that we can come to a reasonable agreement,” another minister said.
“I must disagree. We must not forget what happened before we stopped interacting with them. They were on the path to exterminating us all. Besides, Princess Charlotte, it was not until very recently that your hybrid pack stopped being on friendly terms with them. What caused you to break off communication with them in the first place?” it was a reasonable point that Minister Avdonin had raised.
“We stopped communicating with them for the same reason you did. They became a threat to our existence. However, I strongly believe we can sort through our differences. Of course, should dialogue fail we will resort to war,” Charlotte had no qualms about going to war. In fact, things had been too quiet for her liking lately and she itched to shed blood.
“Your Majesty, their invitation is limited to a member of the royal family. You will have to honour the invitation yourself,” said Lord Edvin.
“My son will go in my stead. I would feel a lot better if Reginald and Charlotte were together,” commented Dagen. It was true; even when fighting the two of them as a team were undefeatable.
“We still have to put an end to the raid in our city. So far as I know, we have blocked every entrance they can use to enter the capital city. It baffles me where they hide during the day only to emerge at night,” said Minister Avdonin.
“The inns would be a good place to start. They could pay for rooms to sleep during the day so they can come out at night,” came Lord Tyler's input. The other ministers nodded their heads in agreement.
“We just have to look for suspicious patterns. Let us proceed with that,” returned Dagen who liked the idea.
“We'll proceed tonight, Your Majesty. Perhaps by day break, we would have our suspects,” said Lord Edvin.
They discussed other matters of importance before the meeting was adjourned. When they had all left, Edvin walked Dagen and Charlotte to Dagen's private study so they could have a personal chat. Once the door had closed behind them, Charlotte said, “Father, if you will permit me. I would like to ride to the Blood Moon pack to see my cousin, Prince Harlin.”
Dagen stopped the urge to protest but he could not keep all of his reservations to himself so he said, “You are aware they have a vampire infestation there. It is pretty late, you should go tomorrow.”
“I am hoping to run into one of them. I want to…”
“It's settled then, you're not leaving this place tonight,” replied Dagen. If he had to watch her himself overnight, he would not mind.
“Father!” Charlotte cried. She should have known better than to communicate her plans with her dad.
“You can sulk all you want but you're my prisoner until dawn tomorrow, okay?” quipped Dagen.
“But I am travelling to Dome very soon. How are you not…”
“You will have diplomatic immunity there and I intend to send my finest soldiers with you as your servants. You will be well protected,” came Dagen's response. Charlotte shook her head disapprovingly and walked out of the room.
“Children, they never appreciate you trying to keep them from harm,” mused Dagen watching an angry Charlotte leave the room.
“In regards to that, there is something you must know,” said Edvin. He kept his voice steady and his face on Dagen's. He did not want to give the impression that he had made a mistake; Diane was anything but a mistake.
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