Elys bit her fingernails in anticipation. Sir Noa’s appearance was a sure storm brewing in a kettle that would explode anytime. They can opt to lock him up until they could sort things out to their advantage, but this was a gamble they couldn’t take.
If Sir Noa was not to return, the Eastern Kingdom was bound to take countermeasures.
"What could Queen Euphemia do to the Western Kingdom?" Elys thought to herself.
What else could the Eastern Kingdom use against the Western Kingdom aside from the pack of werewolves and other creatures that took sanctuary in their lush forests?
The Western Queen pondered for a very long time in her seat. She was alone at the moment, a new and slightly messy room all to herself.
Several furniture still had white fabrics over them, with a few others that were yet to be arranged. The only fixtures that were prioritized, were the couches, Elys’ tables, and one large wall with a carved in book shelf full of the kingdom’s records she had taken from the Royal Archives.
Aleksander opted to meet with the knights, including Sir Wiriam, to insure the kingdom’s safety against any suspicious foreigners that may slip from the borders. Elys told him she would be in her own office, and if he ever wanted to talk afterwards, he could find her.
There were a few changes in the vampire palace since the royal couple’s succession to the throne. When once the Queen did not have any official duties but that of taking care of the kingdom’s mundane affairs, Elys insisted on taking part of Aleksander’s duties.
Of course, it was to be expected that in doing so, Elys and Aleksander raised several brows. But somehow, the nobles were mum about it and kept their judgmental eyes and thoughts within their circles.
Elys’ eyes rose towards her doors. She could not get rid of the agitation she was feeling. Cordelia just returned from her previous mission, and even if she wanted Lady Catalina to be tailed still, she can’t find anyone else better to investigate Sir Noa.
’Where are my ladies in waiting? Are they not coming despite the tempting offer I gave them?’ she grumbled in her mind.
Just as the human queen was losing her patience, a light knock came from her door.
Elys’ face turned serious, donning an authoritative mask in her as she pushed her worries behind her. The Western people must not see her weakness. She must stick to the strong and feisty persona she has been since the day she had learned to walk and talk.
"Who is it?" she called out to whoever was outside her door at the moment.
"Several ladies have come to meet you, your majesty," one of her temporary personal knight, Damiano, spoke. "They are her majesty’s ladies in waiting to be exact..."
The young queen’s face was washed over with a sudden joy.
’Finally!’ she yelled silently as she lifted a fist in the air as if she was victorious.
She composed herself in a flash, squared her shoulders and straightened her back. This time around, she needed to show the ladies a face that expected their return but was happy in an elegant and classy manner.
"Let them in, Sir Damiano," Elys ordered the knight.
Her doors opened after several heartbeats, and Elys smiled as one by one, four of her chosen ladies stepped inside her office.
"Your majesty," Countess Rusiana curtsied to her.
"I see that you ladies took your time into thinking my offer over," Elys said as she leaned a bit forward. "But I am still glad that you finally come to a decision."
She was a bit disappointed to be honest, but four out of six was not that if she would just play her cards right.
"We apologize, your majesty," Lady Azalea cast her eyes downwards, "we had a lot of things to consider and we ended arriving later than your expectation."
"Worry not, Lady Azalea," Elys waved a dismissing hand, "what matters now is that you are here, and just in time as well."
"J-J-Just in time? If y-you c-c-could elaborate, your m-ma-majesty?" Lady Penelope stuttered behind her friend. "What d-do you me-mean by t-t-that?"
Elys clapped her hands together, a smile creeping inside her ruby eyes. The corners of her lips lifted into a cunning smile, and the ladies were a bit anxious of what she was about to say.
"You may have heard of it by now," the queen began, "the last man that had sought audience with the King Aleksander was a foreigner from the East."
The ladies gasped simultaneously.
"A foreigner from the East?" Lady Tabitha repeated, making Lady Azalea roll her eyes, "What does his visit mean, your majesty?"
Elys leaned back into her chair and beckoned the women forward.
"Close the doors, Sir Damiano," she ordered the knight, and the vampire obliged.
The two knights who were temporarily assigned by Aleksander himself were handpicked by him. Sir Damiano, and the other vampire, Baron Ruiz, were from those that had pledged their allegiance to the King in the hopes of rising higher in the vampire hierarchy.
Their faces were calm and stone cold, but despite their family’s decision to join the King’s side, the two did not exactly share the same thoughts regarding the matter.
Sir Damiano’s back was pressed slightly backwards, flat on the doors as he tried his best to listen on the conversation without being conspicuous.
On the other hand, Baron Ruiz only closed his eyes and listened in with ease. Vampires had inherently raised auditory senses, but there were others who were more exceptional than the rest. Baron Ruiz was one of those.
The two did not communicate with each other much, but they do share the same mind.
Sir Wiriam walked by and waved at the two, and the knights greeted him with a salute. Sir Damiano and Baron Ruiz believed that there was only one man deserving of the throne.
And that man was their commander.