With the mention of the enslavement camps, a handful of the noble vampires turned their attention to the young queen. It was not a secret that Elys came from one of the camps near the borders. Although she was a queen now, her past was undeniable.
Her eyes traveled towards Archduke Keane, and their gazes locked for an instance before the Archduke veered away.
’What was that about?’ Elys asked herself. ’As far as I knew, Archduke Keane was someone neutral. Does he have some underlying motives?’
The young queen pondered upon the possibilities that the noble vampire could have some. The idea wasn’t far-fetched at all.
"You do agree, my king, right?" Archduke Keane raised his head and made his voice clearer.
Aleksander didn’t have any qualms with the Archduke’s suggestion and waved his hand for Sir Wiriam to come forward. The Farvar’s eldest son separated from the rest of the ranked military personnel within the room, and then approached Aleksander.
"Yes, your majesty?" Sir Wiriam asked as he kneeled on one knee, his head lowered as his body faced perpendicular to Aleksander and Elys’ direction.
"Gather your men, and guard the southern borders," Aleksander ordered the vampire. He then turned to the other Knight Commanders. There were five of them including Sir Wiriam himself, and Aleksander said, "The other three of you guard the east, west, and northern borders respectively. The last one will be stationed here in the capital."
"Is this effective immediately, your majesty?" one of the Knight Commanders asked.
"I would have mentioned a specific time if it wasn’t effective immediately," Aleksander snapped. "Get on with it right now."
The Knight Commander clicked his tongue in disapproval, clearly showing he was displeased by the way Aleksander addressed him. But it only took one look at Aleksander’s piercing golden eyes and he immediately lowered his head, avoiding eye contact.
The rest of the Knight Commanders saluted at the young king and immediately went out of the court room, a handful of other knights under them following their commanders. Sir Wiriam stood up and bowed down as well, and in turn walked out of the court room.
Aleksander was getting crankier despite feeding from Elys less than an hour ago. Although he had mentioned that he could last several days without sleep, the vampire didn’t mention that he absolutely hated skipping on his sleep.
All of a sudden, the young king heard a light rumble beside him.
He turned his head towards Elys’ side, but his queen wore a stoic face as she looked over their subjects. Was what Aleksander heard only his imagination?
Elys’ eyes glanced at him as she noticed he had been staring at her for far too long, leaving the nobles waiting for him to speak yet again and address their concerns regarding the fire and other political and safety matters within the kingdom.
"Is there something in my face?" Elys whispered.
Aleksander shook his head and said, "No, I’m sorry. I think I just misheard."
The young king returned his attention to the anxious faces of the nobles. He was about to open his mouth and speak again, when this time around the rumble he thought he imagined came again.
Aleksander whipped his head towards the direction of the sound, and noted that it really came from Elys. She wasn’t looking at him, but at that moment, Aleksander was able to recognize something from her face.
Gradually, as the sun had rose from the east and shone upon them, a bulb of light flashed inside the young king’s mind, bringing with it a conclusion from what he saw.
"Goddammit, how could I forget!" he muttered under his voice.
How selfish of him to have forgotten one thing that should have been a priority.
"Marquis Lanz," Aleksander called out to his secretary.
The Marquis who had been busy supervising the servants along with Henry hurried over to answer his king’s call.
"You called, your majesty?" the vampire said.
"Bring over my queen something to eat," Aleksander said.
"Something... to eat?" Marquis Lanz repeated.
"Yes, you heard me right, Marquis Lanz," Aleksander rolled his eyes. "If Queen Elysianne is hungry, then she shall eat."
Elys reached out a hand at Aleksander and shook her head, "It is unthinkable to conduct myself like that in front of so many nobles, husband. This is a meeting we are at, not a banquet."
Aleksander frowned at Elys’ words, "But I only want what is best for you, wife..."
She let out a soft laugh and then smiled at him, her head slightly tilted to the side, "Thank you for your concern, husband. I had tried to be discreet, but my stomach has betrayed me."
"Are you sure you don’t want something to snack on?" Aleksander asked again.
Elys squeezed his hand and then let them go, "I will be fine, my king. A skipped meal is nothing compared to scraps and nearly nothing that was provided when I had been a slave."
The young queen waved her hands to dismiss Marquis Lanz. The secretary scurried over to the corner, blending in with the other palace officials who were each discussing the kingdom’s matters while their King and Queen were busy exchanging words.
The meeting turned out to have lasted well beyond noon time, almost to one o’clock in the afternoon. The nobles and palace officials that have come to seek Aleksander’s answers to their concerns were now filing out of the court room, while Elys and Aleksander stayed behind.
Aside from the King and Queen, the ones left were Henry and Elys’ ladies in waiting, as well as Aleksander’s attendant, Henry. Recalling that his wife has not eaten yet, the young king turned to the nearest people he could order around.
"Ladies," Aleksadner called out to Elys’ ladies in waiting, "come over."
The four noble ladies took several steps forwards and bowed their bodies forward in greeting.
"Accompany your Queen to her chambers, and have her meal brought over," Aleksander said.
Elys smiled in disbelief, but then found herself genuinely thankful he remembered she hasn’t eaten yet. Because even she had forgotten herself.