The air inside the grand chamber was thick with dread. Rows of stone benches flanked the chamber in elegant semicircles.
Councilman Richard’s entrance was met with a hush.
Veyron sat still at the center of the courtroom. His posture was calm.
"So, we have heard the case so far. Sage Veyron was caught illegally smuggling blood into Blood City," Richard said as he sat down. "Anything else before sentencing?"
"My Lord, I would like to point out that it seems you are quite impatient with trying the case. Sage Veyron was transporting almost 25 litres of blood. This is serious." The prosecutor said.
The vampire rose smoothly to his feet. He moved with the grace of someone who had practiced every gesture, every pause.
Veyron’s eyes remained steady, fixed on the councilman.
"I find that insulting," Richard shot back. "We have been at this for five days now. Repeating the same thing over and over again. Is there anything else we need to talk about?"
Around him, the gathered nobles leaned forward in hushed expectation.
"Sage Veyron has refused to speak as to how he was procuring the blood so that we can shut it down."
The prosecutor said adjusting his coat and stepped forward again, his tone oiled with smug self-assurance.
"Sage Veyron has been uncooperative at every turn. He does not deny the smuggling, nor the scale of his crime. But he has willfully refused to divulge his sources or his network. We are trying to prevent the rot from spreading further into the city."
His gaze drifted toward the seats in the courtroom where dignitaries of the royal court sat.
"I would think that is your problem. I only make my judgements based on the accusations you bring before me. Do you have any evidence or witnesses concerning any other crimes?"
Richard’s eyes were cold steel now.
"As a matter of fact, we do. It has just come to my notice that the royal house may be involved in this smuggling," the prosecutor said.
It was as if time itself cracked.
A low gasp rippled across the benches. Several lords sat forward, eyes gleaming with the thrill of scandal.
The moment Veyron had feared had arrived. The prosecutor had done the unthinkable: aimed his spear directly at the throne.
Even Richard paled. His hands twitched.
Veyron’s face remained carved from stone, but inwardly he reeled.
Councilman Richard stood abruptly. His eyes, usually cool and impartial, now burned with fury.
The idea that anyone, even in political desperation, would casually accuse the royal family of criminal conspiracy during open court was beyond reckless—it was treasonous.
"Do you know that you are dangerously teetering on the line of treason?" Richard shouted.
"You stand in Court," Richard continued, his voice shaking with fury. "You accuse the House of Dragos itself. The line that has guarded Blood City for centuries. Have you gone mad?!"
"Bring them in! And you better pray to the goddess you did not just falsely accuse the royal house of a crime."
The courtroom roared to life.
Guards moved to open the doors.
Veyron inhaled deeply and closed his eyes.
Whatever came next... would change everything.
A few minutes later, the doors creaked open once again. Heavy boots struck the polished stone floors with military precision as a uniformed vampire guard was escorted to the front. He was tall, clean-shaven, and wore the uniform of the Corrections Division. The courtroom, already tense, grew utterly still.
He was introduced without ceremony.
The man’s eyes did not meet Veyron’s as he entered the witness box, hands behind his back in formality.
Then came the question.
"Tell the court," the prosecutor said, "who came to visit Sage Veyron while he was being held in the prison?"
"The Queen. Queen Luna Dragos."
"She insisted on seeing the Sage," the guard continued. "We allowed it. It’s not unusual for the royal family to privately request to meet prisoners of interest—especially in politically sensitive cases."
"But then?" the prosecutor pressed.
The guard’s voice lowered. "She asked us to leave the room. But we lingered just outside the door."
"What did you hear?" Richard asked, voice tight with fury.
"We heard Sage Veyron admitting to securing the blood for the queen. He said it was necessary for the heir."
"Lies!" Veyron shouted, suddenly on his feet.
His voice thundered through the chamber with despair. His control cracked, the mask of the wise Sage slipping to reveal the fear underneath.
"Quiet!" Councilman Richard roared.
His hand slammed the gavel against the bench, sending a tremor through the room. "You will not turn this court into chaos!"
Veyron slumped back down, breath heavy, shame darkening his features. The fury drained from his eyes, leaving behind a hollow grief. He had tried so hard to carry the weight of this crime alone. To protect Luna and the unborn heir. Now, it had all unraveled.
Richard turned back to the guard. "Who else heard this conversation?"
The guard swallowed and lifted his chin. "Myself and three others. We were on shift together. When we realized what we heard... we went to the prosecutor immediately. At first, we didn’t think we’d be taken seriously. We... feared the consequences of accusing the queen."
The side doors were already opening again, and Veyron turned his face away, shame crashing down on him.
Three more guards entered. Their faces were drawn, bracing for whatever storm they were about to walk into.
Veyron realised he had failed.
He had failed to protect the heir. He had failed to shield Luna—the last pure hope in a city drowning in rot.
Luna stood in the center of the living room clutching the summons in her hand. A queen—the queen—was being called to answer to accusations in a vampire-run city that had never known a werewolf on the throne before.
She heard the front doors open.
Damien walked in. His jaw was clenched tight, eyes stormy with worry. He’d already heard—the city was buzzing.