Chapter 231 - Bring Home The Glory
Chapter 231 – Bring Home The Glory
Elizabeth's opinion and warning didn't give others the chance to oppose the emperor's orders. They could, but with her around, no one dared. It truly seemed Elizabeth was just like Hugo and with the two present in the meeting, who would oppose these two?
After that, the Emperor, Deimos, informed them of the full-scale war, and everyone needed to prepare. Once everything was said and done, another meeting for those who would participate in the war took place.
The meeting only consisted of a very few individuals: the crown prince Daniel, Silas, Hugo, Elizabeth, Cora and Garrett, and Azazel. Only Azazel and I were not the Tempest — or rather, that wasn't connected to them by blood. Looking at it, it was no wonder the Tempest Clan were the most powerful clan in Ronmin Empire.
They monopolize the power in this place. Although there was the church that held influence and power, they would still have no match against the royal family. Still, the people might question the monarchy, so the royal family wasn't touching the church. Not that they had plans, though.
"The opponent is Niall, the crown prince of vampires. Prince Azazel is already strong to fight with Tomas and Reks on equal ground." Elizabeth's cocky voice brought me back to reality. "If we think about it, there were only a few who can go toe to toe with that guy."
She raised her fist, raising her fingers one by one, starting with her thumb. "The crown prince, the grand duke, me, and His Majesty. From what I heard on the way here, he had unleashed a powerful power that nearly swallowed the entire Althea. Humans died almost instantly, but werewolves had more time to fight off those demons trying to crawl their way out."
"If my hypothesis is correct, those hands from underground were aiming for a person's soul and lifespan. Humans have short lifespans compared to werewolves. Vampires weren't affected by this, for they were undeads, so their souls were what those hands would aim for," she continued, shifting her eyes at Azazel, who was sitting farther from Elizabeth's seat opposite her side. "Am I correct, Prince?"
"Yes, and quite accurately." Azazel nodded, bearing his classic unsmiling face. "The power Niall unleashed is something even the late emperor couldn't control. If he can control such powers, then… he can do far worse. Even if it was just him, he could fight the werewolves all on his own and the chances of winning are still the same."
"Are you looking down on the werewolves?" asked Silas with a deep frown, but Elizabeth waved.
"I'm certain prince Azazel didn't mean it that way. He was simply being honest. Hence, you should appreciate that, brother." Elizabeth cast Silas, her older brother, a look. Although Elizabeth Victoria Tempest was younger than Hugo by a year, she was leading this meeting and no one was questioning her about it.
"However, what I couldn't understand is how did it disappear? I don't think Niall simply withdrew his power. It could be either he couldn't keep it for that long, or something else happened," she added, glossing her eyes over at everyone's faces.
"I ate it," Hugo answered after a few seconds, raising his hand.
"You ate it?"
"Mhm." He rocked his head, arching a brow. "I slurped it. It tastes like crap. I thought I would have diarrhea."
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes as she glanced at Daniel. "Is he serious?"
"Hey, girl. Why are you asking Dan in front of me? How can you be so rude?" Hugo frowned as he clicked his tongue in irritation, seeing his sister still needed Daniel's confirmation before she believed my husband.
"Yes. That's what I heard from Silas."
"I see." Elizabeth then cast Hugo a look with her arched brow. "Then, father did make the right choice for giving you the task of surveying Hendrik."
"There's no one else who is capable." Hugo shrugged, making the rest sitting around the table frown. Even Elizabeth looked at him with dismay.
"I don't know why you married this fool," she muttered, glancing at me before she set her eyes on Deimos. "Your Majesty, aside from the news of Alice's death, Hugo had already sent his henchman beforehand. I will assist him in his operation before our warriors march to the Hendrik Empire."
Deimos' stern face remained as he gave her a side-eye. "Then assist and help him as much as you can."
"Alright." She nodded before her eyes glinted. "But may I make a request?"
This time, Deimos furrowed his brows. "If this is regarding who will take charge of the operation, Hugo will lead it, and that is final."
"I know, Father. And I do not mind him bossing me around from time to time. But this isn't about the operation. This is about a certain someone who will journey with us," she explained in one breath before moving her gaze to Hugo and then to me. "I don't want her in any of the operations."
Silence. Elizabeth didn't even bat an eye, speaking her thoughts, looking at me straight in the eye.
"I do not mind not taking you with me, Victoria," Hugo's voice hit its lowest, but his expression was calm. I could understand if Elizabeth didn't trust me. But what I didn't know was that I didn't truly know Victoria, just as much as Hugo knew his sister.
What Hugo uttered next rendered me speechless.
"Rinnie will stay with me, Vic. Whatever plans you have for her, no. I won't send her to the Hendrik Empire as bait. She's my wife and although she is capable, I disagree."
Elizabeth smirked. "Why are you answering for her? I heard your wife had a duel with your father and is still alive. Alice's death is enough to gain support from our people. However, it's also best if we gain the support of the church. If they believed she was abducted by those bats, do you think everyone will sit still? Would they let another member of the royal family die in the hands of those wicked beings?"
"No. I don't think so." She leaned back, speaking with confidence. "Going to war against such a powerful race is no joke, Hugh. The second you underestimate them, your loss is guaranteed. Even I am uncertain of the outcome. So we can only raise our chances, even if it means twisting the truth to protect our kind."
There was a long silence in the meeting hall while I stared at Elizabeth. Now, I knew why she was well-respected. Elizabeth was a decisive person who never associate her own personal feelings with her leadership.
"What do you think, Lamb?" she inquired directly at me. "Will you infiltrate Hendrik and be our bait? Just in case it's not clear to you, everyone in Ronmin will think you are dead or a hostage. And the church will also come to know you are the direct daughter of the moon."
I pressed my lips into a thin line for a long time, staring at her. I felt Hugo cast me a look, but it wasn't a look of worry or anything of the sort. He was simply waiting for my decision.
"Yes," came out a soft voice. "If that will help you, I do not mind journeying to Hendrik."
"Rinnie, stepping foot in that place also means you will be in a constant danger," asked Deimos, stressing each word as if to make me understand better.
This time, though, I didn't respond immediately. Instead, I turned my head to Hugo, waiting for him to look at me.
"I'll be alright," was what came out from my mouth as soon as he locked eyes with me. "You'll be just right outside the border. I'll call for your help if something happened and I need your help."
Although Hugo hadn't said anything and kept his cold front, I knew he was against it. However, right now, he needed to trust me. I knew he trusted me and even when he knew I was capable enough, he would always worry.
That was because we valued each other. I also felt the same worry whenever he would do something reckless.
A shallow breath slipped past his lips before he slid his hand under the table, holding mine. "Just in case you're not aware, I will storm in the land of vampires if anything happened to Rinnie," he warned, eyes at Elizabeth and then at his father.
"I give you all authority on this mission, Hugo. The life of your people is in your hands. Whether you lead them to their death or you think rationally and make a wise decision, you have the final call." Deimos breathed out solemnly, looking at his children, whom he might not see alive once everything started.
"All I'm saying is, may you, my children stick together in this harsh time because no one else will help us or our people but us," he paused as his eyes grew icy and his tone commanding. "Bring home the glory."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" came out a response in unison.