Chapter 84 - I Will Need The Mad Dog
Chapter 84 – I Will Need The Mad Dog
"Hmm…" Hugo hummed as he read the document in his hand.
When Kieran told him he was being summoned by the council, Hugo ordered Kieran to assist Rinnie back to her quarters. Now, in this emergency council meeting, his brother was holding, he couldn't help but glance at the grim expression plastered on the elder's faces.
"What is his name again?" he asked, setting his eyes on Daniel, sitting on the other end of the table as the emperor's representative.
"Azazel. The fourth prince of the Hendrik Empire, the crown prince's strongest competitor for the throne," Daniel explained in a formal tone. "We had sighted a few of his men within the capital. Although there is no report that anyone is hurt, it is concerning that vampires such as them can enter the capital without being noticed."
"Is it possible that someone in the opposing factions helped them?" someone around the table, a member of the imperial faction, pounded the bottom of his fist against the surface of the table. "It must be! Those rascals…"
Hugo raised a brow as more elders spoke their dismay, pointing fingers at the opposing factions that even the emperor wouldn't mess without a plan. He glanced at Daniel, who bore a grim expression with his hands linked in front of him, listening to the elders in silence.
"He wants to talk to me, then I will go." Hugo broke his silence, shutting the elders up with his odd calmness. "The Hendrik Empire will not parade their face in our territory if they planned to shed blood."
"Your Highness, you had already an altercation with a few of their people."
"I know, and I don't mind adding a few vampire heads under my belt. What do you think?" he glanced at Daniel for confirmation — not that he truly needed it.
"Hugo will meet them at the promised time and place. The mad wolf pack and the silverback will assist him. For now, make sure to raise the security in the capital, but avoid letting the word out. We can't let others use this to start a rumor about a war breaking out." Daniel's words were firm as he spoke in a commanding voice. "Whatever the Fourth Prince of that place wants from us, I'm certain it has something to do with their bloody fight for the throne."
"He can be a foe or a friend. Who knows? But Hugo is the most capable one to take out a noble vampire in the shortest time," Daniel added.
"Then, that's that." Hugo nodded, closed-lipped. He took a deep breath, his eyes glossed over the elders' faces before settling it on Daniel.
"I am allowed to cut his head and send it to the Hendrik Empire if he attempts on something funny, right?"
Daniel took several seconds of silence before he nodded, closing his eyes momentarily. When he opened his eyes once again, they glinted dangerously. A look his sisters aside from Cora, Alice, and Victoria hadn't seen yet.
"In your own discretion, whatever happens in this unofficial meeting will be shouldered by me. If they attempted to harm you in any way or form, send his head to the Hendrik Empire as a warning."
The side of Hugo's lips curled up, pleased at the resolve of his big brother. Like always, Daniel was scary in his own way, as sending the head of a prince could be the beginning of the war… or not.
"Yes, sire."
*******
After the meeting and the members of the council left, Daniel poured himself a glass of wine. Hugo was still sitting on his chair, feet resting on the table while balancing his chair as he rocked it.
"You're free for several hours. Use this time to spend it with your bride-to-be." Daniel broke the silence as he glanced at his brother. Honestly, he was also surprised that Hugo remained calm and didn't make a fuss like usual. He already guessed it had something to do with Rinnie.
"Ah… no, need." Hugo whistled, tilting his head back to look up at the ceiling. "If I see her before I go, I might change my mind and let Silas take charge."
"Silas will happily oblige, but the fourth prince of the Hendrik specifically asked for you, the Grand Duke of Belcoot and the murderer of a son of a noble house in Hendrik. Those are his words, not mine."
Hugo remained silent for a moment. "I might kill him if he speaks Rinrin's name."
"I must admit Everfell and the Hendrik Empire seemed to hold a secret they didn't want to let us know." Daniel nodded because all these things happened when Hugo took Rinnie home. Actually, they had been receiving reports regarding the Hendrik Empire even before Hugo and Rinnie step foot in the Ronmin Empire.
Which raised a question in their heads: what did those vampires want from a princess like her? Rinnie was petite and small. One look and everyone could tell she was pampered at home who hadn't witnessed the cruel side of this world.
Werewolves' instinct never failed them, especially the blood of the Tempest clan. The reason Daniel was getting more invested in this peculiar situation where a princess locked up within the castle all her life caught the eyes of the powerful Hendrik Empire.
"My gut feeling tells me our Ronmin Empire is already involved even before we know it… one way or another."
Hugo glanced at Daniel as the latter chugged his drink down. "Exactly my point," he muttered, peeling his eyes away from him and back at the ceiling.
"They won't be this persistent if they already knew Rinrin was already under the wing of Ronmin." Hugo pointed out as he remained silent for a minute, bothered by something he couldn't pinpoint out. "She is just a runaway princess now. Even if she appears in Everfell, her name alone will not threaten whoever will rule Everfell. So, why are they so persistent in chasing after someone who cannot even threaten a fly whilst risking catching our attention?"
"That is what you need to find out, Hugh. We need to discern if welcoming Rinnie here is a good decision or the biggest mistake our family ever done."
Hugo scoffed as he set his arrogant eyes at Daniel. "And if it's bad?"
"Well…" Daniel picked up the decanter again and shrugged as he answered. "… I will need the mad dog in the front line."
He paused and raised his sharp eyes to him. "For I will have to take action against those creatures we cannot co-exist."
"If that's the plan, then the mad dog will tear as many limbs as he can.." Hugo licked his growing fangs as his eyes turned red, knowing the secrets and ambition of the crown prince that only Hugo and a few of his brothers knew about.