Chapter 4: The Peace Conference
706 Words
Lucian's POV
The moment I stepped into the conference hall, every pair of eyes turned toward me.
The hall was magnificent, with towering marble pillars and a long table at its center. Representatives from both the vampire kingdom and the Blue Moon Pack had gathered to discuss what everyone hoped would be the end of a war that had lasted for generations.
At the head of the table sat my father, King Alaric.
Beside him were the vampire elders, their expressions unreadable.
Across from them sat Alpha Victor and the elders of the Blue Moon Pack.
Victor stood as soon as he saw me.
"Your Highness," he said with a forced smile. "I hope my niece has not caused you any trouble."
I stopped walking.
The room became silent.
"My mate has caused me no trouble," I replied calmly. "The only thing that troubles me is the way she has been treated."
Victor's smile disappeared.
"You misunderstand. Emerald has always been cared for."
I looked directly into his eyes.
"Then explain the bruises on her arms."
He said nothing.
"Explain why the future princess of your pack slept in a room smaller than a servant's."
Still, he remained silent.
"And explain why a girl who lost both her parents was treated like a slave instead of a daughter."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances.
Even some of Victor's own warriors lowered their heads in shame.
King Alaric finally spoke.
"Alpha Victor."
His voice was calm, but it carried the weight of a king.
"Is what my son says true?"
Victor cleared his throat.
"Your Majesty, Emerald lost her wolf many years ago. She could not fulfill the duties of a princess. Everything I did was for the good of the pack."
"The good of the pack?" I repeated.
"You call cruelty leadership?"
Victor clenched his fists.
"She is weak."
"No."
I took one step forward.
"You made her believe she was weak."
The room fell silent once again.
My father watched me carefully.
He had rarely seen me angry.
Today, I made no attempt to hide it.
King Alaric turned to Victor.
"Whether Emerald has a wolf or not is no longer the issue."
He paused.
"She is Crown Prince Lucian's fated mate."
"That makes her a member of the royal family under my protection."
Victor's face paled.
He knew exactly what that meant.
If he had truly abused Emerald, he had not only wronged his own niece...
He had insulted the future queen of the vampire kingdom.
The meeting continued, but my thoughts remained with Emerald.
She had spent years believing she was unwanted.
I intended to change that.
---
Emerald's POV
I stood by the window, watching the wind sway the trees.
The manor felt strangely quiet.
For the first time in years, no one had ordered me to scrub floors or carry water.
I should have felt relieved.
Instead, I felt... lost.
A gentle knock came at the door.
"Come in," I said softly.
An elderly woman entered with a warm smile.
She wore the royal crest of the vampire kingdom.
"My name is Helena," she said, bowing slightly. "His Highness asked me to stay with you while he attends the peace conference."
I blinked.
"He... remembered?"
Helena smiled.
"Our prince never forgets a promise."
My heart warmed.
She placed a neatly folded bundle on the bed.
"These are for you."
I slowly unfolded the cloth.
Inside was a beautiful pale blue dress embroidered with silver thread.
It was the most beautiful thing I had seen since my mother's dresses.
"I can't wear this," I whispered.
"Why not?"
"It belongs to someone important."
Helena looked at me kindly.
"It does."
She smiled.
"It belongs to you."
Tears filled my eyes once more.
No one had ever given me something so beautiful without expecting anything in return.
Just then, footsteps echoed outside the room.
Helena's smile faded.
She moved in front of me instinctively.
The door opened.
Victor stood there.
His face wore the same smile he showed everyone else.
But I knew better.
Behind that smile...
Was hatred.
"Emerald," he said sweetly.
"We need to talk."
A chill ran down my spine.
I knew that tone.
Whenever he sounded kind...
Someone always got hurt.
- Writer
