Chapter 37-The queen’s announcement

Chapter 37: 37-The queen’s announcement

The next night~

The queen’s announcement reached the vampire nation precisely as the moon climbed to its highest point.

Every crystal communication mirror inside noble manors, academy halls, government buildings, and public squares shimmered simultaneously before Queen Velanora Vancrest appeared upon them all.

She sat upon the age old ivory throne of the whiteblood palace. Her silver-white hair flowed elegantly over the high back of the throne, while her white eyes carried the weight of centuries.

Every noble, common vampire, and academy student instinctively lowered their gaze the moment they saw her. Unlike her daughter, whose beauty captivated hearts, Queen Velanora possessed authority far more terrifying.

She looked like the kind of ruler who had buried kingdoms and never once lost sleep over it.

So the second she went live, silence settled over the entire vampire nation. No one dared interrupt their queen.

Her calm voice echoed through every communication mirror. "Several days ago, an incident occurred within Veris Academy involving a newly turned redblood named Maisa Loven and my daughter."

Across the nation, countless vampires stiffened. Everyone knew the story, the redblood who had somehow gotten the whiteblood princess to kneel for her.

The same redblood had received royal blood to heal her wounds and whom every noble family had demanded be executed.

Queen Velanora’s expression remained unreadable. "The palace has concluded its investigation."

Thousands held their breath. They waited to hear the fate that awaited Maisa as it would set in motion the fate that awaited the whole redblood community.

"In our findings, Princess Varitreya Vancrest acted within her authority and made no mistakes."

The sentence landed like thunder to the ears that heard it. A wave of shock spread through noble estates.

The Queen continued before anyone could recover. "The princess did not elevate a redblood above her station. She demonstrated compassion toward a newly turned vampire who had fallen victim to a system she had not yet learned to navigate," she said, never missing a beat.

She spoke every word with confidence. The Queen folded her hands gracefully upon her lap.

"A ruler who cannot distinguish ignorance from malice is unworthy of leading. That is something I shouldn’t have to bring to your attention," she said in a matter-of-factly tone.

Her gaze seemed to pierce directly through every mirror and into every soul of every vampire watching.

"Maisa Loven entered Veris Academy less than a day before being manipulated into accepting a combat challenge she neither understood nor possessed the experience to survive," she stated. "She was poisoned inside an academy arena, clearly marked for death. The princess prevented an unnecessary death. Nothing more."

The Queen’s voice remained calm yet every sentence struck harder than the last.

The noble families couldn’t understand a word she was saying. For centuries, redblood have died for far less reasons and the palace has never said a word. This time, the princess intervened and now they call it unnecessary death. They were astounded.

Then the queen revealed the decision no one had expected. "Furthermore, the Crown has, for some time, discussed a new initiative."

Curiosity spread throughout the nation. A new initiative at a time like that, while the vampire nation was heated and demanded blood.

They couldn’t imagine what the initiative would be. But judging by her unpredictable response to Maisa’s issue, they had a feeling that they wouldn’t like it.

"The vampire race grows weaker each century. Hunters grow bolder and our enemies no longer fear us as they once did."

Images of burned vampire villages, destroyed blood archives and dead noble families, flashed through countless minds. They didn’t need her to point it out to know, vampire hunters were growing in numbers everyday and their methods were getting more and more inhumane.

The Queen slowly rose from her throne. "We stand divided. Whiteblood, blackblood, blueblood, mixedblood and redblood. We have spent generations teaching our children to fear one another," she paused. "And while we argued, the hunters sharpened their stakes."

Her voice became colder and so did the look in her eyes. "They are not concerned with your bloodline. When they kill you... they do not ask whether your blood is pure or contaminated by human blood," she uttered a bitter truth of the cruel world around them.

She straightened her gown. "They simply celebrate another dead vampire. Another enemy of theirs in the ground."

The entire nation fell silent. No vampire could deny the truth and having the truth aired out to them, a few night before the nation wide memorial day for the vampires who’ve fallen to hunter attacks? It made their blood boil with hatred.

Queen Velanora descended the steps of her throne. "We cannot continue this way. Therefore, the Crown officially announces the blood inity initiative!" She declared, her voice rang in every corner of the vampire nation.

The mirrors trembled feeling her resolve and agreeing with her.

"From this night onward. The palace will actively encourage cooperation among every recognized vampire bloodline," she said in a tone that suggested the decision was none-negotiable. "Our future depends upon unity, not division."

The words echoed across every city, every academy and every noble household. Then, her eyes hardened.

"Let my next words be perfectly understood," her white eyes turned crimson which showed that she was dead serious. The atmosphere itself seemed to freeze. "Openly advocating hatred toward another recognized vampire bloodline shall henceforth be considered a crime against the Crown."

Gasps erupted everywhere. No one had expected such a declaration from the palace. They were blown away by the outrageous rule.

The Queen continued. "Any noble, any organization and any citizen... who seeks to incite bloodline violence shall answer directly to the throne," she said, and by throne, she meant herself. "The punishment shall be the highest permitted under royal law."

The nation fell into deeper silence. The new initiative changed everything of the way things worked in the vampire world. It was moving against the order of things and heirachy system that has existed for centuries.

Her gaze sharpened. "If anyone disagrees with this decree..." a faint smile appeared upon her lips. "They are welcome... to bring their complaint directly to me." ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Silence, sheer and utter silence fell among the nobles who were already ready to write appeals against the degree. They froze still.

The queen wasn’t offering a democracy decree, it was one that screamed dictatorship. They figured it was her retaliation for vampires taking her daughter’s name and using her to fuel their ambitions.

She wasn’t addressing them as a queen but as a mother whose daughter was used a live bullet for greedy nobles. Regardless of agenda, she was drawing a clear line. Come at my daughter and you are coming for me, do that and I’ll tear you to pieces.

The Queen raised her head high, "The announcement is concluded."

The mirrors darkened and the transition ended. For several long seconds, no one in the vampire nation moved.

Then, chaos erupted.