Chapter 264: Visit to Vlad’s Vault

Anette was sitting at the same tea table where she had spoken with Victor the day before. This time, however, she had set aside the floral dress and returned to clothing more suited to her position. Her dark red dress had subtle details on the sleeves and waist, and her silver hair was tied back simply, leaving her face fully visible.

She looked up when Victor appeared in the garden.

"You came back."

"I said I would."

"You said you’d give me an answer in three days."

Victor pulled out the chair across from her and sat down.

"I managed to think faster."

Anette studied his expression as a maid approached to serve another cup of tea. Victor thanked her but didn’t touch the drink. He seemed far too calm for someone who was about to accept a proposal he’d rejected so quickly during their first conversation.

Anette didn’t particularly like that detail.

"Have you made up your mind?"

"Yes."

She set her cup on its saucer.

"I imagine you spoke with Serafall and Chysis."

"I did."

"And they told you to refuse."

Victor raised an eyebrow.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because I know them both."

Anette rested one hand on the table. "Serafall is extremely protective when it comes to you, and Chysis isn’t far behind. In fact, sometimes I think they’re both a little obsessed."

Victor thought about his mother’s reaction when she discovered he’d been prevented from entering the Army Palace. Then he remembered Chysis holding Grace by the head while explaining that she needed to improve her physical endurance.

"A little."

Anette let out a small sigh.

"I expected you to refuse even before speaking with them. After yesterday, I imagine you heard quite a few reasons not to accept."

"I did."

"Then you don’t need to worry about finding a gentle way to say it. I told you I wouldn’t force you."

Victor looked at her for a few seconds.

"I want to enter Vlad’s Vault."

Anette blinked.

"...What?"

"Your father’s personal vault."

She remained silent.

Victor continued, "The one where he keeps ancient weapons, artifacts, and other things he won’t let anyone touch. I want access to the collection. If you can arrange that, I’ll accept the engagement."

Anette blinked a few more times, trying to understand whether she’d missed part of the conversation.

"That’s all?..."

Victor shrugged.

"That’s all."

"You want to enter my father’s vault?"

"That’s what I said."

"As a condition for accepting an engagement to me?"

"Yes."

Anette stared at him, surprised in a way Victor hadn’t seen before. She’d spent much of the night thinking about possible demands. She’d imagined he might ask for military authority, guarantees for the Valentine Family, or an agreement preventing the Crown from interfering in his personal affairs. She’d also considered that Victor might simply refuse, regardless of the reward offered.

But he wanted to visit a vault.

"You do know that place isn’t a treasure room open to visitors, right?"

"I do. That’s why I’m asking."

"My father doesn’t like other people touching his things."

Victor smiled.

"I’ve heard that too."

Anette rested her face against one hand, studying him more closely.

"And what exactly do you intend to take from there?"

"First, I want to see what he keeps inside."

"Victor."

"Maybe I’ll choose something special. A weapon, an artifact, a training method. It depends on what I find."

"You’re leaving the most important part until later."

"I’m leaving room for negotiation." Victor picked up his teacup and took a sip. "The engagement is fake. I think it’s reasonable to receive some compensation for putting my name into this whole affair, right?"

Anette didn’t answer immediately.

Victor continued, "You get the news you want, I accept the risk of becoming a topic of conversation among the nobles, and in exchange, I get a chance to obtain something useful. I’m not asking for a piece of the Realm."

"No," Anette murmured. "You’re asking to enter the place where my father keeps things he considers more valuable than a good portion of the Realm."

Victor laughed.

"Then you two have that in common."

"I’m not that attached to the things I own."

"You tried to hit me from behind when I refused your request."

Anette narrowed her eyes.

"Are you going to keep bringing that up?"

"Probably."

She sighed.

Victor set his cup on its saucer.

"Anyway, that’s my condition. If it isn’t possible, that’s fine. You said you had another plan."

Anette thought for a few seconds. The Royal Vault was protected by several layers of security, but access depended primarily on Vlad’s authorization. Convincing him to let Victor enter would be much simpler than trying to secure him a permanent position within the Crown’s structure. Besides, she could present the authorization as an engagement gift, something perfectly acceptable between important families.

The problem would be explaining to her father why she’d decided to get engaged without speaking to him first.

Well, that was a problem she’d already intended to solve anyway.

Anette looked up.

"I can do it."

Victor raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure?"

"My father might complain, but I can convince him to let you enter."

"And choose something?"

"That depends on what you choose." Anette pointed at him. "I’m not going to promise he’ll hand over any artifact you find. There are objects in that vault that even I don’t have permission to remove."

Victor nodded.

"Fair enough. I want the opportunity to enter and negotiate for something that interests me. I don’t need you to promise something you don’t even know you can obtain."

Anette relaxed.

"Then this is very simple."

"For you, maybe."

"Compared to what I imagined you’d ask for, it is."

She extended her hand across the table.

Victor looked at the offered hand.

Anette held his gaze.

"So... are we engaged?"

Victor remained silent for a few seconds, thinking about the conversation he’d have with Carmilla and Scarlet when he returned home.

That would probably be much harder than negotiating with Vlad.

Even so, he extended his hand and shook hers.

"We are."

Anette smiled.

It wasn’t an arrogant or provocative smile. She simply seemed satisfied to have concluded a negotiation she’d expected to lose.

"I’ll speak with my father."

"Good luck."

"I don’t need luck."

Victor released her hand.

"You just said he doesn’t like sharing his things."

"I know how to handle him."

Victor stood.

"Then I’ll leave that to you."

Anette also stood, but remained on the other side of the table.

"Victor."

He looked at her.

"Thank you for accepting."

Victor shrugged.

"You still need to get me access to the vault."

"I will."

"Then thank me afterward."

Anette watched Victor as he left the garden. Only when he disappeared down the stone path did she sit again.

She picked up her cup.

She took a small sip and began thinking about how she’d explain to her father that she’d just gotten engaged to Victor Valentine without even informing him.

...

Vlad Dracula Tapes was reviewing a military report when Anette entered his office.

The King looked up at the sound of the door but immediately returned to the document when he recognized his daughter. She often entered without asking permission, especially when she wanted something, and at that moment he was more interested in finding out why three divisions responsible for the Capital’s security had submitted practically identical reports about the attack on the palace.

"If you’ve come to complain about some noble, deal with it yourself," he said. "I don’t have the patience for that today."

"Good morning to you too, Father."

"Good morning."

Anette crossed the room and sat in front of his desk without being invited.

Vlad turned another page.

She waited.

He kept reading.

Anette crossed her legs.

"I have news."

"I hope it’s about those responsible for the attack."

"No."

"Then it can wait."

"I’m engaged."

The quill stopped above the paper.

Vlad slowly raised his head.

Anette smiled.

"Congratulations would be welcome."

He stared at her for several seconds, as though trying to work out when he’d lost control of the conversation.

"You’re what?"

"Engaged."

"To whom?"

"Victor Valentine."

Vlad set the quill on the desk.

"Anette."

"Yes?"

"Explain."

She straightened her posture and began telling him about her meeting with Victor. She didn’t mention only the proposal. She explained that she’d apologized for her behavior during the ball, thanked him for preventing the guests’ deaths, and presented the idea of a political engagement.

Vlad listened without interrupting.

That didn’t mean he was pleased.

"You offered your hand to Victor Valentine," he repeated when she finished, "to divert attention from the attack on the palace."

"That’s a rather condensed way of putting it."

"And you did it without consulting me."

"If I’d consulted you, you would have refused before even hearing the plan."

"That should tell you something."

"That I need to choose a better time to talk to my father?"

Vlad closed his eyes for a moment.

Anette decided not to smile.

"Father, I’m not proposing a real marriage."

"You just said you’re engaged."

"A political engagement. For appearances."

"Which you announced to the groom himself before discussing it with me."

"He knows it’s fake."

"I gathered that much."

Vlad leaned back in his chair and studied his daughter.

"And what happens when the news spreads? Do you think you can simply announce an engagement to a Valentine and break it off when you get bored?"

"I’m not going to break it off because I get bored. We’ll establish a suitable reason when we no longer need to maintain it."

"You’re talking as though it’s easy."

"It isn’t easy. But it’s simpler than restoring the population’s confidence while everyone keeps discussing how a royal property could be destroyed during a ball."

Vlad’s expression changed slightly.

Anette noticed and continued before he could interrupt her again.

"We already have families moving relatives out of the Capital. Some nobles are using the attack to question military decisions, and people are beginning to distrust anyone who worked at that palace. We can’t pretend the situation will resolve itself just because the rubble has been cleared away."

"I’m aware of the problems in my own Realm."

"Then you also know we need time."

Vlad remained silent.

Anette rested her arms on the desk.

"If we announce my engagement to Victor, the conversation changes. He saved the guests, survived the attack, and belongs to a family with enormous military influence. The population will interpret the news as a rapprochement between the Crown and the Valentines."

"And the nobles will interpret it as an attempt to strengthen Serafall and Chysis’s political position."

"Some will, yes."

"Others will start looking for a way to get close to Victor."

"Yes."

"And our enemies will too."

Anette nodded.

"I explained that to him."

Vlad narrowed his eyes.

"And he accepted anyway?"

"On one condition."

The King stared at her.

"Finally, we’ve reached the missing part."

Anette smiled.

"He wants to enter your vault."

Vlad didn’t answer.

His gaze remained fixed on his daughter long enough for her to begin suspecting that perhaps she’d underestimated just how much he hated that subject.

"My vault."

"Yes."

"My personal vault."

"Exactly."

"And you promised him that?"

"I promised to get him authorization to enter."

Vlad ran a hand over his face.

"Anette, do you know what’s in there?"

"I know there’s an absurd number of rare objects, ancient weapons, and artifacts that you spend more time guarding than using."

"I didn’t ask for your opinion of my collection."

"And I’m not asking you to hand over the entire collection."

"You’re asking me to let a Valentine enter."

"A Valentine who just saved my life."

Vlad narrowed his eyes.

"You would have survived."

"Probably." Anette shrugged. "But the guests don’t know that, and it doesn’t change what Victor did."

The King stood and walked to the window. Anette watched him without saying anything, realizing that he was finally taking the proposal seriously.

Vlad spent a few seconds observing the activity in the courtyard below.

"Why Victor?"

"Because he’d have the greatest impact."

"There are several Blood Kings who would accept your hand."

"And I considered that possibility."

"Then choose one of them."

Anette let out a small sigh.

"Father, none of them was responsible for saving the guests at that ball. If I announce an engagement to some ancient noble right after the attack, they’ll spend weeks discussing why I chose someone who wasn’t there while Victor risked his own life."

"And you think they won’t discuss your choice anyway?"

"They will. That’s exactly what I want."

Vlad turned his head.

Anette continued, "I want them to discuss the engagement. I want the nobles to occupy themselves trying to figure out what the Valentines will gain from it and what the Crown intends to do. I want them to spend their time trying to get close to Victor instead of following my every move."

"You intend to investigate those responsible for the attack personally."

"I do."

"Anette."

"I’m already doing it."

Vlad fell silent.

She held his gaze.

"Someone managed to prepare a ritual of that size inside a royal property. We had witches involved, werewolves attacking, and people who knew the palace’s security measures very well. I don’t intend to sit around waiting for someone to find those responsible while they have time to prepare something else."

The King returned to his desk but didn’t sit down immediately.

"And you believe this engagement will make everyone look at Victor instead of you?"

"Not everyone. Just enough."

"That also puts him in danger."

"He knows."

"Does Serafall know?"

"He spoke with her."

Vlad raised an eyebrow.

"And?"

"She recommended that he accept."

The King let out a short, humorless laugh.

"Of course she did."

Anette tilted her head.

"Do you know my future mother-in-law?"

"Don’t start."

She smiled but remained quiet.

Vlad finally sat down again and pulled the report closer, although he was no longer reading it.

"Does Chysis know too?"

"Yes."

"And what did she say?"

"She recommended that he accept."

Vlad stared at his daughter.

Then he briefly looked at the ceiling.

"Let me guess."

Anette already knew what was coming.

"They both suggested he ask for something from my vault."

She tried to keep her expression neutral.

She failed.

Vlad pointed at her.

"I knew it."

"Father..."

"I’ve known those two long enough to recognize when they’re trying to get their hands on my things."

"Victor isn’t trying to steal anything."

"Yet."

"He asked to enter and choose something that might help him. I told him he’d have to negotiate with you before removing any object."

Vlad continued looking at her, but his expression was no longer quite so displeased. The request was inconvenient, but there was a considerable difference between allowing Victor to examine the collection and handing over an artifact without discussing the conditions.

"And if he chooses something I don’t want to give him?"

"Then you say no."

"And the engagement?"

"Victor didn’t demand that I promise him anything he might find. Just access to the vault and the opportunity to negotiate for something that interests him."

Vlad grew thoughtful.

Anette took advantage of the silence.

"You don’t need to decide which object you’ll hand over right now. You can accompany the visit, establish restrictions, and evaluate any request. But if you agree, I can start preparing the announcement."

"You’re already preparing the announcement?"

"No."

Vlad looked at her.

Anette averted her eyes for a moment.

"I only spoke with the people responsible for the ceremony."

"Anette."

"And asked them to set aside a few possible dates."

He let out a long sigh.

"You really did all of this behind my back."

"If I’d told you earlier, we’d be discussing whether Victor should receive the proposal at all. Now we’re only discussing access to the vault."

Vlad studied his daughter.

She didn’t look sorry.

The worst part was that he knew Anette had planned that sequence from the beginning.

"You’re becoming far too much like your mother."

Anette smiled.

"Thank you."

"That wasn’t a compliment."

"I’ll take it as one anyway."

Vlad remained silent for a few more seconds. Then he opened a drawer, took out a small black metal plate, and placed it on the desk. The Royal Family’s symbol was engraved on one side, surrounded by authentication marks.

Anette immediately looked at the object.

"Is that..."

"A temporary authorization."

She looked up.

Vlad raised a finger before she could celebrate.

"Victor may enter the vault once, accompanied by me or someone I designate. He may examine the objects I authorize and make a request. Nothing leaves without my permission."

Anette nodded quickly.

"That’s enough."

"And the announcement will only be made after I speak with him."

"Why?"

"Because I want to hear from him directly that he understands what he’s accepting."

Anette fell quiet.

Vlad continued, "You may treat this engagement as a political tool, but he has women, a family, and interests of his own. I won’t allow you to turn his life into a problem simply because you believe everyone should go along with your plans."

Anette looked at the plate on the desk.

"He knows it’s fake."

"Then he won’t have any trouble explaining that in person."

She sighed.

"All right."

Vlad pushed the plate toward her.

Anette picked it up and stood, satisfied.

"Thank you, Father."

"Anette."

She stopped before reaching the door.

"Yes?"

"If Chysis is waiting outside the vault when Victor arrives, I’m sending them both away."

Anette started laughing.

"I’ll warn her."

"I’m serious."

"I know."

She opened the door and left before he could think of another condition to add.

Vlad remained alone in his office, looking at the report still open on his desk.

A few seconds later, he sighed.

"A fake engagement to Victor Valentine..."

He picked up the quill but didn’t resume writing.

"And now I have to open my fucking vault, too."

This time, when he thought about Serafall and Chysis finding out that Anette had obtained the authorization, Vlad was certain the two of them were enjoying themselves far more than they should.