Hellbound Heart

Chapter 372  Don't jinx it

"I thought you all knew this, but I suppose I must spell it out for you. Without this prince right here," Alexander pointed at Zeke, "without this prince you dared to call a 'halfling,' the vampire race would have neared extinction. You all would be hiding and living like notorious criminals, hunted or used, and this country would have been erased from the map. You need to grasp that what I support isn't this country or vampires; I support Zeke's ideals because I agree and believe in them. That's all there is to it. So don't delude yourselves into thinking I'll come rushing to save you when things go bad. Honestly, it's absurd how none of you seem to realize that there's no one here who cares as deeply about vampires and this country as Zeke. Are you all blind or simply foolish? Now, if you still don't understand what I'm saying, then I suppose…"

The eldest official suddenly lowered his head, his voice tinged with remorse. "Please, accept our sincere apologies. Your words ring true. We have indeed been excessively self-absorbed, losing sight of what truly matters."

"Forgive us, Your Highness. We pledge not to repeat our mistakes," another official added earnestly, and eventually, followed by everyone else.

Zeke's response was measured and composed, his hand rising in a casual but resolute gesture. "That's enough." He dismissed them with a calm finality. "I will address everyone once more before I leave, and I expect every one of you to be present."

The prophetess and the king exchanged glances, they looked like they still have concerns to say but they nodded respectfully and also left the room. After everyone had departed, Alexander let out a heavy sigh like a tired old man. "Ah, why did you dismiss them so easily like that? I was thoroughly enjoying scolding those idiots." "Your scoldings should be enough for now, Alex."

Slumping back in his seat, Alexander continued the conversation. "On a serious note, Zeke, what are your thoughts on this matter? Do you believe this peace this time will last long?" Zeke's response was blunt and direct. "No."

Elle's heart rate quickened, prompting Sebastian to offer her a reassuring glance. "One way or another, humans will eventually uncover the truth, and it won't take as long as we might hope." Zeke continued. Sebastian's eyes locked with his brother's as he asked the pressing question on their minds. "What is your plan for handling this, brother?" "For now," Zeke responded, holding Sebastian's gaze, "we will continue with our current efforts and do everything within our power to maintain the peace for as long as possible." "Well, that's always been the most sensible plan in this situation, I suppose," Alex concurred with a nod. "I'm honestly more concerned about the children right now." Zeke chimed in, his tone contemplative, "Indeed, I can easily picture Alexis leading his own vampire army in a great revolution." Alex let out a groan and brought his hand to his face. "Don't jinx it, Zeke. And don't forget how your son possesses enough power to be the world's greatest threat even right now. And if these two decide to have children as well…" He glanced at Elle and Sebastian, shaking his head. "I shudder to think of the future of this world." Though despite his words, he wore a playful smile.

Elle interjected softly, "Alexis and Azy are such good and kind boys. They have genuinely kind hearts and are among the nicest and most responsible children I've ever encountered. I'm certain they'll be advocates for peace, no matter how formidable they become." "They are," Zeke acknowledged with a relaxed expression, his gaze drifting upward toward the ceiling. "But when war rears its head, there are circumstances that can force anyone to pick their weapons and fight." "And should they decide to fight for a cause they believe in," Alex added, "no one will be able to stop them." Zeke shifted his attention back to Elle, offering an ever so slight but gentle smile. "But do not worry. While the future remains uncertain, everything will eventually fall into place. You'll all be here for them, after all." Alex couldn't resist a smirk. "And I'm quite certain that you and Alicia will be back here by then, won't you?" Zeke nodded, and the expressions on Elle and Sebastian's faces brightened. In that moment, Lucas entered the room. "Everything is in order, Your Highness," he addressed Zeke. "Shall we proceed with announcing the prince's passing to the entire country?" The room's atmosphere immediately grew heavier, and Zeke nodded. "Yes, the entire kingdom will mourn his death." "Understood, Your Highness." Lucas then left, leaving the group now shrouded in silence.

Sebastian remained seated, his gaze fixed on the floor, lost in thought. Elle was tenderly squeezing his hand, offering silent support. Sebastian eventually broke the silence, his voice low and restrained as he spoke, "Elijah told me... that he had been waiting for the moment when I would kill him for a long time. Do you know more about this matter?"

Zeke fell into a contemplative silence, as if carefully choosing his words. "Elijah is the child of a maid who used to take care of the king, our so-called father, while he was alive in prison," he began. "The woman disappeared, likely right after she found out she was pregnant. When I first encountered Elijah, he was already fourteen years old. He behaved normally but was exceedingly obedient. From the very beginning, something about him struck me as off. I decided to investigate and discovered that the maid who was supposed to be his mother had died long before Elijah was born. I spent years searching for her but to no avail. My conclusion is she's already long dead before Elijah appeared. Whenever I asked Elijah about his mother, his only response was that she was dead. It's hard to get anything out of him because he kept his distance from everyone, determined in preventing anyone from getting too close to him."