NOVEL NEXT Chapter 399: Anything
The grand entrance hall of the Monarchy's mansion was a sight to see. It felt like a museum that also belonged in a museum.
When Ezra had first arrived, he'd been surprised by the amount of money that would've been poured into its high vaulted ceilings which had beautiful murals painted on it.
The large stained glass windows, sending a kaleidoscope of colors shining around the beautiful floor from the light of the morning sun.
Now that they were expecting such… august visitors, he had to admit that designing the hall this way had in fact, been the correct choice.
He stood beside Akiko, surrounded by a contingent of guards, all dressed in the formal attire of the Monarchy's elite soldiers.
The air was tense but controlled, the atmosphere one of carefully measured civility. It felt like a fight might break out at any moment. Stay tuned for updates on empire
He adjusted his stance, his blindfolded face tilting slightly as he extended his Aura outward. He could sense the approaching presence of Elder Fortuna and her entourage.
Her reputation preceded her, but nothing could have prepared him for what he felt now. Her presence was unsettlingly… ordinary. She felt human, her vitality suppressed to the point of near invisibility.
But he also knew that under the layers of normalcy was something very dangerous. No wonder everyone was tense.
The large double doors at the far end of the hall swung open, and Elder Fortuna entered, flanked by Itachi Yaiba and a handful of Society guards.
While the woman felt like an ordinary human, her appearance was… striking. She would be ranked amongst the top 0.1% of human women in beauty and coupled with her silver hair which gleamed under the sunlight and cascading down her back, she definitely stood out.
Dressed from head to toe in black leather, she looked more like a vagabond than anyone of importance.
Standing beside her was Itachi Yaiba, his expression calm but watchful. While Fortuna was strong enough to not have to worry about dying, Itachi was just strong enough to worry about catching the attack before it hit.
Akiko stepped forward to greet her, her eyes meeting Fortuna's. The two women exchanged polite smiles like adults who hated each other but must work together to get paid.
"Elder Fortuna." Akiko said, inclining her head slightly. "Welcome to the Monarchy."
"Princess Akiko." Fortuna returned the gesture. "Thank you for hosting us. It's always a pleasure to visit the Monarchy."
"You've never been here before." Akiko chuckled.
"Exactly." Fortuna replied and the two women giggled.
"I can assure you that the feeling is mutual." Akiko said with a big smile.
Ezra stood silently, watching the two of them. He and Itachi exchanged genial nods before Fortuna's eyes shifted to him, and her expression lit up with exaggerated delight.
"And you must be Ezra Matten." She said exuberantly. "The most wanted man in the Society. What an honor to finally meet you."
Ezra gave her a nod. "The pleasure is all mine, Elder."
Fortuna laughed lightly. "Oh, I've heard so much about you. A man who manages to upend everything wherever he goes. Truly impressive."
"I aim to please." Ezra replied dryly, earning a faint smirk from Akiko.
"With that done," Akiko gestured toward a side hallway, "shall we move to the negotiating room?"
Fortuna nodded. "Lead the way."
The group made their way through the estate as the guards flanked them at a respectful distance. Before long, they arrived.
They entered the spacious room dominated by a long table of dark wood. Akiko and Ezra took seats on one side, while Fortuna and Itachi sat opposite them. The guards positioned themselves discreetly along the walls.
Akiko folded her hands neatly on the table, her posture impeccable. "Let's begin." She said,
Fortuna leaned back in her chair, her demeanor relaxed. "It is… unusual," she began, "to have the subject of negotiations present during said negotiations. But I suppose Ezra Matten is no ordinary vampire, is he?"
Ezra remained silent, watching them carefully. Akiko, however, responded with a smile. "Ezra is a fellow prince of the Nightmare Court. His presence here is both appropriate and necessary."
Fortuna's eyes gleamed with amusement. "A prince, is he? Well, let's get to it, then. The Society would like to see Ezra returned to us."
Akiko barked a laugh. "That won't be happening. Ezra has been formally accepted into the Nightmare Court. He is one of us now, and we do not relinquish our own. There. I have formally rejected you." She turned to Itachi. "That should be enough, shouldn't it?"
Fortuna tilted her head slightly, her smile taking on a sharper edge. "Are you sure about that, Princess? Ezra has caused no small amount of trouble for the Society. Are you certain you want someone with his… track record in your ranks?"
Akiko leaned forward, placing an elbow on the table and her chin in her palm with a big smirk on her face. "The Monarchy is fully committed to Ezra Matten. Whatever trouble he has caused in the past is irrelevant. He is one of us, and we stand by him."
There was a moment of silence before Ezra finally spoke. "Why do you people think you could negotiate for the Monarchy to release me? I'm curious about that."
Fortuna turned her gaze to him, her smile widening. "Oh, I knew it was unlikely. But," her voice took on a sly edge, "I came prepared with an offer I believe the Monarchy will find… difficult to refuse."
Akiko's eyes narrowed slightly, but she said nothing, waiting for Fortuna to elaborate.
Fortuna leaned forward slightly, her voice dropping just enough to draw everyone's attention. "I am authorized to offer the Monarchy… anything it wants in exchange for Ezra Matten. Anything at all."
The room fell silent.
Even Akiko's smirk dropped, her eyes widening in surprise before she mastered herself. Itachi's expression remained neutral, but his eyes flicked between Ezra and Akiko, gauging their reactions.
Ezra stared at Fortuna, keeping his expression calm. He had expected the Society to do this. What he actually wanted to see was the Monarchy's reply.
For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Then Akiko recovered, leaning back in her chair as she studied Fortuna. "Anything?" She repeated.
Fortuna's smirk grew. "Yes." She confirmed. "Anything."