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Chapter 20: Queens and Premiers

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I had a few hunches of why Veres looked nervous.

As we currently sat by the chariot leading us deep in the Carmilla Faction's domains, I could tell the Hellhound had noticed the sheer amount of 'guards' we had monitoring us. I wasn't that concerned considering this was a visit that has been planned for a few days now, and the Queen of our rival faction had vouched that this was just 'protection'.

More like intimidation.

"It's alright, they are just 'curious onlookers'," I assured Veres. "Any attack towards us would be seen negatively on them by other communities."

"Do you think they will still try?"

"Some loose cannons... possibly," I admitted calmly. "I mean, there will always be a group of moderates and radicals. Those that are keen to put aside the blade and those that will write and preach mantras of 'being always in the right, and if you think otherwise then you are our foe'."

"Stupid shit," She summarized wonderfully. "I am good with combat, but would us defending ourselves kind of lead us to face all of those 'rival' vampires at once? I am confident, but not stupid enough to face them all."

"Which is why there will be hardly a fight," My words were steeled with resolve. "After all, you may be unsure of facing so many foes at once, but I can assure you that, in case this happens, you will be hardly put against through those odds."

"What do you mean?"

"If it's a few morons, then sure, you can get to play. But a whole nation is something only I can face. So, no suicidal charges for you."

A hint of relief washed over her, yet she looked outside the window and huffed.

"Is this why Valerie couldn't come?"

"It's... more than just that, but sure, I will grant you that it's indeed a concern for her safety." I half-argued, knowing that I would have loved her to be there too.

But someone had to be at home to keep things running smoothly. If both of the leaders of the rival faction to the Carmilla group was to be found in such a small chariot... Well, chances of assassination would double at the very least. So, Valerie stood behind to keep the peace at home, while I ventured into the 'heart of femme fatale'.

The Carmilla Faction was, after all, a rather hilarious situation in on itself. At first, it was deemed the most progressive faction in Vampiric culture. Not because women were in charge (that was a can of worms that opened up to some matriarchal society with hints copied by the former vampiric patriarchy), rather because hybrids were 'accepted' long before the Tepes faction considered this.

Still, that's where the issue comes from- the hybrids are 'accepted' but not recognized. Usually hybrids of 'second and more generations' vampires were granted limited authority within their domains and most of those were outright tied to first generation Carmillan families.

It wasn't rare for 'Reverse Harem' situations to be a thing, for it was needed for the matriarchs to produce many heirs left and right. Most of which daughters as those were deemed more relevant by the code of law subscribed by the first Queens of the faction.

Progressive at the time, but never changed and slowly turning this as an effective copy of the old Patriarchal Society of the Tepes Family but with women in charge instead of men. Still, that's not to say that they were absolutely archaic. Heck, the manor of the Carmilla family was modern in its outward and inward appearance.

It had gone through plenty of renovations thorough the centuries, with its last iteration leading it to be seen as the house of a very rich family. All servants wore more 'appropriate' outfits for the time, where those that lingered on somewhat antiquate fashion were those of high power.

As we were escorted through the halls of the large manor, Veres and I were taken to the main office of the manor. There were four individuals in the room that greeted us.

From the lowest rank to the highest, we had Lady Millarca Vordenburg, Lady Ermenhilde Karsten, Crown Princess Mina Carmilla, and Queen Elizabeth Carmilla.

The two young 'heiresses' were sent as the main envoy for the two major families within the faction, with the Queen looking overall quite positive with her interest to achieve a diplomatic success out of this meeting. The only one that appeared quite crossed to even have us greeted for this meeting was the Princess.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

"I wish to start this meeting by personally thanking Lord Tepes for his generous effort to pursue peace between our factions," Elizabeth spoke with a suave motherly tone. "In the past such endeavors hardly got much of an effective reaction from either group, so I have to say I am relatively pleased by the idea that the Tepes Faction is now fully open for a proper peace."

"And the proposal of a union of both faction."

"A peace is already going to be troublesome to agree upon," Mina rebuked strongly. "You should be pleased with just that."

"I am afraid that's not truly a possibility considering that circumstances are changing within the situations involving any potential 'hostile' non-vampiric threats."

A snort, "You wish to create a scapegoat?"

"I don't need one, Lady Princess," I argued flatly. "There's one that I am sure your mother is already aware about."

The younger blonde frowned and Elizabeth chuckled.

"Truly prepared for this, aren't you?"

I smiled back. "I think it's fair to be ready to tackle all diplomatic issues with all sorts of potential bargaining chips available."

"Mother," Mina mumbled. "What is he talking about?"

The Queen's lips twitched in brief discomfort. "It is not uncommon for the news of odd disappearances to hit us from time to time."

"Just like it used to be a problem before I discovered my father had a deal with a Devil Clan."

"Our families have not been involved in any business of that sort," Ermenhilde argued, with Millarca nodding in agreement.

I snorted, "Their leadership perhaps. Would it be fair to say that rebellious elements agitate in the shadows?"

This question was aimed back at the Queen, and the woman hummed.

"A proper investigation over subversive elements would be shut down by some of the nobles," The Queen remarked, the heiresses shying away from eye-contact as she said this. "Which is why this is a rather delicate problem."

"That will eventually corrode any stable leadership your family has over the faction."

My addition was met with a nod, and an amused smile.

"And perhaps you seek to use this as a mean to secure your leadership?"

"Partially. I am not planning to secure an absolute monarchy with myself on top. A constitutional one seems fitting with the current age," I answered honestly. "So, no, this is not a reason to accept my leadership, it's the position to Prime Minister of such United Vampire Kingdom that is."

Everyone appeared surprised, Veres just perplexed over me pretty much handing out the 'second in command' position to one of the Carmilla Faction. It was a risk, but one that was meant to have major rewards if successful. Still, the Queen looked unconvinced.

"Bribery? Truly?"

"Depends on what you are thinking I am referring to."

She rolled her eyes, "You want me to serve as your first provisional Prime Minister?"

"Nope," I half-giggled. "I want to offer that to your daughter."

Mina jumped up from her chair, standing upright. "W-What, me?!"

"Yup."

"I am curious now," Elizabeth hummed, clearly surprising but trying to shrug that off. "Why would you chose my daughter?"

Translation: Why pick her when you could have a more agreeable candidate in me?

"Well, if I wanted a yes-man, I would have picked from my group and rendered this whole meeting stale. No, that's not the point. If there has to be proper governance, it has to be established in agreeable ideals rather than agreeable people. Your daughter has been actively distrustful for her own reasons, but I also want her to be the one to tackle those issues because of that vehemence," I argued for the choice, and the princess appeared stunned. "Tell me, do you like injustice?"

"N-No," She replied bluntly.

"And if you were given the means to secure bad people away to be judged by a new judicial system, would you do a thorough and rigorous job?"

"Obviously!"

"Then that's fine by me," I assured mirthfully. "You have all the reasons to distrust me, but you would never trigger a war unless you were pushed in that corner. You are not a known entity in the political landscape, so, people will underestimate you. They will think you as more like a 'brattier version of your mother'."

"I-I am not that!"

"Deeds, not words. I care not for your excuses as your actions shall paint who you are to others," I interjected flatly, catching her with a flinch. "So, I will stake this offer for you all to think about. I will offer a week and, if the response is negative, we shall debate for a new meeting. Would this suffice?"

They all looked genuinely tense at this exchange, but there was not a single opposition to this. Hell, I think I saw the Queen giving me bedroom eyes as we left and I have to say that things went quite smooth. As we left for the chariot, I had quite the interesting conversation with my bodyguard.

Veres was quite relieved that no issues came up during the meeting but-

"I think the daughter is into you," Veres muttered, surprising me for a moment.

"Hm? I thought that was the mother."

The hellhound hummed. "Both sound quite lonely. So, I would suspect they will set something up."

A fair assessment, but- "How come you mention this now? Something you wish to tell me?"

I saw her look away for a moment.

"P-Perhaps."

Oh? I think a certain good girl wants a bone to chew at~.

AN

For FFN readers, the reference for Queen Elizabeth Carmilla (name chosen from Elizabeth Bathory) and Mina Carmilla (Mina Tepes' reference) are respectively Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-under-blade/Aged Up Shinobu from Monogatari and Mina Tepes from Dance in the Vampire Bund.

And yes, they are the Oyakodon for this story.