Chapter 234

Duke Heket stared before speaking up once again, "I just happened to be there for business at the time."

"Your work must be difficult to require you to leave your own kingdom so freely." Vorbuk retorted to him while he refused to let himself waver in front of the man. There is no way you were simply there during that tragedy for small business matters.

"Indeed. Very difficult it is." Duke Heket smirked as he responded with honesty. His job could be considered very difficult so it was not as if he was lying about it. "My King often sends me in his stead since he does not leave his castle often."

"... Castle?" Vorbuk felt confused as most kingdoms he has seen had a royal palace for their king. Drethia Kingdom's royal family lives inside a castle?

Ashley whispered to Vorbuk, "The vampire King actually resided within a castle. Since all kingdoms have a royal palace some mistakenly call it a palace as well but the vampire king long ago had the original palace of Drethia modified into a castle protected by his personal guardians. It was originally a palace so it is understandable for some to mistakenly call it as if it was one still to this day. It is actually a rather beautiful-"

"That's enough." Vorbuk silenced Ashley as his words began to derail from the topic at hand. Calling it a beautiful castle that was modified from what was originally a palace itself? He was curious but at the same time he did not have time to listen to every little detail from Ashley while Heket was in front of him.

The more Vorbuk listened the more he understood how difficult it would be to cause a fight between him and the Drethia King at present time. He could only hold his ground and try to get along with Heket even if he knew the truth. Heket would not have been there in Cista for something innocent. He was definitely involved somehow in what had happened.

"Offer him my thanks for your visit. It is an honor that he took interest in me at all." Vorbuk said to Duke Heket while his face held a political smile to mask how he really felt towards him.

Duke Heket seemed to hesitate before leaning in close to Vorbuk to ask him, "Do I make you uncomfortable, your majesty?"

Vorbuk shivered at the feeling of the Duke's cold breath brushing past him as he replied sternly, "Not at all."

Of course you do! Vorbuk screamed internally as he wanted to get away from Duke Heket as quickly as possible.

"Why not join me for a drink, your majesty?" Duke Heket's sudden request made Vorbuk feel like his stomach dropped to the floor. He could see the weary looks on Prince Leo and Ashley from the sides as Duke Heket stood there with a still expression on his face, awaiting Vorbuk's positive response.

"Alright." Vorbuk replied simply as his brow throbbed.

"Ah~" Duke Heket suddenly brightened up. "It is a honor to drink with you, your majesty."

What is this man thinking? Vorbuk pondered as he watched the duke's reaction.

"Is it not something you wish to speak about in front of others?" Vorbuk asked him.

Duke Heket looked as if he had interest in Vorbuk's curiosity. It seemed to please him the more Vorbuk was willing to confront him openly. The man was surely someone who disliked those who beat around the bush often. It was best to be direct with him. Vorbuk felt if he lingered and allowed Duke Heket to toy around with him it felt as if things would get dangerous.

The truth of it was Duke Heket was like a cat playing with a mouse. He enjoyed watching how Vorbuk reacted in different ways to his every word and expression. The toy he had found to play around with was even direct and blunt in its attempts to get away. It gave Duke Heket a sense of excitement to further his hunt for the prey. If Vorbuk had not been so direct with him Duke Heket would have found him boring.

Smiling Duke Heket took a step towards Vorbuk again and spoke, "I would prefer if we could speak in private."

Just like a cat Duke Heket pondered over his own intentions towards Vorbuk. Should I kill him or not? He could not decide whether or not to take Vorbuk as a threat and kill him if given an opportunity. He had his own interest in Vorbuk but he could not decide whether or not it was safe for him to consider using Vorbuk for his own objective.

Vampires were crafty ones who lived extremely long lives and over that time their own greed can sometimes consume them. That was the fault of the current Drethia King. The king's strong greed resulted in him becoming one of Chynir's most loyal servants. Not all vampires fell into obsession but when you live for thousands of years and desire something for all that time it would be difficult for some to not loose themselves to obtain what they wanted for so long if an opportunity was given.

Duke Heket was not someone who worked for Drethia's King closely. He was even considered one of the king's guardians. That meant that he was already considered to be at rank four. The dangerous feeling that Vorbuk got from him however while looking at the duke only gave him one thought before a sudden message called out to Vorbuk.

[ Duke Heket is almost at the peak of fourth. He will soon break through to become a demi god in the near future. ]

"Let us talk at the royal seating then. I would like to rest while we talk." Vorbuk stated before turning to head towards the stairs. Prince Leo and Ashley followed behind Vorbuk as if they were his guards. Duke Heket could only follow from behind them as they kept him at a safe distance as they moved, ascending the stairs up to where the royal family could sit and overlook the entire room. Neither Princess Isis nor Prince Chase were currently resting there so the four of them could easily talk with more privacy. Others would only be able to glance up at them from below without being able to listen in.

Prince Leo whispered to Vorbuk as they were walking up the stairs, "We should be careful with him. His reputation is not a pleasant one among the nobles. He's someone people prefer to avoid running into and yet you're planning to converse with him privately."

"Would you rather I tell him kindly to fuck off?" Vorbuk asked bluntly. He had said it in a whisper but the question was still able to take Prince Leo by surprise causing him to freeze in mid step.

"No." Prince Leo replied back. "If you did that we would see a slaughter inside the palace."

"That is my point. We can only talk to him for now." Vorbuk explained further.

Vorbuk walked straight for his seat as they reached the top of the stairs. His body sliding into the seat comfortably as a deep sigh escaped him. The royal seats were not something anyone could sit on freely as they wished; Prince Leo and Ashley had no choice but to remain standing just as Duke Heket. Standing around Vorbuk where he sat they all exchanged glances briefly before moving forward with the conversation.

Duke Heket was the first one to speak, "Your majesty, I have brought a gift for you."

"A gift?" Vorbuk was unsure of how to respond to that sudden statement.