The Vampire's Chosen Bride

Chapter 5

Vulcan Kingdom

Two weeks had passed. King Jordan gave each city to each family to make it easier to control each place. He also made sure there was no war between each family to get a new area. Since the vampires needed to hunt for blood, they had an agreement to lessen the unnecessary problems with humans. 

They could kill humans for their blood, but with several conditions. First, if the humans were attacking them, it was unlikely to happen since no humans knew about the vampires’ existence. Second, they had to find the least connected people, so there would be a few to none who would search and miss them when the victims died. Third, the hunts would take place in the secluded areas only, away from the crowd. Fourth, it was advisable to hunt for the criminals and the rebels. In that way, they could help in maintaining peace and justice. All Vulcan Kingdom citizens finally accepted the terms.

Three decades ago, they heard about the bloody massacres in so many cities. It enraged the Highest One, as the Highest One loved humans and vampires equally. Therefore, the Highest One ordered the royalties through Princess Emilia to choose King Jordan as the new king to replace the powerless former king. After his reign on the throne, the first thing King Jordan did was create a proposal of human hunting agreement. At first, some royalties refused the deal since they didn’t want to take time and effort to research for their victims. It would take too much trouble only to feed themselves from lowly humans. 

King Jordan invited every family who refused the agreement and convinced them by talking with them all. Finally, after two decades, all royalties agreed because of King Jordan’s unwavering effort and patience. There were no more bloody massacres after that. Dream Country’s peace was restored. The Highest One told Princess Emilia that King Jordan would stay as the Vulcan Kingdom’s king for the rest of his life. 

All noble families attended a monthly meeting with Prime Minister Xavier and Prince Joshua in the prime minister’s building. Quite the opposite from the grand Vulcan Palace, the prime minister building was decent enough but not as luxurious as the palace. It was more like a human's house but bigger. 

The prime minister was the one who led the discussion. The monthly meeting was a routine event for the royalties. It was to help them communicate and coordinate their work. This time, the agenda was to check the progress of the future queen and chosen bride’s searching. The representative of each royal family sat around the round table. 

Prime Minister Xavier read the scroll. “Crow family for Loop City, please report your progress.”

“So far, we have searched the main roads, and we haven’t found our future queen. But we will double our effort in two months; I am sure we can finish searching Loop City,” the Crow family’s son reported.

Prime Minister Xavier nodded. “Thank you for your report and your effort. Please carry on. We expect to hear the good news in a short time.”

After that, the prime minister called in consecutively to Windgate, Cole, Stoker, Graves, Havelock, Winterwood, and finally, the last, Morgan family, for the report. One by one, each representative of a family told the prime minister of their progress. None had found their future queen yet. 

Then, Prime Minister Xavier asked Prince Joshua, “My prince, I believe that my son, Clark, Commander Donnie, and you, who searched at Dream City. We would like to hear how and the progress of your search.”

Prince Joshua solemnly nodded at the prime minister. “Yes, Lord Clark, Commander Donnie, and I have agreed to divide Dream City into three searching areas. It is for saving time and effort, also to make sure only a person searches in an area.”

“Good strategy, Your Highness. Please continue,” Prime Minister Xavier said.

“Following the search for each family according to the reason, my area is also within my workplace: Vulcan Company and the surroundings. Since Dream City is approximately a hundred square miles, Lord Clark, Commander Donnie, and I agree that each of us will search one-third of the area.” Prince Joshua stopped for a few seconds, then continued, “I will search from the center point approximately 30-33 square miles. Then Commander Donnie will continue outside of my area. While the outer side will be within Lord Clark’s supervision.”

“Your Highness, from 30 to 33 square miles, how far you have searched?” Prime Minister Xavier asked. 

Prince Joshua wrinkled his forehead, trying to approximate his search. Finally, he said, “Twenty to twenty-five square miles, I believe. By the end of this week, I will finish searching the area and will repeat it if my men and I miss any place.”

“Awesome. Thank you for your report, Prince Joshua.” Prime Minister Xavier nodded at Prince Joshua. Then he asked Commander Donnie, “Commander Donnie, please tell us the progress of your search.”

Commander Donnie said, “As Prince Joshua has told us, we share one-third of the area of Dream City. The Therons’ men have searched the entire place, but we haven’t found our future queen yet. It is like searching for a needle in a stack of hays. I wonder why the Highest One gave us such a hard task like this.”

Prime Minister Xavier smiled and said in a calming tone, “We don’t know what the Highest One’s intention is in giving us the task. But, as the Highest One has led and guided the Vulcan Kingdom for two millennia perfectly, the Highest One won’t let us down for another millennium to come.”

 All the royalties, who were present, said their agreement when they heard what the prime minister said. One of them even jested though somewhat sarcastically, “If you can’t do the work, let the women do it, commander.”

The others, who didn’t like the Therons, shouted, “Yes, you shouldn’t take such an arduous task, commander. Give it to younger people!” Then he added, “Ah, my mistake, you are still young too.”

The burst of merry laughter and shouts were filling the prime minister’s office again. Then, finally, Prime Minister Xavier raised his hand. After that, everyone was quiet at once. 

“Dear Royalties, we should appreciate what Commander Donnie has done. The task is indeed not an easy one.” Then the prime minister nodded to Commander Donnie. “Thank you for handling the task well, commander.”

Commander Donnie, who grimaced before, suddenly shrugged and smiled. “If you say so, prime minister.” 

After that, Prime Minister Xavier glanced at his only son, Lord Clark. “Last but not least, Lord Clark, please tell us about your search.”

Lord Clark smiled at his father. Though they were father and son, they often addressed each other with their royal status and role in any official meeting. “Thank you, prime minister. I have searched the thirty to thirty-three perimeters of Dream City. So far, our men have searched maybe 70-80% of the area. We will continue the search this week.”

The prime minister smiled at his son. Everyone knew well how proud the prime minister was of his only son. “Thank you, Lord Clark. Please continue searching.”

After that, Prime Minister Xavier glanced around at everyone present. “We should strive to do the search, my dear royalties. The sooner we can find our future queen, the better. May the Highest One help us all.”

Then the royalties left the meeting room until the prime minister, Prince Joshua, and Lord Clark were the only ones who stayed. Prince Joshua sat next to Lord Clark.  

The prime minister sighed. “It is truly challenging work. I wonder who will find the future queen?”

“Don’t worry, father. We will find her eventually,” Lord Clark said. 

“Yes, I hope we can find her soon. However, I cannot imagine if the Therons who find the future queen.” The prime minister shook his head while took a deep breath.

“Uncle, don’t worry. I don’t think the Therons would dare to harm the future queen.” Prince Joshua called Prime Minister Xavier ‘uncle’ when they were alone since Prince Joshua respected the prime minister as an elder, though he didn’t have any blood relation with the prime minister, 

The prime minister shook his head again. “We cannot know for sure, prince. We should move faster. No time to waste since the stake is enormous.”

Prince Joshua took a deep breath. “Don’t worry, uncle. I will find my bride and make her my queen. Since she is my destiny, I am sure I will be the one who finds her.”

Prime Minister Xavier stared at Prince Joshua. “I truly hope so, dear prince. Otherwise, I cannot imagine what our future queen should experience if she falls into the wrong hands.”