Hell's Consort

Chapter 323 - Culprit

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VAMPIRE KING APOLLYON

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When Cederic arrived at the Spring Courts at twilight with his soldiers and Apollyon's Envoy trailing after him, Apollyon had stood up from his seat at the royal banquet with Queen Gloriana at his right and Princess Alisabathe at his left.

He had enough!

From the duration of the banquet, all he did was sigh, breathe and talk a little.

No one was foolish enough to offer food to a vampiric fae if they don't want to be his food.

His eyes twitched slightly when Princess Alisabathe offered him her blood in a whisper.

Princess Alisabathe might have thought she was indiscrete.

Grimacing, Apollyon scratched his cheekbone in silence.

From the way that every single faerie's ears in the banquet had perked up in interest.

Apollyon knew that they had heard the offer, but Princess Alisabathe was aware that he had a wife and even brought her here.

Was the Spring Princess blind, or so bland that she couldn't find a mate on her own, or did she consider that if a wife was unconscious, then the husband was free for the taking?

He didn't argue with Princess Alisabathe.

Apollyon turned his head to the side, look her in her large aquamarine eyes, and said a short and direct, "No, thanks."

Everyone gasped, and the princess bowed her head in humiliation.

She didn't initiate any conversation, and he was grateful for the reprieve.

Apollyon never talked to anyone after that and just sat there—either, watching Prince Aspen across the table and observe his relationship with the royal family or staring at the woodland faerie paintings, the dark red and gold of the wall tapestries, and the delicate intricacies metal ornaments from the ceiling down to the floor.

Each piece of furniture in the Spring Hall was carved in fine oak with jewels and precious stones.

Apollyon watched the sumptuous feast in front of him with boredom.

The table was ladened with faerie food: fresh milk and cream for the younger faeries while adults take a sip of their beer and blackberry wine as they munched on their dessert.

Vegetables, sweets, and dairies were their favorites.

The fruit cakes were glazed with honey with sprinkles of chocolate and hazelnut.

They also have beans, leaves, roots, and other things he wasn't interested in inside their bowls and plates because he wasn't a goat.

One thing Apollyon admired was the chef of the Spring Courts had taken food into art seriously.

The plating was spectacular, and each dish was either in the shapes of animals, birds, trees or scenes of nature or from the fae legends.

The royal family seemed tight-knit based on their body language and the way they talked.

Apollyon squinted at the male successors, and his goal was to make them squirm in discomfort so that he could figure out their weakest link.

It wouldn't take long before they figured out he was watching them like a hawk.

When they noticed his blue eyes boring holes on their skulls, they stared back with the same intensity, their lips curling in amusement.

Apollyon shrugged in response, unfazed.

The Princes of the Spring Courts weren't easily intimidated.

He couldn't see any rivalry from the siblings yet from this celebration alone.

They would show their true colors soon, especially in a conflict.

Apollyon was sure that the other Princes who were his competition to the throne would show off to catch the unicorn killers in the Spring Court.

Since Prince Aspen was a representative of the Faerie Realm to the Vampire Realm, Apollyon would support his cousin in this if it could make the Vampire Realm gain an advantage.

Prince Aspen and Apollyon were acquaintances who made them slightly closer compared to his other allies.

It didn't help that both of them share something in common—fae blood.

Nevertheless, Apollyon was secretly relieved that no one was forcing him to interact with anyone.

Sometimes, Queen Gloriana included him in shallow conversations, and Apollyon's job was to smile then nod once in agreement, and they would leave him be afterward.

Occasionally, Apollyon would input his ideas only when the topic interested him—especially Faerie Politics and Magic.

He was just there in the banquet with his head cradled in one hand, watching them eat and laugh heartily.

It came as a shock to Apollyon that from owning a Consortium and knowing how to please women, his character did a complete turnaround into that of a hermit who found it awkward to talk to women that weren't his wife.

It was his choice to live like a hermit in an ivory tower with his unconscious Empress, spending most of his recent years there, waiting for her every single day.

His vampire charms were a little rusty at this point, so he didn't bother talking to the women who don't matter to him.

Why would he force himself to do things he didn't want to do?

He was a King, and Kings don't need to talk if they don't want to.

Before the banquet began, Apollyon had insisted on sitting with Prince Aspen so that they could talk about the progress of their case of the criminal faeries.

Still, Queen Gloriana was adamant that he sit beside her—which was the seat of power--because this celebration was dedicated to him.

He had gone along with Queen Gloriana's request, but now that Cederic was here, he had an excuse to be somewhere else.

Queen Gloriana even persuaded him and his Envoy to stay a little longer at the Castle since his Envoy needed to rest from the journey, but he refused.

"I'm sure Prince Aspen can take care of us in his Manor, Your Highness," Apollyon said politely after he had uttered the farewell he had practiced in his mind three times to the Queen. "I would like to stay in your son's Manor."

"You would be more comfortable in the castle compared to the manor, nephew." King Nuada suggested.

It is my preference. " He replied grimly. "Don't take my refusal as an insult, Your Highness. I want to work with Prince Aspen closely on the investigation."

Apollyon fetched his sleeping Empress without waiting for their response, who was in his High Priest's care.

No one can hold him back any longer.

He hated wasting time.

The two of them were settled on the farthest corner of the Hall.

He clenched his fists as he walked towards them.

They should be looking for the culprit by now.

"We shall go now, Fei," Apollyon said curtly, and the High Priest abruptly stood up.

He didn't eat any faerie food, and that was smart of him.

"We will meet Cederic and the others outside," Apollyon told him as he placed his arms beneath Luna and carried her in a bridal style, lifting her off from her flower bed. "I told the Faerie Guards not to let them in. It is my order."

"Ah, yes." The High Priest said drily. "If they entered the Hall, the Spring Queen would not let us leave."

So, he also noticed that the Spring Queen was an unreasonable female.

Prince Aspen suddenly materialized beside him.

Apollyon narrowed his eyes at him, but the urgent tone of Prince Aspen's voice made him halt.

"My sentinels had caught someone, King Apollyon."