CHAPTER#35:Holding Low Threshold.

A knock on the door attracted his attention. He didn't bother to sit up on the couch while holding the papers. His butler called for permission to enter.

"Come in... "He permitted him to enter his chambers.

"Um... Your Highness... You have a visitor."He glanced at the man standing in the doorway.

"Who's visiting me at this hour?" he inquired while shuffling the yellowed and worn-out papers.

"It's me... Son."

The voice made him flinch and he gradually sat up and looked at the elderly man.

"Your majesty."He greeted him but was cut halfway when he raised his hand.

He was a pale man about one and a half century old. His hair was still thick and healthy like that of a young man's and reached down his shoulders. His face was partially wrinkled and had sharp eyes that looked like two pools of fire. When he spoke his canines were highly noticeable.

He wore a black spider silk robe donned with a black belt made of faerie skin and a red dragon tear brooch on the left side of the chest.

"It seems I've bothered you."

"No, please make yourself comfortable." he stood up and ordered some refreshments.

Zavaikal never thought of Vlad as his father. Considering the difference in their race. They were opposites even in appearances.

"What troubles Your Majesty at such an hour to visit this humble subject?"

He picked up the yellowed pages and scrolls and put them away in the higher compartment of the columns of shelves that reached the marble ceiling of his chambers. The shelves were lined with all kinds of books and scrolls. Each of the manuscripts was neatly arranged and well taken care of.

"I see my son studying hard as usual. You make me proud. I have been worried about you ever since you came back from the summoning deeply wounded. You collapsed in my gardens." he ignored the barrier placed by Zavaikal between them through words.

"You chose me to be your heir. It is a given that I have to live up to the prestige bestowed by your honor."

"You make it sound like all I did to you was a favor."

Zavaikal remained silent and looked at his butler bringing in the tray of refreshments.

He poured a reddish liquid into the goblet made of silver. The demons were eccentric about using gold in the realm. Most nobles might been enamored by its beauty however most despised its color to the light. And for the light, they could regard it as a curse on them. Amanécerians on the other hand were their opposites. The demons used stones of dark colors or those that did not attract or reflect much light. One might judge them as creatures without elegance. But they were equally rivaled with the other realms in terms of evolution and technology.

"Why the long face son?" he asked Zavaikal who held the wine glass in his right hand as the servant poured the reddish liquid.

-"He'd find out about it either way if I don't tell him."He frowned and sighed.

"Have a taste of the new creation my lord."He smiled.

Vlad took a sniff at the liquid poured into the glass.

"It's wine... Wait...!" he took another long sniff.

"Amanécerian blood." he guessed again.

Zavaikal grinned brought the glass closer to his face and looked through it. His world became red all around him for as long as he saw through it.

Small bubbles rose on the surface and popped in the warm air.

"You guessed right twice."He explained.

"This is indeed a mixture of the two. An extreme luxury only befitting of you." he took a sip. It was sweet. He could feel the rich taste of the rare golden grapes harvested on the southern borders at one moment and another, he could taste the blood.

"It is indeed a luxury... And a rare one too. Considering that you drink the blood of a foe... It is strangely satisfying. But son, you haven't answered me the reason behind your worries. Perhaps this old man will be of some help." he suggested while taking another sip.

-"I knew that he wouldn't leave the subject easy. He is needlessly persistent when it comes to my affairs. The last time I rejected his offer to marry a noble lady from a vampire family, he had his henchmen look into my private life thinking I wouldn't realize his intentions. He's the demon that appears with a thousand faces just to a single person. Being wary of him is all I can do. He'll be playing me out No! He's playing me out this very moment. There is no escaping him unless I remain like an obedient dog."

"It seems that I've worried you needlessly. I was thinking of going to the western borders. Who knows when my bride will come? I need to be sure to escort her without worries."

"Ahh yes! The Amanécerian princess. Hasn't it been a month now? I wonder if the Amanécerian Emperor is pulling some cheap tricks behind our backs?" he scoffed.

-"He leaves no room for relief. I did consider every possibility. I know they would be sending a fake to rid our demands. That's why I ordered the hound to wipe them away the instant the details don't match. This would give us the upper hand if I played my cards correctly."

"Rest assured your evilness... I do not plan to fail myself or you. The only thing is when do you wish to discard me if I fail?"

The air between them felt so cold that it could penetrate the skin and poke a hole through the heart.

"Rest assured I'm not so heartless to discard my heir for something so trivial."He spoke up after a chilling silence.

"Then it seems that you approve of my visit to the borders."

"Yes... I'm sure you are preparing for it. I must take my leave. The sun will rise any moment now."

"I've enjoyed the brief moment with you. It is always an honor to be in your presence." he kissed his bony and scarred hand lightly.

"It would have been wonderful to have more time spent with you. After all, you are all I have."

He patted his shoulder and left the palace alone refusing to be escorted.

"If only you took in the other one..."He sighed and dropped on his featherbed.