"What do you mean?" Elion shrugged while looking Celeste straight in the face. "I feel much better after using that potion."

"You think we are blind? We can all see that you are not completely at a hundred percent."

Elion’s lip twitched. "Okay, maybe you are right. I’m at 50% right now, but that should be enough for people who merely want a cordial meeting."

The way he emphasized cordial caused Dorian to let out an amused laugh.

Mira looked toward Elion. "Just do not provoke them unnecessarily."

"I never provoke people unnecessarily." With that statement, they suddenly all stared at him with dubious looks.

"Don’t give me those looks! When have I ever..." The attempt to defend himself seemed to only make them shake their heads, giving him disapproving looks.

Elion sighed, "Fine. I will try not to provoke them unnecessarily."

"That is much better," Mira said, letting a smile flash across her face.

Celeste took his hand. "I will come with you to make sure."

"Your presence might make them behave worse; they will think I’m flaunting the object of their envy straight to their faces."

"Then they are fools. Besides, even if you are, that is their problem."

"I guess you are right, since they are already gathered outside a royal castle asking to beat up the princess’s future husband, what else can they be except fools?"

Celeste considered that. "That is true."

Zenith moved to Elion’s other side. "I am also coming."

Dorian immediately stepped forward, clearing his throat respectfully. "Lady Zenith, perhaps you should remain here."

Zenith looked at him. "Why?"

"Because your presence may make the situation more... delicate."

"I don’t see the problem. After all, I am a very delicate young lady." No one responded to that.

Zenith smiled. "I will behave."

Dorian looked toward Elion for help, but Elion simply shrugged. "She probably will."

"Probably?"

"That is the best promise I can offer." The Grand Elder closed his eyes and silently mourned the peaceful evening he had hoped to enjoy.

A few minutes later, the gates leading from the inner courtyard opened. The crowd outside gradually quieted.

Elion stepped through first, dressed in the same loose black clothing he had worn during dinner, with Celeste walking beside him and Zenith only half a step behind.

Dorian followed reluctantly, while Mira, Aria, Tessa, and Isla remained closer to the entrance with several royal guards.

The reaction to their appearance was immediate. Dozens of eyes settled upon Elion as whispers spread through the crowd.

"That is him?"

"He is human."

"Who are the other humans?"

"He is younger than I expected."

"He does not look strong enough."

Several young nobles stared at his face with even greater irritation. It was bad enough that the outsider had taken Celeste from them.

Did he also need to be so handsome?

Elion slowly swept his gaze across the crowd.

Just like the elders earlier, he spent no more than a moment examining each person before losing interest.

That simple action managed to offend half of them. One of the young nobles stepped forward.

He was tall and pale, with long crimson hair tied behind his back and a thin black rapier hanging from his waist.

He wasn’t the only one who had come with a weapon on his person. It was odd that they were so well prepared.

Did they want to kill him or what?

The young man placed one hand over his chest and bowed toward Celeste, not daring to let his displeasure override the need to pay proper respects. "Princess."

Celeste did not respond.

The young vampire straightened and looked toward Elion. "My name is Valerian Von Firvor, heir to the Firvor house."

Elion nodded. "Good for you."

A vein appeared along Valerian’s forehead. He glanced at Elion and took a slow breath to calm himself.

"I have come to determine whether the man who intends to stand beside our future monarch is worthy of such an honor."

"And how do you plan to determine that?" Elion asked.

"Through combat."

Elion looked around at the gathered nobles. "Is that why all of you are here?"

Several voices answered at once.

"Yes!"

"Prove yourself!"

"Show us your strength!"

Elion nodded thoughtfully before looking toward Celeste. "Your people are very direct."

"Clearly, they were not instructed properly by their mentors," Celeste replied coldly. "Their intelligence leaves much to be desired, and their instincts even more so."

The brutal insult caused every young vampire who heard her to grimace sharply. The worst part was that none of them dared to voice any disagreement.

None of them had expected the princess herself to appear, much less openly take the human’s side.

However, walking away simply because of her presence would make them look like cowards.

The best thing they could do was preserve both their dignity and hers by directing their hostility toward Elion instead.

But Celeste had now made her position painfully clear.

Was their ice-cold princess not supposed to be aloof and indifferent toward everyone and everything she considered beneath her?

How was it that she was not only glaring at them but also reprimanding them so openly?

Dorian cleared his throat in an attempt to signal Celeste, silently telling her that she should back away a little.

Her interference was unnecessary, and it might even work against Elion if they began believing he was hiding behind her skirt.

Celeste ignored him and continued glaring at her fellow vampires.

The sight made Elion’s shoulders tremble violently as he tried to hold back his laughter, but he failed miserably.

A snort escaped through his nose before he could properly suppress it, earning him several dark looks from the group of young nobles.

Valerian kept his expression as blank as possible despite the rage bubbling within his chest.

He placed one hand on the hilt of his sword and gave Elion a stern look. "If you possess any pride, you will accept my challenge."

Elion looked back at him. "And if I refuse?"

"Then everyone here will know that you are unworthy of the princess." A murmur of agreement spread through the crowd.