Chapter 88 – The Gift
The party continued.
Or at least, that's how it looked from the outside.
The music kept playing. The glasses kept getting refilled. The nobles kept approaching the throne with elegant smiles, deep bows, and gifts prepared with unbearable political precision.
Gold. Jewels. Rubies. Mana crystals. Rare fabrics. Ancient books. Sealed boxes with the sigils of minor clans.
Everything was normal.
For a royal princess in her debut and ascension, this was normal.
It was expected.
It was correct.
Iris knew that.
She knew it perfectly well.
And still, every gift Matt received made her patience crack a little more.
Not because of the gifts.
Not because of the bows.
Not because the nobles were approaching him with smiles that tried to seem sincere.
That, Iris could put up with.
What Iris couldn't put up with was that, ever since Matt had walked into the hall, he hadn't spoken to her a single time.
Not once.
He hadn't sought out her eyes. He hadn't tossed her a dry comment. He hadn't told her to shut up. He hadn't shot her one of those tired looks only he could pull off, as if the whole world was a personal inconvenience.
Nothing.
Matt was acting as if she didn't exist.
And that was much worse than an insult.
Iris was seated next to the throne, back straight, gold crown on her white hair and a calm smile on her lips.
On the outside, she looked perfect.
On the inside, she wanted to break something.
Matt was still seated in his spot, receiving a purple-haired noble who was offering him a jade box with a bow.
Noxx was on his lap.
Still.
As if that spot belonged to her. As if she'd been born there.
Iris tightened her fingers on the fabric of her dress.
'The nerve.'
Noxx didn't talk much.
Barely at all.
But that didn't make her any less annoying.
The opposite.
Her silence made her look more docile.
Calmer.
Closer.
More…
Iris closed her eyes for a second.
She didn't finish that thought.
She didn't want to.
Then a voice sounded in her mind.
Sweet. Mocking. Terribly satisfied.
"Come on, Iris. Don't take it so badly."
Iris didn't move a muscle.
Eleonora.
Of course.
The damn sword had been way too quiet during the presentation.
"After all," Eleonora continued, in a soft, poisonous tone, "starting today maybe you should just accept that Matt replaced you with another girl."
Iris didn't respond.
She wasn't going to give her the satisfaction.
Eleonora let out a small laugh inside her head.
"And a girl with a better attitude too, by the way."
Iris kept her gaze forward.
Matt accepted the jade box.
"Thank you," Matt said in a flat voice.
The noble seemed happy anyway.
That also bothered Iris.
Matt could say "thank you" like he wanted to sleep for three days and the nobles would still interpret it as a royal blessing.
Ridiculous.
Eleonora sighed with fake pity.
"It's sad, isn't it? You used to be the one in that position. The one who shared a body with him. The one who could feel his thoughts. The one who was closer than anyone."
Iris opened her eyes slowly.
She didn't look at Eleonora.
She couldn't.
But if she could have, she would have already split her in two.
Eleonora kept going:
"But look now. Noxx is right there. Sitting on him. Taking his attention. Getting his care. How fast things change."
Iris breathed calmly. Very slowly. She wasn't going to fall for it. Not in front of everyone. Not on Matt's day. Not over the provocation of a resentful weapon.
"Imagine it," Eleonora said, with more amusement. "From now on they'll definitely spend a lot of time together."
Iris didn't respond.
"They'll talk about their day."
Silence.
"They'll eat together."
Iris tightened her fingers a little more.
"Maybe Matt will ask her if she's tired."
Iris's smile stayed intact.
"Maybe she'll tell him her worries."
Eleonora paused. Then added with awful sweetness:
"Maybe they'll give each other a little kiss hello."
Iris felt something in her chest tighten.
She said nothing.
Eleonora seemed to notice she'd hit something.
So she pushed the blade in deeper.
"And even, if some night it gets cold… who knows. Maybe those two will sleep together to keep each other warm."
'Shut up!'
Iris's voice exploded inside her own mind.
On the outside, her jaw barely tightened.
But on the inside, the order was brutal.
Eleonora burst out laughing.
"Oh. So you were listening."
Iris breathed deep.
'I'm not falling for it.'
Eleonora continued, still laughing.
"How funny. When I used to say similar things to Matt, you didn't seem this bothered."
Iris didn't respond.
"Come on, brace yourself. From here on out you get to enjoy the lovely experience of watching Matt with some other damn girl at his side."
Iris closed her eyes again.
For a second, a low laugh started forming in her throat.
It didn't come out.
It stayed in.
Then Iris smiled a little more.
'Are you going to torment me with that crap now?'
Eleonora feigned surprise.
"Torment you? What a cruel word. I was just sharing my opinions. In case you didn't quite understand what's happening… or what's going to happen."
Iris lowered the tone of her thought. Colder. Calmer.
'Eleonora.'
The sword went quiet.
Iris continued:
'Unlike you, I'm not just a weapon.'
Eleonora didn't answer right away.
Iris opened her eyes and looked at Matt.
'I'm Matt's damn blood sister.'
There was a silence.
Then Eleonora started laughing.
Not a small laugh. A clear laugh. Satisfied.
"Oh. I see."
Iris narrowed her eyes.
"You're in the denial phase."
Iris didn't respond.
"Don't worry," Eleonora said with fake tenderness. "With the passing of the years, maybe you'll handle it as well as I handle it now."
Iris felt like responding.
A lot.
Too much.
She could tell her she had never been replaced.
She could tell her Noxx was nothing.
She could tell her Matt didn't push her away out of pity.
She could tell her that, if she wanted, she could stand up right now and rip that girl off his lap in front of the whole realm.
But she didn't.
Because that was exactly what Eleonora wanted.
And because it wasn't the same.
It couldn't be the same.
Matt and Iris shared blood. Origin. Memory. Body. Everything.
Noxx could sit on his lap.
She could get a small smile.
She could be called sister.
But Iris had been there first.
Iris had been born from Matt.
And that couldn't be replaced.
No.
It couldn't.
Back in reality, Iris refocused her gaze.
Matt was still sitting in his spot, with Noxx on his lap, talking to a noble Iris could not have cared less about.
The noble was saying something about a mana crystal her family had inherited for generations.
Matt was listening to her with surprising calm.
Or pretending to listen.
It was hard to tell.
Noxx, on the other hand, was getting more and more comfortable.
That was the problem.
At first she'd been stiff. Embarrassed. Practically shaking. But as the party went on, she'd started to relax.
First she rested a hand on Matt's arm. Then she leaned her back into him a little.
Then, when a noble came in too close and started asking complicated questions, Noxx tilted her face just barely toward Matt's neck.
Iris saw it.
Of course she saw it.
Noxx smelled Matt.
Not just once.
Several times.
Discreetly at first.
Then less discreetly, as if his scent calmed her.
As if she had the right.
Matt didn't push her away.
He didn't complain.
He didn't say "what are you doing?"
He didn't smack her on the head.
Nothing.
He just kept talking to the noble as if having Noxx softly sniffing him was a normal part of the evening.
Iris felt her vision go a little red.
She stood up.
Or tried to.
Before her body finished moving, the queen's voice came from beside her.
"Iris."
It wasn't loud. It didn't need to be.
Iris stopped.
The queen wasn't looking at her.
She kept watching Matt with a calm smile.
"Sit."
Iris clenched her fist.
For a second, she didn't obey.
Only one.
Then she slowly sat back down.
"Yes, Mother."
Her voice was sweet.
Too sweet.
The queen smiled just barely.
"Good girl."
Iris felt her fingers wanting to go through the arm of the chair.
They didn't.
Instead, she smiled.
She smiled like a princess. Elegant. Cold. Perfect.
While inside her head Eleonora started laughing again.
◇◆◇
The line of nobles ended much later.
Much too later.
Matt had received so many gifts that several maids had to organize an entire table just to lay them all out.
Gold, jewelry, crystals, manuscripts, fabrics, a chest of ancient coins, a case of perfume…
When the last noble stepped back, the queen stood up.
The hall went silent immediately.
The music dropped.
The vampires straightened their backs.
Even the ones who were annoyed about Noxx's presentation had to put on a respectful expression.
Elyra Nivea smiled from the throne.
"I thank all of you for attending tonight."
Her voice filled the hall with a dangerous softness.
"And for showing such good will toward my heir."
The hall responded with head bows.
Matt felt the word heir sit on him more heavily than the crown did.
The queen continued:
"I hope that, when the moment of Noxx's debut arrives, all of you will show the same courtesy."
The hall applauded.
Some vampires did it with genuine enthusiasm. Others with curiosity. Others out of obligation. And a few with a very well-hidden irritation.
"Long live the queen's lineage!"
The phrase rose from one of the main tables.
Then another repeated it.
And another.
Soon the entire hall was saying it.
"Long live the queen's lineage!"
"Long live the queen's lineage!"
Noxx shrank a little.
Matt gently squeezed the arm he had around her waist.
"Just ignore them."
"It's hard."
The queen came down the steps of the throne.
Matt felt her approach before he saw her.
That was annoying.
Everything related to her was.
Elyra came up behind him and, without asking permission, wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
She hugged him from behind.
Matt didn't react.
The queen rested her chin near his head.
"And now, dear daughter," she said in a warm voice, "my gift for you."
Matt closed his eyes and Elyra laughed softly.
Then she raised a hand and snapped her fingers.
SNAP!
The side doors of the hall opened.
Six girls walked in.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
They weren't ordinary servants.
That much was obvious.
Each one wore formal clothing from her house, adapted for a royal service presentation.
Not full armor. Not full gala dresses. Something in between.
Elegant. Functional. Political.
Kaela Ardent walked at the front, red hair falling over her shoulders. Her posture was firm, straight-on, without a single sign of doubt. She looked more like a warrior stepping into an arena than a young woman presenting herself as a servant.
At her side was Celia Azura, blue hair, attentive eyes, and a calculating expression. She wasn't just looking at Matt. She was measuring and analyzing him.
Eris Noctra advanced with her black hair and silent steps.
Rosalind Grisel wore her silver hair pinned up elegantly. Her look was serious and formal.
Lisette Lucent walked in with a charming smile. Her golden hair shone under the red lamps and her expression was kind and sweet.
Virelle Verdant, green-haired, closed out the group with a calmer, almost clinical look. Her eyes didn't take long to land on Matt's body and on Noxx. Her expression grew a little more interested.
Matt felt a chill.
The six of them stopped in front of him. Then, at the same time, they bowed.
Not too low, like common servants.
Not too high, like equal nobles.
The exact middle point between respect, obligation, and formal presentation.
Kaela was the first to speak.
"Kaela Ardent presents herself before Matt Nivea," she declared with a firm, direct voice. "It will be an honor to serve you."
Celia bowed her head next.
"Celia Azura presents herself before Matt Nivea." Her tone was polite, but her eyes still shone with curiosity. "I'll do everything in my power to assist you in studies, rituals, and any research you may require."
Matt was surprised to hear those last two things.
Eris spoke next.
"Eris Noctra presents herself before Matt Nivea." Her voice was low. Serene. "I will handle your security, information, and any matters requiring discretion."
Matt narrowed his eyes.
That sounded useful and too convenient. Which meant it was probably dangerous.
Rosalind took a small step forward.
"Rosalind Grisel presents herself before Matt Nivea."
Her bow was impeccable.
"I will serve as support in matters of legitimacy, protocol, and the legal structure of your position."
Lisette smiled sweetly.
"Lisette Lucent presents herself before Matt Nivea." Her voice was soft. Pleasant. Too pleasant. "It will be my pleasure to help you in social matters, noble relations, and management of your public image."
Finally, Virelle bowed her head.
"Virelle Verdant presents herself before Matt Nivea." Her gaze passed briefly over Matt's face. Then his hands. Then Noxx. "I will take charge of your health, physical stability, and any anomaly that might affect your body."
Matt said nothing.
But on the inside, an alarm started going off.
'No.'
The queen smiled behind him.
"These six successors have been personally chosen by their houses. Starting today they will be your personal servants and will serve you over the coming years."
Matt opened his eyes slowly.
"Years."
"Yes."
"Years," he repeated.
The queen smiled.
"Several."
Matt looked at the six of them.
Then at Noxx.
Then at the ceiling.
Then he closed his eyes.
"Great."
Matt let out a long sigh. A very long one. Then he opened his eyes and looked at the queen.
"Thanks for the gift."
His voice was dry.
So dry that a normal person would have understood the rejection.
The queen, of course, smiled as if she had received sincere gratitude.
"I'm glad you like it."
The queen laughed softly.
The six successors were still bowed.
None of them showed any disrespect. None of them raised her voice.
But each one reacted differently.
Kaela seemed to be holding back energy.
Celia was trying not to look too much at Matt, and failing.
Eris was watching the room out of the corner of her eyes.
Rosalind was keeping an impeccable seriousness.
Lisette was smiling as if she'd just walked into the game she wanted to play.
Virelle seemed to be listening to Matt's breathing with more attention than he considered acceptable.
Then Kaela raised her head a little.
"Heir Matt."
The queen looked at her.
So did the hall.
Kaela didn't hesitate, but she lowered her gaze respectfully.
"If you would permit me a request…"
Matt watched her.
"Depends."
Kaela held the bow.
"I would like to have a sample duel with you."