Chapter 68: The Joke’s Over—Now Sit
After the laughter finally died down, Heist dabbed the corner of his eyes with a pristine handkerchief, clearly savoring the moment.
"How priceless," he said, still chuckling. "Is this all you had planned today, Your Majesty?"
He spread his arms with casual showmanship, gesturing toward the entire table. "If so, that would be a fine end to this lighthearted meeting."
Heinrich, surprisingly, nodded along. Despite their frequent disagreements, even he couldn’t help but be amused. The idea of a mere noble vampire claiming the title of Baron was absurd enough to ease the tension in the room—if only momentarily.
"I haven’t heard that joke in centuries," Heinrich grinned, showing his sharp fangs. "Last time someone said it... died by my hands."
Corven found himself at an impasse. He had tried to assert power and presence, to sound dominant—but now, he looked like nothing more than the punchline of an old joke.
Aisha exhaled slowly, the edge of her composure thinning. She hadn’t expected this level of backlash—not this soon. Offering Corven a seat beside her had clearly been a mistake.
She sat forward slightly, trying to take control of the situation by weaving an excuse on the spot. "Yes," she said with a soft laugh, "I just thought it was a good time to lighten the mood... especially after everything that’s happened lately."
"A well-deserved break, don’t you think?" she added with a practiced smile that masked the tension behind it.
Heinrich leaned back in his chair, visibly more relaxed, and propped his feet up on the edge of the table. The meeting no longer felt like a formal council—it had shifted into something more like casual banter.
"I must say," Heinrich added, voice heavy with sarcasm, "I didn’t expect half-breeds to understand a true vampire’s humor quite so well."
It was a clear jab. Not a direct insult—but unmistakably demeaning. A reminder that, despite the formalities, he didn’t respect her bloodline.