Chapter 141: Can You Let Me Go?
There were no words that could express Ivan’s astonishment the minute his name was mentioned. As crazy as it was, he was starting to have a second guess on who else might be bearing the same name as his, but apparently, he was the only Ivan that everyone had their eyes on in the throne room, and most of all, when they bowed their heads in unison, he was lost for words as if his tongue had been severed from his mouth.
Eamon, who heard Lord Viktor make his momentous announcement, could feel the lunatic smile on his lips dissipate when he repeated what was on the parchment for everyone to hear. This time around, he made no mistakes so the dumb ones won’t have to tell him to repeat his statements for the third time.
"As I once said, the new King of EmptyHollow, the one who has been unanimously chosen by the citizens after much deliberation, to guide them into the future is no one else but Lord Ivan." The authority in Viktor’s voice was unmistakable as he glanced at the stupefied Vampire Lord. Stretching his hand forth for Ivan to receive, for the first time, Ivan noticed the way Lord Viktor gazed at him with purpose, and it was one that deemed his respect.
"Congratulations!" He commended Ivan, whilst waiting for him to receive his outstretched hand. Although his mind was disoriented, Ivan subconsciously accepted his hand, shaking it firmly, and all of a sudden, the crowd’s applause snapped him out of his stilled-daze, their cheers echoing within the premises as not only them, but even his little lamb was clapping her hands in applause, her eyes crinkling with contentment and glee, and as they held gazes, he felt an internal warmth within himself.
"Lord Ivan, or should I say King Ivan." Tobias simply acknowledged his cousin with a bow, and everyone followed in unison, including the Courtiers and Ministers of the court. Ivan tried to keep himself composed at the unprecedented honor, but surprisingly, he was finding it difficult to do that.
"No! Stop! All of you!!" Eamon shook his head in refusal, his angry roar surpassing the cheers that had everyone automatically stopping in their praises. He gritted his teeth as he backed away, even went as far as snatching the parchment from Lord Viktor’s grip and tearing it in pieces, only to throw them away. "These votes are false! They do not count! There has to be a mistake somewhere.. there has to be a mistake! I should be the King! My name should have been on the parchment, not this back-stabbing Vampire! Someone has tampered with the votes!" He announced, as if he had proof to state his claims, but even the crowds were not happy at his offensive display of action.
"I beg to differ." A feminine voice interrupted Eamon, and when everyone glanced at the entrance, Queen Lucinda and Abdiel were making their way into the throne room. At her majestic presence, the people of EmptyHollow lowered their heads in a deep respectable bow as she approached the platform where Eamon chose to reveal his madness, and with the icy aura of a Queen, Lucinda stepped onto the platform only to deliver a resounding slap across Eamon’s face, shutting him up, and the whole crowd fell into a hushed awe. Even the servants who had been watching from the opened door, eventually stepped inside to stand at the back of the crowds, and all sorts of gasping sounds could be heard.
Eamon, who hadn’t expected the slap, was thrown off-guard when his ears rang momentarily, followed by the dull pain that came with Lucinda’s slap. Not only was everyone stupefied, but Ivan, who hadn’t yet digested his Aunt’s presence, was mind-blown when she delivered a hot slap to Eamon’s face, the sound echoing against the throne room, and he could still very much hear it in his head.
When Eamon’s raging pupils met the eyes of Queen Lucinda, he nearly cowered under her gaze, but to avoid facing the humiliation he was presently up against, his fangs retracted forward as his fury steamed within.