Blood's Castle Great Hall "Welcome back, Master Sebastian," the butler greeted as Sebastian walked in. He smiled and glanced around the castle. It was still the same since he left for Academia. "Son," a baritone voice said behind him. Sebastian turned back and bowed his head to the vampire king at the same time as his father. "Father," Sebastian said. The King smiled in his wheelchair. Even if he couldn't properly move his lower body, his power was still visible and immense, fit to be called the King. "Welcome home, son," Alejandro Michaelis Blood said, the current vampire king. "Glad to be back, Papa. Where's Beatrice?" Sebastian asked. His father frowned and scoffed. "She's unreasonable, Sebastian!" King Alejandro yelled. "Did you two fought again?" Sebastian asked and chuckled. "What did Beatrice do this time?" he added. Beatrice Grances Blood is his younger sister and the first princess of the kingdom. "She wanted to go and see you, but I said no, then she yelled at me, saying I don't love her anymore!" King Alejandro complained while holding his staff. "By the way, she's in the garden. It would be best if you talked to her," he added grumpily. Sebastian couldn't hold it anymore and laugh. Being the only girl in the family and the most likely to resemble their dead mother, Beatrice grew up that she always gets what she wants. Even the King couldn't do anything to her. "I heard about the ghouls. Is it true?" King Alejandro asked. "Yes. The news you heard is true, but the Council said they're already investigating about it," Sebastian said. "Did Gabriel didn't say anything, Papa?" he added when they finally arrived in the dining hall accompanied by various helpers and skilled vampire fighters. "He didn't say anything about it," King Alejandro. Sebastian looked at his father and heaved a sigh. "I'll try and talk to him, Papa. I will fetch Beatrice first so we can eat together," Sebastian said and excused himself. He went to the garden where his sister is and saw her playing around the flowers. "Beatrice," Sebastian called. Beatrice slowly turned her head and grinned. "Alistair!" Beatrice happily said and ran towards his older brother. "Easy, kiddo," Sebastian said and chuckled. He hugged his thirteen-year-old sister tightly and patted her head. "Alistair, I missed you," Beatrice said and pouted her lips. Sebastian crouched down to level his sister's height and pinched her cheeks. "I missed you too, kiddo," Sebastian said. "Let's go back inside. Papa is waiting for us," he added. Beatrice sweetly smiled and nodded. Gone was the somber looked on her face. She held Sebastian's hand and went back to the dining hall. They stopped walking when they saw their father talking to someone. "You summon me, Father? What's the occasion?" Sebastian heard Gabriel asked. "Your brother has arrived, Gabriel. Let's all eat together," King Alejandro said while clasping his hand. "I wish to leave the castle, Father," Gabriel said while his hand was clenched into a fist. "Enough of this, Gabriel! You will dine with us," King Alejandro angrily said and with finality on his voice. Sebastian pulled Beatrice inside and saw Gabriel already seated on his usual seat. King Alejandro smiled when his youngest child attacked him with a big hug. "Let's eat," King Alejandro announce. Sebastian and Beatrice sat on their respective seats and began eating the food placed on the long table. "How's the Council, Gabriel, my son?" King Alejandro asked while holding a spoon and fork. "Council's fine, Papa. We were investigating the case about the ghouls that appeared in the cemetery near the Academia," Gabriel said. Sebastian took a glass with water on it while Beatrice was energetically eating its food without caring what's happening around her. "It was Sebastian who informed me about it," King Alejandro said, which made Gabriel gasped. "I have to do something about the council. That's why I couldn't tell it to you sooner, Papa," Gabriel said. "And that's Sebastian has been. Acting like he's known everything," he added, explicitly displaying his anger. Sebastian remained silent to his brother's rude speech about him. "Stop it, Gabriel!" King Alejandro said. "And you, Sebastian, when will you accept the duty of being a King?" he added that made Sebastian stopped eating. He glanced at his brother, who's now fuming in anger. "It's not yet in my mind, Papa. I want to finish my studies in Academia first." It was the only answer Sebastian could come up for so his father won't bother him again about the throne. "Papa, why Sebastian!? I can take it and manage the throne," Gabriel interjected. His hands were tightly clenched once again into a fist. "Beatrice, go back to your room for now. I will go to you later," King Alejandro said to his youngest. Beatrice nodded her head, understanding that it was a private conversation between her father and brothers. "Gabriel, you have the responsibility in the Council. Let Sebastian take the throne," King Alejandro said. "But, Father! I am the first son. The throne's supposed to be mine!" Gabriel yelled angrily. "Enough!" King Alejandro's voice boomed in the castle. "Enough of this, Gabriel. My decision is final! Sebastian will take the throne when he's ready," he added seriously. Gabriel stood up and left the dining hall without saying anything. The two brothers never got along ever since they were a child. King Alejandro and the former Queen Meredith's marriage was arranged; the fruit of the loveless marriage was Gabriel. Queen Meredith died in an illness. Later on, King Alejandro found his real mate, Sebastian and Beatrice's mother, but the two never got married as the Council vehemently opposed it. Gabriel hated him then. "Forgive your brother, my child," King Alejandro said. Sebastian forced a smile and tightly gripped his chair. "It's okay, Papa, I understand," Sebastian said. "I'm going to rest first because I will go to Council tomorrow," he added and excused himself. "Are you fucking happy now, brother?" Gabriel spat. He's leaning on the wall near Sebastian's room. "You took everything that was supposed to be mine!" he angrily added. Sebastian stopped in front of him. "I didn't take anything to you, Gabriel," Sebastian seriously said. "You will regret this day, Sebastian!" Gabriel yelled. "I will take everything that's important to you," he added and then disappeared. Sebastian cursed under his breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. What he hates the most was drama. Sebastian doesn't want anything, not the throne, nor Gabriel's position. He just wanted to go back to Cassandra. He went inside the room with a headache, but he was surprised to see Joana in his bed, naked. "What the fuck!?" Sebastian shouted and threw a rag he picked on Joanna. "What are you doing, Joana? Get out!" he added. "Oh, hey, Sebby! Come and kiss me. I really missed you," Joana said, trying to seduce Sebastian to sleep with her. She stood up and walked towards him. "No! Get lost, Joana," Sebastian said and pointed to the door. "I'm not in the fucking mood. Please, leave me alone!" he added. One by one, he picked up Joana's things sprawled on the ground and gave them to her. "Did the Council not inform you?" Joana asked "What the hell are you talking about!?" Sebastian said, annoyed. Joana walked and hugged him. "You and I will be married soon, babe," Joana said and grinned. "What the fuck!? Are you out of your mind?" Sebastian angrily asked and held Joana's arm. He felt her flinched. "That's what the Council said to me!" Joana yelled. Sebastian released her arm and sat at the edge of his bed. He couldn't believe the Council had already planned ahead of their marriage. Sebastian kicked the chair near him. "Sebby?" Joana called and tried to approach him. "Get the fuck out of my room now!" Sebastian spat. Joana hurriedly left his room in fear of bringing her things with her. He locked the door and lay down on the bed. "Fuck this!" Sebastian uttered, irritated. He breathed deeply because he didn't know what the Council was planning while thinking about his marriage. Sebastian closed his eyes, and all he could see was his mate's face, Cassandra. He felt his irritation and anger vanished. "I will see you soon, love."