There are moments in life when subtlety dies.
This was one of them.
The original throne had awakened.
The First King's bloodline had accepted me.
Four queens stood beside me.
A saint watched history change.
And somewhere above us—
The Crimson Church was preparing the kind of terrible decision institutions make when they realise control is no longer an option.
Honestly?
Predictable.
I sat on the throne for one final second, looking at the chamber around me.
Black stone.
Crimson veins.
Ancient power.
It felt like sitting inside a promise.
Dangerous.
Expensive.
Probably illegal.
Perfect.
Valeria was still perched on the arm of the throne like royal etiquette had personally offended her.
Seraphina stood at my right like fire, pretending to be patient.
Selene stood at my left like moonlight, deciding whether diplomacy deserved survival.
Lilith knelt no longer, but somehow standing made her look even more like a queen.
And Elena—
Elena remained near the stairs.
White and crimson.
Saint and witness.
The woman who had once watched one king fall and now stood before another, choosing differently.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
I stood.
Immediately, the chamber responded.
The crimson lines beneath the stone floor pulsed once.
Recognition.
Authority.
The throne knew.
The throne approved.
Honestly, validation from ancient cursed furniture was strangely satisfying.
Valeria smiled.
"Well."
She stretched lazily.
"You look dramatically more king-shaped now."
I adjusted my jacket.
"Excellent. I was worried about the presentation."
Seraphina crossed her arms.
"You are enjoying this too much."
Fair.
Very fair.
Lilith looked at Elena.
"What happens now?"
Simple question.
Terrible answer.
Elena's expression lost its softness.
The Saint returned.
Cold.
Precise.
"Heaven panics."
Good.
Expected.
She stepped forward.
"The tribunal will divide."
"The old priest will demand immediate execution."
"The neutral houses will demand control."
"The noble clans will move like sharks smelling royal blood."
Valeria sighed happily.
"Finally. Politics."
Amazing woman.
Disturbing priorities.
Perfect.
Selene asked quietly—
"And you?"
Elena met her gaze.
"I decide whether the Church follows fear…"
Her eyes moved to me.
"…or truth."
Silence.
Heavy.
Because that was the real battlefield.
Not swords.
Choice.
Always choose.
Before I could answer—
The entire chamber shook.
Once.
Then again.
Above us—
bells.
Not the ceremonial kind.
War bells.
Deep.
Violent.
Urgent.
Well.
That felt rude.
Seraphina's expression changed instantly.
"They moved early."
Valeria smiled as Christmas had arrived.
"I love proactive enemies."
The old priest's voice echoed from above through holy amplification and personal bitterness.
Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
"Aarav Malhotra!"
Even underground, he somehow sounded disappointed by my existence.
"The tribunal has reached its verdict."
I sighed.
"That was fast. I barely finished my emotional growth."
Lilith's lips twitched.
Rare.
Expensive.
We moved together.
Up the stairs.
Not rushed.
Not afraid.
Kings should never look like they were arriving late to their own execution.
At the top—
The cathedral had changed.
Hunters lined every hall.
Silver weapons drawn.
Holy symbols glowing.
Stained glass reflecting red like even Heaven expected blood.
At the centre of the grand chamber—
The tribunal waited.
No pretence now.
No diplomacy.
Only power.
The old priest stood.
Victory in his eyes.
The kind, ugly men mistook it for righteousness.
He raised one hand.
And declared—
"By the authority of the Crimson Church…"
His voice echoed like arrogance with acoustics.
"…the awakened throne is declared a threat to divine order."
Pause.
Drama.
He loved himself.
I respected consistency.
Then—
"We declare the Vampire King an enemy of Heaven."
Silence.
Absolute.
Beautiful.
Valeria whispered beside me—
"Oh, that is such a good title."
Honestly?
She had a point.
The old priest continued—
"Execution is sanctioned."
Hunters stepped forward.
Silver blades.
Holy fire.
Fear dressed as duty.
Good.
I preferred enemies who announced themselves clearly.
Seraphina's killing intent filled the cathedral like royal wildfire.
Selene's calm became winter before death.
Lilith stood like judgement written by queens instead of priests.
Valeria cracked her neck.
Finally.
Everyone was speaking her favourite language.
I looked at Elena.
She stood above the tribunal steps.
Still.
Watching.
The entire Church waited for her.
Because, despite all their politics—
The saint's voice still mattered most.
She could end this.
Or begin it.
The old priest turned to her.
"Saint Elena Voss."
He smiled like a man about to be publicly validated.
Disgusting.
"Stand with Heaven."
There it was.
The choice.
History repeating.
Or refusing.
Lucian.
The first fall.
The woman who arrived too late.
The second chance.
Elena looked at him.
Then at me.
Then at the hunters.
Then at the queens.
And finally—
at the throne room below, unseen but not forgotten.
When she spoke—
Her voice was calm.
Clear.
Absolute.
"The Church was created to protect the world from monsters."
The old priest smiled.
Exactly.
Then Elena continued—
"It was never created to protect men from kings they cannot control."
Silence.
Perfect.
His smile died.
Beautifully.
She stepped down from the tribunal platform.
Each footstep sounded like law rewriting itself.
And stood beside me.
Beside me.
Not above.
Not opposite.
Beside.
The cathedral itself seemed offended.
Excellent.
Elena faced the tribunal.
And said—
"I reject this verdict."
Shock.
Pure.
Immediate.
The old priest nearly aged another decade.
I approved.
He pointed at her, visibly offended by female autonomy and good decisions.
"You would betray Heaven for a monster?"
Elena looked at him.
Saintly patience.
Terrifying.
"No."
A pause.
Soft.
Deadly.
"I refuse to let Heaven become one."
Silence.
Then chaos.
Hunters moved.
Priests shouted.
Holy symbols ignited.
Politics died.
War arrived.
Perfect.
Seraphina stepped forward first, crimson flames igniting around her like the world had insulted her personally.
Which is fair.
It had.
Selene's silver frost spread across the marble floor.
Moonlight and winter.
Beautiful.
Deadly.
Lilith's aura crushed the air itself.
Royal bloodline authority.
Even hunters hesitated.
As they should.
Valeria laughed.
Actually laughed.
And launched herself into battle like a red-haired national disaster.
Amazing woman.
Never change.
I drew Father's blade.
Silver-black.
Balanced.
Certain.
The assassin king smiled.
The vampire king agreed.
Good.
At last—
clarity.
I looked at the old priest.
He looked back.
Fear.
Finally, honest.
I smiled.
Slowly.
Cold.
Certain.
"You declared war on Heaven's enemy."
I stepped forward.
Blade low.
Voice lower.
"…unfortunately for you, Heaven was late."
Then the first hunter attacked.
And the cathedral learned
Why kings should never be judged politely.