Bab 3: Entering Public Eye

Sasha's eyes widened in surprise, and then she burst into laughter, the sound echoing off the walls. "Oh, Edmund, you really don't know, do you?"

Jeremiah frowned, feeling a bit embarrassed. "No, I don't. Enlighten me."

She took a deep breath, still chuckling. "Alright, listen closely. A vampire's potency is directly tied to its essence. Until you unlock your essence, you're basically... well, impotent. No essence, no potency."

He blinked, trying to digest this information. "So, you're saying my impotence is because I haven't unlocked my essence?"

"Exactly," Sasha replied, smirking. "That's why your father sends royal consorts to your bed every night. He hopes that one of them might help you... well, get a boner. Because if that happened, it would mean you had unlocked your essence."

Jeremiah was taken aback by her bluntness but also amused by her forthrightness. "You're kidding, right?"

Sasha shook her head, grinning. "Nope. That's the royal strategy in a nutshell. Desperate times call for desperate measures."

Jeremiah rubbed his temples in disbelief. "That's... quite a revelation. But why is this essence so important?"

Sasha's expression turned more serious. "Unlocking your essence is crucial for several reasons. For vampires, it gives access to powerful abilities known as blood arts or nature-related powers. The blood arts require drinking the blood of other beings to cultivate and become more powerful. Nature vampires, on the other hand, draw strength from the natural world around them." Sasha paused briefly.

"And if you're really gifted..." She continued.

"And if you're really gifted?" Jeremiah asked, his interest piqued.

"If you're really gifted, you can harness both types of abilities," Sasha explained. "Vampires who unlock their essence are incredibly powerful, which is why they're feared and respected. Without your essence, you're practically human, and in a society that values power above all, that's a huge disadvantage."

Jeremiah nodded, taking it all in. "So, unlocking my essence would not only solve my... impotence issue but also make me a full-fledged vampire?"

"Exactly," Sasha affirmed. "And it would silence those who ridicule you and prove that you're worthy of your title."

Jeremiah's mind whirled with this new information. He had a lot to learn about this world and his place in it. But one thing was clear: unlocking his essence was paramount.

"Sasha, tell me more about other supernatural beings. What are they like?" he asked, eager to understand the broader context of his new reality.

"Well, vampires aren't the only powerful beings in this world," Sasha began. "There are werewolves, who possess immense strength and regenerative abilities. They can shift between human and wolf forms, and their power is tied to the lunar cycles. Witches and warlocks wield arcane magic, capable of manipulating the elements and casting powerful spells. Then there are the fae, who have their own unique magic tied to nature and illusion."

Jeremiah nodded, intrigued. "And humans?"

"Humans are a mixed bag," Sasha said thoughtfully. "Most are ordinary, but some are born with extraordinary abilities. They're known as Gifted. These abilities can range from telekinesis to pyrokinesis and even healing. The Gifted are rare but can be incredibly powerful."

"Fascinating," Jeremiah mused. "So, in essence, everyone has the potential for greatness if they can unlock their essence or their power."

"Yes," Sasha agreed. "But it's not just about unlocking it. Cultivating it is key. For vampires, that means drinking blood or connecting with nature, depending on their abilities. The more they cultivate, the stronger they become."

Jeremiah felt a newfound sense of purpose. "Thank you, Sasha. This helps a lot."

She smiled warmly at him. "Anytime, your impotent highness."

"Fuck you," Edmund chuckled.

"Oh wouldn't you like that," She smirked and both of them shared a brief laughter.

"Just remember, you have the potential to be great. And even if no one believes it, I do."

As they continued their walk, Jeremiah's mind buzzed with plans. He needed to unlock his essence and uncover what the uncompleted goal was.

He still remembered the mysterious old man responsible for sending him here and wondered what his true identity was.

...

Jeremiah approached the mirror, studying his reflection. The face staring back at him was both familiar and foreign. He was no longer just Jeremiah; he was Edmund, the Vampire Crown Prince. And he had a kingdom to win over.

Sasha had selected a finely embroidered tunic of deep crimson, paired with black trousers and a matching cloak that bore the emblem of the royal family—a silver bat with outstretched wings.

"Here, this should make you look the part."

He took the clothes, feeling the weight of the fabric in his hands. "Thanks, Sasha."

As he changed, he couldn't help but feel nervous. He was about to step into the public eye. It was the first time he would be engaging in such a task as royalty and despite the fact that he had coldly murdered the gang responsible for his family's death in his previous world, he was still human.

He would try to approach the public not as the cruel, feared prince of old, but as someone new.

Once dressed, he turned to Sasha. "How do I look?"

She gave him an appraising look, then nodded. "Like a prince. Now go out there and show them who you really are."

"Are you sure this isn't too... much?" Edmund asked while adjusting the cloak on his shoulders.

Sasha chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "For someone who's been hiding away for weeks, it's perfect. You need to remind them who the crown prince is."

Edmund took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's do this."

...

Edmund stepped out of the palace, accompanied by Sasha and an entourage of guards.

The palace gates creaked open, revealing a scene of both beauty and tension. The grand courtyard, with its meticulously kept gardens and towering statues, painted a picture of elegance.

As they moved through the kingdom, Edmund could feel countless eyes upon him. Vampire citizens watched from the shadows in contempt. Whispers filled the air, each one a dagger to Edmund's newfound resolve.

"The cruel prince still lives," someone muttered, their voice barely audible.

"Careful, he might crack a whip if you get too close," another added.

"Or forcefully take you back to the castle and torture you for days," a third voice chimed in, dripping with venom.

"Or he might try to bed your daughter. But don't worry, he's just an impotent brat without any essence," someone scoffed, laughter following their words.

Edmund's jaw tightened, his heart pounding with a mix of anger and shame. Even the guards, who were supposed to protect him, seemed indifferent, their gazes distant and their postures lax.

"Sasha," Edmund whispered, his voice tinged with frustration. "Why do they hate me so much?"

Sasha's expression softened. "Because, Edmund, you've given them plenty of reasons to. But today, maybe you can start changing that."

Their path led them through a bustling market square, filled with vendors selling everything from exotic fruits to enchanted trinkets. The vibrant colors and lively chatter provided a display vastly different to the undercurrent of fear and distrust directed at Edmund.

It was pretty similar to humans marketsquares except for the fact that besides the fruits, other things were being sold.

"Buy a rare O positive human blood for just five bronze crowns."

"Buy elf blood for just three bronze crowns."

"Buy a rare tonic concocted from the mixture of supernatural humans and Beta werewolves for just fifty bronze crowns."

"Human head for sale..."

Edmund nearly puked as he witnessed the more grueling parts of the kingdom. He paused briefly as the image of his family body parts being splattered across the market appeared in his mind.

Sasha stared at the expression on his face... It was one she had never seen before.

Although Sasha was human, she didn't really have any sympathy for the human blood and body parts being sold around here and usually Edmund wouldn't but for some unknown reason... He was affected this time.

"Your Highness... Are you okay?" She asked.

"Let's go!" Edmund turned to Sasha and quickly asked for them to head elsewhere.

As they approached a secluded corner of the kingdom, the sound of a whip cracking through the air shattered the relative peace.

Edmund's attention snapped to the source of the commotion—a young vampire teenager being flogged with a thorny whip beside a tavern. He was tied up by glowing bloody ropes.

This cavern wasn't the regular type. It was a place where Vampires could visit to drink blood from the vein of live humans.

The boy's eyes glowed with pain. His long canines were bared, but his wounds refused to heal. It would seem that his energy was spent.

"How dare you let the human blood bag go!" the tavern owner snarled, his voice dripping with fury. "I'll teach you a lesson for that stupid niceness of yours!"

Without a second thought, Edmund stepped forward as his voice rang with authority. "Enough!"

The tavern owner paused mid-swing, his eyes widening in shock. "Your Highness, I didn't—"

"Release him," Edmund commanded, his gaze unwavering.

Reluctantly, the tavern owner let go of the boy, who crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath. Edmund approached confidently despite the whispers that trailed him.

"How much for the loss of your human blood bag?" Edmund asked, his tone cold and businesslike.

"Ten silver crowns," the tavern owner stammered, still reeling from the prince's unexpected intervention.

Edmund handed over the money without hesitation. "Here."

As they continued on their way, the teenage boy watched them go, his eyes filled with surprise and newfound admiration.

"You know, Edmund," Sasha said, her voice light with amusement, "if you keep doing things like that, people might start to think you have a heart."

Edmund chuckled, a genuine smile breaking through his usual stoicism. "Maybe I do. Or maybe I'm just full of surprises."

Their journey back to the palace was quieter as Edmund seemed to have achieved his goal for today. All he wanted now was to get back to his room and properly check out what the mysterious old man left him.

As they neared the palace gates, the sound of powerful wings beating the air drew their attention skyward. Vampire with dark wings outstretched and tails flicking, descended upon the palace grounds with an imposing grace.

"Who are they?" Edmund asked, his curiosity piqued.