Chapter 26: Forbidden relationship

King Gregory's face turned red in anger when Axel barged into his chambers without knocking. What had he done to deserve such a defiant and stubborn vampire as a son? Or was this karma using his son to pay him back for all his evil doings in the past, many of which he couldn't even remember anymore?

"You'd be dead this instant if you weren't my son. Don't you know not to enter someone's chamber without permission? That I am your father does not change the fact that I am still the king. Have some respect, Axel." King Gregory snarled, infuriated. He had everything going his way except for his son. Axel had learned everything he was thought excellently, but he had bluntly refused to learn respect for his father and a few other people. No matter how many times he was taught how to show respect no matter how little, the teachings always fell on deaf ears.

King Gregory had ignored him, hoping one day he would come to learn it, but it never happened. Instead, he grew worse each passing day. He had successfully turned Axel into an excellent killing machine, a monster who everyone feared and boy was he glad about it. However, in return, Axel feared and respected no one. Not even his father, the king.

"You want me to respect your privacy when you don't respect mine? Don't you know parents are supposed to lead by example? Axel scoffed. "Tell me, father, how am I supposed to learn one thing when you are teaching me another?" He raised his head as he looked down on his father with a mixture of contempt and anger.

"I have taught you respect, Axel. And I don't think I have ever shown as much disrespect as you have nor have I invaded your privacy. So where did you learn this evil character?" King Gregory's voice boomed.

"Sending a spy after me and sending your guards after someone I am affiliated with. Do you consider that as 'respecting my privacy'?" Axel's voice boomed just as loud as his father's. He was at his wit's end with the man because no matter how many times he asked him to stay away from his business, this king just wouldn't leave him alone.

King Gregory's face softened a little after he heard Axel's question, but he didn't completely wipe the frown off. "I did that for your protection and safety. The venom is out there and I just –"

"The venom is a joke." Axel cut him off sternly. He looked at the king as if he was a psycho who doesn't know what he was saying. He knew the venom was real or at least he suspected that Alita was the venom, but since the king decided to act as if he knew nothing, he would play along.

King Gregory let out a sigh and threw his head back so he was looking at the ceiling. After a short while, he moved his gaze back to Axel.

"Something that has killed over eight hundred vampires isn't a joke, Axel." He spoke in a surprisingly calm voice and Axel furrowed his brows in confusion. Not because of the king's tone, but because of what he just said.

"What do you mean by 'killed over eight hundred'? You said over eighty vampires in the meeting. Where are the remaining seven hundred and eighty coming from?" At this point, Axel's eyes had narrowed in suspicion. Something was not right here. It couldn't be a mistake because he had heard it clearly.

"Eighty is the official figure. It will cause panic if the citizens come to know the correct figure." King Gregory explained.

"And you considered it alright to invite me to the meeting only to give me the official figure. Wow... How intelligent." Axel commented sarcastically.

"That was just an oversight."

"I really don't care. Keep your dogs away from me and keep your nose out of my business. Stay away from the girl." Axel warned, his cold eyes glaring fiercely at the king.

"The girl is human and I don't like to mingle with humans, Axel. I wouldn't have gone after her if I was sure you are not sleeping with your bodyguard." King Gregory revealed and Axel was taken aback by the revelation. His frown deepened as he tried to wrap his head around what he just heard.

"What are you talking about?" Axel asked.

"Come off it, Axel. Beating up your cousin because of a mere bodyguard? If you are so sex-starved, you could pick as many women as you want and none would object. Why did you decide to mess yourself up with a man? And a mere bodyguard at that?" King Gregory berated.

"Who I sleep with is none of your business." Axel answered with clenched jaws, shaking slightly from anger. It seems he didn't teach Martin a good enough lesson.

King Gregory let out a roar of a laugh. When his laughter died down, he shot Axel a challenging look. "I have ignored all your misbehavior, Axel. I will not let this one go. You are the prince and this throne needs an heir. End that forbidden relationship you are having with your bodyguard and pick a wife. It's either that or you forfeit the throne."

Axel didn't know whether to laugh or cry after what he just heard. Forfeit the throne? Even the entire castle put together cannot stop him from ascending the throne. Finally, he let out a small laugh, shaking his head as if he just heard the rant of a little child.

"Keep your nose out of my business. If this repeats itself, you will not like what I will do." Axel returned the challenging look. He turned around to leave the room but halted halfway out.

"And stop your spies from following me. If I get a hold of any one of them, they will suffer the same fate as the guards you sent to the girl's house." He added, turning only his head sideways while his body faced the door.