"Are we still under arrest, Sir Knight?"
Abel's eyes shone with mischief, smirking. He watched the knight in charge crumple the piece of paper in his grip, eyes shaking in anger.
There was must something, thought the knight, but he was trained enough to detect if something was forged. This was "definitely" London's signature and the real seal of the said man. If this was forged, then the knight could only commend whoever did it.
"If that isn't still enough, how about this document?" Abel raised a document.
All the knights refocused their attention on the piece of document in Abel's hand. It was an approval regarding the reinstatement of the House of Grimsbanne, with Abel as Marquess Abel Grimsbanne, the head and clan leader of the said House.
It was approved, signed by the members of the Upper House, and stamped with their seals.
TAK!
The knights snapped out of their trance when something fell from the table, watching a small item roll on the carpet.
"Oops!" Abel picked it up, but as he did, the knight in charge caught a glimpse of what it was.
The noble seal of the House Evans.
"You!" the knight's voice rumbled low. "Just how much more would you make fun of us?"
"Huh?" Abel cocked his head to the side. "I'm not making fun of you."
"Do you think a piece of paper will be enough to stop us? We weren't fools to believe that you got these documents through legal means!"
"And does legal mean?" this time, Claude jumped into the conversation. He was still sitting leisurely on the other end of the table opposite Abel. "You do understand that you will be held accountable for your actions, right? I don't know much about the laws in the Mainland for we never cared, but what I am certain of is a lowly vampire such as yourself has no license to make baseless accusations."
"Today is a day our family should celebrate with the reinstatement of our House. However, you are making silly accusations with no grounds." Law, Sunny's older brother, jumped in. He was still sitting on the edge of the table, swinging his feet back and forth. His expression was dark and gloomy, gazing at the knights surrounding the table.
"Great way to start the life of a nobility," he added with a tinge of ridicule in his tone. "Instead of greeting the Marquess as civil as you can, you're openly taunting him."
"That is my grandpa." Sunny frowned, placing her hands on her hips. "Have some shame and respect the Marquess!"
The knights darted their eyes at the 'children' of the Grimsbanne. Although Claude was already a young man, he was still considered young in the eyes of others. As the knights observed the three, they could feel the growing aura emanating from their backs.
'They were just children!' was the first thing that crossed the knight's head, yet, their hearts couldn't help but race at the intimidating atmosphere they were creating.
Thud!
Suddenly, a loud thud followed by a clumsy clang of metal resonated in the room. The knights instinctively turned their attention to the source of the sound, only to catch one knight kneeling. But the confusion hadn't filled in their heads when another thud came from the other side.
Soon, one after another, the knights fell to their knees. Those who were kneeling raised their heads, revealing their blank and pale complexion. As soon as they lifted their gaze, all they saw was either Sunny's glowing eyes behind the dark shade or Law's unsmiling face. Some caught Claude's unblinking eyes that revealed his constricting pupils and dilated irises.
Monsters.
Those knights who remained standing on their feet held their breaths at the sight of the children of the Grimsbanne Clan. These were just the new generation of the said clan yet, they were able to force grown vampires who were ten times their age on top of being well-trained knights to their knees.
What more if those adults, especially the Originals, pulled an aura on them? Grazing their knees at the weight that forced them on their knees would be the least of their concern.
"That's enough, Law, Sunny." After several seconds, Lilou's soothing yet snub voice broke through the stifling atmosphere. Her eyes slowly slid to the corner, falling on her nephew, Claude. "Claude, that's enough. We shouldn't stoop down to their level… right, Marquess?"
"That's right. We're not petty." Abel smiled kindly, rocking his head.
The stifling and heavy atmosphere gradually subsided as the children calmed down. The invisible yet crippling weight on the knight's shoulder also lifted, allowing them to heave a sigh of relief. Some of them almost thought their knees would get crushed to the ground if those little demons continued suppressing them with their auras alone.
Still, the display of power made a clear point for everyone.
If the majority of the knights couldn't even endure the presence of the young Grimsbannes, then forget about arresting them. Pursuing their agenda was akin to knocking on death's door. However, their pride as knights, if they retreated and allowed the Grimsbanne to get away from their actions, would leave a fatal blow to their pride and egos.
"What is going on here?!"
Just as the knights and the person in charge were torn between whether to die doing their duties or do a strategic retreat, a voice from the entrance resounded inside. It was then followed by hurried footsteps.
Abel's brows rose as he slowly gazed at the entrance, only to see several members of the royal court and also a part of the Upper House barge in. Some familiar people were in the group, such as Augustine Evans and London Leviticus, having a similar pale complexion whilst catching up to their breaths.
It was as though they rushed in here as fast as they could, forgetting to breathe.
"Huh?" Abel cocked his head to the side, but his eyes shone in delight, satisfied at the sight of the lingering panic that was plastered on the ministers' faces. "Aren't you all in the royal court? Did you hear that my family and I will visit the House of Lords thus, you rushed back to the House of Lords? How sweet!"