(The palace throne room. High ceilings, black marble floors, golden chandeliers that drip with red crystals. The room glows faintly crimson, like it's soaked in old blood. Vampires of the court sit in silence as the Royal Family enters.)
[The doors open with a low groan.]
Servants bow so low their foreheads almost touch the floor.
Herald: "His Majesty, King Alaric Duskborne… Her Majesty, Queen Selene… the Dowager Queen Isolde… Crown Prince Kael Duskborne… and Princess Seraphina."
(The family walks in, one by one. The King moves like a storm contained in human form. The Queen's gown trails like liquid night. The Dowager glides, not a step wasted, her presence colder than the marble beneath her feet. The Prince follows, tall and unreadable, hands clasped behind his back. Last comes the Princess, her smirk already daring someone to breathe wrong.)
King Alaric (sitting heavily on the throne):
"Another day, another council. Speak."
(His voice is low, steady. It doesn't rise. It doesn't need to. The entire court stiffens, waiting.)
Lord Veyron (a court member):
"Your Majesty, the humans ask again for..."
Princess Seraphina (interrupting, rolling her eyes):
"Oh please. Let me guess; more grain, more safety, more begging. They are exhausting."
(Some court members chuckle nervously. Others look away. The Queen exhales softly through her nose, amused. The Dowager clicks her tongue in disapproval.)
Dowager Queen Isolde:
"You speak too lightly of responsibility, girl. Humans are the foundation beneath this empire."
Princess Seraphina:
"And foundations are meant to stay quiet and hold the weight, grandmother. Not whine."
(Gasps ripple across the room. A servant drops a tray by accident. The sound echoes like thunder. The poor man trembles as all eyes snap to him.)
King Alaric (without raising his voice):
"Pick it up. Leave."
(The servant scrambles out, nearly tripping over himself. Silence returns.)
Queen Selene (with a faint smile, eyes sharp as glass):
"Seraphina, you enjoy provoking her. But the Dowager is not wrong. We rule because we maintain balance. Fear is useful, yes… but so is control."
Dowager Queen Isolde (snapping her gaze to the Queen):
"And you, Selene, always speak of 'balance' as if kindness wins wars. I ruled before you... fear alone kept kings in line."
Queen Selene:
"Fear alone builds rebellion. Control builds kingdoms."
(The air crackles between them. Every vampire in the hall stiffens. The King massages his temple like he has seen this play a thousand times.)
King Alaric:
"Not again."
(Kael, silent all this while, finally speaks. His voice is calm, but cuts like a blade.)
Prince Kael:
"The humans are irrelevant. Why waste words on creatures who bow when told and die when ordered? Feed them scraps, silence them with threats. End of problem."
(The court murmurs. Some nod in agreement, others shift uncomfortably. Seraphina smirks at her brother, amused.)
Princess Seraphina:
"Always so poetic, dear brother. Do you ever think of anything other than efficiency and numbers? You make even cruelty sound boring."
Prince Kael (dryly, without looking at her):
"Boring keeps kingdoms from collapsing."
Princess Seraphina (leaning lazily on her chair):
"Or from living."
Lord Riven (Kael's best friend, lounging in his seat, clearly enjoying the chaos):
"If I may, Crown Prince Kael does have a point. Humans are… well, humans. Fragile, emotional, noisy. I almost admire them. Almost. But really, who cares what they want?"
Dowager Queen Isolde:
"Young vampires who dismiss the weak forget that even ants can swarm. Arrogance blinds."
Princess Seraphina (snorts):
"And paranoia chains. Grandmother, you should write poetry with all these little warnings."
(Some court members chuckle, others hold their breath. The Dowager shoots her granddaughter a look that could freeze rivers. Seraphina only smiles wider.)
King Alaric (finally leaning forward, his gaze like stone):
"Enough. You argue over humans as if they are equals. They are not. They are pieces on a board. Pieces we own."
(He lets the words hang. Silence. Heavy silence.)
King Alaric:
"The problem is not humans. The problem is feral vampires. Those who feed without restraint. They weaken us. They make humans restless. They test our strength."
Queen Selene:
"Then cut them down."
Prince Kael:
"Gladly."
(Everyone turns. His words are so calm it almost sounds like a promise. The court exchanges nervous glances. Kael's reputation is already iron, cold, ruthless, calculating. Even his father calls him a headache, but he is also the sharpest blade in the Duskborne arsenal.)
Princess Seraphina (grinning at her brother):
"You'd enjoy that, wouldn't you? Our mighty Crown Prince, cleaning up the filth. You do love blood when it's convenient."
Prince Kael (meeting her eyes, voice flat):
"I love order. Something you confuse with amusement."
Princess Seraphina (mock gasp):
"Ouch. Do you practice being this charming or does it come naturally?"
Lord Riven (whispering to a nearby noble, loud enough to be heard):
"Oh, this is my favorite part, the Prince versus the Princess. Better than theatre."
(Kael gives him a look that could kill. Riven just smirks and shrugs.)
King Alaric (slamming his hand on the throne armrest, finally breaking his calm tone):
"Enough bickering! This council is not a playground for your sibling quarrels."
(The chamber shakes. Silence instantly follows. Even Seraphina straightens, though her lips still twitch with amusement. The Queen lowers her gaze politely. The Dowager remains unbothered, as if the King's anger is child's play compared to her presence.)
King Alaric (exhaling, quieter now):
"Kael. You will deal with the ferals. Personally."
(Murmurs rise. Court members whisper behind pale hands. This is no small order. Sending the Crown Prince into danger, it's both a display of power and a test.)
Prince Kael (simply nods):
"As you command."
Princess Seraphina (soft laugh, under her breath):
"Of course, he commands, and you obey. Perfect little soldier."
Prince Kael (without looking at her):
"Perfect enough to inherit. Unlike you."
(Gasps. Court members freeze. Seraphina's smirk falters for the first time, replaced with a cold glint in her eyes. Riven coughs into his fist to cover a laugh.)
(The Dowager finally rises. The room chills instantly. Her voice is low, slow, like ice cracking.)
Dowager Queen Isolde:
"This family squabbles like mortals. Pathetic. We are Duskborne. Remember what that means."
(Her gaze sweeps over each of them; the King, the Queen, the Prince, the Princess. No one speaks. Not even Seraphina. The Dowager leaves the chamber, gliding, her robes whispering against the marble. The tension stays behind like smoke.)
King Alaric (sinking back on his throne, muttering):
"A headache. All of you."
(Fade to silence. The scene ends with Kael's unreadable stare, Seraphina's simmering smirk, the Queen's calculating calm, and the King's heavy presence.)