Knight Dimitry Petrov remained kneeling as he delivered his report to Lord Alexander Ivanov. The hall, draped in regal crimson and silver banners, was silent except for the calm cadence of Dimitry’s voice. He recounted everything that had transpired at Imperial Haven the previously.
When Dimitry confirmed that Roman Ivanov was alive and the situation had not escalated into a full-scale conflict, Alexander leaned back in his throne with a heavy sigh of relief.
"You did well," Alexander said, his voice calm but layered with concern. "From the moment she stepped foot in Moscow, I feared something like this would happen. Many of our younger clan members are arrogant... rash even. They could’ve easily provoked her."
He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "You should continue following her discreetly until she leaves Russia. I don’t want any further incidents."
After a pause, he added, "Are you absolutely sure she didn’t visit any bars or casinos? No nightclubs? No strange meetings?"
Dimitry shook his head. "I’m certain, My Lord. She never left her hotel room except for work. No suspicious outings. No nightlife."
Alexander arched a brow. "What did she do in her room all this time?"
"I don’t know exactly," Dimitry admitted. "According to hotel staff, she requested a bottle of Beluga Gold Line Vodka upon check-in. Other than that, she ordered different gourmet meals for each of her three daily meals. And that’s it. Even her subordinates weren’t allowed inside her room without a clear reason."
Alexander let out a small chuckle. "What an interesting girl. Fiona raised her well."
Then he turned toward his granddaughter, who sat beside her on another seat. "Anastasiya, look at your brothers and sisters... indulging in luxury, traveling the world without a care. And then look at Eleanor Raynor. She had over two hundred billion dollars in assets under her name before the age of thirty."
His tone grew heavy. "And don’t assume she got it all from her family. I heard she returned the entire investment her family gave her at the start of her business ventures. Everything she owns now, she built on her own."
He exhaled a long, slow breath. "And what have my descendants done? They keep taking from the family treasury. Even the ones who manage to run successful businesses never repay what they borrowed. During our youth, we had to fight wars to protect every coin we earned. Now, the younger generation just drowns in luxury. With each passing decade, they grow weaker."
There was a sharpness in his eyes now... a deep frustration laced with worry.
"I fear the day may come when they won’t even be able to defend their own territory."
Reaching into his dimensional ring, Alexander retrieved a small jade bottle, etched with ancient runes. He handed it to Anastasiya.
She peered inside and gasped, "Is this... a Moonpetal Flower?"
Alexander gave a rare smile. "Yes. I found it by accident several years ago while exploring the ruins of an old temple in Tibet. It holds no power for us vampires, but for werewolves... it could be a treasure beyond measure."
He leaned back, his voice calm and contemplative. "I decided then that if I ever met a werewolf worthy of it, I would pass it on."
Anastasiya clutched the bottle with newfound reverence. "I read that if an awakened werewolf absorbs the Moonpetal Flower under a full moon, it can trigger the awakening of their dormant bloodline. They could even gain the ability to wield more than one supernatural power."
Alexander’s face lit up with pride. "Good. I’ve always said that knowledge is the key to dominance. I’ve encouraged all of you to study, but only you took my words to heart. You’re the only one among my grandchildren who truly loves learning. That’s why I favour you more."
He continued, "We vampires are blessed with long lives. But if we stop learning, stop adapting... we will be overtaken by time. Our survival depends on our knowledge."
He looked away from Anastasiya, his gaze settling on Dimitry again. "You should go with Dimitry. Deliver the flower to Eleanor on my behalf. I want her to know this is a gift from the Ivanov Clan... a gesture of goodwill."
Then turned to Anastasiya, he added, "You should form a relationship with her. If possible, propose a joint business venture. That girl has a rare gift. I’ve heard she acquires small, dying companies and turns them into profitable empires. Even bankrupt enterprises thrive under her leadership. You could learn much from her."
Anastasiya smiled. "Understood, Grandpa. I’ll do as you wish."
Alexander nodded, satisfied. "It’s already morning. Dimitry, take care of Anastasiya."
Anastasiya rolled her eyes. "Grandpa, I’m not a child. I can take care of myself."


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