Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate-Chapter 263: The Rise of the Crown Prince

Roderick hadn’t fully grasped the gravity of his father and Emperor Klyn’s warnings about Kaan—until the day the crown prince ascended the throne after the previous emperor’s death in battle.

It was only then, as Roderick began serving under Kaan, that the weight of their concerns became clear.

At first, Roderick dismissed Kaan’s peculiar behaviors as growing pains, the natural adjustments of a new ruler finding his footing as the leader of the vampire empire.

But as time passed, Roderick came to understand that Kaan’s so-called ’quirks’ were far more sinister. Kaan found an unsettling joy in what he called ’teasing’—though that word barely scratched the surface.

Being a genius who excelled in all things, and now the most powerful vampire on the continent, Kaan considered nearly everyone beneath him. And toying with those weaker than himself was, in his eyes, an endless source of entertainment.

That said, even that amusement had its limits. Picking on people who couldn’t fight back got boring after a while.

Roderick, observing Kaan up close, quickly realized that nothing in particular set him off. Kaan wasn’t driven by anger or grudges; everything he did was purely for his own amusement. Every whim, every scheme, every torment—designed only to entertain himself.

So, when the young emperor revealed his grand ambitions, Roderick couldn’t help but view them with skepticism. Kaan’s interests were fleeting at best. Once something shinier—or more entertaining—caught his eye, he always abandoned his previous pursuits without a second thought.

Conquering the world, it seemed, had never truly left Kaan’s mind. He still aspired to be the most powerful vampire on earth—as if he weren’t already.

"This empire is too small for me," Kaan had declared one day, and, in a way, Roderick couldn’t disagree. Someone with Kaan’s talents, intellect, and sheer presence seemed destined for more than ruling just Asvaldur.

"Indeed, Your Majesty," Roderick replied, his tone genuine despite his apprehension. "How do you plan to achieve that, Your Majesty?"

Of course, Kaan had already run through countless scenarios in that brilliant, restless mind of his. Ambitious as the idea was, it didn’t intimidate him. In fact, the challenge of it all finally gave him a goal that didn’t feel utterly beneath him.

"A unification of all vampiric kingdoms and empires," Kaan said with the confidence of someone who thought the world was a puzzle he’d already solved. "All under one banner—and under my command."

It wasn’t an impossible idea. For leaders of any caliber, unification carried an undeniable appeal. And for Kaan, with his genius and charisma, it felt like a natural next step.

As Kaan’s loyal subject, Roderick couldn’t help but be fascinated by the plan, even if it felt slightly absurd. Uniting all vampires under one rule wasn’t something just anyone could dream up, let alone attempt.

No, this kind of ambition required a special kind of privilege. And if there was one thing Kaan excelled at, it was being especially privileged.

And that was how it all began. Kaan kicked off his grand plan for world domination.

He started with the weakest kingdoms—those utterly dependent on Asvaldur for resources and trade—and made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. Not because it was generous, but because saying ’no’ would be the equivalent of self-destruction.

For example, Kaan’s promise of ’unification in the name of a common glory’ was just a thinly veiled threat. If these nations dared to refuse, Asvaldur would cut off their resources and sever trade routes. Kaan wasn’t asking for allies—he was demanding vassals.

"Asvaldur is seeking faithful vassals," Kaan announced. And let’s be clear—this wasn’t about alliances or partnerships. It was about vassals. Loyal, obedient vassals. "Our first vassals will be generously rewarded with exclusive, discounted prices."

The smarter kingdoms immediately recognized the threat buried under the guise of diplomacy. Others, though, were foolish enough to think they could negotiate with him.

One particularly gullible king even had the audacity to ask, "But surely, Your Majesty, I could still purchase supplies at the standard rates, yes?"

Kaan’s laugh echoed through the room, rich with amusement. It wasn’t every day someone had the nerve—or stupidity—to try bargaining with him.

He even applauded the king’s boldness, though in his mind, he was already picturing the various creative ways he’d punish this fool for attempting to haggle with the great emperor.

"Unfortunately," Kaan replied, his ever-present smile as sharp as a dagger, "things have been rather difficult as of late. With resources running scarce, I must prioritize my loyal vassals. I can’t guarantee we’ll have enough left to sell to, ah... outsiders."

Kaan’s words were as smooth as silk, but the meaning was unmistakable. The kingdom could either fall in line or starve. And so, one by one, the dominoes began to fall.

That seemed to be the pattern: target the smaller, weaker nations first. As Asvaldur’s strength and territory grew, the bigger, more powerful kingdoms would naturally become easier to conquer.

It was a methodical and effective strategy. A sensible plan. A logical plan. A plan that even Roderick, who didn’t claim to be a genius, could follow.

But then, out of nowhere, Kaan threw the plan out the window. "We’ll go to the Kingdom of Eira next," he declared as if it were the most logical step in the world.

Roderick was baffled. Completely and utterly baffled. He tried to make sense of the emperor’s sudden pivot, but Kaan’s train of thought seemed to be running on tracks that only he could see.

Of course, Roderick trusted Kaan’s brilliance—how could he not? The man had been leagues ahead of him in everything since childhood. But this? This made no sense.

Eira wasn’t particularly large in territory, but it was far from weak. Its strength came from its ruler, the formidable and famously untouchable King Valentin.

Roderick had no doubt that Kaan would ultimately win if it came to a fight; Kaan always won. But the cost of victory against Eira would be devastating. Potentially crippling.

"Your Majesty," Roderick began cautiously, trying to sound more curious than critical. "Shouldn’t we target... closer nations first? Ones that align better with the original plan?" He hoped a gentle nudge might steer the emperor back on track.

He hoped the hint of logic might reignite Kaan’s original plan. Or maybe, just maybe, Kaan had some brilliant explanation. Knowing him, though, it was probably something like, "Eira annoys me, so let’s destroy it."

But it wasn’t that simple. Because Kaan, in his usual laid-back fashion, followed up with, "This generation’s Blood Moon child is in Eira."