All that chattering about a smoldering city and the presence of some mortal family in my royal field tent was for ten years ago. Vestir is now just a dot in the map, known as Vestria, second to none in sword-making within my growing realm.

Now, as the title up there suggested, you might want to know more about some of the closest people that had made this kind of feat possible.

Top among these is my dearest purple-haired Brista. Sole daughter of a coven head (what you mortals might call 'province'), she relinquished her claim to its continuation and had since then become my right-hand woman during this not-so-easy career--to put it mildly.

Besides, her father's consent in her marriage meant that my father was able to plant the flag and unite the individual covens into a single entity. We are presently recognized as 'Vladistans', and the name of Bri's (my personal nickname for her!) coven was Lycania; also of vampire, though its very name might also suggest another completely different race.

Plus, we have known each other as kids, and that means keeping knowledge of certain personal traits between ourselves.

With this vampire lady bearing the nickname 'The Dragoness' (you'll see why), I have had two offspring: one a mortal, the other a vampire.

I know. Curious how that happened and all, right? But that's that. And that mortal son--Areena, we named him--is to be my heir no matter what. I will personally see to it if need be.

The vampire one is named Erissa, presently a bright young lady of an age to marry--and to receive something else just as important.

Then there are my dear sisters, Rishka and Leera, of whom you saw a glimpse during the time outside Vestir. At least they behave more like ladies now, and their grown children are quite pleasant to be with. My two younger brothers Janus and Rosham completed the set, five in all with me. You'll hear more of them later.

Oh, and... those are all children of my father with my mother. So far nothing odd, nor the small fact that Mom was a mortal and Dad a vampire. What seems to have mattered was that my mother was 'second-hand', in that she became wife to my father only when her first husband had passed on--and this husband was my uncle.

Of the first union, Mom had had a son, Vlos--hence our only half-brother.

"Majesty."

A woman in a full black dress came up to my throne and curtsied.

"There you are, darling."

"Pardon the intrusion, Sire. Erissa wishes to seek your audience."

"Hmm... so why not just let her speak, Bri?"

"In case you have forgotten, Sire, she is currently away at the Crescentium Academy of Elbar finishing the necessary briefings. You might recall that Aleera is paying her a visit..."

"Ah, yes. Interesting. So you would now speak for our daughter?"

"Not my place, Grimm, you know that. Here." She produced a sealed letter. "From her."

I looked carefully at the seal--of three intertwined crescents--without actually taking the letter. Then, I looked at my wife's face; not yet in the least bit dented by age. In fact, vamps reveal slower outward signs of aging.

"I wonder if we might find something of value here."

"Just take this already!"

"Okay, sheesh. Last time you're being like this, Rissa was in you... That must be why she's so fussy now."

"Excuse me?"

"Won't repeat myself."

I took the letter, not yet breaking the seal.

"A kiss before you leave?"

Brista took my free hand and did so on the knuckles.

"Expect more tonight."

"Typical."

The letter was brief and to the point: one of Rissa's recruits had finished his 'trial' period.

That recruit's name is Kouya Satome.