Daniel's POV

I sat with one leg crossed over the other in this cushioned chair my parents kept in their main office, reading over some of the local human news while they shuffled through their mail for the day.

Occasionally, depending on what they got or what needed to be handled, some responsibilities would be passed onto me to deal with.

It'd been a few days since mom had that talk with me, and thankfully she hasn't brought it up again since.

Not through words at least. Sometimes I could just see in her eyes that she was thinking about it when I was trying very hard not to.

Emphasis on trying. As if Caroline wasn't a favored topic in my mind

I don't think mom had mentioned anything to dad yet, that just didn't seem like her style.

I glanced up at them, seeing how close they stood next to each other with their backs to me to face their desk, barely leaving an inch between them.

My mother's hand trailed lazily down my father's back while he flipped through the letters and such, both making subtle comments about each one before placing them in their designated pile.

My focus lowered back onto the newspaper in my hand, waiting for one of them to speak my name and give me something to do to help out.

What caught my attention instead, was a rather curt sigh from my mother.

She was a patient woman, so hearing it pulled both my and my father's eyes straight to her.

She backed a step away from him, holding a dirtied envelope between her claws.

"This again," She grumbled, and I felt myself slowly straighten and uncross my legs to better listen.

"Who is it?" My father asked, leaning in to read the name on the envelope.

"It's those Ardigans again," She huffed, slicing open the envelope to remove its contents.

Dad's soft green eyes just blinked at her for a moment in subtle confusion.

She noticed the silence and looked back to him.

"What? You don't remember?"

"I remember the name," he clarified with a soft smile, "Every time we get anything from them, you read the note, get frustrated, and then toss it in the bin. I figured that it was just something not worth mentioning if it got you that worked up every time."

It was her turn to stare wide-eyed, as if just then realizing her own behavior.

"Oh...," She settled, letting her shoulders relax from their tensed position, "They're the leaders of this... 'clan'. Or at least they're trying to be a clan in our territory."

"Clan?" Dad questioned so that I didn't have to, "There haven't been clans in millennia since before the territory borders were established. What's the need?"

Exactly. What is the need? Primitive vampires used clans as a way of protection. Like-minded vampires joined with others back when we felt the need to hide what we were.

As we came to domesticate and co-exist, the need for them disappeared, and many considered that a good thing.

"That's the thing. These vampires aren't exactly...," She paused to search for the right word, "Normal."

Dad just gave her a look to continue while I set my paper down.

It took her a moment to collect what to say before she could give a response.

"These ones they... They wish to regress."

Regress?

"They want to somewhat return to our more primitive lifestyle. Depending on the lands, parting themselves from our humans, releasing control of the instincts we struggled to evolve control over centuries," she stopped to look over the letter, "I would have talked to you and suggested denying them quickly, but from what I've heard they already have quite the group going on. At least one hundred vampires have already joined their cause."

Dads brows knitted together, rubbing the brunette stubble on his chin.

"So what is it they wish from us?" He asked.

"They keep writing us asking for an audience in their space in an attempt for us to grant them the right to practice their lifestyle separate from the rest of the territory. I think they just wish for us to come and see what they've done with our own eyes and make a decision from there. Just through writing I can tell they're passionate about this, but I'm just worried about so many other things that this might start up."

Exactly. Theres multiple safety issues I alone can think up.

The way we evolved to control our instincts was the only reason that we could coexist with humans. The humans my family has a role to protect.

"So you think rejecting their ask is the right call?"

Again, another silence while my mother bit the inside of her cheek

"I don't know. I'm getting too old for territorial decisions like this. It'd be such a large change and it'd have to be made public for obvious reasons... Who knows how other territories are going to react to the idea of allowing such a revert in our current society."

My lips pursed a bit at this, and stayed that way when my father turned to glance at me.

"Danny, do you wanna hurry and get married so this can be your problem?"

"Dad," I scolded, causing him to laugh.

My mother too joined in with a quiet giggle, one that got cut short with a flash in her eyes.

"Y'know, that might not be a bad idea," She grinned.

"What," Both dad and I spoke the word in the exact same tone.

Now both of my parents were looking at me, and I felt myself shrink under the weight in the room I was suddenly feeling.

"Leaving the decision up to you," She clarified, "It would eventually be your problem to deal with. Given how late your father and I are in our leadership, it wouldn't be fair to decide such a big change just to pass it on to you so soon."

"You speak as if I already have a wife lined up to marry within the year," I droned, "For all you know it could be another two decades before I take the throne."

She just looked at me with that mischief in her eyes and subtle smile, like she knew something that I was completely oblivious to.

I mean... I wasn't, but still, that surety in her eyes was a little creepy.

"Then the time between now and whenever that may be will give you time to think. It'll give this clan the temporary hope they're looking for, and you can start out your lordship with a bang. No matter what you chose to do with them." She concluded.

I rolled my eyes at her cheery tone while she tried to sell this genius idea to me.

Dad just glanced half-lidded between the two of us, completely unsure as to whose side he was on here.

"You're just pawning this off on me because you don't wanna deal with it." I said flat out, watching feigned offense take over her face with an even more feigned gasp.

"Who, me? Wh- well I would never." her dramatics continued, further proving all of our points, "Tell him, Elijah."

"I think you're both nuts," He deadpanned, surprisingly causing more hidden laughter from his wife.

I nearly commended him, but his next words made me reign it back.

"But I can't say that her idea is a bad one, at least not just the basic principle."

He kept explaining as soon as my features fell with a sigh.

I wasn't opposed to the idea per se, just the direction my mother was coming at it from

"I think it's a good place to start, at least. If they want an audience, then we can at least give that to them. One of us will go and Daniel will come with to see if this is something he envisions in his soon-to-be territory. Let them know ahead of time that the decision will be his for the reasons you already stated. They'll be sated for a bit, Daniel will gain knowledge about it and have time to think of a proper approach for his future, and we can retire knowing that everything is in good hands."

Again with the 'retire' idea. I don't know where these two are finding the hope for that so soon.

My mother only nodded, both then looking at me for my response.

I let them stew in the silence for a few minutes before giving in with a long exhale.

"Fine yeah whatever," I grumbled, falling back into the back of the chair.

Their celebration was minuscule for my sake, probably, only letting it go on for a few seconds before getting right back to business.

"Right," dad picked up, "Then go ahead and let uh... them...?"

Mom's eyes flicked down to the paper.

"Augustus and Elenora Ardigan," she spoke, "The founders and supposed leaders."

"The Ardigans," he corrected himself, "Let them know that one of us will accept their offer, and will arrange a trip by the end of the week."

"It might be best to stay overnight. To gauge how they set us up and treat our visit."

Right... respect was always something royals were supposed to seek out. My mother often liked to test it out of general curiosity.

"Let it be known then. Which one of us will stay here to deal with things while the other is gone?"

"I'll go and you stay if you don't mind," My mother piped up, "I kinda want to see with my own eyes what this place is like."

He just nodded and began talking out the final details, and picking up a quill to draft their response.

I just simmered in my dull variety of emotions knowing that I had just become a simple add-on to the conversation and situation. Such was my life as an heir, but I truly didn't mind that much.

I was just pissy from missing my 20 hour 'fling'.

A trip, and some focus on my future as a Lord. Some may consider that a decent distraction from everything, and they may be right.

As if distractions would work. I knew they wouldn't, but I still couldn't let this get in the way of my future.

Patience... One thing at a time, Danny.

My mind may be a mess, but my future roll in this territory was the one thing that remained stagnant and unchanging. It was it's own little comfort to me.

For now, it was all I had, and so for now it was all I could focus on to keep myself sane.