Emperor Jeremy Hartford I is looking annoyed.

    This is more or less the way His Imperial Majesty usually looks when the Senate of Princes is in session. As far as he's concerned, it's all a load of incessant bickering at cross-purposes by vampires who, in terms of political acumen, could not find their own backsides with both hands and a map compared to him. And the worst part is, he has to pay attention to all of it just in case someone says something important.

    He picks at his fangs with a toothpick, reclining in his seat at the center of the senate hall with his feet propped up on his desk. "Thank you, Vlad, for once again being the only Prince in the entire damn Senate with at least one functioning brain cell," he says smoothly.

    Prince Vlad "Dracula" Tepes of Transylvania bows. "Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty," he says, as poker-faced as ever.

    "Anyone else have anything they want to add, or can we close out today's session?" says the Emperor. "Anyone? Yes, Prince Reagan?"

    Prince George Reagan of America nods. "I'm afraid we're at the point where we must bring up the matter of Duke Vincent D'Ambrosio."

    Immediately, there's an uproar of outrage in the senate hall. Emperor Hartford grins. "Nice!" he shouts, by way of attempting to shut down the roaring.

    This attempt is a failure. Prince Ferdinand del Toro of Spain shouts, "He has caused no end of trouble!"

    Prince Shinzo Morimura of Japan nods. "He's an utter disgrace to the Hartford Empire, in everything he does!"

    "He has not once been able to control his pet 'Countess', Serrah Delany," says Prince Amir Mohammad of Saudi Arabia. "And in the opposite direction, that maid of his ... ugh."

    Prince Dracula points out, "Wilhelmina Nocturne is the work of his grandsire, Duke Hugo D'Ambrosio."

    "Even so!" says Prince Mohammad.

    Emperor Hartford listens. He can make out the individual words well enough, and keep track of the speakers. But in terms of opinion, the Princes are practically interchangeable, especially when they get riled up. In the end, all rich vampires are the same.

    "His latest attempt was on a world defended by one 'Dante', a man who he knew had the capacity to turn into a demon," says Prince Reagan, "and, moreover, a single beast-summoning preteen boy, accompanied by the local United States Army, was able to burn through our forces like a fire through dry kindling. The bottom line is that his hamfisted attempts to gather clout by conquering other worlds of the World Tree have done nothing but cost us resources, money, and the unlives of our officers."

    "Rank-and-file soldiers are counted under 'resources', right?" says Emperor Hartford mildly.

    "Well, of course," says Prince Reagan, simultaneously confused and affronted.

    "He should be stripped of rank and title, and executed!" says Prince Edward Scott of England. There's a clamor of agreement.

    "Like I said," says Emperor Hartford. "Nice." He folds his hands behind his head. "In fact, I just had an idea for his death that will save us the cost of the trial and execution."

    That catches the Princes' intention. Everyone is now listening to the Emperor. "What if," he says, "we simply applied a little bit of ... leverage to his enemies in the World Tree? He's made plenty of those, after all." He grins a fangy grin. "That way, it saves us time and money, we have an excuse to go on an all-out invasion headed by someone competent if we can get anyone to rally around Vincent D'Ambrosio's permanent-death with a straight face, and the punishment fits the crime!"

    This gets an overall murmur of delight. If there's one thing they do have in common with Emperor Hartford, it's that they're a bunch of sadistic murderers who like a grisly show more than anything else, especially if it doesn't cost them anything.

    "And what of Delany?" asks Prince Dracula.

    The Emperor considers this, then shrugs. "She's just a puffed-up rabble," he says. "No need to worry about her. As far as I'm concerned, she has no actual agency in this situation, beyond her doubtless desire to see D'Ambrosio permanently killed."

    There, he decides. That should keep everyone's eyes off her in case he ever decides to do anything else with her.

    Not that he misses the way Prince Dracula watches him attentively.

    But in the meantime, it's time to arrange a certain ... meeting.