Chapter 7

The day of the event had arrived. The great ball room of Buckingham Palace was where the event was to take place. People rushed and hurried frantically to see that all was in order. Things were no less peaceful at Hellsing Manor. Especially for Integra since she was the guest of honor for this most auspicious event. Unfortunately she didn't like having all this attention placed upon her. She sat in her office going through paper work as usual as the hours of the day ticked by. Walter entered her office.

"Has the dress arrived Walter?" Integra asked.

"Yes. I had the liberty of having it taken to your bed room Sir Integra. The queen is sending a hair stylist and make up artist to help you prepare." Walter answered.

"A hair stylist and make up artist?" Integra asked with a gruff sigh.

"Her majesty spared no expense." Walter replied.

"So I see. When are they to arrive?" Integra questioned.

"Within the hour sir. Oh, her majesty also had jewlery to match the dress delivered along with it. It too is in your bed room." Walter added.

"Good lord. This is an engagement, not a corination." Integra sighed.

"You are the first female leader of Hellsing Sir. The queen wanted everything to be perfect. This may not happen again for a very long time."

"I know Walter. I simply wish I didn't have to go through all this pagentry. Don't worry. I'm not going to dishonor her majesty's wishes." Integra said.

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That night....

The ball was under way. London's most prominent figures of royalty were in attendence. The queen sent her envoys to attend in her place as she had urgent business needing to be seen to. An usher stood dressed in a fine suit waiting to escort the arriving guests into ball room. All were dressed in grand attire as was appropriate for such an affair. The women wore elegant gowns and sparkling jewerly while the men wore mostly tuxedos and formal suits. Pickman was the first of Hellsing's representives to enter.

"Captain Stewart Pickman, and Miss Zoey Winniefield." The usher announced.

Pickman kept his pose dignified as he entered with Zoey on his arm. Inside though, he was less than thrilled with his outfit. Zoey looked at him as they walked toward the punch bowl.

"Are you all right Stewart?" Zoey asked.

"I'm all right. I'm just not a huge fan of formal wear." Pickman answered.

"I never thought I'd live to see the inside of Buckingham palace. It's absolutely magnificent." Zoey said with awe struck eyes.

"Guess that's a perk of being a member of Hellsing. You...um, you look lovely tonight if I haven't already told you." Pickman said somewhat sheepishly.

"Thank you. Seras helped me pick out the dress. There were so many I had the most terrible time making up my mind. Have you seen the dress she's wearing?" Zoey asked.

"Not yet. I guess I'll see it tonight." Pickman said with a mild shrug as he handed Zoey a glass of punch.

"It's stunning. Alucard picked it out for her." Zoey replied.

"Should be something if Alucard chose it. Knowing him, he doesn't do anything low key."

"Walter Dolnaze and his escort Miss Anna Wincott." The usher announced.

Pickman and Zoey watched as Walter and his date walked toward them.

"Captain Pickman..." Walter replied politely.

"Quite the gathering isn't it Walter?" Pickman asked.

"Yes. Miss Winniefield, you look absolutely lovely this evening." Walter commented.

"Thank you Walter. Has Sir Integra arrived yet?" She asked.

"Yes. She'll be arriving momentarily. Alucard and Seras are to be announced next." Walter answered.

"Master Alucard and his wife Captain Seras Victoria."

At the moment their names were announced, all eyes went to the couple that was just stepping into the room. Alucard wore a white dress shirt with mildly frilled sleeves. Over it he wore an elaborate royal blue dress coat. The chest was decorated with a dragon made of metallic gold thread. He wore royal blue dress slacks with the outfit and ankle length dress boots beneathe them. He wore his hair long in drawn back from his forehead. The raven tresses hung loosely in elegant waves. In his hand he held a walking cane crowled with the head of a golden dragon.

Seras drew even more attention in her red formal gown. The fabric seemed to glitter and sparkle in the light making the gold dragon adorning the dress appear to breath flames from its open mouth. She wore a sheer red shaw on her shoulders. Upon her neck hung a delicate gold chain with a sparkling ruby pendant at the end. She wore glittering crystal barrets on both sides of her hair. She daintly picked up a tiny bit of the skirt so she didn't step on it. She wore low heel pumps that buckled above her ankle to keep her from stepping out of them accidentally.

No couple could hope to compare to the two regal vampires that now entered their domain.

"Look at them. They look like royalty in their own right." Zoey commented.

"They most certainly do." Walter said.

"Like I said, Alucard doesn't do anything low key, specially a royal affair like this."

"Good evening Alucard, Miss Victoria." Walter said with a polite bow.

"You look stunning Seras. Absolutely stunning." Zoey complemented.

"Thank you Zoey. You look wonderful in that dress." Seras replied.

"Son of the Earl of Ascott, Kenneth Grey Ascott!" The usher announced.

Alucard, Seras and company all looked to see him enter the room wearing a black tuxedo. But it was the person announced next that drew the most attention.

"Sir Integra Wingates Hellsing!"

All eyes darted toward the tanned English woman as she hesitantly entered the ball room. Walter and Alucard could hardly believe themselves as they watched her walk toward them. The floor length green dress complemented her figure as she walked. Her hair was done in an elegant upswept pony tail. A sheer green shaw was draped across her shoulders. She wore matching elbow length gloves with a diamond bracelet around her left wrist. A simple gold chain hung around her neck. A deep emerald pendent rested perfectly centered just above the bodice of the dress. She displayed a serious but polite expression to the crowd. Of course Alucard could read her every thought, and they were much to the contrary of her appearence.

"Bloody heels! I hate these things! And this dress! The blasted thing clings to me like a bandage! Could this thing get any tighter!" She thought feeling nothing but irritated.

"Come now master. It can't be all that bad." Alucard chided as Integra approached.

"You think so Alucard? Next time her majesty holds such an affair I'll wear the suit, and you can wear the blasted dress." Integra grumbled.

"Integra, you look absoultely ravishing." Kenneth beamed as he walked up to his bride to be.

"Thank you." Integra replied trying to sound polite.

"You look lovely Sir Integra." Walter commented.

"I feel anything but. This blasted make up feels like it ways a ton on my face. The eye shadow is far too overdone for my taste and this lip gloss is driving me crazy." Integra complained.

"Please Sir, it's only for one night." Walter quietly pled.

Integra only shrugged at the reply. Kenneth approached Integra. "It's time for us to make the announcement." He said.

"Very well." Integra sighed as she allowed Kenneth to take her hand and lead her to the center of the room.

"Everyone!" Kenneth called. "Tonight is a very auspicious occassion." He said as he got down on one knee.

"Sir Integra Wingate's Hellsing, I ask for your hand in marriage. I ask to be the father of your family's future heirs, and to be a faithful and steadfast mate. I ask you, Sir Integra, to find me worthy of being your husband."

"I...accept your proposal." Integra answered plainly.

With her answer made known, Kenneth produced a small box and opened it. Within the box was a dazzling diamond ring that he slipped upon Integra's finger.

"Ladie's and gentlemen, tonight I have the honor and privilage of being engaged to a fine, strong and if I may say so, one of the most beautiful women in all of England!" Kenneth proclaimed proudly.

"Let's see if he's still beaming after the honeymoon." Alucard thought.

"Poor man has no idea what he may be in for." Seras whispered.

"That's what makes it so much fun." Alucard answered with a low chuckle.

After the announcement was made, everyone gathered in the center of the ball room. The orchestra began playing chamber music as the guests began to waltz. The room was soon alive with swirling, vivid hues of blue, red, green and other colors as well. Meltallic fabrics as well as rhinestones and sequines all glittered and danced like embers in the light. Brilliantly lit crystal chandileirs illuminated the room making the lively outfits even more vibrant. The couples danced and laughed and shared lively conversation.

"Did you see that diamond Kenneth gave Sir Integra? I don't even want to imagine how much a rock like that would cost." Seras pondered.

"I can't imagine Kenneth getting her to wear that thing for more than a night. She isn't a big fan of such noticable jewlery. The only thing she likes wearing is her silver lapel crusifix. She doesn't even wear earrings unless she absolutely has to." Alucard replied.

"Think she'll wear it after tonight?" Seras asked.

"If she does I'll be quite suprised." Alucard answered.

Seras looked over her shoulder to see Zoey and Stewart a few couples down from them. "It looks like Zoey is enjoying herself. She and Stewart seem to be hitting it off rather well." She observed.

"I suppose she'd enjoy herself even more if captain Pickman were able to avoid her toes more." Alucard replied.

"So he's not Fred Astaire. I meant they seem to be enjoying each other's company." Seras said.

"Damn..." Stewart cursed under his breath.

"Stewart, are you all right?" Zoey asked.

"I'm sorry Zoey. I guess I'm not the greatest dancer in the world. I'm suprised you haven't smacked me for stepping on your poor feet so much." Stewart muttered.

"It's all right. We don't have to dance. To be honest these shoes are starting to get a little uncomfortable. Why don't we go sit down?" Zoey suggested.

"Wonderful idea." Stewart answered.

The couple left the dance floor and sat down on one of the ornate seties. Stewart looked at Zoey for a moment. "Um, would you like a drink Zoey?" He asked.

"Yes please. I guess that bit of waltzing made me thirsty." Zoey answered.

"I'll go get you something." Stewart said.

Zoey sat patiently waiting for Stewart to bring her a glass of punch. He soon returned and sat beside her. "There you are." He said.

"Thank you Stewart." Zoey replied appreciately. "Don't they look wonderful together?" She asked.

"Who?"

"Alucard and Seras. They look so lovely together. They look like royalty." Zoey replied.

"We are royalty my dear."

Zoey's eyes widened when she heard Alucard's voice in her head.

"Zoey, are you all right?" Stewart asked.

"Oh...well I thought I heard Alucard's voice in my head." Zoey answered.

"You did. He most likely heard us talking and decided to answer you mentally. You'll get used to it." Stewart answered.

"What did he tell you?" He asked.

"Well, remember how I said he and Seras looked like royalty. He said that they are royalty." Zoey answered.

"You mean you don't know?" Stewart asked.

"Know what?" Zoey questioned feeling confused.

"I'll explain it to you after the ball. It's not a good idea to be revealing Alucard's true identity here in front of so many people. I'd rather not be on his bad side." Stewart explained.

"Wise man."

Stewart rolled his eyes sarcastically hearing the elder vampire's voice in his head.

"Sir Integra doesn't appear to be all that happy. She's hardly smiles at all." Zoey said.

"That's just how she is Zoey. She's not one for big social functions. She never has been. And she probably never will be. But the queen went to so much trouble, and if there's one thing to be said about Sir Integra, it's that she's very loyal to her queen, country and church. That's basically the whole reason why she's here, out of loyalty and respect to the queen."

Integra moved stiffly upon the floor as she danced with Kenneth. He noticed she wasn't all that comfortable and promptly led her to a place where she could sit. She sat down letting out a relieved sigh once she was seated.

"Thank you." Integra said. "These bloody shoes are killing my feet. How in the world do women stand such uncomfortable footwear?" She grumbled.

"I know you aren't one to have people talk about you, but I must say that you are indeed a fine woman Integra Hellsing. I have never seen a woman as strong spirited and commanding as you. I consider it of the highest honor to know that I will soon be your husband." Kenneth said.

"You've no need to flatter me Kenneth. I have already consented to be your wife." Integra replied wearily.

"It's not flattery Integra. It's the truth. These past several weeks watching you handle yourself under pressure is amazing. Quite frankly you handle pressure better than most men I've known. It is no wonder the queen puts so much trust in you and your organization. I only hope that I can prove myself to be a worthy husband." Kenneth said.

"Um, I do hope that your pet vampire...Alucard, doesn't have a problem with this. I understand he is very protective of you as you are his master." He said with a nervous cough.

"I wouldn't worry about Alucard. He doesn't deem you as a threat so far. You can take the fact that you haven't run from the mansion screaming and pulling out your hair as a good sign that he likes you. I did have a few suitors try for my hand when I turned twenty. If there is one thing Alucard is good at, it is judging character. Every single man who tried to attain my hand in marriage were either after wealth or having some pretty little trophy wife on his arm. Needless to say when Alucard discovered the truth of their intentions he promptly ran every single one of the naves out of the mansion. I don't think any of them ever wanted to be in a relationship with a woman ever again...or anyone else for that matter."

"I...see." Kenneth gulped nervously.

"Don't worry about it. Alucard has no doubt went through your mind and has found nothing he would consider a threat to me." Integra replied trying to reassure her fiance'.

"I suppose I'm a little suprised he's not jealous of me. I mean, he is used to being the main male in your life." Kenneth pondered.

"Until he got involved with Seras Victoria, he might have been very jealous. He did try to persuade me to join him as a vampire. He felt and still does feel I am worthy of his blood. But I have made it clear to him that I will remain human for the sake of my family and my country. He once also tried to persuade Walter into becoming one of his blood when Walter was young. He also refused." Integra stated.

She paused for a moment watching Alucard and Seras still dancing amidst the other couples. "At first I was furious when he told me he'd turned Seras into a vampire. My family is charged with erradicating the night creatures who threaten England, not letting more be made. But when he told me why he did it, I realized it wasn't to make me jealous or mad." She continued.

"He did it because he was lonely. I realized it isn't easy being the only vampire serving an organization made up of humans striving to anihilate his own kind. He wasn't looking for just a partner. He wanted a mate...a true mate. And suprisingly he found what he was looking for in Seras Victoria. I know now why he chose her. Despite the fact he tried to drive her off when I made her his partner, she refused to be driven off. She demonstrated she has a strong spirit. And if there is one thing Alucard respects most, is strength. He pushed her at first, but she didn't back down."

"I see." Kenneth observed.

"I think it would be humanly or inhumanly impossible to seperate those two for very long. Alucard would gladly tear asunder anyone who dared try to harm Seras. She is his mate...his eternal mate. Vampires may take dozens, even hundreds of lovers. But in all eternity they will only have one true mate. Seras has proven to be Alucard's eternal mate and partner." Integra finished.

"Master, Seras and I must feed. We're going where we can have privacy." Alucard informed Integra mentally.

"Very well. Don't be gone too long." Integra replied.

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Alucard and Seras wandered outside the palance walls to find a place where they could be alone for a few minutes. They settled on a spot near the gardens. The two secluded themselves behind a group of tall bushes so no one would see them. Alucard reached under his dress coat and produced two blood packs. He handed one to Seras and took one himself. They both fed from the packs until the plastic sacks were nearly bone dry.

"Bloody contacts." Seras muttered.

"I know. Sadly there are people attending tonight who don't know the nature of our conditions. I can get away with wearing my sun shades because people buy into the old 'I suffer from a condition that makes my eyes ultra sensitive to light' story. But two suffering from the same condition might have looked a bit suspicious. Easy as it is to manipulate the minds of humans, they are intuitive creatures and would no doubt have suspected something." Alucard said.

"I suppose. I'll just be glad when I can take the things out." Seras replied.

"You look so beautiful in that dress." Alucard said quietly. Seras noticed the change in his expression. It was almost one of saddness.

"Alucard, what's wrong?" Seras asked.

"It's...it's nothing really. Well, perhaps something. There is only one thing I ever regretted about you becoming a vampire." Alucard said.

"Regret?" Seras asked.

"I don't regret turning you Seras. Seeing how strong you already were as a human, and how you have become even more powerful as a vampire. To that, I certainly have no regrets. The only thing I truly regret is how I had to turn you. That it all had to happen so fast. There was no time to prepare you for the world you were entering. I wanted things to go so differently than the way they did that night. I wanted there to be only us. I didn't want to turn you where someone could have seen it happening." Alucard explained.

"Vampires aren't very open creatures. We're by nature secretive because we must be. If humans had seen what I was doing." Alucard paused taking in an unneeded breath.

"I would normally not take such a risk. But you were dying. I could not turn you with the grace you deserved. I could only give you the choice. I didn't make that bastard Jan Valentine suffer enough for taking that away from both of us. I didn't have time. I wanted it to be so different for you. I wanted...it to be our wedding night. I...."

Seras lifted a finger and gently pressed it against Alucard's lips. "Alucard, I know you to be a creature of many moods...and regret is not one of them. I don't regret you turning me at all. I had the choice. To give up and die, or become a vampire and keep fighting. I chose to keep fighting. I chose to become your partner and your mate, and I don't regret it for a moment."

"You don't?"

"No. It's ironic that after the night that I... died, I truly began to live. If I'd had it to do all over again, my answer would have been the same." Seras replied.

Without warning Seras suddenly put her arms around Alucard's neck and kissed him rather agressively. The kiss was very brief. She let go of him and gave him a rather wicked smile. "Now stop being so damned sentimental. You have a reputation to uphold."

Alucard's serious expression soon returned to his trademark smirk. "Truly I chose well when I chose you as my queen." He said with a deep chuckle.

"We'd better get back inside before Integra comes looking for us." Seras said.

"True. I admit I like testing her patience, but tonight would not be the best of times to do that." Alucard replied as he and Seras went back inside to rejoin the human guests.

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