I just finished the novel, G, and my head is like a beehive! This book is truly amazing and worth teaching in uni and I just don't understand why it doesn't get the credit it merits! There is no question in the book that the Count considers himself of royal blood and carries himself as regal and is inhabiting the countryside and castle as PRINCE in his undead incarnation. There's so much of this in the novel and it really lends Dracula a prestige that we don't see focused on enough in the film interpretations but both Coppola and Eggers embraced it!