<strong>[ Haimirich Empire: House of Vandran ]</strong>


    In the silent Vandran residence, Dexter sat leisurely on the armchair, watching the woods in the firece get devoured by fire. He listened to the crackle of the fire, holding a ss of wine that he could barely enjoy.


    He received a word that Aries had already stepped foot in the imperial pce of the Maganti Empire. The reason he had been silent throughout the day.


    "She will be fine," he whispered, jaw tightening as he clenched his teeth. His eyes glistened as he breathed out heavily.


    Not that he didn''t trust Aries''s capabilities and her natural talent in deceiving others. In fact, Dexter, among all people, knew how spellbinding Aries was.


    Deep in his heart, he was aware that Aries was Aries and she would never be Danie. Even so, she was his sister.


    People could call her Aries or Danie, but that didn''t change the fact that she was now a part of the Vandran family. The person who brought light into this ce and gave warmth to his cursed life.


    "Still… knowing she is away…" he sighed, scratching his temple with a finger lightly. "And with those hateful people… I''ll kill them if they ever harmed her."


    The ss in his hand cracked under his grip, and he only realized it when it shattered, spilling wine on the carpet. He nced down at his hand, seeing ss shards on his palm as blood oozed out and dripped down to his fingertips.


    Just before he could think of what to do with his hand, his eyes glinted as the window suddenly opened, causing the night breeze to trespass inside the room.


    "And what do I owe you for this sudden visit?" Dexter inquired with hostility in his tone, shifting his sharp eyes towards the window where a figure was sitting on the windowsill. "Your Majesty?"


    Abel smirked yfully, shrugging. "I need to see someone who looks more miserable than I am. It helps my mood a little bit, knowing I am not suffering alone." He pinched in the air, his tone as revolting as ever.


    "Now that you''ve seen me, I hope you leave my property."


    "Oh, my…" Abel dramatically ced his palm across his chest, stretching his legs with his buttocks propped against the windowsill. "Aren''t you a little mean, Marquess? It''s only been two days since… ah, right, it''s two months for everyone, huh?"


    He snickered teasingly, biting his lips as he raised his chin. It actually slipped his head that aside from him, Aries had been away from Haimirich for quite some time now. Then, that made this trip in the marquess'' residence even more fun since he could gloat at Dexter to his heart''s content.


    "Did youe here to gloat?" asked Dexter coldly.


    "Oh, no! Of course not… not much," Abel defended and shrugged. "I truly have toe here because if you are not as miserable as I am, then I might''ve flown back to Maganti to have fun with my darling."


    "If you''re going to ask, how about Haimirich? You can have it. I don''t need it," he added the second Dexter''s lips parted.


    "If Haimirich is something that I want, I would''ve gotten it already." Dexter leaned forward, reaching for the bottle of wine to pour himself another ss. He didn''t mind the blood smearing on the bottle and ss as he picked it up, leaning backfortably. He was already aware Abel wouldn''t leave so easily and he also needed some distractions, so he would probably indulge with him for a bit.


    He rested his leg over the other, ncing at Abel, who helped himself at the stand near the marquess'' desk. Thetter picked up the decanter of whiskey, drinking straight from it.


    "That bottle cost a hundred acres," Dexter stressed and peeled his eyes away from the emperor.


    When Abel hissed in satisfaction, he chuckled as he twisted his body to face Dexter''s vantage point.


    "Oh, you. I can give you an entire kingdom in exchange for this!" he intoned proudly, looking around the marquess''s office.


    The room was just like Dexter. It was boring. There wasn''t even the faintest scent of blood aside from Dexter''s current wound. Abel''s office reeked of death.


    "This ce is dull." ssic Abel, he would have to voice out his dismay.


    "Not everyone is the same as you." Dexter sipped from his winess, licking his lips as he enjoyed the taste of the wine. "I don''t kill for fun."


    "Huh? If you don''t kill for fun, then what''s the purpose of killing?" Abel gasped, pacing back and forth leisurely.


    "The purpose, huh…?" Dexter scoffed under his breath, smirking in ridicule as he gazed at the firece. "Justice? To make the world a better ce?"


    "Hah!" Abel pressed his lips and crossed his arms, the rim of the bottle against his chin. "Are you still saying that? Haven''t you learned your lesson yet? My goodness, Marquess. Even when your sister —"


    "Don''t..." Dexter paused as he red back at Abel. "… you dare mention her name with that virulent tongue of yours."


    "Why not, Dexter?" Abel cocked his head to the side. "You have a new sister already — a better one at that. I don''t understand your rtionship with that bitch when you knew very well how…"


    Abel''s words trailed off as Dexter suddenly appeared in front of him, grabbing him by the cor. He raised his hand on either side of him, tilting his head.


    "What else do you want from me?" Dexter hissed, eyes bloodshot, fangs grinding against his teeth.


    "Nothing… or maybe, take away your sister once again just so we can relive those glorious days?"


    Dexter''s grip on Abel''s cor tightened while thetter burst out inughter. His grip tightened until they loosened, pushing Abel as he huffed. He scanned the emperor with eyes full of contempt. In contrast to Dexter, Abel was grinning, pleased to see Dexter lose hisposure every once in a while.


    "My… you made this trip very interesting. Now I am at peace, knowing the greatest hunter to ever exist protects my darling even from miles away." Abel''s lips stretched broader until his teeth were showing.


    He waved with the decanter in his hand, sauntering towards the balcony while Dexter watched his back. When he was by the entrance of the balcony, Abel halted and leaned back.


    "Kidding aside, I came here to offer my felicitation for letting that man join his cursed blood to yours." Abel cocked his head back while guiding the decanter to his lips. "Cheers to that."


    "You mean for joining your cursed blood to ours?"


    Abelughed at Dexter''s cold response. "Haven''t this cursed blood run in your veins already?"


    It had been, was what Dexter wanted to respond to him, but the words that came out of his mouth were different.


    "Humans are fickle, and she will soon realize what sort of monster you are."


    Abel held the door, staring at Dexter for a moment. "That''s right." He rocked his head.


    "She will realize that she is mine and there''s no ce in this world I cannot conquer. I can even turn this world into her cage if she left me with no choice. Death can''t even save her." His smirk grew sinister before he left.


    Dexter stared at the ajar door of the balcony, standing still in that same spot for as long as he could remember. When he blinked, a deep exhale slipped past his lips.


    Running his hand through his golden hair, he walked back to his seat.


    "Dani," he whispered, thinking of Aries, who was in another ce far from his reach. Which also meant… Aries was ironically in a safer ce away from the devious and obsessive emperor of Haimirich.


    "Runaway once your business in the Maganti Empire is finished. Abel… he already ns on killing you."


    In Haimirich, or rather, the very few people who were closed to Abel — be it as the emperor''s loyal subjects or enemy — knew the emperor''s shenanigans. Just like how Isaiah noticed Abel''s interest in the ruinednd of Rikhill — meaning Haimirich''s value in the emperor''s eyes was about to reach rock bottom — Dexter had also noticed the hidden anticipation in the emperor''s eyes.


    He was already nning for Aries''s grand return… from death.


    "Don''t mistake his feelings as love… Dani. Just like what he did to Dan and to me... he will turn you into a monster."