<strong>[ ROSE PALACE ]</strong>


    Gustav was panting for air while slumped in the hallway with his back against the wall. Blood gushed out of the side of his head, making him close his left eye. Since the start of the banquet, he had been protecting the Rose Pce where the marquess was staying. Aries specifically ordered them to protect her brother and even sacrificed her own safety.


    <strong>But s... </strong>


    "Your Majesty," he whispered, lifting his hand, only to wince in pain. <strong>''I failed.''</strong>


    Gustav tried to move his feet, but the enemy who came as silently as the night incapacitated him by shing his tendons. He might be a vampire, but Gustav needed time to recover from the fatal wounds he inflicted.


    "My lord..." he mumbled with a jagged breath, turning his head in the direction where a person was walking away leisurely. "I need to -- ugh!"


    The more Gustav tried to move, the more wounds would appear on his body. The person he shed with for minutes told him he better stay still if he didn''t want his body to fall apart. Gustav was sharp enough to understand the person''s words.


    The man who did this to him inflicted more unnoticeable wounds on him. By moving even just a tiny bit, Gustav might split in half. Just the thought of it sent a chill down Gustav''s spine. For a man of this caliber, there were only two people Gustav could think of who could take this intruder: Conan or Abel.


    "Gustav!" Suddenly, Gustav heard Climaco''s voice from the other end of the dim hallway.


    Climaco''s eyes dted as he ran to Gustav''s side and squatted down. "Gustav! What are you -- who did this to you?"


    "Don''t mind me or move me if you want me to live." Gustav gasped for air. "The Marquess. He -- he is in danger."


    "The marquess..." repeated Climaco through his gritted teeth, eyes burning with fury. "Where the hell did Roman go?"


    Climaco balled his fist tightly, clenching his teeth until his jaw tightened. "Was he here?"


    "Who?"


    "Joaquin Imperial." Climaco''s voice shook as the news about Joaquin''s escape and the deaths of the marshals that were guarding the penitentiary reached everyone''s ears by now. Everyone had already quietly guarded the banquet to not raise rm to the monarchs and guests, and they had already confirmed Aries was still there.


    Hence, Climaco had to make sure Joaquin didn''t go to the Rose Pce to wait for her. But s, the moment he crossed the Rose Pce''s territory, the stench of blood wafted through his nostrils. A strong magical barrier surrounded the area and thus kept the scent of blood from pervading the air.


    "I..." Gustav''s mouth quivered and turned to the direction where the person who did this to him went. "... I think that''s his name. That''s what he said."


    "That damn bastard!" Climaco ground his teeth in anger but controlled his emotions, knowing Gustav''s current condition. "My people will be here in a moment. Stay right here while I --"


    "Tell your people not to move me," Gustav requested sternly, cutting Climaco off. "I had heard about that Joaquin, but Climaco, don''t confront him until Roman is here."


    "What?" Dismay dominated Climaco''s face at Gustav''s remarks. "You want me to wait until Romees? Do you even know where he is right now? Should I let that man run havoc in my empress''s abode or even give him the slightest opportunity for their eyes to meet again?"


    "No." Climaco shook his head, thinking the traumas Aries had ovee only to return because of that damn Joaquin. "Never."


    "Cli -- maco." Gustav ground his teeth, enduring the new shes that appeared in his sleeve after sping Climaco''s shoulder. "That man... is the person who did this to me. If I can''t, you will not. I don''t know what sort of sorcery they did this time, but he is not as weak as he was back when he turned to one of us."


    "You''re human, Climaco. Her Majesty wants you alive, not dead," he added, stressing each syble, hoping Climaco would understand.


    "And she also needs her brother alive, not dead." Climaco carefully peeled Gustav''s hands from him and guided them down with care. "Wait for others toe."


    "Climaco --" Gustav winced, but Climaco didn''t stop from walking away. Thetter feigned deaf, marching to where the marquess''s room was with his eyes zing with fury.


    Joaquin was just a part of history, and therefore, he should remain in the past. Climaco made a pledge in the past, and that was to protect Aries. There might be many people who were willing to protect the empress, but Climaco had other means to protect her.


    And that was to make sure the marquess, the empress''s only brother, would make it tonight alive. Little did Climaco know, he might be a littlete for that.


    <strong>**********</strong>


    Guards that were in charge of guarding the chambers where the marquess was recuperating were all on the ground, unconscious and bleeding. It was as if a storm had gone past the floor, showing no mercy to everyone who had blocked his path.


    The room of the chambers where the marquess was left was wide open. And yet, silence reigned.


    A person''s figure stood by the side of the bed, eyes on the unconscious man lying motionless on it. If one didn''t know better, one would think Dexter was simply fast asleep because hisplexion had be better after Aries''s care.


    The person''s eyes studied Dexter''s face, slipping his hand inside the bloodstained cloak. When he took out his hand, a ck trinket was within his grasp. His lips curled up into a sinister smirk, gripping a sword on his left.


    The man ced the ck trinket on the marquess''s abdomen, patting it mildly. He did nothing for the next several seconds before lifting his sword up. Bloodstain was apparent on its des. The tip glinted as he held it up. And in one swift movement, the person struck the marquess''s stomach without a second hesitation.