<strong>''But what else can you do?''</strong> Marse mouthed ever so slowly so Suzanne could read her lips. <strong>''Stop me?''</strong>


    Suzanne balled her hands into tight fists, ncing at the unsuspecting Marcia and Bertha. Marse''s taunting made Suzanne recall Aries''s words. That was right. What else could Suzanne do before a monster like Marse?


    <strong>''Even so…'' </strong>Suzanne lowered her eyes before lifting her gaze back to the woman several steps from the entrance<strong>. ''... I have to do something.''</strong>


    At the back of Suzanne''s head, she was aware she was no match against Marse. She was but a human, assisting the empress with everything she could. But… she had to do something. Perhaps a few seconds was enough to buy the witches sometime…


    Her thoughts abruptly put to a halt when Marse suddenly appeared a step before her. Her pupils slowly dted, looking back at those lustful pairs of eyes that mirrored Suzanne''s horrified expression.


    "You''re not buying even a second of their time, youngdy." Marse simpered, leaning her beautiful face closer to Suzanne''s. "You… of all people, should know that."


    Suzanne held her breath, unable to move a muscle before Marse.


    <strong>Death. </strong>


    <strong>End. </strong>


    Those words instantly hovered in Suzanne''s head as she admitted Marse''s words were facts. Suzanne was only useful in supporting Aries''s schemes, but not when Aries was on a battlefield.


    Marse''s eyes fell on Suzanne''s taut neck, licking her lips seductively. "I am famished… that damned Abel deprived me of everything."


    <strong>''Your Majesty.'' </strong>Suzanne''s eyes softened as Marse''s hot breaths caressed her neck. She knew what was about to happen, but her body didn''t listen to her fight back. It was futile. Hence, all she could think of was Aries''s smile during azy afternoon while having tea.


    Aries was beautiful; the most stunning woman Suzanne had ever seen. The empress went through many things, but she proved to everyone her past made her stronger. Fighting her own demons and never backing down in the face of problems was something Suzanne had always admired about Aries.


    She was thest thought that crossed Suzanne''s mind; her smile, the look in Aries''s eyes that often told Suzanne thetter was seen and valued.


    Warmth enveloped Suzanne''s body as she heard gulps echoing in her ear, clutching Marse''s back as thetter sucked the life out of her. Her eyes were staring at the ceiling and her vision turned blurry with the tears coating her soft eyes.


    "Your Majesty, it was an honor," whispered Suzanne softly and bitterly. <strong>''How I wish to serve you longer.'' </strong>


    Suzanne fought her dwindling consciousness, thinking of Aries for as long as she could to stay awake<strong>. ''Marse was wrong,'' </strong>thought Suzanne. She could buy enough time for everyone. Her methods might not be wielding a sword and forcing Marse out of this ce, but staying awake while Marse drinks thest bit of her blood was enough to call stalling time.


    Suzanne''s skin shrunk as herplexion turned paler with every passing second. Coldness reced the warmth in her heart, seeping deep into the depths of her bones. Her eyes soon turned pale as the life in them slowly faded.


    <strong>Thud!</strong>


    "Hah…" Marse wiped the blood on the corner of her lips with the back of her fist, pushing Suzanne''s body to the side. Her eyes fell on Suzanne''s body; thetter was left with barely any skin and bones. Yet Suzanne''s gaunt face looked at peace.


    "Useless bitch," Marse spat out in irritation. "Why fight death when you know you''re dying, anyway?"


    The thought that Suzanne proved Marse wrong didn''t sit well with this demoness. But Marse didn''t dwell on it, kicking Suzanne to vent her frustration, and then turning on her heel to face Marcia and Bertha.


    "Imend you for continuing, despite knowing what is happening." Marse pped slowly, but the two witches continued to chant with their eyes shut. "Amazing witches! You women remind me of this crazy bitch Vera — right, right? Whatever, Vera. Just stay still and be obedient, alright? Cursing the life out of me will not make a difference."


    Marse knocked her head in irritation to shut up the voice screaming in her head. "Woman, you are so annoying. Seriously!"


    While Marse was having a conversation with herself, Marcia and Bertha didn''t get affected by her craziness. Marse could just lose her mind for all they care. Although they felt a little sorry about Suzanne, they gritted their teeth.


    Suzanne died, and once Aries heard about this, all hell would break loose.


    So, they couldn''t stop now, they had to seed.


    But how?


    They still need a bit of time. Just a few more minutes. They could only hope Marse would talk to herself for several more minutes, or let that witch inside Marse''s body distract Marse a little more. Because if Marse assaulted them, Marcia and Bertha were aware they wouldn''t be able to fight back.


    Their chanting grew faster and more aggressive, creating a strong gust of wind inside the banquet hall. To hasten the process, Marcia and Bertha silently agreed on increasing the release of mana. And to do that, they had to sacrifice their time. Meaning, their life.


    "Finally, she shut up!" Marse suddenly eximed in relief, and that made the chanting even louder and faster. She arched a brow, darting her eyes between Marcia and Bertha. "I have an idea."


    Mischief and malice crossed Marse''s eyes, and soon enough, she began chanting the same spell. However, even though she was almost saying the same spell, she tweaked it to y with the witches. With her interruption of the spell, Bertha and Marcia had to fight it back on top of sending Aries the energy she needed to awaken her witch.


    Both witches were breathless with the amount of pressure crushing on them, only to feel relief momentster. They didn''t check what was going on, but they knew what had just happened.


    Meanwhile, Marse arched a brow as the two slightly rxed. She stopped, frowning, ncing up. All she saw was a transparent barrier glinting, moving her eyes to her side to see the person who put her in a small barrier to muffle her voice.


    There, standing on the side, was Isaiah, with Sunny clinging to his side.


    "Oh, Mister Warlock." No one heard Marse''s voice outside the barrier, but Isaiah could read her mouth. "You''re here?"