?


    It wouldn''t be a surprise to hear n names from the maind in the outside world. Many vampires had fled the maind, making names on their own far away from thend where they were treated as a nobody.


    Miguel had met and heard a few ''traitors'' during his expedition. However, confronting them was not his mission. Unless they stayed away from his business, Miguel wouldn''t meddle with theirs. So far, Miguel only confronted one, and the result was an obvious victory.


    That was why the surprise when Alexander uttered Maximus IV''s name.


    He would understand if the king spoke of another name, but not the prince of the maind. Maximus IV never left the Maind, but it seemed Miguel was wrong.


    "I will never forget that man''s name or his face as my heart fills with horror at the thought of him. It was around a year after you departed Rikhill that man appeared in my chamber in the middle of the night." Alexander paced leisurely through the king''s pce with Miguel following a step behind him. "He was alone, but the damage he caused within the royal pce was unimaginable. When asked why he had to ughter my people when he could''ve intruded in my abode unnoticed, he said… to kill time."


    Miguel held his fist tightly to his side, eyes on the king''s vulnerable back. Even though he couldn''t see the king''s face, he could sense the bitterness dominating his countenance.


    Alexander secretly gritted his teeth, taking a deep breath to forget that mortifying night neen years ago. Maximus IV was unlike his friend Miguel. Although Miguel had a harsh way of words, he was an honest, fair, and sensible vampire.


    Maximus IV was the opposite of Miguel. He was crude, confidently wicked, and vengeful. He was someone incapable to feel remorse. Hisck of sheer humanity truly gave a face to the terror of the existence of his kind.


    "I thought that night was the end of Rikhill. However, even before I could wield my sword, he took me down with a snap of his finger," Alexander continued somberly. "I felt hopeless, but at the same time, I didn''t feel the need to beg. At that time, I didn''t know why. But after that incident, I realized why I didn''t beg on my knees to save my people."


    "He will end Rikhill whether or not you do," Miguel guessed, making the king rock his head.


    "If I''m going to die as a failure of a king, I''d rather die as a failure with the little pride left in me." Alexanderughed mockingly. "I am pathetic, am I?"


    "I am not the one to judge your decision. As a man, I''d probably do the same."


    "But I am not just a man, my friend. I am the king of thisnd." Alexander stopped in front of the window, turning his head to it to see the setting sun. "I am a man people would look up to. I am someone they''d see and tell themselves they could sleep at night in peace, knowing they''re under my protection."


    "Every decision I make affects millions of people," he continued. "I am aware of howplicated this power I hold in my hand, but only then did I realize the weight of the crown."


    Miguel studied Alexander''s side profile while the faint golden ray shone upon thetter''s face. Catching the helplessness and conflict pooling in the king''s eyes, the heaviness in Miguel''s heart weighed heavier.


    "I am notining, but I feel sorry for my son, my friend. That night, I had to choose between my people and myself. As a king, I wanted to protect my people, even if that means sacrificing my own life. If only I knew what he truly meant that night…" Alexander trailed off andughed bitterly, peeling his eyes from the window to continue his steps to their destination. "If I knew what he truly meant that night, would my decision change? I guess not."


    As the king, his priority was his people. Before himself, before anything else. Still, the guilt of sacrificing his own son grew heavier with every passing day.


    Miguel quietly followed Alexander, keeping two steps behind the man. Thetter didn''t say anything afterward. Thanks to their light footsteps, it filled in the noisy silence that could deafen them


    Soon, the two of them reached a heavily guarded door. The knights outside the door paid respect to the king before making way for the monarch and his guest. No one could enter this ce aside from the king and queen of thend and their most loyal servants. This was the young crown prince''s room, after all.


    "Come in, my friend." Alexander looked back as Miguel stopped before the open door.


    Reluctance flickered in Miguel''s eyes but still mustered the courage to step in. As soon as he did, the door behind him shut.


    Alexander marched toward another connecting door. He had to open it on his own, as this time it wasn''t guarded. As soon as the door was pushed open, Miguel heard a young boy''s voice.


    "Father!" Miguel caught a glimpse of a boy''s little hands as thetter had them spread open as he weed his father. Alexander was blocking his view, and thus, Miguel could only see the boy embrace his father''s leg.


    Alexander chuckled before carrying the boy in his arms. There seemed to be nothing wrong with the child until Alexander faced Miguel with his son in his arms.


    "Davien, this is your father''s dear friend." The king smiled warmly at Miguel before shifting his eyes to his son. "He is the man I kept telling you about."


    The young boy''s thick brows rose, setting his small eyes on Miguel. Innocence filled the boy''s eyes, but his face… His animalistic face contradicted the innocence of the boy.


    ''This…'' Miguel held his breath, understanding the reason behind the king''s reluctance to expose his son to the public.


    The crown prince carried the face of a monster. No matter how loved the royal family was, this ''defect'' was enough to bring horror to thisnd.


    ''Maximus IV…'' Miguel''s inner voice trembled in anger as if he could hear Maximus IV''s evilughter at this moment of revtion. ''I am going to ughter you.''