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Not everyone chose the hard road. Sometimes, they just don\'t see two roads. 

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"The one in the maximum penitentiary. Joaquin Imperial escaped."

Aries\'s face turned blank at the knight\'s report. She knew Joaquin was imprisoned, but she never asked where or what they had been doing to him. No one cared. Joaquin was simply a part of her past, a small indicator of what she had become.

But the thought of Joaquin walking on this world freely and knowing his vengeful heart, marching to vengeance, only meant more problems.

Aries slowly moved her shaking eyes back to Maximus. The latter was smiling, amused by whatever was happening outside this banquet hall.

"Abel," she called under her breath, her lips quivering as her neck turned taut. "My brother…"

"Get out of here and see the marquess\'," ordered Abel to the knight with his eyes fixed on Maximus. "Gustav is protecting the Rose Palace, but send a word to Conan that the marquess\'s safety is the top priority."

Maximus smirked upon hearing the emperor\'s order. "What was my brother even doing, my friend?"

"As you wished, Your Majesty." The knight ignored Maximus and bowed, facing Aries, only for her to shake her head.

"I\'ll stay." A glint flickered across Aries\'s eyes. "I will cut him myself if something happened to my brother."

Reluctance showed in the knight\'s eyes, glancing at Abel for approval. Seeing that Abel didn\'t react to Aries\'s wishes as his focus was on Maximus, the knight took that as a confirmation. He bowed in understanding, walking away as silently yet as quickly as possible.

"I am astounded, Maximus," Abel mused, clapping slowly. "I had always known you had a plan other than this silly diplomatic alliance you had been singing about. Silly, indeed. I had overestimated you, thinking you have other schemes in store for me other than the carnage of the vampires you deemed traitors."

His eyes fell on the people lying motionless on the floor, dead.

"These people had been minding their own business." His voice lowered because, in Abel\'s eyes, these guests were all his subjects. They might be vampires, but they were vampires who were simply lost, trying to find a place that would welcome them. "How sad."

"My friend, as I have said, they were at fault." Maximus chuckled, glancing at the vampires who left the mainland and disobeyed their orders. "All they need was to follow an order, and they cannot do that. It is just a matter of time before they do the same to you."

"And I will be the judge when that time comes."

Maximus clicked his tongue continuously, eyes back to Abel. "They are vampires; vampires who belong to the mainland. I am their king, I am their judge, not you."

"The Grimsbannes were no kings or rulers." His eyes narrowed as he lifted his chin, looking down at Abel. "The Grimsbanne was born to serve, not rule."

"I see…" Abel rocked his head. "... so that\'s how it was, huh?"

"Darling, please step aside." Abel raised a hand, casting Aries a quick look. "I don\'t want you to get hurt."

Aries clenched her teeth, making her jaw tighten. Bloodstain was still on her upper lip and her complexion was paler, but the sharpness in her eyes remained.

"Don\'t mind me," she said, shifting her sharp eyes to Maximus. "Take your time. I can hold out."

"Of course, you can." The side of Abel\'s lips curled up into a smirk, setting his focus on Maximus. "You should."

He then took a step, spreading his fingers to the side. "Maximus IV, for good times\' sake, I truly wished you came prepared. I beg. Let this challenge me this time."

"Do not worry, my dearest friend." Maximus\' lips stretched until his teeth were showing. "I\'ve been to hell and back, hell and back again, and again, and again."

"Then this call for another visit!" Abel laughed through his gritted teeth. "This time with no return."

The moment those words rolled out of Abel\'s mouth, he disappeared from his vantage point and reappeared in front of Maximus. His hand reached for the latter\'s neck, but when he grasp it, the image distorted like a mirage.

"Oh, dear!" Maximus\'s laughter was heard from the side, several steps from Abel. "My friend, I don\'t think you can fight me with your bare hands and with such awareness."

His lips stretched as his eyes glinted in bright red. "Let yourself known, Oblivion."

Abel flung his arms at Maximus. But just like the first attempt, it was simply a mirage. Yet Maximus\'s laughter was echoing, reappearing on the other side. This time, Maximus wasn\'t able to speak as Abel flicked something at the former\'s forehead.

\'He is just playing,\' Aries thought, dragging her feet to the nearest table. Her eyes fell on the woman lying unconsciously near it, catching a slight marking on the woman\'s nape. She didn\'t dwell on it, though, barely keeping her consciousness intact.

"Not yet," she told herself, taking a seat, clutching the edge of the round table. "Not yet."

Aries snapped her eyes up, catching two shadows leaping from space to space. Even without the strong poison in her system, Aries wouldn\'t be able to catch on to this fight. Abel and Maximus were just too fast for her, but she could definitely hear Maximus\'s echoing laughter.

His laughter was too eerie and sinister that anyone would feel the dread crawling under the skin.

"Brother…" she breathed out, blinking weakly. Aries then gazed up at where the fight was going, and when she blinked once again, a strong gust of wind blew past her. Her eyes slowly moved up, only to see Abel\'s back blocking her view.

"She\'s off limits, Maximus." Blood dripped from Abel\'s grip as he held the blade to stop it from plunging into Aries\'s temple. "She\'s minding her own business. Let her be."

Maximus smirked, pulling back the sword as he hopped away. "No promises, my friend. After all, I need to force you out of this…" he paused, gazing at Abel from head to toe. "... form —"

Maximus\'s eyes dilated as his breathing suspended, staring at Abel, who suddenly appeared in front of him. Abel was faster than he already was, like a lightning, coming unannounced. All Maximus saw was the pair of crimson eyes shining with murderous intent.

"That is not a request; eyes… off of her," was all Maximus heard before a paralyzing pain erupted in his stomach, sending him flying out of the banquet hall.

CRASH!