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The black trinket saved Dexter twice: once in that ambush orchestrated by Maximus and then tonight. He would\'ve died the first time if not for it.

Aries already knew that, though. She was too emotional in the beginning, but later on, she felt it. Her powers. The aura of the black trinket was close and Dexter was surrounded by it. The very reason he was in a slumber. It was all because of her.

Aries followed Dexter and Joaquin\'s fierce battle. Her expression was dull and her complexion was as white as a sheet. Blood still dripped from her nose, unmoving. When she blinked, the battle she was watching to keep herself awake disappeared.

Moving her eyes to the center of the banquet hall, the guests who were supposed to be poisoned were conscious. They were standing in the same place where they were initially unconscious, markings on their bodies were glowing underneath their clothes; they were chanting under their breaths, looking back at her.

When she blinked again, the guests were on the ground, unconscious. Dexter and Joaquin\'s voices and the piercingly loud clash of metals could be heard echoing from the side.

"Ahh…" she breathed out as the veins in her eyes slowly turned red. "... Abel."

Aries blinked once again, and just like that, the unconscious guests and the fierce battle disappeared, replaced by the chanting of the same guests. She slowly turned her head to the side, and her eyes instantly landed on Abel.

Abel was leaning back, sleeping. Beside him was Maximus, sleeping with his head on the table.

"Maleficent," called a woman among the guest to get Aries\'s attention. "We should stop."

"No," Aries whispered, setting her eyes back to a young lady, who was slowly shifting into an old woman. "Not yet, Marcia. We are just starting."

"But if you continue to force yourself in keeping that world…" Marcia trailed off as Aries shook her head mildly. Even though Aries\'s actions and reactions were subtle, the firmness in it was steadfast.

"Continue to support me," said Aries under her breath. "Do not break the circle."

Aries raised her hand. "Suzanne."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Suzanne, who had been beside Aries all along, lowered her head. She served Aries another tea to keep the empress awake, knowing Aries should stay awake no matter what.

The empress\'s hand was trembling as she reached for the cup, needing Suzanne\'s assistance to take a sip. A deep exhale slipped past Aries\'s lips, unable to discern the taste of blood and tea, as her tongue felt numb.

"Abel and everyone are still in that world," Aries spoke after putting down the cup back on the table, gaining a little bit of strength from that poisoned tea. "We cannot stop… even if it kills me."

Suzanne\'s jaw tightened and everyone who was keeping the circle to assist Aries in maintaining this spirit world didn\'t seem pleased. However, they had to listen to her orders. It was the end of their bargain with her.

No one resisted Aries\'s orders and continued to do what they were doing. Meanwhile, Suzanne kept her eyes on Aries\'s side profile, worry filling her eyes. As she did, she couldn\'t help but remember what actually happened over an hour ago.

**********

"Tonight\'s banquet will now begin!" the master of the ceremony announced, and the orchestra started playing a heavy tune.

Everyone was sharing a drink for the occasion, exchanging flattery, and what a normal scene on such a grandiose night. However, that scene was only seen by those sitting at the royal table where Maximus, Abel, and Aries were sitting.

From Suzanne\'s perspective, she was standing on the corner of the great hall — outside the circle — where guests just standing in the same spot. When they started chanting, markings on their bodies began to glow until they could be seen through the fabric of their clothes.

Suzanne shifted her eyes to the table where the three royalties were and caught Abel and Maximus having an exchange. Meanwhile, since Abel was keeping Maximus busy, Aries\'s weakening state was kept in a blind spot.

DING! DING! DING!

"I am honored and overwhelmed by everyone\'s warm welcome. As we all know, everyone in here was considered ran away traitors on the mainland…" Maximus stood from his seat to make a speech, making Suzanne purse her lips into a thin line. What he was seeing was definitely different from what Suzanne was witnessing.

Just the sight of it made her skin crawl.

Aries\'s plans were meticulous, but the risk she had to make was just as huge. To deceive a pure-blooded vampire and the king of vampires at that, Suzanne couldn\'t imagine the amount of energy Aries had to unleash with the help of the night council who blended in with the guests.

"With the help of His and Her Majesty, we will hold hand in hand to bring out the best for both lands and make the mainland an official territory the world will recognize. The vampires will no longer live in hiding, nor will they have to wait in the night for their turn." Maximus slowly faced everyone with a smile before setting his eyes back on Abel again. "May I pour you a drink, my friend?"

"So long as you are uncoerced, sure."

The three of them exchanged humorous remarks, playing with their words while Maximus served them drinks. After that, Maximus also offered drinks to all the guests. But alas, no one really came from Maximus\'s side. They were all screaming and shouting for help while Conan maul their bodies outside the great hall.

"I only brought the most exquisite selected wines that had matured for centuries. For the future of the Haimirich Empire and the Mainland, I make this toast for the promising future of this alliance. May this drink cleanse all our terrible records and the painful memories of the past." Maximus made a toast, but the only people who drank the wine he served were Maximus, Abel, and Aries.

"Now, everything will be cleared," whispered Maximus, which Suzanne somehow heard.

Thud!

Suzanne blinked, eyes on Maximus, who fell on his seat with half of his body landing on the table. Meanwhile, Abel managed to sit down and close his eyes calmly. Aries, on the other hand, stayed on her feet.

Aries gazed at the two before facing the guests. "Let\'s shall begin."

Note: If you need a reference, this was what actually happened in Chapter 691: Underneath a mask was also a mask. Things will be explained in the next chapter.