Ares has nothing to do these days.
His primary duty was to protect the Crown Princess. However, there weren’t many situations that required his protection.
Originally, incidents endangering the Crown Princess didn’t happen frequently in the palace, but it has been especially quiet lately.
“His Highness Julion is always by her side…”
Using the excuse of not having furniture in the Crown Prince’s Palace, Julion had been working and residing in Garnet Palace for a long time now.
They shared meals almost every time, and they even slept in the same bed.
So when Julion announced that he would be spending the night in Tishrit Palace from now on, Ares was pleased.
It was enjoyable to occasionally appear in front of Rohiriel and engage in idle chatter.
‘It seems Her Highness is alone. Should I go and wish her a good night?’
Through the open window, Ares could see Rohiriel alone.
Thinking about how to surprise Rohiriel, Ares approached the window with a sly grin.
“……!”
But a chilling sensation pierced through his entire body. His scalp tingled, and his heart sank unpleasantly.
There was no chance to confirm who it was or what was happening.
Ares quickly leaped into the room and swiftly pulled Rohiriel back.
“What the……!”
He then blocked the bewildered Rohiriel, checking the face of the uninvited guest.
“Wolfgang’s third son, is it?”
Silver hair shimmering in the moonlight. Even colder silver eyes and an arrogantly raised chin.
“Duke Cassian…?”
Ares’s grip tightened.
‘I don’t sense any presence outside.’
Just a moment ago, he could feel the presence of several people within the palace.
But now, it was as if everyone had fallen into a deep sleep; their presence was faint.
“There’s no need to be so vigilant. I simply wanted to have a quiet conversation with my daughter.”
The Duke spoke with a relaxed voice, looking at Ares.
However, Ares chuckled and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
“Amusing. If that’s the case, why didn’t you confidently go through the proper procedures to enter?”
“It’s quite late for that, isn’t it?”
“If you know that, you should also know you won’t be welcomed.”
“Well, I’m not sure about that. But I do know one thing: if you draw that, you’ll regret it.”
The Duke’s eyes fell to Ares’s waist. Precisely the sword Ares was attempting to unsheath.
Ares swallowed hard, exerting force in the hand holding the sword.
The aura emanating from the Duke was far from ordinary.
It was as if pulling out the sword at that moment would lead to a confrontation that would leave Ares at a disadvantage.
“Even if you are the Crown Princess’s father, this is an action that would be questioned as treason. You must know that.”
“Treason?”
The Duke raised an eyebrow and asked inquisitively.
Then he shifted his gaze to Rohiriel, standing behind Ares, and spoke.
“I see. Rohiriel, are you now a part of the imperial family as well?”
His expression and tone conveyed a sense of disappointment and perhaps anger.
The Duke seemed to let out a wry smile, then suddenly stiffened his face again.
Sensing an unsettling change, Ares lowered his stance, ready to strike at any moment.
“Ares Wolfgang. I’ll warn you for the last time. Remove your hand from the sword.”
However, before those words could fully conclude, the sound of unsheathing echoed, and the sword was drawn.
A hint of discomfort flickered in the Duke’s silver eyes.
“Only the master can give orders to a knight.”
“Didn’t I tell you that you would regret it?”
“Is there anything more regrettable than being frightened by the words of a traitor?”
For a brief moment, a wrinkle appeared on the Duke’s forehead.
Duke Cassian, who rarely reveals his emotions, observed Ares gripping his sword with a narrowed gaze.
“It seems you have a knack for causing trouble.”
“It seems the Duke has forgotten that this is the palace.”
“Do you realize you’re being disrespectful to a duke like myself?”
As the tension between Ares and the Duke reached its peak, Rohiriel, who had been silently observing, stepped forward, grabbing Ares’ arm with the drawn sword.
“As for father…”
The strained atmosphere between Ares and the Duke unexpectedly loosened.
The Duke’s silver eyes shifted smoothly towards Rohiriel.
Nonchalantly, Rohiriel brushed off the gaze and remarked,
“What kind of impolite visit is this?”
“Speaking like that hurts me. How long are you going to support this father of yours?”
It was a ridiculous statement.
Even Rohiriel was surprised by the Duke of Cassian’s unexpected visit.
But this is the Imperial Palace.
She thought the duke would only pose a brief threat or deliver a few words before quietly leaving.
If the knights could apprehend the duke quickly, it might even turn out to be a fortunate event.
Yet, as if not considering such a possibility, the duke seemed unusually relaxed, even going so far as to threaten Ares.
Furthermore, Hemion had been missing for a long time since she left the room.
This means that the Duke has been up to something since Hemion left the bedroom.
‘I need to confirm the situation as soon as possible.’
Whether it’s a form of simple sleep paralysis or a life-threatening poison,.
Hiding her anxiety, Rohiriel responded,
“Are you expecting a welcome after meddling with my palace? This is a blatant act of treason.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
The duke shrugged, as if he truly didn’t understand.
However, his gaze sparkled with intriguing interest as he observed Rohiriel.
Feeling repulsed by that, Rohiriel shuddered.
“Even if that’s the case, Rohiriel, you cannot defy me.”
Duke Cassian flashed a sly smile, and his laughter seemed to reproach Rohiriel.
“Rebelling for too long in your youth can be troublesome. Behave yourself and return.”
To the duke, who dismissed everything as mere rebellion, Rohiriel lost the will to get angry.
The Duke clicked his tongue slightly as he spotted a group of men running toward Garnet Palace.
“I hope next time we can have a more leisurely conversation. But remember, Rottie, actions come with consequences.”
A nickname he’d only called her a few times in her life flowed from the Duke’s mouth.
Rohiriel wanted to shout not to use the nickname given by her mother.
If the Duke hadn’t disappeared after saying those words,.
“Damn it!”
Looking at the spot where the Duke had been standing just moments ago, Ares cursed under his breath.
Messing up his hair, he glared at Rohiriel with resentful eyes.
“Your Highness, why did you stop me? We should have captured him right away!”
“Don’t talk nonsense, Sir Ares. He’s stronger than Roxis.”
The underworld was not a forgiving place.
To be their leader, one had to have a strong backbone.
Ares, seemingly frustrated by my words, bit his lip.
“Rather, we need to check the conditions of the others quickly. What kind of trick did he pull off…”
I immediately rushed outside.
In the corridor, not only the maids who were working but also the knights standing guard were sprawled on the floor.
“Good heavens, Zenid!”
I quickly approached Zenid to assess her condition. Fortunately, her breathing and pulse were normal.
“This seems to be… a kind of sleep paralysis poison.”
A drug that puts you to sleep so suddenly, so quickly, and without any trace.
Typically, such herbs were hard to obtain. I took out a stimulant to wake up Zenid.
‘It seems that Cassian has a dedicated apothecary.’
And it’s a highly skilled one.
*ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
At the same time, the Antrow Mountains.
Liliana couldn’t contain her boiling anger and gritted her teeth. She couldn’t make sense of the current situation.
Certainly, Rohiriel’s letter was extremely suspicious.
She suspected that Rohiriel was deliberately trying to make her suspicious and lead her to the Davit River.
‘Well, then Roxis should be at the Davit River, but why is he in the Antrow Mountains!’
Her mind was in turmoil.
Did Rohiriel, by any chance, expect that she would suspect her and go to the Antrow Mountains?
“Liliana, you’ve done a lot to bring this trouble all the way here for me.”
Roxis sneered with his characteristic smirk.
The escorts Liliana had already brought were almost completely decimated.
While Roxis’s subordinates managed to handle many, the fight itself was originally one where force wouldn’t be enough.
Roxis’s prowess in combat was on par with their father’s. That’s why she tried to travel as stealthily as possible.
She was confident she wouldn’t be spotted.
Even when she heard about the ambush, she arrogantly believed she could easily evade it.
‘How did Roxis know that I would move in the first place?’
Her thoughts were entangled like a complicated thread.
Perhaps Rohiriel had sided with Roxis. However, Liliana immediately shook her head.
Why would Rohiriel, who hated Roxis and vowed revenge, hold his hand?
“Why does your expression look so gloomy, my sister? You should be smiling; I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
“Who told you?”
“What?”
“Everything you know.”
“You do realize that’s a really stupid question, right?”
Roxis grinned. He was too pleased to have regained Yeffa. His gaze drifted to Yeffa, who was shivering in the back.
Just as Roxis seemed about to say something again,
“The sinner is there!”
“Get her!”
“He’s trying to abduct the wanted criminal, Yeffa Cassian!”
A group of ragged men began to run frantically down the ridge. They carried swords in one hand and small vials in the other.
Thank you for the chapters!❤️🔥