The Tyrant's Pet

"I wonder what her body looks like without all those fabrics?"

A powerful gust of wind blew past Aries, but she maintained her stern countenance. As the wind subsided, the sound of heavy thuds of bodies falling onto the ground resonated one after another. But the thinning crowd didn't faze Aries, nor did it surprise Maximus and Abel.

"Ah!" the host stumbled back until he fell on his buttocks, staring at those giant bloody wings that came out of nowhere.

"I should've asked for your tongue." Abel tilted his head down slightly, eyes up at the man opposite him. "Oh, well… your eyes are enough for now."

The corner of Maximus' lips curled up, wiping the slash across his cheek upon Abel's attack using his wings.

"It's been a while since I've seen those wings of the Grimsbanne," he mused, licking the blood off of his thumb, eyes locked with Abel. "Mathilda never used hers."

"Considering my sister doesn't care, I'm not surprised."

Maximus assessed the smirk on Abel that didn't reach his menacing eyes. His gaze then lingered on those hauntingly beautiful wings that brought equal pain and strength to their owner.

"Your Majesty!"

Aries snapped her eyes from Abel and Maximus, catching the unconscious crowd on the floor. Deep lines appeared in between her brows as she noticed that outside the plaza, some people were still going through their night like usual.

"Ah," Aries glanced up, narrowing her eyes until a transparent wall appeared before her. "That's how it is."

"I must commend you, my friend." Aries looked back at Maximus when the man clapped mildly. "I heard about the warlock you had kept by your side. It's a surprise that a warlock and a Grimsbanne can maintain a good rapport. He is rather quick to put up this barrier."

When Aries gazed back at Maximus, she saw him looking around with a smile. During this entire time learning the basics of witchcraft with Isaiah, Aries learned many things from him. Isaiah could not only cast a simple spell or a protective barrier but also a barrier that would more or less make a certain area invisible.

From the outside, everyone was probably still seeing the same scenario of the competition. Or maybe it changed. Depends on what Isaiah did to hide them. Isaiah was indeed amazing because of his timely and efficient reaction, even though he was in the palace.

"I wanted to tour the capital for a while, but when I saw you having the time of your life, I couldn't help it." Maximus kept his smile, his expression was still pale, and his aura weak. But Aries couldn't lower her guard, knowing this man had overthrown the throne to claim it himself. Not just any throne, but the throne of the king of vampires.

"You didn't seem as elated as I am, though." His smile slightly faded as he sighed. "How sad."

"Your Majesty!"

Suddenly, Conan's voice was heard from a distance. When Aries followed his voice, all she saw was the fire in Conan's eyes, followed by the sound of a sword being unsheathed.

"Oh, hello there, my dearest brother," greeted Maximus to the furious Conan, who was stomping his way towards them.

The moment Conan wielded his sword, multiple shadows surrounded them, replacing the unconscious crowd with their swords up. But that didn't stop Conan, nor the knights with him who also appeared several seconds after Conan.

In a blink of an eye, the lively competition had turned grim with all the original crowd unconscious on the ground as the result of Abel's explosion of aura.

Now, the area was just Abel and Maximus standing opposite each other. On one side were people wearing cloaks and unfamiliar uniforms underneath. On the other side were the royal knights led by Conan. Both forces were waiting, observing their opponent, ready to swing their weapons at a drop of a hat.

If not for Aries being able to control a good fraction of her powers, she wouldn't be able to handle the suffocating air around. And to think Abel hadn't pulled an aura at Maximus and vice versa. Even the host, who was able to overcome the first explosion of aura when Abel spread his wings to attack Maximus, fainted.

CLASH!

Aries snapped back to the current lapse at the piercing sound of metal hitting each other. When she followed the noise, she caught Conan had leaped forward to Maximus' side with his sword, but another person blocked his incoming attack.

"Brother, we haven't seen each other for quite some time, but it seemed you hadn't changed a bit," humored Maximus before the person who blocked Conan's attack forced Conan away. "I was expecting you had matured, even for a bit. I mean, I am aware we had our misunderstandings, but how can you greet your sickly brother like that?"

Maximus then set his eyes back to Abel. "I guess you also hadn't changed, my friend. You still spoil him so much."

"You haven't changed as well, Fourth. You're still full of your typical baloney." Conan's voice shook as the fire in his eyes blazed even more. However, before he could launch another attack, Abel's calm voice pierced the still air.

"Your eye?" Abel quirked a brow; no one knew if he was even aware of his surroundings or Conan's presence since his focus was solely on the man opposite him. "You bled first, and since you had entered my empire… this entrance fee isn't much, am I correct?"

"Right…" Maximus chuckled. "I almost forgot about that."

"Your Majesty!" someone from another force suddenly approached Maximus behind.

The latter glanced over his shoulder and smiled. "It's alright. Abel is my friend, and we had a bet. If I don't gouge out my eyes, he would. That's the bet, and it's my fault for lowering my guard."

Maximus then slowly raised his eyes at Aries, offering a kind smile to her. But alas, Aries kept her stony front. She felt sorry for him at first, but after learning who this man was, Aries didn't show the slightest pity.

"How beautiful, indeed. My only consolation here is I was able to see her before losing an eye," Maximus murmured, studying the unfaltering look in her iridescent eyes. "Now I know why you were —"

Maximus was abruptly cut off when the sharp tip of Abel's wings suddenly aimed for his eye. But to Aries's surprise, he was able to grab it, albeit risked his palm from getting cut.

"That's not nice, my friend," said Maximus. "I wasn't done talking yet."

"Do not test me, you." Abel blinked ever so tenderly, his expression stern. Perhaps this was the first time Aries had seen Abel not smile in front of his enemy. "Look at her again or speak about her with that filthy mouth of yours, and I'll end you right here and now. Perhaps a trip to the mainland will be a fun exercise afterward."

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