Haimirich's Imperial main palace had this strange layout. It was almost like a split. The design of the front part and the back part were nearly identical. Like two identical palaces, facing back to back.
Aries never thought of this before, but now, it somehow made sense.
The Empire, in a sense, had two faces; two different worlds. The day where the humans come in and out, working throughout. And then once the night fell where all the creatures of the night prowl and gather.
"Abel…" Aries whispered in her ragged breathing, sprinting through the hallway, heading to the great hall that was rarely used. She didn't care if anyone would see her, even though she, fortunately, hadn't bumped into anyone.
Good thing she was wearing male clothing. Hence, her mobility wasn't restrained by those heavy dresses. Aries grabbed her wig while running, taking it off, and letting her braids fall.
'Please, please, please,' she prayed inwardly, grinding her teeth. 'Please let this be just my imagination. Don't let any harm befall him.'
Aries picked up her pace, running as fast as possible. The adrenaline pumping through every fiber of her body pushed her to go beyond her limits. The lights depleted in numbers, but the gradual decrease helped her eyes adjust until the only light that was showing her the path was the moonlight from each window.
Soon, she could see the entrance of the great hall.
If the layout of this place in her head was correct, the door she set her eyes to was the private entrance of the great hall. It was the way that important officials, Abel in particular, use if there was a banquet.
As she got even closer, the hallways got even darker. But her steps didn't falter. There was this slight relief in her heart for the reason she wasn't hearing any screams or shouts. Deep in her heart, she prayed things weren't as bad as she had imagined them to be.
'Everything will be fine,' she told herself, reaching for the door handle and pushing it open without a second hesitation. But just as she got a glimpsed of the well-lit great hall, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
Aries wasn't able to react quickly as another hand covered her mouth. The next thing she knew, a person was restraining her from the back, covering her mouth as the person's back was against the wall.
"Mhmm!!" she screamed but came out muffled. Her eyes dilated, wiggling her body to freedom, but the person's grip around her was secured.
"Shhh." A rasped voice came from behind her ear. "You'll die if you get found out."
Aries's breath hitched until her neck turned taut. Moving her eyes to the side, she saw someone from inside the great hall peek his head out. The person had looked to the right, and then to the left, where Aries and the person restraining her were standing on.
Aries instantly froze at the person's gaze. They were just right there, beside the door, leaning against the wall. It was impossible that the person checking wouldn't see them despite this darkness. But the person simply shrugged as if he didn't see them, and closed the door once more.
"He didn't see us because I put up an illusion wall. Hence, all he saw was an empty hallway," explained the man behind her, still covering her mouth. His voice was unfamiliar, so Aries couldn't guess who could this person be. "I'll let you go if you promised to calm down. I didn't expect Sunny to send you here all alone, however, she is desperate. I will explain everything to you… that is, if you are willing."
Aries let out a muffled, "yes," while nodding her head profusely.
"If you are tricking me, then I will have no choice but to knock you out," the man warned under his breath. "I don't like people who make things even more complicated."
Her face contorted, closing her eyes, and a tear rolled down her cheek. She nodded, keeping herself together, reminding herself to not lose her sense of rationality.
The man kept her in his restraint for a full minute and only released her when he was certain Aries wouldn't do anything rash. As he slowly released her, Aries took a step forward, away from the man, but not too far as she was still within his reach.
"Who… who are you?" her voice was shaky, looking up at the man she had never seen before. She couldn't see his face properly in this darkness, but she could see his pair of bright red eyes looking back at her.
"Leon La Crox," said the man monotonously. "Sunny's uncle."
Aries's mouth fell open, recalling that time Abel came into the dining hall with a man. This was that person. The man, Leon La Crox, glanced at the door Aries had opened previously.
"They were holding a coven beyond that door," he explained, setting his sharp eyes back on her. "Did Sunny tell you what the coven is about?"
Her mouth opened and closed, but her voice was lost within her. So she nodded as an answer.
"I'm not sure why she sent you here, but you can't be here."
"But Abel…!" Aries trailed off, realizing she raised her voice a bit. She breathed out heavily and continued quietly. "Is he in danger?"
"The coven's sole purpose is to end him."
Her heart clenched as she ground her teeth. "Then there's more reason for me to go inside."
"What will you do?" asked Leon, rendering her speechless at his question. "What can a human like you do to help His Majesty?"
Aries balled her hand into a fist, getting angrier by the second. However, she couldn't answer him, nor could she argue with him.
What would she do if she go inside?
Nothing.
She lowered her eyes, assuming she was incapable of doing anything to help Abel if he needed one. Just like the man said, she was only human. What could she do? Cry? Beg for mercy?
"If begging is the only way…"
"You do not understand," Leon remarked coldly, raising his chin, eyes down on her. "Those insides had only one desire, and that is to end him. Even if you cry blood, you can never sway them."
"Then what can I do?" Aries ground her teeth as her eyes heat up. "I don't know what they were doing inside. My husband is there. I need to do something; I can't lose him."
"Trust him."
This content is taken from (f)reewe(b)novel.𝗰𝗼𝐦