"Lord Tydor wants you dead,his men has eyes on us,they think we are a couple"Athena's voice boomed in his head as he stood behind the emperor.
"What!"Zero's eyes were bulging as his eyes snapping across the guests till it finally found her seated amongst other chief knight at the rear end of the venue.
She wore a black sleeveless long dress with vines and blossoms embroidered into it's helm,reaching up to the level of her waist,her long braided hair adorned with precious ornaments fell gracefully down her shoulders.
Athena wasn't looking his way,her eyes were lowered,fixed on her drink instead,she was clearly avoiding his gaze.
"What in the world!...why would he think that?!"Zero's face wrinkled in a deep frown.
"What did you tell him?—"
"No..nothing!... I mean they have been watching us,seen us a couple of times together and think you are madly in love with me"
"Ma...madly in—love?!"Zero's face had turned red,as if prepared to explode any moment as he fought back the impulse to storm down the stairs and confront her.
"You said something didn't you?or at least told him that is false?"
"Look...for your sake just do whatever you can,i'll give you specifics later but I want you to live".
Zero's breathing slowed down as he tried to calm himself,his eyes never left her the whole time yet her eyes remained on the drink.
He descended down the stairs with Tyran then shoved his way through the dense crowd of guests towards her.
The Chief knight watched him divert from the emperor's side,her attention had been on the nobles sitting behind her with half of their faces hidden behind elegant colourful fans.
Their cold eyes had been watching her,not with admiration but with heavy intent,as if having marked her a target.
She had only taken one glance their way but could still feel their eyes on her.
Athena stood to her feet with a wide grin.
He reached her side,slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her in and planted a gently kiss on her forehead.
"They are watching us from behind me,do not look their way—" she told him via telepathy.
"Or maybe you just want an excuse to have your way with me"Zero cut in, his lips curling into a mischievous grin as he brushed aside a stray lock of hair that threatened to obsecure her eyes with a wide grin before pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Ha—ha,very funny"
"You look beautiful"he said out loud,his eyes twinkling in a way that made him most attractive "Very beautiful my love".
Athena found herself blushing at those words despite knowing they were faked.
"Such flattery! "she muttered with a soft chuckle"The emperor...is it okay leaving his side?".
"I'll be there before he even realizes it"
"Before that let's give them a show".he added via telepathy.
He leaned in, tightening his grip on her waist before his lips slowly trailed down her neck.
"Isn't this ....too—"
Zero froze when he spotted Mia in the crowd approaching the next table with a tray of wine.
Their eyes locked with each other as she halted in her steps,her gaze more confused than surprised at the image before her.
Zero pulled away from Athena,his eyes following her retreating figure.
"It's not what you think"he told her via telepathy.
"Ttttttssskkkk!!....why do you think I care"Mia snapped, her voice laced with irritation.
She dropped the drink with a sharp clatter before storming off without looking their way.
"Zero don't ruin this!"Athena warned in his mind and the knight's attention returned to her,his hands cupping her chin slightly.
"You're right I —"
"Zero Jager,this is a child's birthday party for goodness sake you both love birds take this else where"General Zhang called out from behind them and they both spiraled around before offering a respectful bow.
"My lord I—"Zero chuckled lightly "Greetings Lord Zhang".
His eyes drifted towards Kaugra standing next to him,the Semonio he had heard of,the one who had exchanged fierce blows with Gerald,seeking his death.
Dressed in beautiful in a pink silk traditional attire with her hair endowed with gold jeweries and precious rare stones,she looked different now she was married to a prince,much different that he almost didn't recognize her,such beauty hiding behind a murderous heart,she was the first and easiest on his list to eliminate.
His eyes travelled to her protruding abdomen.
He wasn't intent on killing an innocent child but making it an orphan and making Prince Garrith a widower sounded more appealing.
Until she expelled her child he would spare her life for a short while.
"Your highness"he said with a respectful bow"You appear the brightest thing I have seen today".
"Your flatter me Zero"Kaugra replied,a soft blush dusting her cheeks and Zero neared her father, casually placing an arm on his shoulder.
"My lord these can be quite overwhelming sometimes,so difficult to control"he whispered,his gaze drifting to Kaugra as the general followed his eyes.
"I have been away since your appointment as the new emperor's Knight,haven't had the time to congrate you".
General Zhang pulled away slightly,grasping Zero's hand in a handshake.
"Same here my lord,on the marriage of your daughter to Prince Garrith,soon you would become a king's father in-law,i honesty cant wait"
"My love"Prince Garrith appeared before taking Kaugra's hand in his.
"Weren't you with the other princes?"
"I was but left to find you...come I want you to meet someone"He took her hand and wandered off.
Zero turned to Athena, placing a soft kiss on her cheeks,rubbing gently on her hand as he did.
"I must leave for the Emperor's side my lord,do excuse me"his head lowered in a bow before walking Tyran's way,stopping at intervals to glance at Athena with a playful grin,whose eyes remained on him till the crowd swallowed him from sight.
*******************************
Ren appeared in his room,staggering with a mouthful of poisoned saliva as he approached his wash room,his eyes struggling to remain open while mustering the strength to keep his feet.
The hot saliva burnt open wounds into his mouth which he managed to heal up.
He felt his body aching,his insides burning,it's action had began and his cells must have taken in some of it.
Ren supported himself with the wall, panting heavily with each breath he took,he wouldn't make it to the washroom,no his feet couldn't take it any longer.
They gave way,letting him fall to his knees as he spat out the liquid which ate into the ground it made contact with.
That was all of it or almost all of it as it's minute residuals was busy damaging the organs he barely had any strength left in him to heal.
The poison was potent,more potent than any he had taken in before.
Luckily It's corrosive action had began just after he had successfully exchanged the prince's blood with his.
Who knew the spell would require such enormous amount of mana that it had drained him completely,he had used what was left of his mana to heal his oral cavity,still lined with painful sores due to incomplete healing.
But he was prepared for this, prepared for the worst outcome —his own death.
Ren dropped to the ground shivering,for the first time his body felt cold,the pull of an overwhelming force much stronger than him forcefully drag him away from life its self.
Through a shallow and laboured breathing as he shut his eyes,Ren thought of nothing but darkness,there wasn't a person he would miss and no one would care if he was gone either except— his mind recollected the smiling face of a silver haired child he recognized.
That's right,he still had someone to protect,he had wronged him that he badly wanted to make up for it but would he be able to?
Would it be wrong to wish to live for his sake?
"Ren"he heard a familiar voice call out as a warm hand touched him.
He tried opening his eyes to see but they wouldn't yield,he felt his consciousness slowly fading.
"Re—Ren!"the voice called out again,this time trembling from fright.