The melody of the banquet flowed colder than ever before.
In the grand hall, where dazzling lights sparkled like jewels, couples danced in perfect harmony.
They were knights disguised as invited guests, each carrying a holster and a Lebron dagger at their waist.
Meanwhile, in the waiting room connected by a single door, paladins, Lova, and Lebron weapons were stationed.
A straight corridor, about five minutes away from the main hall’s waiting room, connected to an annex. Unlike the hall, the annex was filled with countless hidden knights.
These knights were also disguised as servants, forcing awkward social smiles on their faces.
Yet, they remained on high alert, their sharp gazes constantly scanning the windows, ceiling, and terrace.
How much time had passed since the banquet began?
Whoosh. A faint breeze flickered through the room, extinguishing a single candle fixed to the wall.
It was an omen of what was to come.
The sound of wings slicing through the air echoed from the terrace.
A man leaped onto the terrace railing, his robe billowing like a dark curtain.
As he lifted his head with a leisurely smile, his blood-red eyes gleamed ominously.
“What a beautiful night.”
“Damn it!” One knight cursed upon recognizing Lunox.
A man they had seen a thousand times in portraits had appeared not in the annex, but in the main hall.
However, the chaos lasted only a moment. The trained knights quickly fell into battle formation.
Lunox crouched on the railing, gazing at the menacing knights lined before him. Despite facing dozens of opponents, he remained utterly composed.
“He’s not here.”
So they had suspected eavesdropping and leaked false information.
Realizing the person he sought was absent, Lunox stood, his expression turning cold.
Then, it happened.
Someone lunged like a shadow, swinging a spear at Lunox’s legs.
The speed was imperceptible to the naked eye. Lunox let out a rough grunt, reacting a beat too late as he jumped.
Clang!
Lunox’s footing slipped on the railing, causing him to waver. A sudden gust of wind from behind blew his hood over his face.
Just as he was about to fall over the edge, a hand shot out, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him back.
The force pulled his robe’s hood away, revealing his face twisted in a crazed grin. Then, upon seeing the person who held him, his crimson eyes widened. A smooth smirk played on his lips.
“We meet again, little one.”
Ah, no.
Lunox clamped his hand over the wrist gripping his collar, letting out a dry chuckle.
“Or should I say, Duke Mipedian now?”
His voice carried a chilling resonance.
That unsettling smile.
The one holding him curled his lips into a smirk, his piercing yellow eyes gleaming with a faint blue hue, brimming with killing intent.
“I recognized you in an instant.”
A creature unforgettable even in death—a monster.
The being he had searched for all his life was now in Edmund’s grasp.
Edmund stared coldly at the life he held in his grip, tightening his fingers over Lunox’s throat, veins bulging against his skin.
Whoosh— The autumn wind howled, violently whipping at Lunox’s robe.
His long black hair billowed alongside the fluttering fabric.
A precarious standoff.
The knights standing behind Edmund remained tense, awaiting the moment the battle would erupt.
Lunox, his head tilted back, looked at Edmund with an amused gaze before breaking into a languid smile.
“I appreciate that you haven’t forgotten me. It’s a shame we can’t take a moment to catch up.”
Despite the provocation, Edmund’s expression remained utterly devoid of warmth.
“Ah, come on. Shall I tell you about the time I devoured your parents?”
Lunox’s grin twisted into something wild, his eyes spinning playfully.
“Hmm, or should I describe how hilarious it was when you burst out of that storage room, desperately searching for your mother—”
It happened in an instant.
Edmund shot his hand downward, twisting Lunox’s ankle.
Crunch! A sickening crack echoed as his bone fractured. Lunox trembled violently, unable to scream, his vision flashing yellow as he let out a choked breath.
Yet, he chuckled through the pain.
“So, your eyes have changed since childhood. Back then, they were so pure, it made me envious.”
Though he maintained his composure, sweat dripped from Lunox’s temple.
Edmund’s gaze grew colder, his expression impassive—like one crushing an insect beneath his heel.
“Catching up, you say? Seeing you again only fills me with disappointment. I wasted so many sleepless nights fearing something as pathetic as you.”
Clicking his tongue, he scowled darkly.
Then, a scream tore through the air.
“Ugh!”
Knights clutched their chests, writhing in unbearable pain.
Edmund frowned and scanned the hall.
Some knights remained unaffected, while others collapsed momentarily before regaining their composure.
Lunox propped himself up, glancing at the floor, before chuckling softly.
“It has finally arrived.”
Boom! The ground trembled as though it had split apart.
Screams erupted from the mansion’s lavish garden. Agonized cries multiplied chaotically, drawing Edmund’s gaze toward the source.
A monster, drooling thick saliva, slowly unfolded its hunched back. As it moved, purification stones tumbled from its body like marbles.
Boom. Boom. With each step, the earth quaked. Each attack brought devastation.
And, unfortunately, there was more than one.
Lunox noticed Edmund’s wavering eyes and let out an elegant chuckle.
“Your maid missed one crucial detail—stepping on the ritual’s boundary, rather than entering it, is enough to seal the contract.”
Edmund clenched his jaw so tightly that his muscles tensed visibly.
His veins bulged as his fierce eyes turned back to Lunox.
Lunox, having drawn the reaction he desired, leaned back, grinning wickedly.
“Before entering, I scattered purification stones across the mansion, each recklessly bound to monsters. I even inscribed summoning circles throughout the mountain path leading to the duchy. That means some of your knights are now bonded to those creatures.”
Thud. Edmund’s heart plummeted.
No…
Lunox curled his lips into a sinister smile.
“I wonder what will happen to her.”
Whack! Edmund’s fist struck him before he could finish.
Clang! Lunox crashed into the left railing, hitting the ground hard.
Blood dripped from his lips, yet he let out a crazed, shuddering laugh.
Screams from the annex drew his gaze downward, where he met Edmund’s frantic yellow eyes.
“Should you really be wasting time here? She’s not in this hall—she must be in the annex.”
Edmund’s eyes trembled before clenching his fists.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his rage.
Lunox was using his love for Etricia as bait to escape and abduct her.
He had no intention of falling for such a cheap trick.
But if she recklessly used her powers to save the knights…
The mere thought of her never waking again sent a chill down his spine.
He had only one choice.
Without hesitation, Edmund bound Lunox’s ankles with Lebron chains, fastening him to the railing.
Then, he whispered coldly.
“Move, and I’ll strip the flesh from your bones.”
Ignoring Lunox’s eerie laughter, Edmund dashed out.
“Etricia… Please, don’t use your powers. Please… don’t sacrifice yourself.”
