I thought we were prepared for the grand ball. As the enormous door opened and announced our surname which brought clamping bells in my ears. The soft palm on my hand tremble, beside me was my beautiful wife. I was walking her on the red carpet and it was an amusing sight to behold when she became conscious with the people stares.

We finished paying respect for His Majesty and it was the night for the first dance. Crystal with her grin plastered on her face pulled me in the center of the spotlight. She began to take the first step and sway her body. I took a glimpse at Josh and he replied me with a nod.

Yet, my eyes didn't leave him from there. I watch the knight guard my wife in the area of the foods and it was the only moment I could breathe safely.

"Why don't you focus on me?" the wench asked.

"Isn't the time you should tell me where are the gems?" I raised my eyebrow.

She chuckled as her finger with her long red nail traces my nose until to my lips. "Why so impatient darling."

I caught her malicious hand and place it back on my shoulder. I would never let this woman to have her way in me. "I am done with our agreement."

"Oh my. Now, did you?"

"Hmm. You've become fearless as the days passed by."

"Aren't I learning from you?" She flinched when I tighten the grip on her waist. I spin her harshly that made me receive a glare from her. As I concluded, she doesn't have an ounce to utter her secret.

Well, it's not a problem. We will just have to move forward and make that mouth of her speak the truth. Everything was sailing smoothly. She wouldn't know that I send the adequate knights to the Dukedom instead of those skilled ones and they were here, watching her move.

"The Crown Prince is handsome as usual," she commented. I followed her eyes, on where she was staring at and I cursed when Allerick, His Royal Highness was approaching my beloved wife. I instantly let go Crystal as my feet that have its own mind walk towards them.

Never knew that in this worst scenario, my prediction of the castle being attack happened. The lights went off, I was calm since that Princess wore the magic ring that I gave her. If she escaped in this current situation, we will be able to easily track her.

Yet, I started to panic when my wife drifted away from my grasp because of the nobles going berserk. She was just right here beside me, I should have hold her tightly. I cuss and cuss again as I frustratedly comb my hair.

I deeply regretted that I didn't give Madelaine any jewel that would make her found in the dark. Of course, there is no way that my suspicious of the future is exactly right and my plan will always flow the way I want. I didn't even know that they will assault the Imperial Palace with this kind of method.

My hand rest on the handle of my sword. I sharpen my senses and feel the presence of the intruders. They might be after me however, their moves were quiet and soft. Then, I came to a conclusion that the invaders were assassins.

"That impudent King!" I clench my jaw and continued my search for Madelaine. Surely, this is what they are scheming with the Princess from the start when she became my concubine.

It was strange and doubtful. There was none of the assassins tried to point their blades at me. My heart was beating faster that I never felt during the war. My movements were restricted and cautious.

When I sighted a glowing ring, I frowned. Where the hell are the other knights and they are just letting her runaway? I immediately caught her from behind and straggle her neck with my arm.

"You know that I won't let you go, right?"

She laughs like an evil witch. "So, you're aware that this might happen."

Her teeth sunk into my skin despite the suit I'm wearing as she tried to break off from me. But since I am ten times stronger than her, it didn't have an effect.

"Let me go this instant!"

"Why the hell, I will do that?" I whispered in her ear. "You haven't fulfilled our deal."

"Ha! Like I would tell you the source of our wealth!"

"Right," I smirk. "I will just have to torture you until your saliva showered your own mouth."

She shivered from the way I threaten her. Yet, it wasn't enough to make her back down. "If you can. However, you sure you were going to shackle me until the lights went back?"

I froze and my suspicious arose once again. Later from that, and I found myself gazing at the woman that I dear. She was lying on the cold ground with blood spilling from her.

They were not after me for the entire time. I was too ambitious and confident that they want my head for the opponent to proceed conquering the lands of Arello. Yet, I was thinking of them quite lightly and underestimated their capability. They were targeting my weakness all along. It was worst than experiencing my own death.

My world seems has stop revolving and my mouthed parted as I couldn't express my own raging emotion. I witness her quiver and tiredly wanting to close her eyes, a traumatic memory that wouldn't let my soul be at peace.

I was never afraid of something, be it taking people's lives. I've seen countless dead bodies and I didn't give a single care; blood was my favorite color but hers was not. All I knew was my clouded mind of scenes that I will lose her and breathing was the hardest job for my chest.

"What are you all staring at! Call the best healers now!"

"Your Excellency, please calm down!" a knight suddenly appeared and it was too late for he was not needed here. I shook off my arm that he tried to hold as he tries to restrains the monster inside my being.

"Bastard! I will kill him!" I gritted my teeth while thinking the King of Mazo behind of this scheme. I kiss the cold palm of Madelaine to calm my nerves, she comes first.

"Quick the healer!"

I gently carried her in the room of the Imperial Palace with the consent of His Majesty as I abandon the party. I laid her down on the bed and plant a kiss on her forehead. For now, I made a way to stop the bleeding.

The good thing was, the assassin left an evidence of him. It was the knife that was used to stab my wife engraved with their mark. I pressed my lips when I was familiar with their group.

They were called Seven Deadly Sins. And just like the name of their circle, they were criminals. I smirk when Greed was careless and actually left a trace of him. Certainly, they were hired by the King of Mazo for her daughter to be escape.

Now, everything makes sense and the pieces of the puzzle was able to form a picture. I clasp the knife; I will hunt them until the ends of the world.

"The healer is here," the Crown Prince embarked and walk closer to me. "What have you been doing? The tyrant Grand Duke couldn't even protect her!"

I grabbed his suit without minding the difference between our status. "Know when to keep your mouth shut."

"What? Am I wrong?" He held my grip and tried to get away from me. "Or are you going to wage war against me? How should I act for this kind of treason?"

"Sure. You think I wouldn't win against the likes of you?" I let him go and wrinkles on his clothes were visible. "I could behead you right now!"

"Then, why don't you do it!" he shouted that triggered me even more with irksome and I unknowingly draw my sword.

I swing my blade against his neck and in a split second, I found his head rolling on the floor. I showed no humor on my face as I could clearly see with my two eyes that he was still standing.

"Have you calm down now?" He calmly picks up his head and place it back on his neck. "I have too much magic. The reason that I am the next Emperor and not because of my skills."

Allerick was born with overflowing mana and he could do anything in one snap of his finger. Even I slash his body, he could easily revive it and replenish. Therefore, I recognize from the start that I should not make him my enemy.

"I know that." I let out a heavy sigh. I couldn't believe that I lose my control for a moment. I sat down on the mattress beside my wife and watch her lips turn pale.

"Then, please start healing her. "The Crown Prince ordered to the shocked healer that was watching the chaos between us. "And do mind to keep it a secret of what happened here."

"Y-yes, Your Royal Highness." She began to examine her body and we waited for the result. "For now, the bleeding has stopped. However, she was deadly poisoned."

"Then, chants won't work?"

"In the years of my study, I have not found a chant for this kind of poison."

I might perhaps agree with her. Healers are at their best when they heal sick people, physician for checking up the body and herbalist for making potions. Though, healers are the most useful in every area as they were versatile, it was the also reason why they are sacred.

"What should we do then?"

"I guess we should negotiate with an herbalist that might want to create the potion for us."

She paused and frown as if she was thinking something. "But I'm not sure if there will be one herbalist that are willing to."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Your Excellency, the ingredient that will be used for the potion is rare."

A moment of silence ruled among us while she is trying to remember the name of the herb. "Right, I do hear that there is one recently in Celtic. It was up for auction some time ago. For I recalled, it was a pressed-flowers that made for the Queen of the Kingdom of Velez."

"So, that was it," Allerick murmured. "Then, there would be no problem after all. I bought that from the Panget Auction and gifted it to her. Never thought that it will be useful."

"You gave her what?"

"The necklace that she was admiring?"

I growled. "You're sly for doing a move to another's wife."

"Easy man before you cut my head again, it was meant for expressing my gratitude."

The door burst opened and some of my knights entered and they abruptly saluted. "Sire, we are here to report."

I glance at my wife before turning to His Royal Highness with a requesting permission in my eyes. "We will be borrowing one of the rooms here."

"Fine."

When we shifted in a secluded area, the knights began telling their sides. "They were the famous assassins called the Seven Deadly Sins. We investigated the venue and found out that they were hired by the King of Mazo."

"That is much pretty obvious. Anything else?" Perhaps, they were too occupied by those intruders that they didn't have the time to watch over Crystal. Though, we were still able to capture the Princess and immediately lock her in the prison basement.

"Some of the soldiers were also injured because of them. However, we will still accept any punishment Sire for neglecting our duty," Josh said with bravery.

My fingers tap the desk as I think an appropriate respond to them. There was no reaction that I'm showing to what they stated. Based to the way their throat gulp, they must have thought that I'm furious at them. "If you want me to forgive you, bring me the head of the King."

"Pardon?" they exclaim in unison.

I will not be joining the battlefield and my second in command will takeover my position for the meantime. "I will stay here and watch her until she opens her eyes."