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I couldn't help but to get worried about the situation, especially about Maximus. He'd been acting strange since he received that call this morning. Not just that, I was worried of his situation too.

When he told me about that bomb threat, all I wanted was to go with him because I was afraid that something bad might happen. But then, he didn't agree no matter how much I convinced him.

But when someone called him again, he finally agreed to bring me after their conversation.

"Are you sure it's okay for us to go out? I mean, you're wanted by the law and the police might catch you." I told Maximus my concern while we were in our room, currently getting dressed. We just finished taking a bath together.

He chuckled. "You insisted on coming yet you're having second thoughts. Don't worry, mi hermosa. We'll just make sure not to stand out so that people won't notice us. Besides, you will not go out of the car so it's fine." My eyebrows creased.

"What about you? How can you make sure that you won't stand out?"

"By wearing a little disguise. I'm sure, you've done that before." I chuckled as I remembered those moments when I was younger and used to sneak out of the palace. I used every disguise I knew so that no one would recognize me.

When we finished getting dressed, we went downstairs and I was surprised to see a man in black suit so formally standing at the living room as if he was waiting for us. My eyebrows creased upon seeing his face. He looked rather familiar. I knew that I've seen him before.

He bowed his head towards us.

"Do you remember Manuel, mi hermosa? You met him before." Maximus asked me. I didn't answer right away because I was trying to recall where I met him before.

"Oh, I remember! I saw him in the palace before. It was that time when you carried me in your arms because the elevators were broken down. He was the one who brought my wheelchair downstairs." It was during that time when we were about to go to De Falco farm.

I couldn't help but to smile of that memory. Maximus was too pushy while I on the other hand was cynical back then.

"I'm glad you still remember me, Princess Athena." Manuel answered formally.

"Mi hermosa, I'd like you to formally introduce Manuel to you. He's been my butler and bodyguard since I was still just a kid. He was one of the people who saved me from Giuseppe." Now I finally understood why he looked like a strict teacher just like our butlers in the palace.

But Manuel has this different aura around him. He may seem formal but I could tell that he was very capable of what he does.

"It's nice meeting you, Manuel. Thank you for always taking care of Maximus until now. Thank you for always protecting him when he was young until now." Manuel nodded his head.

"You don't have to thank me, Your Royal Highness. I've already devoted my entire life to Prince Z and will protect him as long as I live." Somehow, I got touched of his devotion. He looked like the serious type of a person but I could tell that he was sincere in every word that he was saying.

He was undeniably good-looking even in his age. Strangely, I could see a bit of Maximus in him. Maybe because he'd been with him ever since Maximus was still young.

Then, I realized something.

"Why do you call Maximus Prince Z, Manuel?" I asked curiously and then looked at Maximus.

"It's my nickname, mi hermosa. Manuel, mama and my closest friends are the only ones who call me that." It Maximus. I could see the adoration in his eyes as he remembered about his late mother.

"What does it mean?" I asked curiously.

"It stands for Zorion. It's my second name. Look at my necklace that you're wearing right now. The letters that are engraved there are actually my initials. MZSV which stands for Maximus Zorion Santana Vázquez."

"Wow. You have such a beautiful name." I complimented and he smiled.

"Mama told me before that my father was the one who named me. Maximus means 'greatest' and Zorion means 'happiness'. According to her, I was their greatest happiness. I gave meaning to their lives when I was born into this world and it always made me proud because I knew I was loved.

"Because I thought Giuseppe was my real father, I really thought that he was the one who gave me that name that's why I've always been wondering why he would name me that when he wasn't affectionate towards me at all. But when I discovered that he wasn't my biological father, that was when I realized that mama was actually referring to my real father." There was a spark of hatred as he mentioned about Giuseppe and it almost gave me cold chills but when he mentioned about his biological father, his face softened.

I cleared my throat and then intertwined our fingers together and changed the subject of our topic.

"What a co-incidence, huh? You have the same name as the Zorion International. I've always thought that that name was kinda unique because I've never met someone who has a name like that."

I felt his body become rigid for a couple of seconds. I even noticed that Manuel averted his gaze as he stood straight there on his spot quietly.

"What happened? Did I say something bad? You look weird." I couldn't help but to voice out my thought. Maximus chuckled and then planted a soft kiss on my lips while gazing at me lovingly.

"Nothing. I didn't expect that you actually know Zorion International."

"How could I not know about it? It's one of the most successful companies in the world." My eyebrows creased. "Don't tell me, you're affiliated with that company?"

He went silent for a couple of seconds as if he was debating inside if he would answer or not before he sighed.

"Yes."

My lips parted. "Really? How?"

"Z.I. belongs to me." My jaw slacked open.

"What? Then how come someone else is listed as the owner of that company?" I couldn't hold back asking questions.

"Because of my situation. When I founded that company, I decided not to let anyone know about my real identity because Giuseppe might trace my whereabouts. I lived in the shadows for too long until I finally got tired of it." His eyes darkened in rage. I got worried of the intense loathe that was visible in his eyes.

"Calm down, dolce metà. Don't let Giuseppe ruin your life by filling your heart with so much hatred. You might do something irrational out of anger."

"Don't worry about me mi hermosa. Everything's going to be fine. C'mon, let's go." I bit my lower lip and then nodded my head. He said that but I could clearly see the danger in his eyes as he mentioned about Giuseppe and I knew that he could kill him the moment he gets the chance.

We went out of the house and then got in the car. Manuel was the one who drove for us. While we were on our way, Maximus contacted some people and asked them if everything was okay. Looked like he was satisfied with their answers so he didn't say much.

We wore dark shades, bull cap and surgical mask. There were some people who wear masks in Costavia whenever they're sick or have a cough that's why it's not unusual for someone to wear mask in public. Even though I would just stay in the car, I still wore a little bit of disguise in case something unexpected happens.

"Oh, my. I've never felt this nervous before whenever I come out in public like this. I feel like something's going to happen." I admitted. Maximus held my hand.

"Don't worry, mi hermosa. I'm here for you. I'll make sure that you're safe." Then, the car stopped around 100 meters from the mall. Maximus was about to open the car door to get out when I stopped him by the hand.

"Are you going to be okay?" He caressed my cheek.

"Don't worry, mi hermosa. I'll be okay. I have my men with me." My eyebrows furrowed.

"Your men?"

"Yes, so you don't have anything to be worried about. I'll come back as soon as I could." I slowly nodded my head. He kissed my forehead.

"I love you. I'll be going now." He opened the car and before I could tell him my response, he already closed the door. There was this invisible force pulling me to go follow him but I knew that it was out of the question. I didn't want to ruin his plan.

"Don't worry, Princess Athena. Prince Z is going to be okay." Manuel said while looking at me through the rearview mirror. I forced a smile.

"I hope so, Manuel. I hope so."

"Why the fùck did you have to bring the princess here?! Do you have any idea how dangerous this mission is?!" Joaquin asked in anger. We just met at our agreed meeting place just outside the mall. I met his fiery eyes.

"Don't fùcking question me like that because I've been playing this hide and seek game ever since I was a child." I said through gritted teeth.

"Then, why did you bring her here?!"

"Because I had to. She's safer here knowing that she's just near me." His forehead crinkled. He was about to answer when someone spoke.

"It's good that he brought her here." We looked at the direction of the one who spoke.

"What do you mean?" Joaquin asked and Onyx smirked.

"Looks like Z didn't inform you." He then proceeded on filling Joaquin in of our plan.

"I can't believe that you're doing this. What if your plan backfires and she get hurt?" He asked after that.

"I'll do everything I could so that she wouldn't." I answered as I clenched my jaw.

"This is getting exciting. Looks like everything's going our way then."

"You're right, Nyx, so let's not waste our time here. Let's go." I said emotionlessly. We went on our separate ways. I purposely entered through the main entrance of the mall while furtively observing everything around me in not so obvious way.

Then, I noticed a man sitting on the bench at the corner of the hallway. I could tell that he was just pretending to read that newspaper that he was holding.

I continued walking with the same pace and calmness as if I was just one of the many people there who came into the mall to shop.

"Bud, that guy sitting on the bench is on the move. Be careful." I heard Onyx warn through the earpiece that I was wearing.

"Good. I'm sure everyone of them are beginning to move so be careful too."

"I know."

I continued walking until I reached the escalator. I got on it and rode to the second floor. Then, my smart watch vibrated. I answered the call without looking at it but I already knew who was it. The Red Fox.

"Z, are you sure about this? I don't want them to hurt Athena in anyway." The corner of my lips twitched as I heard her voice through the small earpiece that I was wearing.

"Don't worry. She'll be fine. I promise you that."

"I trust you. Don't disappoint me this time." She then ended the call. I could hint the worry in her voice but thank God, she chose to believe in me. I let her down almost two years ago and I would never let that happen again.

Then, I received another call. "Z, They're here." It was Onyx. My jaw clenched.

"Let the show begin then." I uttered with a dangerous smile.

I was so tensed of the situation while kept on glancing at the direction where Maximus went to a while ago. My heart was beating rapidly because of so much worry.

"Maximus is going to be alright, right, Manuel?" He gave me a reassuring smile through the rearview mirror.

"Don't worry, Princess Athena. Prince Z has been through a lot. He's a survivor and I'm sure that he would make sure that no one could ever get their hands on him this time, especially now that he has you to protect and to love. He changed for the better when he met you and I'm glad he did."

My eyebrows furrowed. I was about to ask him what he meant by that when we suddenly heard a series of gunshots followed by the screams of panicking people.

"Oh, gosh! Maximus!" I was about to open the car door when Manuel stopped me.

"Don't, Princes Athena. You won't help Prince Maximus if you go out of there."

"But Maximus is—"

"—Is okay. I assure you that." He assured me and I bit my lower lip as I looked outside. People were running out of the mall and I got worried that many of them might get hurt.

What's happening? Did Maximus get caught while trying to find the bomb and diffuse it? The beating of my heart became faster. I was so scared of the thought that they might hurt him.

Then, my eyes widened when I saw Maximus come out of the main entrance of the mall, being chased by an unknown man. He ran towards our direction. Then, I screamed in horror when that man shot him and he fell on the ground. His leg was now bleeding.

The unknown man approached him while pointing his gun at Maximus. I could tell that he really wanted to kill him with that evident killing intent on his face.

"Maximus!" I opened the door and ran outside, determined to save him.

"Princess Athena, no!" I heard Manuel yelled but I ignored him, determined to do something to save Maximus. He was in a coma before and almost died without me knowing about it and I would never let him get hurt like that again.

He's been through a lot and this time; I would protect him too.

"You deserve to die!" I heard the unknown man roar and was about to pull the trigger but I got in between them, protecting Maximus with myself.

"No! Please don't do it!" The man looked surprised upon seeing me.

"What the—Get out of there, Your Royal Highness! You're mistaken!" Before I could answer, I heard Maximus laugh behind me. My body went still upon hearing his voice. I heard the sound of him standing up and approached me before wrapping his arm around my neck.

I felt a sharp-pointed thing on my side and I almost screamed when he deliberately let me feel it bypushing it a little bit harder on my skin. Cold chills ran down my spine as I realized that I was in grave danger because he was holding me as a hostage while laughing like the devil.