Inside a place that was deeply stripped of any elegance, the ominous walls throbbed like an irregular clock. This time Yale’s ears were alert, and he held his breath for the performance. Sound of footsteps echoed, creating a sweet rhythm. Incidentally, the number of prisoners on this floor wasn’t many and a few of them even covered their ears since their memories of last melody were sketchy.

Aciano Alucard reached the destined floor and moved unhurriedly towards the last cell, for he believed everyone would be asleep. But when he reached this particular cell, which wasn’t any different (silently dark and serene), a hand stealthily reached for his throat. There’s was no breathing note in the ambiance. This room was blandly silent and thus he had assumed it to be empty.

“This is fate. It is you who must free me,” said the owner of the hand that gripped Aciano’s life. The voice was very ambiguous but, in this dark setting, it sounded ghastly.

The eerie experience didn’t end there. Normally, Aciano would have slashed the hand in two, but right now, he couldn’t even lift a finger. Thus, the sharp blade under his robe remained sheathed. Slowly, he was dragged towards the iron bars.

“Now, lift your hand and open the gate,” the voice said.

Aciano felt life return to his body, and in the next instant, a blade pierced halfway through the prisoner’s hand, who uttered not even a single squeak.

“Aciano, what’s the matter?” Yale called out when he faintly heard a sound.

Drip. Drip. Chck!

Red poured down on the greasy floor, and the object of harm was taken away. In the next moment, keys jingled, and a cloth was ripped, then tied around the injury. And soon, the gate of the cell opened grandly.

Aciano planned to make another move just as the prisoner left his throat, and so he did. But all he could do was swing at thin air. The prisoner had vanished without making a sound. Only the blood drops on the floor could ever testify that the event played without a sound.

“What’s the matter?” Yale called out again. He tried to look out of the prison bars, which was utterly impossible, but at least he tired.

“Not something to be concerned about,” Aciano Alucard picked up the keys, luckily the prisoner didn’t take them, unlike the blade, and moved towards the last cell. This time he walked with great attention and let out his breath only when he was directly in front of Yale. “It appears what you told me has some truth to it.” He immediately changed the subject. “Can you show it to me now?”

“I cannot!” Yale fumed with anger. “If it weren’t for that darn Auditor, then I-”

“She helped you, it seems, and you failed to capitalize. To be able to defeat you, she wouldn’t be a simple character.”

“Did you find her identity?” Yale planned for an instant revenge. His first destination would be the Women’s Court of Justice.

“We have far more concerning matters.” Aciano opened the cell gate. “You have been summoned.”

“What about the girl?” Yale asked after stepping out. He was calm now, unbelieable calm, as there was only one person who could summon him.

“I will get her myself.” Aciano assured.

***

Ruth Glenn, a full-fledged maid, moved through a bright and luxurious hallway - it was mostly red with golden engravings, expensive paintings, exotic flowers, crystal chandeliers and what not. The maid uniform she wore seemed simple but constitutive glanced could prove you wrong, very wrong.

She stopped to fix her dress at the end of the hallway. It was very long ago when she stopped caring about her looks, but for the last two years, it had been one of her main concerns. She straightened herself, checked the letter in her hands, and entered the room.

This room had a very specific purpose, it wasn’t just another hall. The main attraction was a big throne - unlike other craft of this category, this one was attached to the wall itself. It was more like a big fluffy white fur converted into furniture to sit on, or probably soak into. But the first thing that sucked all attention was a huge window covered with equally humongous curtains.

Ruth respectfully stood in front of the huge throne. Her figure seemed tiny in presence of the lady sitting on the comfortable throne with eyes closed and face tilted - resting on her hand.

“Lady Madeline, the report has arrived,” Ruth said after a long time, specifically when the lady’s eyelids flutter.

“And the girl?” Madeline’s eyes opened and her eyelashes shines in an eerie light.

Ruth lowered her head and shook it in apology. She didn’t dare to face her angry mistress. But spoke anyway since questions were meant to be answered.

“Due to a third party interference we-”

“We?! Those scums are useless. Don’t clump us with them.” Madeline expressed her anger.

“My deepest apology,” Ruth quickly said. “Aside from the matters regarding Alucards, we have good news. A Knight under Queen Afeefa approached us.” She had been trying for a long time now, but unfortunately only male Knights sold their loyalty. Her mistress hated men, so she was sure this would dispel some anger.

The good news would have been a joyous matter at other times, but Lady Madeline only snorted. Ruth continued, hoping the next news would calm her mistress more.

“Aciano Alucard has promised to act himself.”

“What excuse did he send to save face?” Madeline said.

“He wrote, Snowmoon’s partner was-”

“She picked a partner?!” Madeline stood up from her throne.

It surprised Ruth how her mistress looked even bigger than before. But coming back to the important matter, she did not know why picking a partner would be of any significance. She skimmed over the letter to, correctly, speak on the matter.

“The partner is only a fellow trainee maid. Aciano Alucard says that she can be easily eliminated.”