"You are the reason I managed to live as long as I could. Without you, it would have been impossible. Death would have been the best form of death at that time. There were even worse things that could have happened. I gave up on life by then, but you came," Miyali said softly as she raised her head to look at Ryder.
There was a grateful look on her face that was evident.
"You not only saved me, but you let me accompany you. I got to live in the Royal Palace that I only heard stories about from my Grandfather," she continued.
Ryder opened his lips to say something, but he closed once again as he saw her about to speak something.
"I already received more from you than I could have asked for. I should thank you for that. But you're the Prince and the one who owns everything," Miyali said softly.
*What can someone like me even give you as my gratitude? I only have this one necklace which I had given you for a few days before. Before I am killed, please take it, so it doesn't get bloodied. I know I have no right to ask you anything, but I still hope you'll keep it safe as a memory or as a gift. Everything is fine," she continued.
"I would have given it myself but my hands…" She said as she gazed at her chains. "You should take it."
She lowered her head as she finished speaking.
"You talked so much, but you didn't even listen to the punishment," Ryder muttered as he smiled.
"Alright. Miyali, you killed all the maids in this palace and even guards. It was unintentional, but it happened. Do you know how much work you increased for Miku? Since it wasn't intentional, you won't get the death penalty, but you won't be forgiven either. Your punishment is that…" Ryder muttered, but he took a deep pause.
He gazed back at Miku and Rale, who were looking eagerly at him to hear what Miyali's punishment was.
He shifted back his focus to Miyali and said, "From today on, you must help Miku in her work as a head maid. You will work under her, but you won't get any pay for as long as I decide."
"Huh?" Rale looked at Ryder weirdly as an unwilling response came out of his mouth. This punishment had managed to stun him effectively.
Miku was also shocked that this was the punishment, but she soon sighed in relief. She was somewhat glad that her punishment wasn't severe. Ryder had technically made Miyali her servant, which could count as a punishment of sorts.
"Are you fine with the punishment?" Ryder asked Miku after declaring the punishment.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the girl said as she nodded her head.
"Good," Ryder said before he looked back at Miku.
"Do you accept?" He asked.
"I… This is too light Punishment for my crimes?" Miyali stuttered as she replied.
"Hmm? Are you really saying that I am not fair in dealing punishment? You really refuse to accept your punishment? Do you know how big of a crime it is?" Ryder asked, feigning anger.
"This…" Miyali was stunned for words.
"This is my word. And my word is the law. Rale, free her and leave her for Miku to handle," Ryder turned back and said to Rale.
"Miku, you know how to handle things from here," he said before he left.
Rale walked up to Miyali and waved his fingers. The chains that were thinking Miyali were cut in half, freeing her.
"Have fun," Rale said to Miku before he left the cell as well.
He caught up to Ryder.
"A good decision," Rale praised Ryder.
"Really? Well, that was what should be done. She was not actually the one to be blamed. You all know it better than me how that phase is to vampires. She couldn't have controlled it since it was her first time," Ryder answered.
"Anyway, leaving that aside, the main problem is going to be dealing with the High Dukes. The disappearing people in the Palace will definitely raise their suspicions. I hope my plan works," Ryder said softly.
****
It was the middle of the night in the bustling city that never slept.
The moon was rising high in the sky. Many important meetings were taking place in the capital city in the darkness of night, and one such meeting was happening in Dream Corporation, whose headquarters was established here as well.
The top 4 executives were present in the meeting, but no one else seemed to be there.
****
In a different part of the city existed the FBI headquarters, which was in Chaos.
The director was killed, and the assistant director was the main accused who was missing.
Many detectives were at the site, investigating the scene.
This news had not only shocked the FBI, but even the higher agents were stunned. The person with the highest position in the Agency was killed in the Headquarters right under everyone else's nose.
There happened to be an agent there who was being kept in the room, but he was found unconscious when the agents had entered to remind the director about the supposed meeting
That's when it all came to light.
They had suspected Ray at first, but all the evidence pointed against it.
The fingerprints on the gun were of Handerson, and the gun was lying far away from Ray, who was handcuffed in another corner.
Even though the suspicion was on Handerson, Ray still wasn't released. He was kept under observation for interrogation.
The government had also sent a person high in authority to supervise the investigation. It was none other than the Director of National Intelligence himself, which was surprising for a few.
It was a middle-aged woman known as Greyn.
She had taken the investigation under her own hand. She seemed to be more concerned about the old man who was lying dead near the dead body of Mark.
The other agents were concerned about who the old man was and why Mark brought him to the room to interrogate Ray. They even asked Ray about it.
Ray simply repeated that he didn't know the man and didn't understand why he was brought here. According to his story, he was hit in the head only a short moment after they had entered the room. So he didn't even hear much of the conversation.
On the question of what he was asked about, he simply made an excuse that he had received false information, and the Director was trying to ask him for his source since the resources of the agency were wasted because of him.
He again maintained that he himself didn't know his source.
Fortunately, Ryder had taken the papers which had the names of the suspects. The paper also had his name so that he couldn't leave it behind.
"Mam, I believe he is innocent. It's certainly the work of Handerson. He has also gone missing after doing that," one of the agents said to Greyn, who was looking at Ray through the glass window from outside the room.
"That's what it seems like. But Handerson and Mark were pretty close. That's what I understood the last time I met them. I just can't put my finger as to why he would kill his boss; that too in a place like this? Not only that, he even left his gun behind as if he wanted us to know that it was done by him," Greyn said, frowning.
"Did you run a check on the second body? Who is the old man that was lying dead near Mark?" She asked the agent.
"Not yet. Jenny is checking. She should be coming back to inform us soon," the agent answered as he glanced back as if wondering when the girl would come back with the report.
"Go check yourself. What's taking her so long," Greyn commanded.
"Yes," the man nodded his head as he prepared to leave.
"Hmm? There she is," he suddenly said as he saw a girl on the other end of the corridor. The girl was running towards them. "Why is she running?"
Huff! Huff!
The girl called Jenny stopped near Greyn and the man as she breathed heavily.
"What did you find out?" Greyn asked without giving any opportunity for the girl to collect her breath.
"Ah, yes," the girl nodded her head.
"You wouldn't believe what I found! That old man! He… He isn't an ordinary man! He… I still can't believe it!" The girl exclaimed.
****
In a different part of the city, a hotel existed.
Ryder's body was still lying on the bed peacefully. He was wearing Divinity Glasses and lost in Divinity.
Alice was sitting near him, watching him.
"Tomorrow is your birthday. I'm sure you have forgotten already but I can't. I'm so excited," she muttered softly.
*****
In a faraway place, covered in clouds, a young silver-haired boy was sitting on a golden throne.
"It's his birthday tomorrow," he muttered.
