Eternal Thief

Six months passed since Ronan left the Demonic Seal Castle, and everything was the same as the puppet servants doing their daily jobs without missing a single day and repeating the same process over and over.

NO.8,430 was also the same as he supervised those nameless puppet servants, but Ace was almost ready to start the foray at Demon Temple.

In these six months, he appeared to be completely NO.8,430 in the day, while at night, he would plan for this foray, and after checking every detail, he was now 70% confident in pulling this foray and escaping before anyone would notice.

Today, Ace was checking the herb gardens daily when his ears perked as he heard a slight commotion from outside. Even though the castle gates were closed, he could still hear the sound of marching knights.

'What is going on?' Ace's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but he pretended to be unfazed by it.

Being a puppet servant was not easy. They can't put anything first before their duties unless ordered by the imperials. So, if he showed curiosity about something else, he knew he would get busted.

From the day Ronan left, Ace had this nagging feeling that he was being monitored or the whole castle, so he was even more on guard and didn't dare to show any flaw in his act.

'Are those inner palace knights moving away from their posts for some reason?' Ace's eyes flashed.

'By the sound, they are almost a hundred of them, and according to Ronan, there are only five hundred Imperial Guards and five hundred hidden high-ranking puppet servants guarding the entrance wall to the inner palace. This number should be high, but some imperial knights were sent to join the search for me.

'Only if someone from the inner palace was about to leave the domain will those guards escort them. But who could it be from the inner place since only Emperor or Empress lived or the youngest prince who still had yet to bestow his castle in the outer emperor palace…' Ace fell into deep thought as his mind worked at lightning speed?

'Anyhow, their formation might be disrupted tonight with this reshuffle in their positions. Should I move tonight?' Ace's heartbeat raced as he weighed down his options!

---

Outside the Demonic Seal Castle,

A squad of hundred knights clad in menacing black armor branded with the imperial family emblem while holding long halberds in their hands was moving in a circular formation. In the middle of this formation was a beautiful carriage with the imperial family emblem as well.

They were marching toward the exit of the emperor's palace.

"Stop right there!" A cold voice filled with authority rang at this moment.

Another carriage comes into everyone's view and bears the imperial family emblem.

Those imperial knights had no choice but to stop since they knew who this voice and carriage belonged to, and they couldn't just ignore this person.

The door of this carriage blocking the marching imperial knights opened, and a masked demon exited wearing black color prince robes. He was none other than the first demon prince, Martian.

Martian coldly looked at the carriage in the center and questioned coldly with a hint of indignation, "Who is in that carriage of the inner palace?"

"It's me, your cherished little sister, First Imperial Brother. It's been a while." Leona's gentle voice rang at this moment within the carriage.

Martian's eyes turned cold, and he sneered, "It seemed you've been well even in your detention, Third Sister. You even got to enjoy the ride in the inner palace carriage. I won't if I would get the same treatment if I dragged our family face in the mud!"

Martian didn't mince his scornful words and rage. He was completely exasperated when he heard that Leona was going to be released from her so-called detention and return to the institute to complete her graduation.

He, as a first prince, was never actually treated like the first prince at all. On the contrary, Leona was the one who got that treatment or even more exaggerated love from their parents.

This naturally made those other children indignant, especially the First Prince, who saw Leona as his enemy who snatched his birthright. He was even more afraid that she would seize the throne of Demon Emperor one day if this continued.

He thought it would end her splendor after Leona's blunder, and he will have a chance to rise.

But now, after seeing those knights escorting her out, he knew he was wrong all along, nothing had changed, and Leona remained supreme!

After Martian's menacing words, silence descended in the vicinity. Those knights didn't dare to breathe heavily because they knew this matter was between the imperials, and they will only dig their own graves by interfering.

Especially when it concerned First Prince or Third Princess.

Everyone knew about their strange status in the imperial domain since the firstborn should be treated like Leona was treated from birth, but no one dared to poke their nose in this matter and pretend as if they didn't know.

Today, however, it seemed the First Demon Prince finally lost it.

"First Brother, how about you come inside, and we'll talk like siblings? It's improper for your status…." Before Leona could finish.

Martian's aura suddenly exploded as he loudly yelled, "Shut up! If you care about status, then get out and knell before you, First Brother!"

"My Prince!" Dagger suddenly appeared. Her voice was filled with horror.

She never expected Martian to cross the line like this, as if he didn't care about his face or any consequences anymore.

Dagger knew Martian the best as she had literately watched the boy grow, and she knew the anger toward Leona and his parents was scornful in Martian's heart for a long time. It even started to affect his mind!

"You dare to come between imperial family members matter?! Lowly thrall!" Martian's hand suddenly lit with dark lightning as he punched Dagger, who appeared beside him with a concerned look in her eyes.

She could've avoided it if she wanted, but will she dare?

No!

She was blasted into the carriage by that punch with power equivalent to a manifestation realm!

Martian's aura started to rose as lightning began to crackle all over his body. His focus shifted toward the imperial knights again, and he started walking toward the carriage.

"Get out of my way. It's between her and me!" His cold threatening voice rang in the vicinity.

However, before Martian could walk even two steps, he stopped because a puppet servant appeared in a Black and Golden mask two meters away from Martian. Furthermore, a number was engraved on his mask, '3.'

This puppet servant bowed toward Martial and said in his aged voice, exempt of any emotion, "Your Highness, His Majesty, summon you to throne hall!"

"Hahahahah… NO.3, you lowly dog, even you dare to come in my way now. If you have guts, then attack me!" Martian laughed manically as he took a step forward without any hesitation.

"Presumptuous!" At this moment, an enrage thunderous voice reverberated in the entire Imperial Domain!

Everyone was alarmed because they knew only one person could cast this kind of voice, the Demon Emperor!

But it wasn't over with the voice. The next instant dark lighting suddenly descended from the sky and landed directly on the First Imperial Prince!

Strong the First Imperial Prince might be, but the moment that lighting struck him, he plummeted to the ground within a dark charred crater.

Deadly silence descended on the entire imperial domain.

No.3 moved at this moment and picked up the unconscious Martian before a rueful sigh escaped from his mask, "Everyone, continue whatever you were doing. Dagger, you may return to recuperate; First Prince will stay in the inner palace for a while."

Finished saying NO.3, vanished with Martian on his shoulder.

"Alright, why are you all dozing off? Continue forward." Leona's gentle voice rang. It was like she didn't know what had happened or simply didn't care. No one knew.

Those knights take a deep breath and start moving with lingering fear in their eyes, and they all decide not to offend Third Demon Princess in the future!

---

Ace listened attentively to all those noises and was astonished by this sudden turn of events.

He clearly saw that lightning had descended from the sky, and his heart turned cold just thinking of how the Demon Emperor sent that lightning from miles away.

But he also discovered something as his eyes shone, 'So, it was Leona being released, huh? Furthermore, this first prince, either daring or simply, had lost his mind to cause such commotion. Or there he has other movies?

'According to Ronan, this First Prince was shrewd and tranquil, which didn't match his personality.' Ace mused.

But the next moment, a determined glint shone in his eyes, 'Whatever it was, it didn't change the fact the formation of those knights will be disrupted tonight, and the others will pay attention to the First Prince, especially the Emperor…!'