It was midnight. The moon was hidden from the clouds and left a dim glow. The wind swirled around, blow the night lamps off, and left a cold breeze. Looking around, it might seem like a peaceful starry night if it weren’t for the hushed sound of panting at the dark alley near the entrance of the market.

“Don’t come near me!” Count Cuevas exclaimed in a breathy voice, afraid that others would take notice but at the same time hoping that someone would come to his rescue.

The young man who was slowly walking towards him smirked and his eyes glowed crimson red which gave him the chills all over.

Count Cuevas’ eyes grew wide when he saw the young man’s hand gripping his sword. Could he really kill him?

The count could feel himself trembling when the young man pulled his sword from its scabbard. The young man stared straight into his eyes as the blade was slowly unsheathed.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Before he could even blink, he saw his own blood dripping from a wound that suddenly appeared. His eyes grew wide at the sight of the blood and his hands trembled uncontrollably.

“Curse… you,” he whispered as he stared through those crimson red eyes that looked at him indifferently. There wasn’t anger or hatred. Just a blank face as if he was telling him that he was just another life that he had no choice but to take.

“Curse yourself for going against the imperial family, Count Cuevas.” The young man’s words were said in a hushed whisper but the coldness in his tone left a dangerous impression.

How could a young man like him be so ruthless? The count thought as he closed his eyes at the scene where the twelve-year-old boy who slit his throat left him dying with no remorse.

The coachman sighed when his young master walked out of the alley. His pale skin glowed in the darkness but it was his dead eyes that piqued his interest. All his life, he watched the young master grow up and he felt sorry for him. Just imagine what kind of life he had to live in order to end up with those eyes.

He might be the successor of the only duke in the empire but he was also fated to lead a dangerous life.