After changing back to Beau's disguise, Aren snuck back to Athena's room, took off his clothes, and lay beside her naked self.
With a sleepy moan, Athena turned on her side and squeezed his arm between her fleshy breasts.
Aren thought and looked at her but let out a breath of relief after seeing that she was still deep in sleep.
'The alarm should happen shortly…'
He thought, closed his eyes, and acted like he was sleeping, but inside his mind, he was counting.
In that moment, the sound of a horn went off, and the banging of doors could be heard. It was very loud, like an explosion.
The guards' metallic boots echoed down the hallway, and everyone was shouting.
"Master was attacked in his bedchamber!"
"Master has requested everyone to head over to the hall!"
Aren's eyes softly fluttered open, and he grabbed Athena's shoulder before softly waking her up.
She rubbed her eyes, heard the commotion, and slightly stood up with the blanket sliding down her naked shoulder.
"It sounds like something happened. We must get going." The source of this content ɪs n0velfire.net
Aren said, stood up from the bed, and started putting on his clothes while Athena was still barely awake, trying to process what was happening.
She tried finding her undergarments, but they were nowhere to be found, and eventually, Aren had to help her get dressed.
It was clear that she wasn't much of an early bird.
They left the room. It was still dark outside the windows. The crimson moon was high in the sky.
They followed behind servants and guards. The whole estate was put in lockdown. The doors were tightly locked, and no one could get in or out.
In the end, they arrived at the hall, and every person was there. As well as every family member that was still here.
It only included Athena, Nike, and Jupiter.
Their mother, and wife of Jupiter, had left for Rask with their other children as they were heading to school over there.
"Father, are you alright?"
Athena asked worryingly as she walked over to the wheelchair-bound Jupiter and gently rubbed the gold mask of her father.
"I was attacked, my dear daughter… Attacked, right in my own home. Unbelievable… I know one thing about my assailant: that he is a shapeshifter. He can steal people's appearance!"
Jupiter said angrily.
"Gasp~ Shapeshifter?"
Athena said in surprise.
"That's why we have gathered everyone. My head butler is already getting a count of everyone present. If anyone is missing, we will know."
Jupiter said, and then looked past his daughter at Beau. A man that he didn't recognize. And he then said.
"You as well… Go get in the line. I will interrogate every single one to find out if anyone here is an imposter!"
With a nod, Aren was about to get to the line, but in that moment, Athena stopped him and said with a charming smile.
"That won't be necessary. I was with him during all of this, discussing the next week, as I have my appointment over in Rask. He can be trusted; I vouch for him."
Athena said with a smile.
Jupiter looked at the two of them. A suspiciousness rose inside him. It was very late to have that kind of conversation.
He also knew that his daughter was slothful. She liked sleeping. She didn't think she would have that kind of meeting at this hour.
"…Very well, my dear daughter."
With a sharp gaze, Nike looked at Aren, who took his spot back at Athena's side, and there was something about the two of them that made him uncomfortable.
'…No way, my dear sister wouldn't. She is as pure as the morning dew and as innocent as a newborn lamb.'
A short while later, the head butler finished the count, and with a troublesome look, he said.
"One of the servants is missing. Nazeera Khaldoum."
"Nazeera is missing…? She was with me just today, taking care of me…"
Jupiter said, and in that moment, his heart froze, and he said.
"That shapeshifter must've killed and taken her appearance. She went to get my cigars from my office, and it took her strangely long to get back…
"When she got back, she said that she saw some suspicious individuals over in my office, but it must've just been a trick by that shapeshifter to get Honor to leave my bedchamber!
"He then killed Honor and took his appearance!"
Jupiter thought out loud with anger flashing across his eyes.
"What should we do, father? Should we delay the Hunt?"
"Absolutely not! We cannot… He is waiting for more sacrifices, and delaying is unacceptable. I believe that shapeshifter is already long gone, but to be sure, I will still interrogate all of you.
"That shapeshifter is most likely going to head over to the nearest Guild, but that's fine, when they come with their Blessed Ones, it will be already too late."
Jupiter said with a cold look.
"…If that's all, father, can I go back to the bed? I have my bodyguard with me, so I'll be safe."
Athena said with a smile.
"Sure, my dear daughter…"
Jupiter said, and while he started interrogating every member of the staff, Aren and Athena headed back to her chambers.
When they arrived there, she immediately slipped off her clothes and jumped under the bed with a satisfied look.
Aren sat at the edge of the bed, slowly taking off his clothes, and in that moment, he asked.
"Aren't you concerned about the fact that your family is working with Rav'akari? They're dangerous and evil."
"It is just that we are choosing the winning side. This war between humanity and Rav'akari is so painfully one-sided.
"Humans haven't won a single battle yet. They haven't even been able to hurt one of the World Bosses.
"What will happen when every World Boss decides to come down from the Realm Between and attack us? Humans will lose.
"This deal will secure our future."
Athena said, stretched her arms above her head, and then turned on her side as she began sleeping yet again.
'…You'll just become their slaves. Is that better than death? I just don't know.'
Aren thought with a deep sigh.