"Your Grace, how can you enter the casino by breaking down the door and behave like that? It is not a very elegant behavior, if you want to know my humble opinion."
The crimson eyes rose slowly to the count, making him hesitate and tremble with coldness. The figure sitting in his chair with feet on his table was not in a good mood. Even the shadows of the night seemed to conceal their true intentions. Still, the noble man's arrogance and his pride did not allow him to cower.
The Count entered his own room as if he was not intimidated by the stormy presence of Magnus. In fact, he walked up to the bookshelf and stared at the him with a certain... contempt. As an adult reproaching the conduct of a child misbehaving. Well, it was the Grand Duke who erred in taking him out of his little paradise.
"One thing I make very clear, Count Moutuni, is that my rules must be obeyed not only by my brothers but also by people outside the family."
"Rules? Do you think the world revolves around you? I must only obey the orders of His Majesty, the Emperor. The title you carry is not something to be used so lightly, young man."
A fountain pen scraped across the Count's face and sank into the wall behind him. The widowed man's eyes followed the path of the fountain pen, bewildered to see it embedded in the wall like a dart. Turning slowly to the table, he watched as Magnus's outstretched arm and his crimson-flaming eyes stared.
"Put yourself in your place, Count", Magnus said menacingly, making the Count frown. "Perhaps your lack of character made you forget that you're still a mere Count?"
Biting his lower lip in frustration, the Count controlled his own anger and furiously stared at the omega.
"No, Your Grace."
"And you know the reason for my coming to your pigsty?"
"No, sir."
Magnus threw at the feet of the Count the recent letter he wrote. Realizing the envelope he sealed an hour ago was torn and at his feet, Moutuni was sure that his words were seen by the Grand Duke. A drop of sweat ran down his forehead, and nervously the man faced the man who was sitting watching him silently.
"Opening other people's mail is a crime."
"I intend to commit another in a few minutes, but you will not be breathing to contest."
"Are you threatening me? This is an outrage! You have no right to intervene in such a way just because I court the..."
A gust of wind made the Count close his eyes briefly, the curtains dangled nervously with the windows open and the cold wind seemed to cut the noble man's neck. However, it was opening his eyes that the Count realized that it was not the wind that moved the curtains, or that cut his throat, but the rapid movement of the Grand Duke pointing the blade of the sword against his neck making a slight cut.
"Ugh! Aaah!"
Immediately the man took a few steps back and ran out of the house. Magnus stared at him and sighed low, opening a malicious smile.
"Well... he ran away."
The sound of Magnus' boots against the red carpet chased the Count around the mansion. As much as he ran and pushed some casino employee towards Magnus, he couldn't help but be haunted by his proximity. The Grand Duke had him as his target, and would chase him to hell to cut off his head.
In principle it was not his wish to run away from Magnus Grimwood. For the Count, he was a person of high rank who should never stoop because of a boy who is not even thirty. However, his instinct did not obey his reason, forcing him to flee.
It was simply terrifying to see his figure wielding the sword as he followed him calmly.
Moutuni then thought of his only way out. He stumbled down all the stairs and ran to the most deserted part of the mansion where only employees could enter. He went through the kitchen, storage and always trying to push someone against Magnus to slow him down. Through the back door of the casino, he passed through the well-kept garden trampling some customers who were enjoying the night.
"Get out of the way!", he ordered pushing them to the side.
"Hey! Rude!", exclaimed an indignant lady.
Count Moutuni cared little for others, his despair blinded his pride to escape thoroughly. Checking on his shoulders, the bearded man saw Magnus still in his tracks, and unlike himself, he showed no sign of fatigue. On the one hand, it angered the Count. Forcing his legs to work for his escape, and his lungs to hold firm for the way ahead, Moutuni crossed the quiet garden zigzagging in an attempt to outrun Magnus.
When he no longer saw Magnus behind his back, the Count opened a mocking smile and continued to run until he turned around and entered again in front of the casino through the broken door. The attendant was amazed at the sight of the Count panting and with blood on his neck. About to question what happened and if he needed help, the Count pushed him by the shoulders.
"Get out of the way!"
Before entering the casino the subject checked if Magnus was around, but had no sign of him. Releasing a low laugh, the Count felt finally free from torment.
"Humpf, this brat really thinks he scares. I must speak to His Majesty in person to put this boy in his place."
Dressed in his own prepotency, Moutuni entered the casino and went straight to the upper floors thinking of returning to his room. Some officials and nobles who were there cast curious looks on Moutuni, be it by the cut on his neck or was the uneven appearance thanks to his clumsy escape. This infuriated him, but the arrogance made him spin on his heels and go in the opposite direction, arriving at the mezzanine where he could observe the movement of the casino downstairs.
He was free. He could go back to his fun and the next day he would find a way to compel the Emperor to see him.
"If I write a letter to the young boy, surely he should put his arrogant brother in his place!", the Count murmured, opening a boastful smile as he watched the mezzanine casino.
"What a beautiful stage for your last breath."
The hoarse voice whispered in his ear frightened Moutuni. The blade of the sword was against his neck and Magnus held his wrists to prevent him from escaping. To the Count's surprise, that men, who was younger than him, held an unexpected strength. As much as he tried to release his wrists from the grip, Moutuni could not get away.
"Let me go right now...!"
"The only rule that nobles should follow is never get involved with a Grimwood. We are not merciful to worms."
The Count continued to try to get out of the grip, without any success. Anger covered his face in a reddish tone, the enraged pride did not give up fighting the arrogance of that young Grand Duke.
"Do you think you'll get away with it?! Your brother will blame you!"
"How foolish do you think we are?", Magnus looked at him coldly, "He will dance beautifully in your grave."
"Stop it now!"
"You messed with the wrong family, Earl."
The laughter and fun of the casino was interrupted when something heavy fell on a betting table. The immense noise frightened everyone nearby, but it was the cry of a woman who caught the attention of absolutely all the guests.
"Aaaah!"
"What is it?!!!"
The body that gave the last breath of life drowned in its own blood, with a sword of dark blade stuck to his body. The horror of that scene made the noble guests and the meager casino employees run away despite being unable to stop looking at the one who was once a Count.
"What happened?!!!", shouted one of the staff who ran to check.
The uniformed employees approached and looked around in complete confusion and dread. They checked among the guests if there was anyone else who could have been responsible for such calamity. However, it was not necessary to point fingers and suspect anyone. The culprit himself jumped on the table and pulled out his sword, staring coldly at his target.
"Your Grace?!", questioned some noble when recognizing the figure of Magnus.
The crimson eyes rose coldly to all faces, confirming their identity. Low and fearful murals tried to break the silence of that tense atmosphere. Magnus left the sword resting on his shoulder and looked directly at that audience.
"Anyone else wish to challenge a Grimwood?"