Callum was relaxed because according to him he had erased all the evidence of the bandits.

But his relief didn't last long because while he was getting ready, a guard came running to him, "Duke! Jasper is not in the prison."

"What!"

Anxiety invaded his nerves, throwing out all the relief he had felt. "But how? And when?"

"We don't know, but he is not in the prison."

"I will go and meet Santos."

"Duke lord Santos has not returned yet."

Callum's heart sank. What was going on?

"Duke it's time to go," Amias spoke.

Callum calmed himself and took breathes everything will be okay everything will be fine. he gulped, it will be okay.

With that thought, he went to the royal court with a heavy heart and anxiety.

When he reached the court he was met with Dennis, "Duke, is everything okay have you taken care of the bandits?"

Callum looked at him and gulped before he gave him a forced smile and nodded, "Yeah, yeah everything is okay...They are taken care of."

Slowly, slowly nobles gathered in the court.

And at last, came Yibo and Zhan and once they came they were greeted politely by many nobles genuinely they were respected. 

However, Callum and Dennis did not like this newfound influence of Yibo.

Yibo gave them a small nod and they did the same however disdain was clear on their faces.

Tables have turned now. 

Yibo and Zhan sat in their places and all the other nobles settled down as well.

A few minutes later the Queen along with the princess Wen Qing and her brother and other sister arrived.

The queen and her three children walked as the other nobles bowed before them.

Once the queen and her three children sat down on the chairs the other nobles also sat.

The Quen Cassandra spoke, "In the past two years a lot of things have happened, we have lost a lot of nobles and lots of people because of bandits.

What is the solution our nobles have found to end this tyranny of the bandits?"

The merchants also stood there and Philip was also seated in the audience.

Callum stood up with a smile, "Your majesty, there is nothing to worry about anymore, as my brave son has found the base of bandits and annihilated them."

Philip's eyes widened and the merchants were shocked as well Callum killed the people who were loyal to him, he was really heartless.

The Queen smirked as well when she heard that, thankfully she won't have to deal with the headache anymore, Callum really moved fast and removed all the obstacles.

"That's great news, I guess we have nothing to worry about now that the bandits are dead, well done Duke Callum."

Callum smiled and nodded Philip looked at Yibo show as smiling so he was able to remain calm.

"Your majesty." Yibo stood up, "Allow me to say something."

Cassandra nodded and Yibo spoke, "In the past two years nearly every noble was attacked by the bandits, including me and the merchants."

Queen replied, "That's very sad news but the problem is solved now..."

"It is, but your majesty my question is how duke Callum and Duke Dennis's household remained untouched?"

Dennis stood up and pointed at Yibo, "What are you trying to say duke of the north?"

Cassandra had a straight face as well when she heard that, "what are you implying Duke of the north?"

Yibo smiled, "What I mean to say is that duke Callum says that he annihilated the bandits but where is the evidence? where is the dead bodies of the bandits where is their leader?"

Callum licked his lips and replied, "Your majesty, the leader was dead already and..."

Yibo stopped him, "Then where is his dead body? and most importantly where is your son? and how did he find out the base of the bandits?"

"Your majesty." Dennis spoke, "duke of the north is trying to divert the attention of this case, what matters is the bandits are dead how and when why does it matter?"

"It does your majesty," Yibo said, here are some proofs I would like to represent, last years when I had gone to the game of slave hunt with count Ralf and duke Callum and Duke Dennis, Count Philip was there as well and we were attacked by the bandits.

Count Ralf and his son died but the bandits never attacked duke Callum and duke Dennis, instead, they bowed before them and left them untouched. And Count Philip and his daughter along with me and Marchioness Yanli we all saw this.

Cassandra turned to Philip, "Is it true?"

Philip who was so nervous that he was sweating stood up and looked at Yibo who gave him a small nod and he said, "Yes your majesty it is indeed true."

Callum glared at him, "Your majesty this is all a plot to frame us, it can't be true we are the loyal servants of this empire how can we do something so despicable?"

Cassandra looked at Yibo, "Duke of North these are very serious allegations that you are putting on the duke of south and Duke of east if you are not able to prove them then you will be punished."

Cassandra was warning him indirectly to back off but Yibo was fully prepared today, "My queen my allegations are correct, I declare that duke of south and duke of the east is actually with the bandits and it is them who with the other nobles who controlled the bandits send them to rob villages and kill people."

"What proof do you have to back your claim,?" Queen said in a loud and firm voice, her voice held a warning to back off but Yibo didn't care not this time.

"I have the proofs, your majesty." he said and looked at Xander and Sage, who gave some documents to the queen, "Your majesty these are some of the documents and letters between, Ralf and Marquis Claude, and duke Callum and duke Dennis.

These letters depict the sinister plans and how they tortured or planned to torture the slaves and also the documents is a record of all the transactions."

Callum and Dennis's face paled Cassandra gritted her jaws as she went through the files and she glared at Callum.

She closed the file and letters but Wen Qing went through them, Before she spoke, "Duke Callum has made some mistakes but he paid for them by killing the bandits."

Callum looked at Cassandra hopefully and nodded, "Yes, yes."

"Hence we can put some fine on him and let him go" Queen said.

Wen Qing sighed and rolled her eyes, "Or perhaps we can take his title and exile him right queen mother?" she said and Cassandra glared at her while Callum's face paled so did Dennis's, "Duke Callum is a loyal man Princess, we cannot overlook his years and years of services."

Wen Qing nodded but Yibo spoke, 'And what If I tell you that Duke Callum has done the biggest crime by Lying to the court and in reality, he was the one who ordered the killing of all those nobles?"

Cassandra's eyes widened and Wen Qing smiled Yibo was in full form today.

"Lie...lie it's all a lie." Callum said, "He is lying your majesty he is..."

Queen raised her hand and she looked at Yibo coldly not even bothering to hide her disdain, "What proof you have duke?" she asked with a cold voice.

Yibo smiled and looked at Zhan who nodded and bowed before Queen, "Allow me your majesty to bring the proof."

Queen nodded and Zhan walked out Callum was dying from Anxiety while Dennis was so scared that he shrunk on his seat.

A few minutes later, Zhan came in with none other than Jasper and Callum's eyes early feel of while Dennis had a heart attack.

"Your majesty meets Jasper Verlice the leader of bandits."

The merchants and all the nobles looked at the man with wide eyes and curiosity, "We found him from Duke Callum's home when he was torturing him the rest of the story he will tell you."

Jasper kneeled on the ground, "Your majesty I was ordered by Duke Callum and Duke Dennis to kill the children of nobles and merchants because they wanted all the profits for themselves and he also told me to attack duke of the north.

After a while when the noble turned against him he tried to silence me and tortured and even sent his men to kill all the bandits so that his dirty deeds will not be exposed."

Jasper said, "These four people behind me are the only bandits who survived and now we want revenge, we bandits were not always bandits, to begin with, we were normal soldiers in the empire's army but with no promotions and constant discrimination we were forced to become bandits by Duke Callum.

After that, he did that to many innocent young poor, and helpless people and lured them to join us. and we were trained by none other than that his son is also one of the bandits. He also wanted us to frame the other nobles for his crimes"

Zhan removed the cloth from Santos's face and  said, "We found him having killing innocent people he tried to kill himself but cut off his tongue but we managed to save him."

Callum was hovering with anger, "YOU! BASTARD, I WILL KILL YOU!! LYING MOTHER FUCKER!" He said and attacked Jasper but Zhan stopped him after that he went after Yibo, "you!it's all your fault you are the one behind everything, you bastard spawn of the devil."

"Be Quiet. Duke Callum." Cassandra yelled and Callum glared at Yibo who gave him a smirk.

"Your majesty the crimes that duke Callum and Duke Dennis have committed are heinous."

Cassandra was in major crisis Callum and Dennis were important assets, and she felt irritated because of them she cannot even protect them anymore because of the pieces of evidence.

Wen Qing spoke, "Mass murders, funding the bandits, torturing and killing innocent people, insulting the duke of the north, trying to hide the evidence and even killing the nobles, even trying to kill Duke Yibo, kidnapping, arsons. "

 Cassandra closed her eyes as Wen Qing counted the crimes, even god cannot save Callum and Dennis anymore, Wen Qing smirked, "all these crimes are enough to announce duke Callum and duke Dennis Nation's enemy hence traitors."

Zhan added, "And there are many cruel punishments for the traitors."

Callum who had lost his mind spoke, "You cannot punish me, you can't I know you..."

Cassandra clenched her fist and glared at Callum, "Duke Callum your crimes have piled up, and your punishment will be..."

"Shut up!!" Cassandra's eyes widened and even the entire court was silent been Yibo and Zhan were shocked to hear Callum yell at the queen, this was a huge crime,  a direct disrespect, " shut up, you can't you cannot punish me you can't I will tell them I will tell everyone that you are..." before he could complete his sentence Cassandra stood up and took out her sword and beheaded him then and there.

Splatters of blood covered her face and the entire court stood up, there was pin-drop silence in the court as Callum's lifeless body fell on the floor and his head came in front of his son Santos who cried.

Dennis was shocked as well his entire body had stopped working.

While Cassandra put her sword back and it was then that Wen Qing noticed a necklace of beads on her neck from the back and a black inky tattoo on her hand that was not covered by her full sleeves anymore but it was only for a moment because the tattoo was covered by her sleeve again.

Cassandra stepped back, "Imprison Duke Dennis and imprison Duke Callum's family they all will be beheaded tomorrow morning. The court is dismissed."

Cassandra said and walked out of there,  once she came out she touched the blood on her face and saw it on her fingers, she looked at the blood with desire before she opened her mouth and licked the blood she closed her eyes and nearly moaned because of the taste before opening her eyes and walking to her room.

Author's note: before you all ask no, the queen is not a vampire she is just a disgusting bitch.