Then, with a teasing lilt in her voice, she murmured, "What now? Will you kill me on live broadcast?"

Hector stiffened.

He knew the rules. Until their engagement was officially sealed, he couldn’t even touch a strand of her hair. If he did, the Al Batris family would erase him from existence.

Even Baron, standing at Aurora’s side, exuded an aura of darkness—his expression a chilling mask of impending bloodshed as his gaze bore into Hector.

Realizing the danger, Hector swiftly turned away and strode toward the camera. Aurora, ever unfazed, merely waved at the lens in an almost playful manner.

Meanwhile, the rest of the audience remained frozen, eyes glued to the ground. Now that they understood who she was—Aurora Al Batris—none of them dared defy her. They weren’t fools. It was common knowledge—she never hesitated to kill. And she never blinked while doing it.

Hector stood in front of the camera, staring into it for a long moment. His full expression was captured—every sharp edge of his face, every flicker of emotion in his eyes—before he smashed the camera with unrestrained force.

But before the broadcast cut out completely, the comment section was already in chaos—

"Oh! Is that Aurora, the Dark Princess?"
"What’s happening over there? Why isn’t anyone intervening?"
"Wow, she’s gorgeous… Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by that!"
"Let’s just watch in silence!"
"Don’t they look good together?"
"Damn! That was an epic shot!"
"I’m going to keep watching till the end!"

"Did the Broadcast Cut Off?" Joseph spoke as he armed himself, preparing to leave. Meanwhile, his mother hid a smile, still savoring the beautiful scene she had just witnessed. As for Aurora's father, his rage was visible in his every breath as he spoke, "Make sure you cut off his hands," addressing Joseph, who was preparing to take Hector’s life.

But Victor interrupted them with an amused chuckle, which Lady Assei soon joined. Both Joseph and Sid looked at them in confusion. Victor then said, laughing, "Aren’t you the one who wanted them together?"

Sid scoffed, "Not before it’s official," then turned to Joseph. "Move."

Victor stood as well. "Alright, alright… I’ll go with him."

The two left the mansion, heading toward Aurora. Meanwhile, Lady Assie was still chuckling at her husband's reaction. "Don’t you want our daughter to fall in love?" she teased, playfully nudging his shoulder. "That day will come, whether you like it or not."

Back with Aurora, she stared at Hector’s actions before speaking. "Baron, which leg was injured last time?"

Baron, still glaring at Hector with hostility, replied, "Left leg. Below the right knee. A long scratch downward."

Aurora smiled softly as she stood up, taking a slow step forward while glancing around. Then, she murmured, "Hmm… fifteen minutes… or maybe less. Let’s have a little fun." She let out a mischievous chuckle. "Scratch Hector’s left leg, below the knee. Whoever does it… gets to leave here alive."

Their bodies stiffened in fear. Even Sid and Lynn clung to each other more tightly.

Hector smirked. "At least let your puppet do it," he sneered, motioning toward Baron, who stood behind Aurora.

Aurora raised a brow. "Baron, do you see a puppet here?"

Baron answered firmly, "No."

Aurora lifted her hands, gesturing as if there was nothing to see. "Ah… Lynn, Sid… I’ll spare you from this," she said gently before continuing, "Tick-tock, tick-tock." Her tone was light, but the meaning was clear—their time was running out. They had to obey.

No one moved.

Before long, Aurora shifted her gaze toward Baron and commanded, "Move."

Baron understood immediately.

As he advanced, Hector stood in place, smiling wickedly. He remembered what he had done to Aurora last time. He bit his lip and took slow, deliberate steps toward her.

Meanwhile, Baron had already struck. He grabbed the nearest person and snapped their neck without hesitation.

The sharp crack of bone echoed in the silence, leaving only the sound of Hector’s approaching footsteps.

"Those who don’t move will never move again," Baron declared.

That was all it took. The group suddenly rushed toward Hector, desperate to scratch his leg and survive.

Hector scoffed. "A bunch of idiots."

As the first attacker lunged, Hector seized him, seemingly pulling a small knife from thin air before slitting his throat in one swift motion.

Blood splattered.

He kept moving forward, unbothered.

Aurora had set a choice: die at Hector’s hands or Baron’s.

And she was enjoying it.

With a wicked smirk, she watched as Hector bathed in blood, slashing through one person after another. The screams grew louder. Baron, on the other hand, worked in silence, snapping the necks of those too paralyzed with fear to move.

Lynn and Sid trembled, unable to make a sound.

One by one, the pieces fell.

Finally, the last one dropped.

Hector stood before Aurora, his handsome face now drenched in blood.

He tilted his head slightly, as if playing hide and seek with a child, his eyes gleaming as he whispered, "You are truly breathtaking."

He wiped the blood off his face with the handkerchief tucked into his suit.

He stepped closer, their bodies nearly touching.

Aurora’s heart pounded. She fought to control her breath, her expression betraying nothing but amusement.

Just as Hector was about to brush his fingers through her hair—

She smiled and turned toward the door. "You’re late."

Joseph entered, his presence exuding a suffocating black aura.

Baron immediately halted, lowering his gaze.

Hector smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Victor stepped in next, surveying the carnage. "I’m not cleaning this mess," he remarked, raising his hands as if surrendering.

Joseph kept walking toward Hector and Aurora.

Aurora, in turn, picked up the handkerchief Hector had just used and casually wiped her neck, revealing the marks he had left on her.

Hector’s smirk deepened as she tossed the handkerchief to the ground and stepped on it gently. "Maybe I should’ve slept in a little longer last night, Joseph," she said, her voice laced with amusement.

Joseph stood in front of her, pressing a gun to Hector’s temple, but Aurora continued as if nothing had happened.

"But…"

She took a slow step toward Hector, her movements seductive.

"There’s something…"

She trailed a finger along his chin, making his heart race.

"I need to understand first."

Then, suddenly, she leaned in and bit his neck.

A slow, deliberate bite.

She inhaled his scent, exhaling softly against his skin.

When she pulled away, she dragged her tongue over the bite mark before biting her own lip.

Gazing into his eyes, she whispered, "I’ll settle for a wound on your left leg."

She reached out, running her fingers through Joseph’s hair, which only fueled his rage.

Joseph snapped.

He kicked Hector hard, sending him to his knees.

Hector touched his own neck gently, smiling as his heart pounded.

"I want this," he muttered to himself.

Aurora turned to leave, her steps oozing control and dominance.

She paused. "Ah, I almost forgot. Baron… Lynn is coming with us."

Lynn stiffened, clutching Sid even tighter.

Aurora smirked. "Hector will take care of Sid until you return."

She exited, brushing past her uncle Victor, who raised his brows in approval.

Baron, without hesitation, hoisted Lynn onto his shoulder.

"Put me down! Leave me alone!" she screamed, kicking furiously.

Sid remained frozen, unable to react.

Victor watched Baron trail after Aurora. "This is fun," he muttered.

Then he turned to Sid, a sinister smile creeping onto his face.

"She won’t kill her," he said, placing a toothpick between his lips. "But I will kill the rat hiding under the table."

He reached down, yanking the frightened host out from his pathetic hiding spot.

Meanwhile, Joseph dragged a chair in front of Hector, who was still grinning like an idiot.

Joseph sighed dramatically. "Aahh, I got too excited."

He pulled out a knife, running his finger along its edge.

"What do I do now? She’s my sister…"

He suddenly pressed the blade against Hector’s face, studying him for a moment before—

Without warning, he plunged the knife deep into Hector’s shoulder.

"Idiot."

He stood up, leaving Hector bleeding out, turning to Victor, who was now relishing the act of skinning the host alive.

Joseph placed a hand on Victor’s shoulder. "Let’s move."

Victor groaned. "But I was just starting to enjoy myself…"

Still, he got up and followed.

They left Hector behind—bleeding, laughing hysterically, delirious from pain and pleasure.

Meanwhile, Sid shivered, terrified.

His fear only grew when Hector’s laughter turned into an eerie, desperate whisper.

"I want her. She’s mine."