[Bonus chapter]A good man

"And then take it away just when success is within his reach."

Ismael closed his eyes as he drew a deep breath, recalling their meeting just this morning. He didn't know Aries would actually reveal her identity this soon. Or if his guess was correct, Joaquin found it out even before she could reveal it to him. 

But it wasn't like they didn't expect it. If anything, the schedule was only moved up from their initial prediction of being captured tomorrow at the latest. 

"I… didn't know that." Climaco wobbled back to the narrow bench weakly until his arms landed on his legs. 

"Because you weren't there," Ismael replied, reopening his eyes slowly. "Why are you even in the inner palace?"

"I received a word to report to Her Royal Highness —" Climaco halted as realization suddenly struck him. The third prince rocked his head, grasping the same realization that dawned on the knight just after hearing his incomplete sentence.