An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

“To avoid trouble, the four guards must die,” Mulder said bluntly.

The four Red Legion guards instantly turned pale upon hearing that.

Even Warrick frowned, his face darkening.

“What nonsense are you spouting? They are my personal guards, my brothers-in-arms. How could they possibly betray me?”

“You never really know who you can trust. Betrayal happens all the time-even between comrades. For your safety, we can’t take that risk,” Mulder said solemnly.

“A warrior can be killed but never disgraced. We’ve followed Sir Prescott for years, through life and death. No matter the cost-even if it’s our lives-we would never betray him,” Geralt said.

“That’s right. Don’t judge loyal men by your own petty standards,” Kalen snapped.

Hmph! Scum like you could never understand the bond between men who have fought and bled together,” another added.

They responded to Mulder’s words with a mix of anger and disdain.

These men were Warrick’s personal guards -battle-hardened and fiercely loyal. They had faced life-and-death trials and wouldn’t hesitate to lay down their lives for him.

From the day they joined the Red Legion to the moment they were chosen as Warrick’s personal guards, one belief had been drilled into them-his safety came before everything.

Not just their own lives-even if all their families’ lives were added together, they still wouldn’t measure up to Warrick’s importance. Loyalty and duty bound these Red Legion guards, but so did the unforgiving military code.

Warrick fell, they were expected to take their own lives in atonement, and their families wouldn’t be spared either. That was why

but I understand

get caught, no matter how tough you think you are, you won’t withstand the tortures inside Grimhold Keep. So, don’t bother arguing with me because I used to work there. I’ve

were beyond

experienced them could never fully grasp

had nothing to lose, but those were usually the first to break and rarely made it past

most prisoners weren’t given that option. They couldn’t

involved a serial rapist who had assaulted over 100 women and even murdered the daughter of

had been imprisoned in Grimhold Keep for three years, tortured beyond recognition, and eventually turned into a living corpse. His suffering only ended when the official’s rage had

so much bloodshed, Mulder had no faith in human resilience. He didn’t believe anyone could withstand the interrogation

fell silent, and their earlier defiance faded. Though they had never seen

there, could they endure the torture? None of them could say for

own safety, make a decision,” Mulder

his head, and his face was

I can take care of it

Warrick’s

four men before him. The blade swept across in

as red lines bloomed

“Sir Prescott… you…”

before the red line on his neck split open. Blood gushed out, and his head tumbled to