At that moment Cecilia was about to make the call when Ramos quickly stopped her.
"No. Don't do it."
Immediately Cecilia froze, confused by his sudden command. Why? She wanted to ask, but the look in Ramos' eyes silenced her.
She had been so eager to inform the others because they had all suffered after his supposed death.
They had mourned him, cried for him, struggled to survive in his absence—not knowing he was still alive.
And yet, here he was, telling her not to call them.
Even if she didn't understand, she obeyed, knowing fully well, disobedient would lead to punishment, and that was something she doesn't want, because she knows how ruthless the master can be.
Ramos then turned to her and spoke firmly.
"Take me back to the castle."
Without hesitation, Cecilia nodded.
A moment later, they arrived.
The once grand, glorious castle now felt eerily empty. The halls, which once bustled with servants, were silent.
Then Cecilia turned to him, her voice laced with sorrow.
"Since you were declared dead, all the maids were dismissed. They had no choice but to work for other noble families and guilds."
Upon hearing what Cecilia just said.
Ramos' eyebrows twitched slightly at the mention of guilds.
Cecilia, noticing his reaction, quickly clarified.
She explained that after his supposed death, many top vampires had formed guilds to counter the increasing number of gates opening around the world.
Then Ramos gave her a small nod.
It made sense. He had expected as much. Without him, someone had to step up.
Cecilia continued, her voice steady yet filled with emotion.
She revealed that all six of his subordinates were actively involved in the war.
One of them—his strongest follower—had established the biggest guild in the country. The remaining five had traveled to distant lands, aiding those who suffered under the chaos.
Then, Cecilia bowed her head respectfully.
"They are all doing this in accordance with what you would have ordered, Master Ramos."
At that moment Ramos' eyebrows pushed down, his eyes darkening with fury.
'Those bastards.'
The very ones who had betrayed him, who had stabbed him in the back—and now they were out there, parading themselves as saviors.
Acting like Jesus Christ in every nation.
How laughable.
He couldn't wait to get his hands on them.
The thought made his blood boil. He couldn't believe they had even lied to Cecilia. Pretending to be loyal, pretending to fight in his name.
Ramos clenched his fists, thinking back.
Who among them had built the biggest guild?
It had to be the weakest among them.
Because after they had eaten the Eve Apple—the cursed fruit gifted to them by the Demon King—their power had surged beyond measure.
But there was a cost.
They could no longer walk under direct sunlight.
Except for one.
"Benjamin."
That one bastard who hadn't eaten the apple—yet still chose to betray him regardless.
Seeing Ramos lost in thought, Cecilia spoke majestically, her voice filled with unwavering devotion.
"Now that you have returned, Master Ramos, whenever you are ready to meet your disciples, I will summon them immediately."
She then added, "But first, I shall recall all the maids. They must return to serve their master."
Her words carried absolute faith—as if nothing had changed, as if the Ramos she had always known had simply come back to life.
Ramos snapped out of his endless thoughts and finally faced Cecilia.
His gaze was firm, his tone colder than before.
"I am not the Ramos you know, your master is dead."