When the sun went down, Rufus and I headed back to the castle. Strange it was, indeed. Normally, Sam and Fabian — sometimes Cameron — would go to the training grounds to walk me back.

Not that I needed them to. I could walk back by myself. However, after three months of having that routine, I wondered what happened.

The fifth prince was present, after all. I wondered if something bad happened.

I glanced back at Rufus, who was walking behind me. "If something happened, you would know, right?"

"Certainly, my lady."

Rufus spoke and was acting like usual. Despite our conversation previously, it surprised me how he adjusted as if we didn't talk about anything.

Well, that's for the better, I thought. In this case, it wouldn't be difficult for us. Although I'm unsure why I was concerned if ever I've felt uncomfortable around him.

As we walked back, I noticed a figure in the open garden. I stopped momentarily. Squinting my eyes to see who it was.

"Isn't that Mister Fabian?" I wondered, furrowing my brows.

"It is him."

I watched Fabian for a brief time. It seemed to me he was digging a hole in the middle of the garden. But the sun just set. Why would he do gardening now?

Since I found it peculiar, I approached him. When I came close, I saw the hole was rather longer.

The corner of my lips twitched. Why did it look more like a grave pit?

"Mister Fabian?" I called out, hesitant.

Fabian turned, wiping the sweats on his forehead by his sleeve. He smiled as soon as he set his eyes on me.

"My lady. Are you heading back inside?"

"Yes. What are you doing here?" I leaned to my side, peeking at the grave pit. "Did Sam ask you to dig your own grave?"

Fabian chuckled, shaking his head lightly. "No, my lady. It is for someone else."

"Oh…" I nodded, instinctively glancing at Rufus, who showed no emotion.

Obviously, this had been normal to them. But this had been the first time I've seen it. I've heard it many times, but I've seen no one in the Duke's Mansion digging a grave pit.

Still, I asked out of curiosity. "Did something happen, Mister Fabian?"

I looked around, searching for a corpse. But there's none.

"Nothing happened yet, my lady. However, just in case I ended up bashing someone's head in, I'm prepared."

I felt my entire face distort. An icy chill ran down my spine. How could Fabian say that with his politely smiling face?

I'm used to Sam using such words. However, it felt utterly eerie when Fabian uttered those words. I suddenly felt the night breeze growing colder.

"Ah — I see. Hehe." I said, nodding awkwardly. "Well, I shall head in first?"

"Yes, my lady. You'll catch a cold if you stay outside longer." Fabian placed his palm across his chest, beckoning a neck bow.

Alright. I'll just let him be, I guess.

I turned around, sighing. Even Fabian had his eerie side. Just thinking about how he smiled while saying, bashing someone's head, made my shoulders shudder.

"Oh!" As I walked away, I was reminded of something. Hence, I turned around.

"Where is Sam?"

"I believed he is with the fifth prince, my lady." As soon as Fabian mentioned the fifth prince's, a smug, murderous grin turned up on his lips.

Goodness gracious! I didn't know this butler!

"Be careful on your way, my lady." I heard Fabian reminded me as I walked away.

Although Rufus told me about Fabian having a temper, I couldn't imagine it. But now that I've seen it, I could say Fabian was an amazing man. I would never get on his nasty side — ever!

"Don't worry about Fabian, my lady. He's just like that." Rufus uttered from behind me, taking notice at my reaction.

"Mhmm." Yet I could only answer a low hum as we headed in.

Rufus escorted me directly towards the dining hall. Every night, this would be our first destination. But as soon as we arrived, Sam was not there. Neither Cameron nor the fifth prince.

"Huh? Where are they?" I wondered under my breath.

I only thought of Sam and Cameron. I didn't care about the fifth prince. Strange, I thought. Not only they were not present, but there were only a few servants as well.

Usually, the entire dining hall was occupied with servants. We dine as they stood on the side, taking notice of what we needed in time.

"Sir Knight? What could have…?" I trailed off as soon as I laid my eyes upon Rufus.

His eyes glinted, his jaw fell open. He broke buckets of sweat, panting.

"Sir Knight?" I called out once again, furrowing my brows.

Moments ago, Rufus was perfectly fine. But now he seemed… worn out and aroused.

"My lady," Suddenly, Rufus looked down. His cheek beet red, ruffling his usually brushed hair.

"Sir… knight?" I took a step back, alarmed.

Taking notice of my vigilance, Rufus suddenly covered his nose with his firm arm.

"It reeks…" He muttered, almost muffled. "He's in the east wing. What was the duke thinking?"

Rufus pointed his finger in a direction. Despite not seeing the lower half of his face, I knew he was gritting his teeth.

"Sir Knight, what —" Before I could ask, Rufus couldn't stand it any longer as he dragged his feet away.

"My lady! The duke is in the east wing. Tend to his wound if he didn't want the entire townsfolk rushing here!" As Rufus rush outside, he exclaimed, leaving me alone.

Even the servants present deserted their post in a blink of an eye. Just what was… going on?

"East wing… tend to his wound…" My eyes went wide as I snapped.

Was it possible that…? Before I could think twice, I sprinted towards the east wing. What happened to Sam? For everyone to react this way?

"Ugh…! Sam!" Through my gritted teeth, I rushed to where he could be as fast as I could.

****

Meanwhile, in the east wing meeting room.

Blood dripped down from Samael's finger tips, landing directly on the floor. Each dropped sounded so eerily loud in this dreading silence.

"Brother…" Klaus called out desperately, kneeling, looking up at Samael.

The latter perched on the settee nonchalantly. Staring down at him, his arm on the armrest, as his face was devoid of emotions.

"How pathetic, brother." Samael sneered. "You're so pathetic I feel like weeping."

Samael shook his head, sighing. Slowly, Samael then stood up and trudged towards the door.

"My king!" Klaus called out, stopping Samael from his tracks. "Your Majesty, please..."

"Klaus." Samael only called his name without looking back. But Klaus trembled in fear as he hung his head low.

"My apologies." Klaus muttered under his breath.