Sam only let out a brief chuckle as he escorted me towards the carriage. On our way, I caught a familiar figure from the corner of my eyes.

Instinctively, I turned my head in its direction. It was Fabian.

Fabian was watering the…? Wasn't that the area where he dug a grave pit last night? He didn't bury someone last night, did he?

As if noticing my gaze, Fabian turned his head in my direction. As usual, he offered me a smile; his eyes squinting, his lips stretched from ear to ear.

I smiled back subtly as I treaded carefully.

Until suddenly, I froze, pausing in my steps. I felt Sam also halted as he gazed at me, confused.

"That…" My lower lips trembled, staring at the hand that suddenly came out from the ground. The same ground that Fabian was watering.

Did Fabian bury someone alive?

Fabian noticed the horrified expression that crept out on my face. Hence, he gazed down. Alas, instead of panicking, Fabian casually stepped on the hand and pressed it down.

I gasped, blinking my eyes in disbelief. I felt my heart suddenly dropping to my stomach.

What… what did I just witness?

"Don't worry about it." Suddenly, Sam whispered in my ear. "That person is alive."

Of course, he's alive! I just saw his hand come out from the ground!

Slowly, I turned my eyes full of disbelief at Sam. He chuckled as he pinched my cheek.

"He'll be fine. Fabian is just venting his frustration, but no one will die."

How ironic… how could he say no one would die if our kind butler was forced to bury someone alive? Perhaps he meant no one would die today because whoever they buried there would die tomorrow?

"Haha. You're so adorable." Pleased at my horrified expression, Sam pinched both my cheeks lightly. "Alright, I'll tell Fabian to stop."

After saying so, Sam raised his head and yelled. "Fabian, you're scaring Lilou."

When Fabian heard that, he backed away. He placed his hand across his chest and bowed. Without waiting for a second, he trudged away with the gardening tools.

"Happy now?" Sam grinned at me.

"Are we going to leave that person alone there?"

"Klaus will be fine, unfortunately." Sam clicked his tongue as if it was bad news.

"It's the fifth prince…?" Upon knowing the identity of who they buried there, I pursed my lips in a thin line.

I didn't want this for Klaus, even after what he had done to Sam. However, I still wanted him to pay for the consequences of his actions.

"Yes. Let's not mind him. He'll be fine." Sam cocked his head towards the carriage.

I glanced in the open garden for the last time. "Alright."

With that being said, Sam escorted me towards the carriage and we set off to the main town. If Sam said the fifth prince would be alright with such regret in his eyes, I guess he would.

*

On our way, my gaze landed on Sam. Even though I trusted Sam's reassurance, I'm still a little curious.

But before I could ask, Sam filled me in.

"After what happened last night, it caused chaos to the entire Crawford stronghold. Rufus had to seize everyone who couldn't stop their thirst with the scent of my blood — even Cameron struggled. My blood is quite special, you see?"

Sam said, bragging about his blood. But I ignored it.

"Oh…" I nodded in understanding. "No wonder Sir Knight rushed outside instead of going to you."

Did Rufus know Sam could handle any danger, though? As a servant, I thought it would be more reasonable to rush to your master in times of danger.

"Well, Rufus prioritizes the weak. Be it humans or weaker vampires, if he deemed them innocent, he would protect them. After all, vampires are somewhat victims of their own instinct." Sam shrugged, as if Rufus' action did not surprise him.

Honestly, the more I listened and got to know about Rufus, I admit I misjudged him. Rufus was not the person who put his best interest first. He prioritized what's best for the weak.

But that didn't mean he could change a lot of things. He wasn't the king, after all.

"As for Fabian, he would rush to me if he felt something amiss. I met him last night before you." Sam looked out at the window. "Since I know you'd come to me, I left Klaus in his hands. Rufus might be strong, but Fabian is in a different caliber."

"Huh?" I tilted my head to the side. "How different?"

Although I had saved the image of the kind Fabian despite his eerie demeanor last night, I knew he wasn't just a considerate butler. Still, it would be better to know more about Fabian.

Just in case. So I wouldn't get buried alive in the future.

Also, I heard a lot about Rufus and Sam. Fabian told me everything he could without restraint. But now that I thought about it, I knew little things about my teacher.

"I can beat Rufus even without using my abilities as a vampire." Sam shrugged nonchalantly.

"But, Mister Fabian told me you lost to him back then!"

"That's because I'm starving. It's my early years of resisting in drinking human blood." Sam explained in a knowing tone.

"Oh." I squinted my eyes, a little doubtful at his claims.

"I can beat Rufus, but I didn't say it'll be easy. I'm certain I'll still lose a limb if that happened." Seeing my doubtful gaze, Sam sighed as he shook his head.

"On the other hand, I can't win against Fabian without fighting him as a vampire."

"Huh?" Surprised, I furrowed my brows as I perked up. "But, Sir Rufus is the strongest human and knight in the kingdom, right? Not just the dukedom, but in the entire kingdom!"

"That's right." Sam nodded.

"So how come it sounds that Mister Fabian is stronger?" Confused, I queried almost immediately.

"Because Fabian never fought for that title." In a knowing tone, Sam explained, as if it was the obvious answer.

"Fabian. Even the royal family is wary of him. He is not like Rufus, who stands up for the weak. He butchers everyone who bothers him; be it a nobles, pure-blooded vampires, or even humans."

He… Fabian, he, what? A sudden chill ran down my spine. I didn't know such a scary person had always been beside me.

"Why did you even think I let Fabian come with us instead of Rufus?" Sam asked, arching his brow as if he didn't expect that I didn't know this.

"Ah. He he." I tried to smile, but I ended up making an awkward noise. "I thought he's there to give me lectures since you just extort kisses from me?"