The father and daughter snapped their neck in a hurry to see the man standing behind them a smile was present but it was the smile where he would lightly severe other's head from their neck to amused himself.

Ian took a step forward, the shadow looming under him that almost distorted to make as if there was horns present on the side of his head which happened due to the trees above them. Ian watched Duke Gary and Lady Ellen, their face was soaked in surprise that the Lord was able to come behind them without making a single sound and he took amusement from human's fear.

It would perhaps been even more better to severe the man's head, thought Ian.

"Such a lovely family. I have to say I've never seen father who doted much on their daughter and vise versa," commented Ian with his lips twisted in a smile and Duke Gary who had met his eyes smiled in return.

"Thank you very much for your kind word, milord." Duke Gary placed a hand in front his chest to bow to show his happiness from the praise.

Lady Ellen and Duke Gary couldn't tell since when Ian has appeared behind them. The Lord had snuck up behind them like a ghost or devil which surprised the live out of the two. Lady Ellen bowed when her father also bowed to greet the Lord, "Blessings to you, my lord."

"Blessing don't work on me. It's rather work as a poison." Ian replied coolly and his words taunted the father and daughter that their smiles faltered.

"P-poison." Lady Ellen's lips stammered at the words said by Ian, his tone never sounded good when he spoke of killing methods and it sounded to Lady Ellen's ears as if Ian wish to kill her.

"I was joking Lady Ellen, it seems like the day are bleak when there are no rumors. I am not fond of seeing other's sad faces." Ian chuckled as if meaning his words but the laugh fell very short from his lips. His red eyes moved at the father, "What had gotten you two spoke very seriously that you didn't took my presence to notice?" he asked,.

"We were talking of Vervor, milord. Of how the man had met his death because of the evil deeds he had done, Ellen was surprised and felt angry on your behalf, milord." replied Duke Gary, he was sure the words were spoken in whispers that Ian wouldn't be able to hear but in truth Ian could hear clear every words coming from Duke Gary and Lady Ellen's mouth.

His red eyes didn't show emotions as his lips continue the smile he had with him since he had come upon the two people, "How kind of her to think so. I remembered that I forgot to remind you that there had been news of people eyeing for my seat. They thought I reign over as a Lord for a very long time and that it is my time to go down." Ian looked over his brown gloves, eyeing on it as if checking there was dust on it.

"How presumptuous!" Duke Gary frowned as if in anger to hear there were people dare to do such an unloyal thing, "My Lord, by all means please caught the culprit. To covet what the Lord have is insolent. They deserve to sentence to death."

Ian smiled agreeing to Gary's words for the first time the man ever live, "My words exactly. In this land everything that had stepped into the border is mine, I am not one to let what I have be taken from others or harmed." The way Ian spoke had been ambiguous. Duke Gary and Lady Ellen had taken the Lord's word literally without knowing the underlying message that was hidden.

Ian didn't mind their slowness to comprehend his words. It would be more fascinating to push one over a cliff and see them fall without the person itself realizing, "What about you, Lady Ellen, do you think you would forgive anyone harming your treasure?" asked the Lord and the woman smiled happily when her name was called.

On his words, Lady Ellen was suddenly reminded of Elise, the maid who had destroyed her chemistry with Ian. Her hands clutched to her side, "I would never." an ire passed by the Lady's eyes, "I do not think it is right for others to harm what is ours and it is our place to fight for what we are entitled to have." Since childhood Ellen had been told by her father that she would grew up to be the wife of the Lord and she would fight for the position that was hers.

"I see that Lady Ellen is not only a woman of gorgeousness like the rumors but also one with a very bright attitude." Ian said and his sweet-sounding words had the woman smitten by him.

There was no one in the Land who could avoid the Lord's charm. It was not only about his physical appearance where he appeared almost like a devil's painting who was handsome and bewitching but also the air he hold which was devilish, evil, and the pulling mysterious words. Not to forget his position as the Lord who is at the top than anyone in the land. Even the Church was rumored to unable raise a hand against Ian in fear he would turn angry against them.

"Thank you for the praise, milord, I should bring this words forever with me." Lady Ellen's cheeks were pink as she returned Ian's praise.

Ian hummed and they saw the Lord looking at the rose bushes that were beside them. He reached out his hand, holding the fresh red rose to the pluck it away. Lady Ellen almost feel as if she was sweep off from her feet when seeing the Lord took the rose buds, thinking that he meant to gave the rose to her.

Instead of placing the rose beside Ellen's ears like the woman wished for, Ian brought the rose away on his palm, "You should be careful then," Lady Ellen and Duke Gary felt their heart jerk on Ian's words that were spoken in a ghastly tone, "Gorgeous and lovely things, they don't grow well in this world, ending them in their prime. Just like a curse." Ian twirled his fingers to drop the flower right at the moment the rose was about to touch the ground, it turned to black ashes, leaving nothing but dust.

Ian lifted his chin, his eyes watching the careful expression on the two humans' face and his lips widened in a grin, "I will go now. I don't want to ruin a happy family's time. I remembered how I ruined one before and still felt sorry about it as they ended up not saying anything because they died. Although it was their fault and I don't feel anything either," remark Ian at the people whose smile had disappeared.

Turning his back, Ian stepped away from the place where Duke Gary and Lady Ellen were, his smile widening as his face looked up to meet with the human girl whose blue eyes were watching him. When their gazes met, Ian smiled at Elise for a fleeting moment that felt like an hour before disappearing to the garden.