"Until when are you planning to pull this act?"

Nyx stared at the woman in front of him. Her limbs were tied at the chair, worn-out clothes, disheveled hair, her bare feet were filled with bruises and wounds, even while her eyes were fixated at her feet, he could see fatigue and pain over her.

"Silence won't save you. If you continue your stubbornness, you'll end up dying." Nyx stood up and heated the long iron rod into the fire.

In the corner of his eyes, he saw how her expression changed for a moment. A glint of fear escaped from her eyes while anticipating the fifth excruciating pain for that day from countless torment she experienced at the dungeon.

Bullets of sweat covered Lydia's face as she stare at the hot rod lifted from the fire, her hair was already damped and clung to the side of her face while her lips were already chapped from water deprivation.

She bit her lips hard to control her scream as soon as the scorching rod came into contact with her exposed skin. Her already numb body was twisting uncontrollably while trying to endure the pain. Her tied wrists and ankles were sore and bruised from the tight grip of the iron chair that bounds her body.

Lydia doesn't know how time flowed, the moment the rod lifted, she was already at the verge of losing consciousness. She cannot even lift a single finger, her face was drained of color as she stare at her feet.

Nyx waited for the maid's answer but Lydia remained unfazed. His eyes shifted to his master who was silent the whole time. Nathaniel's eyes were closed as he sit in a corner but he knew he was listening.

It has been a week since they started the interrogation but they haven't heard a single confession. Lydia was persistent on hiding the truth behind the treacherous act.

The Brookes family were loyal followers of the Fleiss Dukedom. They had been serving for years, aiding every generation's Duke. Lydia's mother, Imelda, was also a trusted companion of the former Duke of Fleiss.

Days before the Duchess' departure, the Duke asked him to investigate about the Duchess' persistent migraines. But there are no history of medical treatments nor any signs of illness. Rather, what he found was a toxic compound she was consuming for months.

Lydia, a trusted servant of the Duchess was infusing a compound known as benziform to the candles while the Duchess were alone at her room. It was an odorless substance that causes headache and lethargy when inhaled. Worse, the longer exposure from it will deteriorate the body.

"Just... kill me," the servant mouthed through harsh breathe. Her eyes were half-lidded as she tried to stay conscious. With all her remaining strength, she stared back at Nyx as the corner of her lips tugged upwards to mock him, "You.. won't get.. anything from me."

Nyx heaved a sigh, touching the bridge of his nose as he tried to control his losing temper, "You're such a pain in the arse."

He was about to pick another torturing object when his master stood from his seat.

"Step aside."

In a split second, he already drew his sword from its scabbard and the next thing he knew, Lydia was already screaming in pain as the sharp sword pierced her right hand.

Nathan's golden eyes were sharp and intense as he stare back at her. He was like a predator whose about to devour his prey. "This is the last chance I could give. Next time, I'll cut your limbs one by one until I severe your head. Choose your fate wisely."

Nathan applied forced that made the sword struck deeper and made the woman cry in wrenching pain. "Tell me, who gave you the order to harm my wife?"

Lydia tried to stifle her screams and grit her teeth in anguish as she tried to tolerate the persistent pain, "Does Your Grace think eliminating me will save the Duchess?"

With a glowered face, she stared at her lord as her lips form a tight line. Even through her parched throat, she delivered her words with a sliver of mockery.

"No matter what you do, the Duchess will still die. A wallflower was bound to die in a garden full of thorns."

The next events happened very fast. Nyx, who was watching a few steps away wasn't even able to move. Blood splattered on his face as the cold Duke swung his sword. The head of the woman who was looking at them with disdain a while ago was now rolling in the marbled floor.

"Your Grace!" Nyx exclaimed, his widened eyes traveled to the noble sword now dripping with blood. It wasn't their plan to kill the servant as she is their only lead at the moment.

"You can't just hastily make a move. How could we know the person behind now that she's dead?"

"No one can mess with the Fleiss," Nathaniel coldly stated. His golden chromatic eyes conveyed no emotions as he wiped the traces of blood on his face. His breath was quick and uneven as he tries to suppress his surging rage. It has been long since he felt this strong desire to kill.

His face remained blank but the bloodthirsty aura surrounding him still lingers. Feeling the terrifying energy, Nyx never dared to speak again.

"Take care of the rest." Passing him the blood-stained sword, he took quick strides towards the exit, leaving him of the aftermath.

Not wasting another day, Nyx sent Lydia's dead body to her family along with a few knights. The Brookes already shed tears as they saw the short entourage of the black falcon accompanying a wooden casket.

Guilt and shame marked their faces as they saw the wolf's bane flower on top of Lydia's coffin, conveying the reason of her unprecedented return—lying cold in the wooden coffin.

Wolf's bane, also known as monkshood or aconite, comes in a variety of hues, ranging from deep blue to purple, white, and yellow. Blue blossoms, on the other hand, are the most popular ornamental variety. The blooms of this perennial are lovely, but every part of it is poisonous. When given as a gift, wolf's bane denotes treachery, misanthropy, and caution, as well as a forewarning of impending trouble.

Nyx felt sympathy for Imelda's grief, no one expected the Brookes' hundreds of years of loyalty will be stained with treachery. This outcome will surely affect the relationship between families, but things cannot be undone.

Conveying the letter given by the Duke, Nyx handed a reticule purse full of gold coins as compensation for Lydia's service to the ducal family.

"Please relay my deepest apologies to Your Grace for my child's preposterousness. I will take this burden until my last breath."

"I will. Take care of yourself, Imelda."

Nyx gave a faint smile to the old lady who used to be a mother figure to them. Imelda, who served the former Duke, treated them kindly and raised the three of them like her own sons. It was a shame that things took a bitter end in between them.

"I always wish the three of you the best."

The Brookes watched their departure, their faces smeared with tears. Nyx spared one last glance to Imelda. With sorrowful eyes, he bid farewell to the old lady as their entourage left the village.

Bringing in a pot a hot chamomile tea, Nyx knocked a few times at the Duke's office. Knowing him too well, he did not wait for his response and twisted the knob.

As always, piles of papers filled his table. But unlike the past week, the workaholic Duke was not working like a fire was lit under him. He was aware how his lord was rushing things to return to his territory sooner. It has been ten days since the Duchess' departure and from that day, the Duke was living on his office working like a madman. He could barely think how he could endure working with hardly enough sleep.

"I brought you some warm tea, though it may not be as good as my brother's."

Nyx carefully filled the tea cup and placed it on his table but Nathaniel still haven't spared him a glance. He remained standing with both his hands in his pockets as his eyes lingered at the scenery from outside the huge glass window of his office.

"Imelda wants me to convey her deepest apologies. I hope the Duke could somehow grant forgiveness for old times' sake."

Nathaniel heaved a deep sigh. He was distrustful since he was a child because of his reputation. But Imelda who used to serve his father was one of the few people he trusted and cared for.

"I heard her son was a skilled artisan."

Taking a seat, Nathaniel lifted the cup to his lips and the aromatic scent of tea filled his sense of smell.

"Make arrangements for him to enter the academy as a Fleiss' scholar for this upcoming year."

Nyx was bewildered by what he heard. With amusement visible on his face, he stared at his master who was now leisurely drinking his tea.

"Despite your cold reputation, my Lord has a kind heart."

His eyes turned sharp in an instant and his brows creased as he returned his gaze. "I'm not. I was mainly investing towards someone I could use in the future. His skills will be beneficial to the Duchy if he will acquire enough knowledge in the academy."

"As you said, Your Grace," he answered with a teasing tone, still unconvinced by his master's reason.

"Just get out. I still had a pile of work to finish," the Duke irritably said as he started to skim the papers in front of him with furrowed brows.

Nyx was about to leave his office when he remembered the letter he received from the servants earlier that day.

"Before I forgot, a letter arrived this morning."

Nyx almost laughed as he saw how his master stilled. Nathaniel's eyes never lifted from the paper works and he wears his usual cold expression. Yet, Nyx knew him very well and could tell his mood lit up out of interest. Wanting to tease him more, he cut his words on purpose. He likes how the thoughts of the Duchess can draw different emotions from his cold master who barely display any trace of emotion.

He was aware of the Duke's constant exchange of letters with his brother from the North regarding the Duchess. But to his master's dismay, the letter that arrived this morning was not of the same source.

"It was a letter from the Royal Palace. You are being summoned tomorrow." He was still restraining his lips from tugging upwards as he relay the following words.

The Duke's forehead creased, flipping the papers with sliver of annoyance.

"Is it the King's order?"

"No, Your Grace."

"Then, ignore it."

Nyx heaved a sigh, feeling disbelief of his lord's stubbornness. If not for his reputation, he could be in trouble for dismissing the royal family's order.

"Continue to investigate regarding Lydia's case. If you must, track every transactions of benziform around the Capital."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Looks like he still has a pile of work left to do.