It had been an hour now. Liam and Lily were in the carriage. He looked pale and his eyes were dead.

The rescue had arrived as the driver called for it on Lily's instructions. Liam's father sent men and investigators to look through the situation.

"Liz... can you please check on the investigation?"

Lily sighed sadly. "Yeah... please rest" he wasn't even looking at me. I felt bad for him.

Lily stepped outside in the darkened night that was once acting like a canvas for the burning house. The house filled with happiness was now a hollow graveyard of death. Men were removing debrises and collecting bodies. Each of them laid respectfully and covered with white cloth.

Lily spotted the real deal, the main guy who stood out with cigarette held between his lips and a wore mysterious attire consisting of a long black coat. His crimson hair was tied in a bun and his silver eyes were showcased behind his brown glassess.

"Ahem!" Lily walked toward him. "I would like to know anything you could have found."

The man took out the cigarette from his mouth and eyed her up and down. It was like he could see through his disguise.

"You are...? Lord's maid?" Heins knew who she was.

"His wife. We married yesterday. You are Mister...?"

"Heins."

"Mister Heins, so what could you find? Was it an accident or...?"

"I thought it was at first. But looking at situation of the crime scene, it seemed like none of them tried to escape."

"You mean they would have been unconscious?" Lily was shocked.

"Hmm. I don't like jumping to conclusions but it might be that."

'It was possibly an assassination attack. But why?'

"They were unconscious that means..."

"The food was spiked, yes, but the cook is dead too. We have cross checked with Lord Liam"

"Do you have any documents on the investigation?"

"It would be sent over to the Manor of Blane family, by tomorrow."

"I see" his words seemed normal but the tone of his voice was insulting.

I walked back to Liam and told him everything. He sat there with his head on his knees while grabbing his head. He had this crazy look in his eyes. It was not new to me because of where I came from. Many people who lost everything and couldn't accept it at first, had this look on there face. From what I know, Liam is dangerous right now. I have to be careful. That's also the reason I didn't told him that Heins was underestimating me. It didn't mattered to me but because of his feelings, Heins could've been hiding some things from me.

"Can I be alone? Please?" He stuttered as he looked at me. His eyes, i just couldn't get used to them being so soulless.

I sighed before heading out. Family of dead people were gathering, identifying the bodies and the garden was like the batterfield with families crying. There were children, husbands, wives, parents, siblings, friends or just relatives of those dead bodies, howling from despair. It was so sad that I felt like I was going to vomit.

"Where's Lord Liam?! He knows me!" A guy screamed at Heins. "I am George! Ask him!"

I walked closer.

"George? The haircut guy?" I spoke softly from behind him, he turned around.

"D- Do you know where Lord is Miss? P-Please" Tears were falling from his green eyes as his long brown hair was tied in a half up bun. His face was red from crying.

"He is not in the right space of mind right now. Come with me" I took him to the carriage.

"Thank you miss... I just have to tell him something."

"Don't go inside. Also, I am not leaving." I said as we reached there.

George stood in front of the carriage door with a betrayed face.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Lord... why couldn't you protect them? Why did Yuna had to die?!" He banged the carriage door.

I knew this would happen but I took him here anyways, why? Because Liam have a duty. He might have lost his precious peoples but people like George lost their family, a source of income and their trust. Will any of them want their sons and daughters to work at the Blane house? No. Liam have to step up right now and give them hope or ignite hatred against the perpertrature instead of the family.

The door opened. Liam looked absolutely broken and pitiful.

"George" Liam stepped out. "Wipe your tears" He wiped his tears with his handkerchief. "It's not me you should be mad at."

"THEN WHO?!"

"The king"

"What are you-?"

"Its so sad that for a petty revenge, he didn't minded killing all of them. For him, you people are nothing but ants." Liam shedded few tears.

"Please tell it to everyone that who attacked the mansion. You are my close one George, thats why I am telling it to you." Liam hugged George.

'What was he thinking?'

"L-Lord!" George hugged him back. "You are the only noble who treats us as equals!"

"Really? That's so sad... Everyone deserves equal treatment despite of their status."

This statement came as shock to George and it was certain.

"I would have hated receiving such treatment. You people are so patient." Liam spoke in a sad voice.

"Lord, I know what to do." George looked determined.

"Just be careful... because even voicing your opinion is dangerous if its against him. So don't do anything more right now."

George got the hint. He thought that atleast one person was on his side and understood him. His anger for Liam vanished and was replaced by respect.

Liam was playing a risky game. Blatantly calling the king a tyrant. George soon left.

Liam and Liz were now alone, outside the carriage and on the side that was hidden from people.

"What the hell was that?"

Liam held his chin between his fingers and spoke slowly and charmingly. "That well, could be called an ignition?"

"Are you.... a revolt? You are a noble too...! And Amethyst family! M-my miss...?" Liz held her head as she looked at Liam like she couldn't believe him.

"Calm down, there's still time for that."

"I was expecting anger against the assassinators, not the King." Liz spoke the last word in low voice.

Liam leaned against the carriage with his arms closed in front of his chest.

"Why do you care?" His eyes were filled with anger as he squinted them. The voice was cold yet calm, coming out as daggers.

"What are you thinking?! What if he really did anything?!"

Liam sighed before rolling his eyes and looking away. "He won't. Atmost, all of his customers will know about our conversation. I can tell, he is not the man for it."

"Why are you acting so bitter against me?" I stepped closer. Liam just clenched his jaw and kept looking away. This was not like him.

"You are not thinking rationally! You lost a lot and I understand but can you please act normal finally?" I should shut up. I should be kinder and more understanding, I know but I was currently thinking about myself.

"Everything about you have changed in a moment! Can you get a hold of yourself?"

Now I was the bitter one. I was scared. It was not like Liam to be like this. The guy in front of me, was not the one who would protect me, but the one who would sacrifice me. It was an eerie feeling.

"Don't look away! Say something! Get back to normal!"

He finally did, he glared at me like he wanted to kill me, it made me shut up instantly. The situation was even more scary than the idea of Liam sacrificing me for his gain.

"Normal?" He spoke in a deep voice, almost condescending as he walked closer.

"What is normal to you?" Liam grabbed Liz's face as he looked dead in her eyes.

"A guy who would protect you? Protect your future?" He smiled, it was a smile of disbelief.

"You don't care about this many people dying, you don't care that I have to take some time to be normal again, do you? It scares you that I am not 'normal' anymore?" His voice was low, as he spoke each word carefully.

"Please... let me go." Liz spoke pleadingly. She didn't wanted to appear weak but she was scared now.

"Stay in your lane Leese. Your life is in my hands. One word from me and you will be killed for treason."

"Kill me then, coward." Liz striked back.

Liam hesitated and left her face alone.

"You need me. You need me as a pawn. If not me, then you will have to marry Miss. I don't know why but don't you not want any relation with the Amethyst family?" Liz had a frown on her face as she spoke.

"You are making it soo easy for me to hate you." It was a condescending tone.

"Look... I am sorry, I was just being selfish. It won't happen again." Liz looked apologetic.

If I have to lick your feets to survive and save my family, I will do that too Liam. Act as much weird as you want. I am going to be on my own now.

Liam was taken aback.

"No- I am sorry too. We should be a team." She is not fooling anyone with that hesitation in her voice. As long as you listen.

"What should I do Liam?" Liz smiled reluctantly.

"I am going to order the men to build graveyards now." Liam sighed.

"I shall then meet the families then."

"Hmm. Make them believe that Liam Blane treats them as equal."

"Get them to like you? I can do that."

***

The night ended just like that, no one slept, the workers built the grave. Some bodies were burned but most died from suffocation.

People were sitting silently in front of the graves of their young ones. These graves had stone with name of each dead person and it all happened in one night. Nearly 30 graves were made. They all had flowers and offerings. Peasant didn't really had graves made for them because it was expensive. It created and uproar between normal people that someone of their financial situation had graves made for them, a noble respected them enough to do that.

Liam was standing in front of all of the graves.

"Catherine, Agnes, Tress, Yuna, Heron, Sias, May, Nabi, Vanya....." tears fell from his eyes.

" Liam..." Liz held out a handkerchief for him. She was pulled into a hug.

"I am s-sorry. I couldn't do anything...." Liam stuttered as he burrowed his face in the crook of her neck.

Liz felt shitty. She reacted differently to death of people because of her upbringing. She had lost a lot of people due to poverty so she forgot how people normally dealt with death. Liz usually moved on with life and thought of how to survive next when a close one died. It was same for her father's death. They mourned but went to work half an hour later on the same day then they were so tired that they couldn't mourn so they waited for holiday to cry over him.

She thought that she should have done better job to help Liam cope.

"Shh...its okay... you have done enough..."

"Ahem!" The two of us seperated and looked at Heins standing there, aloof as always.

"That was... unsightly." Liz broke the awkward silence.

"What is it?" I spoke, getting a hold of myself.

"The copy of report of our finding. Work will still continue." Heins held out a yellow envelope.

"I see."

"Shall I take my leave?" Heins said eyeing down Liz, who looked at him confused.

It was rude of Heins to say that but I was to engrossed in the report.

"Hmm" I opened the envelope to read the entire ten pages of observations.

Heins bowed before leaving.

"Let's sit." I indicated at the unscathed furnitures that were jumbled up together by the workers who were cleaning it all overnight.

Liz was walking in front like a guard as I kept reading the reports. She was probably worried that I might fall.

I sat down on a chair as Liz hovered. I wanted to ask her to sit as well but I left the idea alone. Families were still visiting the graves. Right here, in front of my eyes. A lot of them were being chatty with Liz and bowed at me respectfully, for which I returned a smile. George came by as well and interrupted my reading.

"Lord, people are liking you.... and are hating on him."

He blabbered while i kept smiling and reacting with the same phrases, "I see", "Oh really?", "Be careful about that."

"That's all I had to say...." George turned around.

"George."

"Yes?"

"Don't do too much. You are good as a barber. I will take care of the rest."

"...Yes..." he was like a sad puppy.

I got back to the reading before looking at Liz who was now consoling some women and making the laugh.

So....

they were probably unconscious as they didn't tried to escape. The drug was probably in the food. They ate because I went to Liz's hometown, if not, we would have eaten with them.

...

...

'How will you eat then?'

****