When Blindfolds Fall

4: What Shouldn't Have Been

"Well, that looks about wrapped up. I'm gonna head to bed. Thanks for the help Josiah." King Hades yawned as he stood up from his desk to go to his room for the day.

"Of course sire." Josiah replied with a courteous bow. However, at watching the king start leaving, he rushed after him and stuttered: "Y-Your majesty, do you not wish to maybe take care of one more thing for tonight? Your schedule is rather busy tomorrow."

"It's too packed that me doing one more thing right now will hardly even make a difference. I'll rest so I can do everything tomorrow. Good day Josiah."

"G-Good day . . . your majesty."

The ambassador of the king shut the door of his office and sighed through his nose as he watched Hades walk down the corridor towards a good day's rest. Unfortunately, for the earl of the Aspen family, he doubted a good day of sleep was anywhere near.

Lately, something weighed on Josiah's mind, something that kept him awake and now made him wish to avoid his home. That was why he was now up and wondering the halls of the castle, even if it was twelve in plain daylight.

Out of pure coincidence, Josiah stopped at the entrance of the infirmary, staring in the direction where Dr. Bloodfern's office was. There was light inside the room, so the doctor must be still awake just like he is.

Josiah looked behind himself before stepping forth and knocking on the oak wood door.

"Who is it?" The doctor's deep voice questioned from within.

"It's me, Josiah." The ambassador replied.

"Come in."

Josiah opened the door and stepped inside, his eyes adjusting to the dim candlelight and then seeing his colleague hunched over some paperwork on his desk. Dr. Bloodfern was scribbling some notes with his quill onto the parchment papers laid out.

His red eyes briefly looked up at Josiah who seemed to be in a different mood than what he was used to.

"What are you doing up so late?" Dr. Bloodfern asked him as he focused on his work again.

"I could ask you the same thing, actually." Josiah made a quick smile.

"I have insomnia, on a good day I get three hours of sleep and I don't try to until three in the afternoon or so." He replied with an exhale and then looked up at him. "You, on the other hand, go to sleep at eight o'clock sharp. You're out way past your bed time."

"You word that like I'm a child, but also . . . H-How do you know what time I go to bed?"

"You pick up on people's routines after walking around trying to tire yourself out every night."

Josiah nodded slowly and sat down on the chair in front of Dr. Bloodfern's desk. It didn't escape the medic, after all, he had known Josiah for four hundred years, that he seemed like he wanted to talk about whatever was keeping him up.

Frankly, Dr. Bloodfern could care less, but he knew better than to ask the only person in his favor to leave his office.

"Can I be honest with you, Viktor?" Josiah suddenly spoke up.

"I'd rather you don't--"

"I think my wife is being unfaithful to me."

Viktor drew his eyebrows together in confusion. His reaction was at first, irritation for not even bring allowed to finish his sentence, but then genuine incomprehension of what he just said.

"Gwyneth?" Viktor questioned in disbelief.

"Well, I suspect her of cheating, I worded that poorly. But yes, Gwyneth, my wife." Josiah cleared his throat and adjusted his seat. "She's been spending nights and days away from our home, claiming she is just getting close again with her family after years. Yet every time I ask if I should come with, she gets strange and says no. Plus, from time to time, I catch a different scent on her. Someone else's."