What Makes a Monster

♱Twenty-Four♱

Wallie P.O.V.

With guests here, Lord Makai is impossible to speak with. I must inform him in private, but he is rarely seen or alone.

Most of the days I am unaware of where he is. It's as if he, Lord Movell, and Lady Connte have simply disappeared. And when he is in his office, he is always accompanied by them while their escorts have full access to the estate. At times they're in the library or walking through the gardens, and others they're sitting in the lounge or munching on snacks.

From an outsider's perspective, they are mere guests, but after speaking with Lord Movell, I think they're searching for something. Why else would there be spies on the estate? Tack on the stealing from Makai Mining Co., it's becoming even more clear how desperate the royals are to get something, anything, on Lord Makai to reduce his power. While he is physically unbeatable, his monetary value is also astronomical. As Hael said, he probably has money for his own militia if he chose to go that route. The Baylor's must be unsettled, or maybe I am thinking far too much into this.

I don't know. I really don't know, and honestly? I shouldn't care. There is nothing I can do. Lord Makai can take care of himself. Hell, there's no one that can care for him better. So what can I, a mere butler that doesn't even have a basic education, do to assist him in any way?

And, besides, why do I want to?! I don't gain anything from it. I'm being ridiculous. I need to stop thinking about this, although I still plan to tell Lord Makai what happened. I will never spy on him, not in a million years.

The days continue to go by with our not so welcome guests. Gossip escalates the longer they stay. Rumors that I know started in the kitchens (because I was there to hear it) spread throughout the estate. Now everyone is discussing The Red Lady or even the chance of another war, most likely with Emperor Ocktevian of Leschandeal. Apparently he's moving south towards Aberia, but who knows the truth in this place.

Of course, all the rumors don't help settle my nerves. Since I am still attending to Lord Movell, I see him more often than others. He never mentions his past offer or how I declined it, simply smiles or asks how I'm doing. Like that, he comes across as a kind priest, but I can't trust him. Not after what happened.

On the third day, even more weird happenings occur.

I'm walking past the library with an arms full of clean sheets for the bedrooms when a few loud thuds catch my attention. I stop to stare at the door that is slightly ajar, enough for me to hear the hushed voices within.

"Hey, watch it. Don't make a mess in here," a man hisses. I think it's one of the priests that came with Lord Movell.

"Calm down, I just dropped a few books. Put them back," another says. I step closer to the doors, standing aside while trying to peer in.

I was right, it's the priests.

The two men are standing on the left side of the room. Some books lay on the floor that the lanky one picks up. He returns them while the other is continuing down the line. He's acting odd, pulling out each book then flipping through the pages, even inspecting the empty space before replacing them.

"We've looked through here already," Lanky says with a heavy sigh. "So have others. There's nothing here."

"Our job is to look so we will look even if it's in the same place. With this blood sucker, you'll never know what, or how he's hiding something," the other responds with an annoyed huff. He tousles his hair with obvious frustration.

"It'd be nice if we even knew what we were looking for," Lanky grumbles, earning a sharp glare from his counterpart.

I crinkle my nose in confusion.