Klaus's Pov
The next day Fenyang is back to Palace quite late at night. My acute hearing allows me to hear even the lightest of steps and my eyes open like clockwork at the creaking sound of his bedroom door. He was away a long time with Zaffera and I am assuming she has also returned late. I am acctually quite concerned about how much Master Fenyang has been sleeping on duties, and I was unable to sleep peacefully until his return.
"Master, you have spent quite some time away from Kingdom or distracted from your duties..." he says waking towards a still laying Fenyang on the bed, his head shaking in both concern and disappointment. He was rooting for Fenyang to really hold up the Kingdom's prestige to honour his guardians work but ever since he has met Zaffera it's as though he's priorities had shifted.
"I've been...busy with things..." he says face down on the pillow with his voice sounding muffled as a result.
"I understand Master bu-" I try to voice complaint softly but I pause mid sentece noticing a peace of paper by the desk which catches my attention. "Nothing." I brush off and leave, shutting the door behind me and retreating to my bedroom to think.
After hours of pondering I sneak back into his room when Master goes away to meet up with Zaffera.
'I'm only doing this for your own good', I remind myself over and over again as I reach for the paper I saw much earlier. This is and invasion of privacy and I'm fully aware that this breaks the arrows conduct. But I'm acting as a concerned friend now more than anything. I quickly notice that it's a telegram messege from Zaffera. 'Meet me by the address below for the book' it says.
'What book?' I think scratching the back of my head and looking around for clues in confusion. I recognise the address as its quite a famous Inn outside Kingdom as it is run by what used to be a famous writer. I put the paper back where I found it and reachfor the bottom of Master's bed.
'If I know him well he would have placed it here for ease of reach as well as a good hiding place.'
'Jackpot' I say pulling a hard leather book towards me. There's a book mark about the middle of the book and I jump straight to it. Before me there's a myth I had long forgotten about. And in a light bulb moment everything pieces together. The Inn's address makes it's way in my mind again and I connect the dots when I notice the book's author's name. It's the same of the formerly famous writer that runs the Inn. I'm sure this is what has been keeping Master busy and it further grounds my suspicions on Zaffera. This book was cast away from this Kingdom and copies hid away so there's no way he got it form here. It somewhat saddens me as at first Zaffera seemed like quite a positive influence on Fenyang since I hadn't seen Master at quite this level of happiness before but ever since she has reappeared out of nowhere again and I found her lurking around the Palace I'm keeping my guard on. If Master starts to develop feeling for her it's a problem.
Realising the time I decide to hastly leave the book to its place and go to training as I will be late otherwise and make my fellow arrows wait.
That night I knock at Fenyang's door to inquire him on my suspected fear that he may harbour feelings for her. I feel my throat dry up and close on its self as I stand before him in silence before mastering the courage to ask.
"Master, are you in love with Zaffera? I'm worried for you as in spending time with her you have neglected your duties and as King of Arrow you can't afford to get side tracked. She used to have a good influence on you but now I am perplexed..."
I call him Master out of respect. He is the King of Arrow afterall but before that he has always been my friend. I'm only this direct because I care about him and he needs a wake up call. Everyone else kept calling him Master because they still mourn the Royals passing and believe that deep down they would would be accepting of the fact if they changed.
He appears not to have heard me as he lays there still. He looks up at me in utter confusion.
"Master, are you..." I try to repeat in vain as he stands up and walks away.
I follow him all the way downstairs to Kitchen where all is heard is the sound of running water out of the tap as he fills up a glass and gulps it down. I'm conflicted as I don't know what he will say next.
"Klaus..." he starts leaning on the sink with his back.