'What the hell is going on' The words almost escaped Taylor's lips in a bewildered whisper as he stared at the lifeless form of Father Deus.
The shock of the sudden death left him reeling, unable to comprehend the scene unfolding before him.
'He's dead?'
Taylor's mind raced with disbelief, grappling with the abruptness of Father Deus's passing.
Confusion and frustration mingled within him, clouding his thoughts as he struggled to make sense of the situation.
As the people of the church solemnly carried Father Deus's body away, Taylor found himself at a loss for explanation.
How could the priest have died so suddenly and unexpectedly?
"Are you siure you were the only one here"
"Yes"
"Were there any signs of—"
Amidst the chaos, investigators approached Taylor, bombarding him with questions about the events leading up to Father Deus's death.
Despite his own confusion, Taylor answered truthfully, hoping to shed some light on the mysterious circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Once the interrogation was over, Taylor was dismissed, left to grapple with his own guilt and uncertainty.
The weight of Father Deus's death bore down on him heavily, leaving him to question whether he could have done something to prevent it.
'Since when did Father Deus have any heart problems?' Taylor muttered to himself, the pieces of the puzzle refusing to fit together in his mind.
He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that somehow, he was to blame for the priest's untimely demise.
Watching the children whom Father Deus had cared for, Taylor felt a pang of guilt wash over him.
Were their innocent lives now shattered because of his presence?
The burden of responsibility weighed heavily on Taylor's shoulders as he grappled with the consequences of his actions.
…..
As Taylor sat in the carriage, making his way back home, a bitter taste lingered in his mouth, a bitter reminder of the fruitlessness of his visit to the church.
Not only had he failed to find answers to the mystery plaguing his nightmares, but now, he carried the weight of Father Deus's death on his shoulders.
Though he couldn't be certain, Taylor couldn't shake the feeling that his presence may have somehow contributed to the priest's demise.
The burden weighed heavily on him as he contemplated the events of the day.
Despite the tragedy, Taylor resolved to do what he could to support the orphaned children Father Deus had cared for.
Even without the priest's guidance, Taylor knew the church would continue to provide for them, but he felt compelled to offer his assistance, even if it meant sacrificing his own resources.
As Taylor pondered how to break the news to his young miss, a sense of dread settled over him.
He couldn't bear the thought of burdening her with such sorrow, especially as she prepared to return to the academy.
With a heavy heart, Taylor decided to shield her from the news for now, sparing her the pain until she was in a better place to receive it.
With a weary sigh, Taylor rubbed his temples, feeling the familiar throbbing of a headache beginning to take hold.
Despite his efforts to alleviate the strain, the weight of the day's events bore down on him, leaving him exhausted and drained as the carriage carried him homeward.
….
The duke's frustration simmered beneath the surface as he swung his sword relentlessly at the metallic training dummy.
Each strike reverberated through the air with a deafening clang, causing the knights observing him to wince and cover their ears.
Despite the slow and deliberate pace of his movements, the weight of the sword caught him off guard, adding an unexpected challenge to his training with the wooden blade.
In the back of his mind, the duke couldn't shake the nagging question of Taylor's whereabouts.
He had searched for the young butler throughout the morning, eager to exact his revenge after his daughter's fiery onslaught.
Yet, Taylor seemed to have vanished without a trace, leaving the duke to grapple with his mounting frustration.
'Stella is about to leave soon...' The thought weighed heavily on the duke's mind. His beloved daughter, Stella, was preparing to return to the academy in just a few days.
Though a month-long vacation had been granted, it felt to the duke as if the time had slipped away in the blink of an eye.
Despite his desire for Stella to depart on good terms, the rift caused by Taylor's actions had cast a shadow over their relationship.
The duke's heart ached at the thought of his daughter's disappointment and annoyance directed towards him.
With each strike against the metal dummy, his movements became more frantic, mirroring the turmoil within him.
The knights, witnessing his anguish, felt as though they were standing in the midst of tolling church bells, each clang a reminder of the discord in the duke's heart.
'I need to teach that bastard a few more things as well before letting him go' the duke grumbled inwardly, his frustration simmering beneath the surface.
Despite his annoyance that Taylor would soon be spending more time with his daughter than with him, the duke couldn't deny the young butler's unwavering dedication and loyalty to Stella.
In the years to come, aside from the prince, Taylor would be one of the few individuals willing to go to any lengths to protect his beloved daughter.
'It's about time that bastard starts to forge his own path and create his own world' the duke mused, acknowledging the undeniable talent that Taylor possessed.
He understood that allowing Taylor to venture out and explore new horizons would be the best course of action for the young man's growth and development.
However, a sense of apprehension crept over the duke as he contemplated Taylor's unrestricted tendencies.
The young butler's prowess was matched only by his propensity for trouble.
The duke couldn't help but recall instances where Taylor had resorted to extreme measures when provoked, even going so far as to sever limbs without hesitation.
'I just hope he doesn't cause trouble at the academy' the duke couldn't shake the worry that his unpredictable nature might land him in hot water.
While the academy boasted a reputation for attracting the best and brightest, it also harbored its fair share of entitled nobles who relied on status and wealth rather than skill.
The duke hoped fervently that Taylor wouldn't find himself entangled in conflicts with these arrogant peers.
The last thing he needed was family disputes arising from Taylor's volatile personality.
Despite his concerns, the duke acknowledged Taylor's cunning and intelligence, trusting that he wouldn't act recklessly.
With a resigned sigh, the duke returned to his training, hoping that Taylor's journey would be smooth sailing, albeit with the occasional rough patch.
After all, while Taylor may be ruthless, he certainly wasn't foolish.
…..
Returning to the mansion, Taylor seamlessly resumed his daily duties, determined to make up for lost time.
Despite the greetings of the other servants echoing through the halls, he remained focused on his tasks, heading straight for the garden.
With no new head gardener appointed, he took it upon himself to manage the garden, leaving the cleaning and other chores to the rest of the staff.
Glancing at the time, Taylor realized that lunch preparation was imminent.
Hastening his pace, he resolved to complete his duties swiftly so he could join his young miss's side once she was ready to eat.
As the day progressed, Taylor found solace in the routine of his work, his mind momentarily free from the burden of recent events.
After completing his tasks, Taylor savored the moments spent with his young miss, her presence a comforting distraction from the troubles that plagued his thoughts.
Observing her unusually cheerful demeanor, he couldn't help but wonder if something positive had transpired in his absence.
Curiosity gnawed at him, but for now, he chose to revel in the joy of the present moment, cherishing the simple happiness found in his young miss's company.
As the day neared its end, Taylor couldn't shake off his puzzlement at his young miss's inexplicable happiness.
Despite his probing questions, she only responded with a smile, promising that everything would become clear in a few days.
Yet, with her impending return to the academy looming, Taylor couldn't comprehend what could be bringing her such joy.
As he made his way towards his room, a sense of unease gnawed at him, fueled by the fear of another haunting nightmare.
But before he could seek refuge in the comfort of his quarters, an unexpected summons from the duke interrupted his path.
"Hey, do you realize it's nighttime?" Taylor blurted out, surprised by the sudden call back to the training grounds.
The moon bathed the surroundings in its soft light, and stars dotted the sky, creating a serene ambiance.
However, the duke's presence shattered the tranquility, his demeanor starkly contrasting with the peaceful night.
Despite the picturesque setting, Taylor couldn't help but feel sympathy for the duchess, imagining the weight she must carry in sharing her life with such a man.
With his heart full of contempt, Taylor couldn't shake the belief that the duke had somehow ensnared the duchess, despite his repulsive appearance resembling that of a gorilla.
He couldn't believe the duchess naturally fell in love for this man.
The mere sight of the duke's visage made Taylor feel queasy.
"For some reason, I really want to punch your face right now…" the duke grumbled, annoyance evident in his tone, as he observed Taylor's over-dramatic gestures.
If only he could see through Taylor's thoughts right now, he would probably do more than just punching him.
Taylor wondered why the duke suddenly brought him here, well, he wasn't brought here but rather kidnapped.
As he was easily grabbed by the duke down the halls towards his room, the duke even tied him up as he forced him to sit on the hard ground.
Suddenly, the duke raised his hands, and with a deafening roar, something descended from the sky and landed in his grasp—a shimmering blue sword.
Taylor's eyes widened in astonishment at the sight of the weapon.
"Vega…" Taylor whispered, recognizing the legendary sword—the duke's faithful companion from his adventuring days.
One of the only few known 'masterpiece' weapons in the world, it was a symbol of the duke's past glories and prowess in battle.
Looking at Taylor the duke then pointed his sword at him… "Stay still…." The duke said as he raised his sword.
'Hmm? don't tell me….'
As the sword descended, Taylor's heart raced, his mind scrambling for a way out of the imminent danger.
He struggled against his bindings, his muscles straining against the ropes, but it was futile.
Panic surged through him, his breaths coming in shallow gasps.
"Wait...! Wait...! Wait...! what are you doing, you fucking gorilla?" Taylor's voice trembled with fear and disbelief as he stared wide-eyed at the lethal weapon aimed at him.
The blade gleamed like with a menacing blue light, its deadly intent unmistakable.