Augustus lay beside Hugo, both severely wounded. A man had injured them and left them in the forest to die. Augustus, lying next to Hugo, held his hand and cried, "Hugo, please stay alive a little longer."
Hugo, in pain, smiled and said, "Father, I love you so much."
Augustus and Hugo died together, or at least Augustus thought so.
It was raining, the sky was dark and foggy.
Augustus: "Where am I?"
Augustus looked at his bloody hands, sure that he should be dead, but he wasn't.
Augustus placed his hand on his heart and suddenly realized it wasn't beating.
Augustus, surprised, said, "This is very strange, I really don't feel anything. If I'm dead, then why...?"
Fabian had to play a role for Augustus to stay alive. The first role Augustus gave him was that of his son, Hugo.
Fabian was standing by the window, looking at the view.
Fabian: "I really want to know exactly what happened to Duke Augustus's son that makes him behave so violently."
Fabian, bored, wandered around the house. That house had nothing entertaining for Fabian. Additionally, the atmosphere was gloomy and the house had very little light, which made Fabian feel uncomfortable.
Fabian went to the main door of the house and looked outside through the glass.
Augustus saw Fabian and said, "Do you really want to go outside that badly?"
Fabian looked at Augustus and said, "Father, can I have a few requests?"
Augustus: "If they are not troublesome, you can."
Fabian: "Really?"
Augustus: "Come with me, we'll talk about it in the library."
Fabian went to the library with Augustus. There was a room for resting next to the library, with two chairs and a table.
Augustus sat on a chair and said, "Sit down."
Fabian sat opposite Augustus.
Augustus: "Tell me all your requests. Since you're playing Hugo's role, I'll allow you to have a few requests."
Fabian thought for a moment and said, "First, can you not treat me like a child?"
Augustus: "You don't want to play Hugo's role?"
Fabian: "That's not what I mean, if Hugo were alive and came back, he might be my age."
Augustus smiled and said, "So you want to play the role of a young Hugo, huh?"
Fabian, feeling uneasy, said, "Of course, I'll do my best."
Augustus chuckled and said, "Sure, if you act your age, you'll play the role more naturally."
Fabian felt relieved and thought, "It seems he likes it too."
Fabian: "My second request is, allow me to go outside."
Augustus looked at Fabian in surprise and said, "Why? Don't you feel comfortable here?"
Fabian: "It's nice here, but this house is old, has little light, and is boring." Fabian thought for a moment and
continued, "And I want to get some fresh air."
Augustus frowned at Fabian.
Fabian, scared, swallowed and
thought, "He's really angry, I shouldn't have asked for that!"
Augustus: "I accept."
Fabian, surprised, said, "What?! You
really accept?!"
Augustus crossed his legs, leaned
back on the chair, and said, "But first, I need to make sure you won't run away."
Fabian: "I won't run away... I promise!"
Augustus: "I need more than a promise."
Augustus took Fabian to a large hall filled with antiques and valuable items.
Fabian, astonished by what he saw, thought, "Wow, this place looks like a museum!"
Augustus picked up some kind of bracelet and approached Fabian.
Fabian: "What is this bracelet?"
Augustus: "With the help of these bracelets, I can find you wherever you go."
Fabian thought: "Great, now I'll never be able to get away from him."
Augustus firmly grabbed Fabian's right hand and put the bracelet on it.
Fabian suddenly screamed, "It hurts a lot!"
Augustus: "This is just the first half."
Fabian smiled and said, "One bracelet is enough, right?"
Suddenly, Augustus placed the second bracelet on Fabian's left wrist.
Fabian screamed, "My hand is burning!"
Fabian sat on the ground, holding his wrist in pain.
Augustus smiled and said, "You'll get used to them by tomorrow."
Fabian saw that the bracelets on his wrists looked more like some kind of brand.
Fabian: "They look more like tattoos than bracelets."
Augustus: "Come on, it's time to change your clothes."
The duke's mansion had a very large garden; the outside of the mansion was beautiful and tidy, unlike the inside. The large garden was filled with various trees and flowers.
Fabian went closer to see some
flowers, knelt by the flowerbed, and said with great enthusiasm, "These are so beautiful, I've never seen such flowers before."
Augustus: "I don't know their names either, I'm not very interested in such things."
Fabian stood up and said, "Strange, aren't you the owner of this garden?"
Augustus: "I left the management to a gardener because Hugo loved this place."
Fabian smiled and said, "Hugo really had great taste."
Augustus said with pride, "Of course, he is my son after all."
Fabian saw a small hut in the distance and excitedly said, "Father, let's sit together for a while."
Augustus frowned and said, "Go by yourself."
Fabian gently said, "But I want to come with you."
Fabian smiled at Augustus. Augustus saw the image of Hugo in his mind and kept looking at Fabian.
Fabian looked at Augustus and said, "Is something wrong?"
Augustus sighed and smiled, "No, let's get some fresh air."
Fabian thought, "Did I really manage to resemble Hugo?"
Augustus and Fabian went to the white hut and sat at a table.
Fabian: "Do you feel better now, father?"
Augustus smiled and said, "Yes, as long as you're with me, I feel good."
Fabian smiled and said, "If you're happy, then I'm happy too, father."
Augustus looked at Fabian and thought, "He's not Hugo, so why do I feel comfortable around him?"
Fabian: "There are many things I want to see, father. Let's go on a trip together one day."
Augustus: "A trip? You and me together?"
Hugo smiled and said, "Of course, if we go on a trip, you'll feel better and your depression will be cured."
Suddenly, Augustus's eyes became terrifying, and he said coldly, "Hey, you, watch your behavior. If you exploit my emotions, I'll kill you!"
Fabian: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to exploit you."
Augustus: "How dare you play with my emotions? You're not Hugo, you're just a replacement, nothing more!"
Fabian stood up and said, "You're right, I'm just your puppet."
Suddenly, Augustus frowned and said, "I didn't give you permission to leave!"
Fabian, sweating from the psychological pressure, thought, "It's not clear exactly what he wants, I'm in a very difficult situation!"
Without saying anything, Fabian sat back down on the chair.
Augustus: "I have to go to a big party tonight, and you have to come with me."
Fabian: "But if I play Hugo's role, everyone will be suspicious of us."
Augustus frowned and said, "I didn't say you should play Hugo's role, you have to come as my personal assistant."
Fabian: "Personal assistant?"
Augustus: "You don't need to do anything special, you just have to accompany me."
Fabian: "But you don't need me, don't you think it would be better if I didn't come with you?"
Augustus: "You have to spy on someone for me."
Fabian, surprised, said, "Spy?!"
Augustus: "Or do you want to be tortured?"
Fabian, with a trembling voice, said, "Of course not, I'll do whatever you ask."
Fabian thought, "Maybe this way I can find a way to escape."
Augustus smiled and said, "Very good, you really are just an obedient puppet."