Nux tried to think quickly, trying to come up with a plausible excuse for why he was eavesdropping on Lord Harry's conversation.
"I...I was just looking for a way to get back to the kitchen," Nux stammered. "I got lost in the corridors."
The mysterious guest raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Lost in the corridors?" he repeated. "I think you're lying, Nux. I think you were trying to spy on us."
Nux shook his head, trying to appear innocent. "No, sir, I swear. I wasn't trying to spy on anyone. I just got lost."
The mysterious guest stared at Nux for a long moment, his eyes boring into Nux's very soul. Nux felt a shiver run down his spine as he tried to maintain his innocent facade.
Finally, the mysterious guest seemed to relax, a small smile playing on his lips. "Very well, Nux," he said. "I'll let you off with a warning this time. But be warned: if I catch you snooping around again, there will be consequences."
Nux nodded hastily, relief washing over him. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."
The mysterious guest nodded, then turned back to Lord Harry. "Now, where were we?" he said, his voice dripping with menace.
Lord Harry swallowed hard, his eyes darting nervously to Nux before returning to the mysterious guest. "I—I think we were discussing the terms of our agreement," he stammered.
The mysterious guest nodded, a cold smile spreading across his face. "Ah yes. The terms of our agreement. Let's discuss them further, shall we?"
As the mysterious guest began to speak, Nux realized that he had stumbled into something much bigger and more sinister than he had ever imagined. And he knew that he had to get out of there, fast.
Lord Harry's eyes darted back and forth as the mysterious guest continued to speak, his voice dripping with menace. "You see, Lord Harry, you have something that belongs to me. Something that I want very badly."
Lord Harry's face went white as he realized the true nature of the mysterious guest's visit. "I...I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered.
The mysterious guest smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Don't play dumb with me, Lord Harry," he said. "I know all about your little secret. And I'm here to collect."
Lord Harry's eyes darted to Nux, who was still standing frozen in the doorway. For a moment, their eyes met, and Nux saw a flash of desperation in Lord Harry's gaze.
The mysterious guest followed Lord Harry's gaze and smiled again. "Ah, yes. I see you've got a little audience. How...quaint."
Nux felt a surge of anger at the mysterious guest's mocking tone. He took a step forward, his fists clenched at his sides.
But then he hesitated. What could he do against the mysterious guest? He was just a servant, after all.
But as he looked at Lord Harry, who was now backed into a corner, his eyes pleading for help, Nux felt a surge of determination.
He had to do something. He couldn't just stand by and watch as Lord Harry was bullied and intimidated.
Nux's mind began to race as he tried to come up with a plan to save Lord Harry. He knew that he couldn't take on the mysterious guest alone, but he also knew that he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
As he stood there, frozen in indecision, the mysterious guest took a step closer to Lord Harry, his eyes glinting with malice as always.
"You see, Lord Harry," the mysterious guest said, his voice dripping with contempt, "you've been playing a very dangerous game. And now, it's time to pay the price."
Lord Harry's eyes darted back and forth, searching for an escape route. But Nux knew that there was no way out. The mysterious guest had him cornered, and he wasn't going to let him go without a fight.
Nux's eyes scanned the room, searching for anything that he could use to distract the mysterious guest. That's when he spotted a large vase on a nearby table. It was heavy and ornate, and Nux knew that it would make a perfect distraction.
Without hesitation, Nux grabbed the vase and hurled it at the mysterious guest. The vase shattered on the floor, sending shards of ceramic flying everywhere.
The mysterious guest spun around, his eyes blazing with anger. "You fool!" he shouted, taking a step towards Nux.
But Nux was ready for him. He dodged to the side, avoiding the mysterious guest's outstretched hand. And then, in a flash of inspiration, he grabbed a nearby candlestick and held it up like a sword.
The mysterious guest laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You think a little candlestick is going to protect you?" he sneered.
"My lord, you can leave! I'll take care of this bastard for you!" Nux, undaunted, yelled to Lord Harry who was taken aback.
He didn't know the mysterious man's identity but from their discussion and the confidence in his voice, he was certain that the man knew everything about him. He wasn't an easy foe.
Meanwhile, Nux knew that he was no match for the mysterious guest. He tried to think of a way to escape, but the mysterious guest was too powerful. His initial plan was to help Lord Harry escape while he distracts the man, afterwards, he would yell for help.
"No, I can't leave you here," Lord Harry said, unmoving. Lord Harry was scared of this mysterious man, he was after all just a mere a human without magic, there was nothing he could do against the man but he could not leave his servant there. That would be too selfish of him.
"Hahahaha! One is a fool, another is stupid," the mysterious man taunted and got ready to cast a spell.
Just as the mysterious guest was about to cast it, Nux remembered the lessons that Val had taught him. He dodged to the side, avoiding the mysterious guest's flames by mere inches.
But Nux knew that he couldn't keep dodging forever. He needed to come up with a new plan if he was going to survive.
That's when he spotted a nearby bell pull. Without hesitation, Nux grabbed the bell pull and yanked it, summoning the other servants to the room.
The mysterious guest's eyes narrowed in anger as he realized what Nux had done. He raised his hand, ready to cast another spell.
But before he could do so, the door burst open and a group of servants rushed in, led by a tall imposing dark-skinned man. "What's going on here?" He asked. The guest had followed the servants immediately he noticed that something was off, his eyes were flashing with anger as he glared at the mysterious man.
The mysterious man's eyes flicked to the man, and for a moment, Nux thought he saw a glimmer of fear in his eyes. But then, his expression hardened, and he turned to leave.
"This isn't over," he snarled, his eyes glinting with malice. "You haven't seen the last of me."
And with that, he disappeared into the night, leaving Nux and the other servants shaken and confused.
"Harry, are you alright? Who's that man?" The guest asked as he walked up to Lord Harry who seemed to have calmed down.
"I don't know him," Lord Harry replied, staring at the window where the mysterious man had followed to escape.
"The other guests have been waiting for a while now, I think you need to go and clear up the tension in the air," the guest said, not wanting to bother Lord Harry with too much questions.
"You go ahead, I'll be there soon," Lord Harry said and the guest nodded and went away. "The rest of you should return to your duties, Nux stay behind."
Lord Harry waited until everyone had left before walking towards Nux who was staring at him.
"My lord, who is that man?" Nux asked him.
Lord Harry's expression was grim and he hesitated before speaking. "I don't know him."
Nux sighed. He had expected such a reply from him. "My lord, you should be careful, that man doesn't look like he was joking. You barely escaped tonight, who knows what will happen to you if he comes again."
"You don't have to tell me," Lord Harry said. "I'll do something about it.
"Okay, if you say so then," Nux replied.
"By the way, I don't wish to hear any of this outside this place. Let it be between the two of us."
"Understood, my lord! I promise!" Nux said and Lord Harry sighed in relief and left the place.
When he left, Nux dropped to the floor panting heavily. The little action he carried out must have weighed him down, especially when he kept dodging the mysterious man's attacks.
"I wish I could just sleep for a moment," he mumbled.
"What's with you?" A female voice asked behind him and when he turned, he saw princess Isabella standing by the door.