“Why?” Leos clicked his tongue, remembering Konrad. Now, he couldn’t easily leave the town. He knew that things may have been bad, but not this worse. What happened under his nose and why is he not aware? “You’re the one supervising it?”

Now, there might still be a chance wherein he could ask Lampert a favour to make an exception. However, the old man will demand to personally know about the certain exception. Leos would never let Konrad have any contact with them. And, he didn’t completely trust the man.

“I told my Sire that I will be handling it personally. It might be a pain in my arse, but there was no other way. I cannot trust anyone to handle this task.”

“Controlling everything that comes and go through the town is a large advantage.” Leos added. “First of all, why are you closing it down? What had pushed the council to take drastic measures?”

They stared at each other’s cold and hard eyes, with the tense atmosphere inside the study. Lampert waited before speaking. “Do you know about the murdered farmer no longer than a week ago?”

“The townspeople believe that it was a work of another werwulf.” Lampert added. Leos ignored the rolling of his stomach and the heavy weight on his chest. “They are still restless by the latest trials.”

“Blame it to those who were clearly responsible. They didn’t handle their jobs properly. Now, they wanted someone else to take responsibility for their carelessness. This town is not a mere chess board.” Leos clutched his hair, gripping, then releasing. His lips curled and directed a glare towards the older man.

“Child, calm yourself. The people of Hemlock do not know that, and they never will. Stop thinking about it too much. I don’t like where your thoughts are heading.” He cajoled after seeing the boy narrowing his eyes. “You are acting very unlike your usual self. Did something happen? It has been a long time since I’ve seen you act so… restlessly.”

Leos slumped on the settee. His thoughts were already straying to other things, and he could feel the start of a headache on his temples. This had been a long day.

“This is already out of your hands, boy.” Lampert nodded. “The vicars are planning to commence a Benediction throughout the town. Things will clear up a little after that, but it will inevitably become messier.”

Leos didn’t expect to hear such words when he came here. He silently listened after Lampert pointed out his restlessness. Yes. How could he stay composed if he’s not the only person that he had to think about anymore? After blindly and carelessly creating a deal with some stranger, he felt a tiny ounce of regret for the very first time in a while.

He already wasted too much time being caged in that forest. His original plan was to head for Lampert. Leos cursed himself. He sat in front of a frowning Lampert with a rigid posture. He licked his lips, tightening his hands into fists, then loosening them.

“Then…”

“Yes, once the Sire caught the mole, they plan to hold another trial.” Leos had enough. He was only gone for months and the bastard was already wreaking havoc. He thought that the old man will handle things while he was gone. Apparently, he was mistaken.

“How could you allow this to happen?!” Leos hissed, walking towards the older man with suppressed anger. His heart’s pounding reached his head as he glared at the expressionless man.

“Why, child? Are you discreetly telling me that you care for this town? The town that damned your life after taking the only person that showed you the path towards yourself.” Lampert spat.

‘No!’ Leos exclaimed inwardly. If they conducted a benediction across the town, they would include their path inside the forest. Someone would find an excuse to mention last year’s controversial werwulf trial, and he’d never allow his memories to be tarnished. Then they would find Konrad. Then he wouldn’t be able to keep his promise to Konrad, to him, especially to himself.

“Scheiße!” Lampert was startled at the boy’s outburst. His eyes widened when the boy slammed his fist on his mahogany table, creating a loud thud. “I don’t care for this cursed town! They can rot for all I c-”

Leos’ words were interrupted when the doors in the study, simultaneously with the thud of his fist on the table, opened.

“Papa!”

ՓՓՓ

“I’ve only got myself to blame.” Klerien murmured. He walked along the same market place that he walked with Leos. Yes, he admited that he might have reacted too far. The man just wanted to be certain that they have common goals. However, Klerien couldn’t exactly tell him that he would be using him for his own benefits or that Konrad didn’t exactly exist. When he basically told Leos that he should leave, he wasn’t thinking.

He was thinking all night long about his family. All he wanted to do for the whole year was to find sense. Klerien never understood why his family had to suffer. How did his father end up in the werwulf trials? His mother saved him in place of their deaths.

Klerien couldn’t simply keep on living ignorantly. The thought of his father’s, mother’s, and sister’s death greatly consumes and weighs his mind and chest. It was getting hard to breath every single day. He would never believe the town’s accusations.

Joseph Steinberg was not a man to kill his own family. Klerien might have seen him, but he would never believe that that monster was his father. Someone pretended to be him, that’s it. Klerien swore to their graves that he would seek for the truth for as long as he lives.

It is a hard life. Life is tough on your own. It is a long hard fight. They might say that it is just a state of mind. However, in a world filled with sorrow, I will always live for tomorrow. The day will come when I will look back on myself and say that I did it for love.

Now, all he needed to do was to find Leos. If the man decided to not help him anymore, he wouldn’t know what he would do. He had been doing this by himself for a whole year. He had escaped pursuers and avoided suspicion by himself. The wolf, his friend Maximillian was all the companion that he needed. And maybe, Carmine.

“Where is he?” He ranted, lifting his hood. The sunlight hit his uncovered eyes causing him to squint as he protected his eyes with his hand. While his eyes roamed the surroundings, Klerien noticed something.

“It’s oddly empty… There is something amiss.” He concluded. Only a handful of townspeople and vendors could be seen throughout the marketplace. And their expressions were an unusual sight. Their movements seemed to be agitated and sharp.

Something was bothering the town. Klerien gulped. He walked through the market until he reached the last stall. Where could Leos be?

He knew that there was a low possibility that the man will stroll around the town in broad daylight but if-

Klerien blinked. On his peripheral view, as he walked by the bookstore, he saw a familiar but strange sight. Through the windows of the store, he saw a sight that made him halt. Among the low shelves situated in front of the store, was Leos.

Klerien frowned and ducked under his large hood. Leos wore clothes with the same quality as the three people that he’s with. They wore clothes that suits a family with title. Leos was comfortably talking with a man. From outside, he coud see Leos’ blank face and the back of a slightly smaller man with blond hair while two ladies stood beside the two. Does this mean that Leos belongs to a family with title? Then, why was he wearing tattered, old, and cheap clothes that night? What if he was merely playing with Klerien’s intentions? Klerien clenched his hands into fists at the thought.

“I better leave.” He was about to leave when a heat of anger spread on his chest, but he froze. One of the ladies with the group, turned her head towards him and their eyes met. He ignored it at first, but he was startled by the recognition that passed through the woman’s eyes.

“Herr Konrad!” She lifted her hand and waved at him. His heart nervously pumped in his chest, knowing that she was calling him. He unconsciously took a step back from the store. She wore a smile on her face, while her blond hair framed her small face. Who…?

Then, he’s hit with the realization. The woman that he met while he was heading for the plaza. It became worse when he also saw the other lady turn her head towards him and smiled. Klerien was seen. He needed to leave, now. If he acknowledged the two, there would be a risk that Leos will-

Too late.

When his eyes risked a peek towards Leos, it doubled in size. The man was already frowning at him. He thought that his heart would stop beating. He was never this hesitant to see Leos, but there were other people. He knew that their relationship needed to be hidden. He should leave before they invite him in.

***

“Herr Konrad!” A surprised expression flickered on Leos’ face. He stopped talking with Lampert and glanced at fräulein Charlotte. She was waving at someone outside the store. How many chances were there that the Konrad she knew would be the same spitfire that Leos thinks about? His eyes widened after seeing the same man that appeared on his mind as soon as he heard the name.

“Lad?” Leos glanced at the older man with glaring eyes. They should not meet. Lampert would be aware of his presence. Lampert frowned at the sudden change in Leos.

It was too late. He subtly glared at the back of Lampert’s daughter as she rushed outside.

“Does your daughter know everyone around Hemlock?” He asked the older man. The two watched as Lady Charlotte talked to a tall figure shrouded with a large woollen cloak.

“No. Who is that man? He’s unfamiliar.” Lampert added. From their distance, he couldn’t observe the man’s features, but he could recognize that if a tall man like that lived in Hemlock, his daughter would tell him about it.

“Did you say something?” His brows arched when Leos muttered under his breath.

“Papa!” Charlotte entered the store with a bright smile. When she saw Herr Leos last night, she thought how lucky she was to see another dashing man, but after seeing her favoured Herr Konrad, she could not help but confirm that she was one lucky woman indeed. She immediately cajoled the young man to join them inside and to her surprise, he gladly reciprocated her suggestion.

The two men inside the store waited until the lady reached them. Behind her, a tall man, almost tall as Leos, with his hood still on walked towards them.

“I believe that you haven’t met Herr Konrad yet. He says that he came from a long way from Hemlock.” She grinned.

Lampert’s mood shifted. He squinted, scanning the stranger. His daughter was too ignorant for her own good. How could she associate herself with a stranger and an outsider?

“Herr Konrad, I believe that you have already met my friend, Clementine.”

“Yes, how could I forget the two charming ladies that offered help for me.” Klerien softly smiled for the fräulein’s sake. He hadn’t taken a glance at the other men.

Charlotte giggled as Clementine smiled. “This is my father, Lord Schulz.”

Klerien was struck by an arrow. Schulz? He knew and recognized the name very well. How could he not? Herr Lampert was one of his father’s close acquaintances, his best friend. He used to visit their house when he was a child. He stared on his feet. If the old man saw his face, his cover will be blown away and there will be an uproar.

Bravely but stupidly, he lifted the large hood that provided a cover on his face. Lampert squinted at the lad. There was something oddly familiar in him that he could not quite place. He reminded him of someone. For that reason, his suspicions only rose.

“From where you came from, lad?” He asked, betraying nothing from his tone and expression. From his place, he could only see a third of the lad’s features. “For what and when did you visit Hemlock? I hope that you find our town to your liking.”

Charlotte tilted her head at her father. This was not the first time that she heard that tone from the man. He only used it when he was interrogating someone that he doesn’t trust. Did he know Herr Konrad from somewhere to place that amount of distrust?

“Papa?”

They ignored her. Klerien cleared his throat. In the presence of Leos, he decided to do something reckless. “I was visiting a former house of a distant family. I heard of their story and decided to visit. I was most concerned about the town that would treat them as such.”

Lampert’s brows furrowed at the cryptic words of the young man. He did feel like he met him before, but from where?

Leos glared at Konrad. What is he doing? He should not introduce himself to other people in this town that easily, especially not to one of its councils.

He cleared his throat before Lampert can further question his acquaintance. Fortunately, Charlotte seemed to understand and quickly nodded in response. “Herr Konrad, this is Herr Leos.”

He thought that the attention of both men would switch to him but the two averted their attention before resuming their conversation.

“Did something happen to them? Were you about to join them? I apologize if my daughter bothered you.” Lampert said. Klerien tilted his head as a boyish grin formed on his face.

“They’re gone, and I believe that they will never show themselves in my presence anymore. How about you, Herr Schulz?” He asked. Confidence filled his ego and gestured as his posture relaxes. “Am I disturbing?”

“No.” Lampert muttered, watching and observing Konrad glancing at Leos before gazing at him. “I was merely helping a friend of mine. Herr Konrad, do you know about the infamous stories about Hemlock? Perchance, does it involve your distant family?”

Leos’ eyes widened at Lampert’s straightforwardness. What has gotten to the old man? This was unusually odd, even for him. Still, his expression remained composed. Klerien smiled, without it reaching the light in his eyes. Anyone could see the façade behind his smile.

Lady Charlottle and Lady Clementine watched the three men. They took a step back. There was something brewing between the three and it was unsettling.

“Of course, no one doesn’t know about the infamous town. How will I dare forget?” Klerien chuckled and without taking a pause or averting his eyes he added. “If you are pertaining to werwulfs… I certainly know them well. Perchance… you know about my distant family.”

Leos clenched his fists behind his back. Konrad was being reckless, and he hated it. However, he could not help but feel something in seeing the stubborn man act so confidently in front of the old man. Leos shook his head at the two.

“Herr Schulz, if I remember we were discussing about the increasing case of werwulfs and possibly finding related texts.” Leos interrupted the two. Lampert frowned at him. He showed a blank look. However, as Leos glance at Konrad, he saw him glaring at the stranger.