Having Doubts

Before the summoning-

Yor was minding his work one day, he had always been too sincere and loyal to the royal families and castle like his whole generation.

Their secrets were his secrets.

But, one day, he saw something that made him quiet, for a matter of dignity in his perspective.

"Are you sure it is time, Lady Red?" 

"Hmm?"

Pausing, he saw Lady Red talking with Xerxes, perplexing him to wonder what they were doing together.

"Yes, this is the moment we were waiting for. The time of revelation is near," She declared sternly, standing so near to him.

'What are they talking about?' He thought to himself, glancing and concealing his presence to listen further.

Xerxes asked, rolling his eyes, having zero faith in her.

"How will you do it?"

"I won't. Zephyr will."

"Prince? How?"

"Leave that to me, he would do anything for his beloved Aunt but I want you to assure me," 

She informed proudly that bewildered Yor to fathom what could it possibly be. 

He was absolutely confused, he had seen them together for the first time as a matter of fact.

"You will come to my rescue if I get caught," She also added sternly.

He muttered, "Don't worry, I am here for you," 

"We will do this," 

The word 'we' gave him the wrong impression. 

He couldn't possibly think of anything immoral about the Queen's sister. 

She would lie or create a ruse? Most certainly, not.

So he suppressed his point of view but couldn't forget those words.

"Time to reveal ourselves is near," 

'Is she having an affair with him?' That was his first suspicion.

Nothing else or worse came to his mind. 

"Wasn't Lord Xerxes a loyal and compassionate man? How could he possibly cheat on his wife with Lady Red?" 

Whispering in disappointment to himself, that was what he believed.

He used to admire Xerxes but seeing them like this, he started disliking him for not being faithful to his wife and family.

Though it was not the care. 

Yor was wrong. 

It was much more than cheating. 

On the day when Zirkos was summoned, on Zephyr's eighteenth birthday, things were devastated for them.

"Yor, if anything happens to me, I want you to protect Zephyr," 

His Majesty's words were echoing in his mind.

He had a question in his heart, a doubt one could say.

So he went to check himself when everyone was busy emptying the capital due to a certain monstrous dragon.

He didn't allow his feelings to reach a terrible outcome but to no avail.

The second he entered the cave where the summoning occurred, he could feel it was not Rufus.

"Sir-"

"Stay back," 

At the cave where the body of Rufus and son lay, he could definitely tell it wasn't a case of summoning. 

They were killed by a human.

"These barriers. It's not theirs. It's-"

And soon he realized that it was whose magic type. His eyes widened in disbelief, scanning the cave with distress.

'It was not Rufus… but, Young Lord. Lady Red is saving him, meaning she must be involved too,' He thought out of dismay.

Holding his chin, he felt bad. He knew Zephyr's arrogance might lead him to a wrong path but this was too far.

He knew from the start that Zephyr had summoned Zirkos.

"Oh, Young Lord, what have you done?" He sighed with saddening feelings.

And in that bafflement, he questioned himself.

"But how did such a malevolent book come to us? We didn't own any of them," 

"Sir?"

"Nothing, go and focus on evacuation. His Majesty and young Prince are fighting the dragon until then," He ordered strictly, going back to the job he was assigned to.

"Yes, Sir," 

He knew what books Queen entrusted to Zephyr and 'Perfection of Dark Art' was NOT one of them.

He knew from the beginning that she was lying but remained silent to study and wait for her proclamation.

After the summoning, he attempted to hear more from her about her bonding with Xerxes but got nothing in return.

He came and that was when his doubts became firm.

When he came, he accidentally saw her bathing in the pond and immediately lowered his eyes.

The second he did, he unwillingly noticed smoke emitting from her left side, as if to hide something. 

"Lady- Oh my Lord, I deeply apologize, I was not informed." 

He bowed, turning his head away quickly to not defile his eyes.

"It's alright," She smirked, getting out and wearing her clothes.

"Oh, I am so embarrassed, I have no idea you were… Please forgive me," He panicked. But he knew something was off.

"Relax, Yor," 

After dressing fully, she walked to him with her tempting smile, pushing her wet hair behind.

 "So what is it?" 

"Young Lord was searching for you to show his progress,"

"Very well, let's go and see," 

"I apologize once again," He spoke sincerely.

She giggled, "You don't have to be so ashamed, Yor, it is okay, let's go."

"What will your lover think? That I looked at his woman? How awkward," He whispered, purposely mentioning this so hear about Xerxes. 

"I have none," 

"Lady Red, can I ask you something?"

"Yes?" 

"Have you ever been in love, Lady?" He questioned. 

She chuckled seductively, "That is a weird thing to ask, Yor, especially to a single lady,"

"Just curious to know. Never saw you holding inclination towards anyone,"

"Do you want me to?" 

"Just asking," 

Now he was determined that she was not what she displayed, there was a hidden layer. She was attempting to hide something.

And it was definitely not an affair.

Before they went out, he was having doubts and questions. 

He wanted to curse at himself for thinking like this but it was better to have prevention so he asked for help.

"Jay, Marcus, I need you two to keep an eye on her," 

"Is everything alright?" Marcus asked worriedly.

They weren't sure about keeping the most trusted person into observation.

"Just a hunch which I hope will be wrong," He sighed in disappointment.

Watching from the ground to above where Zephyr was talking happily with his Aunt, speaking of a painful truth.

"Because if it turned out to be the case truly then the Young Lord would be devastated." 

And now it turned out to be true.