Romanoff Dukedom: The Heroine (7)

For a while more, Fluger and Herkel were unstoppable. Their companions didn't even make any attempts to intervene in their banter.

"Are the two of you done?" Ius asked as he opened his eyes.

Ius was welcomed with the sight of Fluger and Herkel glaring at each other. He sighed once more and clicked his tongue.

"You could have told us that we're here to listen to two people's ridiculous attempts at insults. Tell me, should we leave and let both of you finish your remarks?"

As was anticipated, the two young men clamped their lips and lowered their heads down. They murmured their apologies in a way that they were almost whispering. Still, Ius disregarded their poor attempt at repentance.

"Since you're done, can we get a move on? We only have three days to resolve the issue." Ius then turned towards Herkel, "Do you really have no idea as to who had attacked you?"

Herkel immediately raised his head, only to meet Ius' gaze. He knitted his eyebrows as he organized his thoughts. Once he was finished, he cleared his throat and spoke.

"Please listen to me. I won't repeat my words."

Ius swept the others with his gaze, gaining their agreement in no less than a second. As he returned his eyes on Herkel, he nodded.

"It was really a woman, Ius. I remember seeing her countenance, but I really can't recall her features. I just know how tall she is and how her mouth curves when she grins."

"Are you s-"

"Oh, and her eyes were golden. That only means that she's one of us, right? She's a shifter. Demi-humans can't have golden eyes, more impossible for humans."

The second that Herkel was done speaking, Ius approached him. Herkel did wish to run away from the young man, but the headboard impeded his path.

"Wha- what do you want, Ius?!" Herkel screamed defensively, "I'm telling the truth! I didn't lie! Why would I lie when I know I'll be ridiculed for being attacked by a woman!"

Ius ignored Herkel's excuses. He even acted as if he didn't hear any of it. When Herkel was within his reach, Ius grabbed his collar and closed in on his face.

"Herkel, tell me, you're suspicious of someone, aren't you?"

Herkel tried to avert his gaze, but Ius only tightened his clutch. Feeling pain in his neck and arms, Herkel looked Ius in the eye and nodded.

Finally, Ius let go of Herkel.

"You could've been a bit less aggressive, Ius. Herkel is wounded." Fluger stated, giving Ius a wary glance.

Ulysses snorted at what Fluger said, snickering while saying, "And who was it that insulted him for being wounded earlier?"

Before the harmful remark could bring forth another argument, Ius decided to take control of the conversation.

"Herkel, tell me everything. You're the victim so your testimonies will be detrimental to the investigation. Give me anything that will be of help."

Ius glared intensely at Herkel, urging him to speak with his gaze. For a brief moment, Herkel tried to compose an answer that wouldn't be indicative of finality.

In the event that his suspicions would divert their investigation to the wrong suspect, he would never forgive himself.

"You see, Ius," Herkel began, "You seem to have a servant here who is not human."

At that moment, the mood inside became serious.

"One of your maids who attended to me had a wound on her arm, and I smelled the lingering scent of my saliva on it. For the past months, I haven't confronted anyone with my beast form. Having said that, no one should be walking around with my scent on them. Though, that's aside from the woman I attacked yesterday."

"What about her appearance?"

"That's the uncanny part. Her height is a full foot shorter than the one who attacked me. But it's true when I say that her wounds replicated what I gave my assailant." Herkel then clutched his head, closing his eyes as he felt a pounding throe hit him.

Fluger quickly neared Herkel to ascertain what was happening.

Ius, in the meantime, was silent. There was one maid that appeared in his mind all the while Herkel was talking.

"Can you all recall what happened yesterday morning? When I stopped by the servant's parlor?" Ius asked his companions, his mind racing with a myriad of thoughts.

Herkel strove to open his eyes, curious at what Ius had to say. Albeit in pain, he responded, "Come to think of it, you were acting strange before. What was it about?"

"Well, I thought I saw a maid bearing golden eyes so I decided to check. I went back to confirm, but the other servants assured me that they were all purely humans. If I recall correctly, that maid's name was Helga."

Herkel furrowed his eyebrows as he replied, "The one who was assigned to me was named Zarya though. What's going on? Isn't the Head Maid responsible for making sure that no beast will be hired in the Romanoff Estate?"

"I am not aware either. I have to talk to my mother regarding this issue. Herkel, are you certain that your assailant wasn't human?"

The young Avret's eyes widened, perturbed by what Ius had just asked,

"Do you really believe that a human could do this much damage to me? They were in human form but their eyes were golden. They have the scent of a beast. Furthermore, you know I'm not that weak to be toyed around by a hum- ouch!" Herkel hollered in startlement as his abdominal wounds started aching.

It was then followed by a prickling sensation in his arms. He began to feel as if his whole body was burning.

Igor immediately called for the physician while Fluger tried to help Herkel.

Ius was just there, looking at Herkel as if the man had mentioned something that shouldn't have come out of his mouth.

'They have the scent of a beast? What scent? That maid gave off no scent at all.' Ius thought, the corners of his mouth slightly turned down.