A sweet yet very light scent of rose floating in the air could be smelled as Frankenstein poured a brown liquid in a black porcelain. He added 8 spoonfuls of sugar, then placed the cup on the table for the Noblesse. Frankenstein stood beside his master, and watched as he gently lifted the tea cup and took a small sip in a calm, elegant manner. Neither of them said a word. The Noblesse was never a talkative person, and Frankenstein, at present, there was something off about him. After a while, when the master had drunk half of the tea, Frankenstein decided to speak up.

"Master, how was the meeting with the lord?" There was a short pause before he could receive the answer.

"It didn't work well."

Frankenstein nodded in understanding. He did not ask any further, instead letting the Noblesse finished his drink. Once again, there was silence between them.

A click sound reverberated as he put down the cup that was now empty. Frankenstein picked up the teapot in order to fill more tea in it, but the Noblesse beckoned him to stop with a hand raised. Placing the pot down, Frankenstein then stepped backward at his place. His gaze dropped on to the cup with an uneasy look for a second before darting back to his master. The Noblesse was leaning against the couch with his eyes closed. He looked exhausted. He was exhausted.

"There is full moon tonight, so it's a convinent time for you to enter the shrine…"

"…"Ruby eyes slowly opened, however, the Noblesse refused to look at Frankenstein.

"You should not delay it any longer, master."

Still no response from him.

"Master..." Frankenstein repeated the words he had told to his master thousands times. "You need to rest in your shrine."

Finally, knowing that he couldn't avoid this subject, the Noblesse said without turning to his servant.

"Frankenstein, we have already discussed about this."

"Master, …"

"…"

"Your body can't hold out any longer, if you keep using your power like this, soon you will collapse, or even worse."

"There is no need for you to worry, Frankenstein. I'm fine."

A pathetic lie, and they both know that. The same request has been replied with the same answer. But tonight, Frankenstein wouldn't accept the word 'no'.

"You don't have to do this, master. The last battle with Union nearly took most of your life source and you are still suffering from it." His master has never shown any sign of weakness when everyone was around, especially when Frankenstein was nearby. But now, the Noblesse's exhaustion was so obvious that nobody could deny it. " the Nobles, they're strong enough to handle Sirens by themselves, there's no need for you to participate in this war. They don't need your protection, master."

"…"

Once again, there was the familiar silence.

Silence.

In silence, they could still communicate, could understand what the other was thinking, was feeling. Even in this silence. And sometimes, Frankenstein hated the fact that he could already predict what his master would say. He hoped he could convince the Noblesse enter the 'sleep' willingly, because, after all, it would be best for him and for Frankenstein.

"Frankenstein, I'm not protecting the Nobles…" Taking a deep breath, he continued speaking up.

"I'm not…nor am I protecting you or the modified humans." Warm crimson eyes met confused sapphire ones as their gazes locked. And that how the loyal servant of the Noblesse found those rubies shining with happiness. "I'm fighting side by side with them, with you, together we against Sirens."

"Master, but you-"

"You know even if I enter my shrine, I won't recover."Their eyes remained in contact when the Noblesse for once, admitted that he wasn't fine and that hurt Frankenstein as badly as when the Noblesse lied about his weak state. He tried his best to maintain a low voice as he talked to master, because it would be wrong to shout in front of him. Frankenstein just needed to convince the Noblesse, so everything would be all right.

"That's why you should not delay this, master, if you 'slept' right now, the chances for you to heal would be much higher. You still have time, please, stop pushing yourself and take a rest!"the longer their eyes remained locked, the more Frankenstein found himself close to remorse. And when the Noblesse eventually rose from his seat to stand in front of Frankenstein, he knew he had failed.

"I'm sorry, Frankenstein." He heard the words master whispered to him. "I'm causing you nothing but trouble. But, please understand my greed for wanting to spend the time I have left with people whom I hold dear."

Frankenstein had failed.

The servant looked at his master. Guilty was eating him second by second, because he had failed in making the Noblesse enter the shrine by his will. His heart ached as he looked into those crimson eyes full of trust. The Noblesse trusted him. And it only made Frankenstein hate himself more, as if this guilt wasn't enough to sicken him. Had his master willingly 'slept', he would never have to see this man hurt.

Why couldn't things turned out that way?

However, if he 'slept', then it wasn't like the Noblesse at all. It wasn't like his master.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Frankenstein then shut his eyes, he wished he didn't have to do that, but fully understanding what kind of person his master was, he's got no choice.

"I knew you would say that…". His eyelids flew open, allowing his master to see clearly all his adoration for him, he wanted master to know that no matter what happened next, what he was about to do, he did it for him.

"I'm sorry, Frankenstein."said the Noblesse.

"No, master…I'm sorry."

A weak smile crossed the Noblesse face when he heard his servant apologize. He patted Frankenstein on the shoulder. "You have never done anything wrong…at least...not to me, so don't be." He titled his head a little to the side in a teasing way, copying the human children's behavior. The sight of master trying to cheer him up only hurt him like a cut with a sharp knife in his dark heart. No. Being cut by a knife doesn't hurt nearly as much as this.

"No, I haven't, master…"

"…?"

Frankenstein's expression became darker. He wanted to kneel down and confess, but he couldn't. His emotions were a mess, his guilt, his horror, this decision was killing him. The Noblesse's eyes were fill with worry, he believes that Frankenstein doesn't deserve whatever he is struggling with in his mind, he is worried about him, he trusted him, but, it was too late to go back. He couldn't let master die, even if he had to betray himself, even…He was betraying this man, wasn't he? "Forgive me, master…" Betrayal or not, it wasn't important anymore, not now.

"What do you m-!" A slight look of confusion appeared on the Noblesse's beautiful face before he suddenly collapsed and fell into Frankenstein's arm, the only thing preventing his warm body from meeting the cold floor. Crimson eyes widened in shock as he stared back at his loyal servant to see him murmuring something.

"Master, you're too weak…"a wave of familiar power poured inside the Noblesse as Frankenstein released his aura. "Do not be scare, master, I swear I would never do anything to harm you."He pushed away the pain in him, trying his best to focus on summoning that dark power instead of the sadness reflected in those rubies. He was hurt too. So much. Frankenstein's own aura emanated from the Noblesse as Dark Spear answered the call from it's owner.

Crystal tear falling down from his eyes were gently wiped away. "Please, do not cry, I'm sorry, I need to do this…"Ruby eyes glowed as the Noblesse forced himself to fight against Dark Spear hopelessly. Frankenstein felt a light push at him, he looked down, and brought that trembling hand of his master close to his heart. He embraced his master tightly with one arm, ignored the push, ignored the horrible feeling he felt about himself. Master was pushing him away. He wished he could stop. But he had gone too far. If he stopped,…Oh, god, if I fail…No,no, no, Frankenstein! Focus! Focus! This is for him!

The part of Dark Spear inside the Noblesse was growing, taking control over him upon Frankenstein's order. Though, the Noblesse was struggling, soon, he became weaker and weaker. His aura vanished, pure red light was replaced by a dead violet. The contrast in color between dark purple and the Noblesse's snow white skin made Frankenstein relize how pale his master was. His skin was sickly white. His sad and tired eyes were fill with tears as he looked up at Frankenstein, whispered sweetly to console the servant who had tricked him before finally turning unconscious. His trust for Frankenstein had never faded, even now, he could see it as clear as his reflection in a mirror. His master even in this state still cared for him.

"I'm sorry".