"Alfred? Alfred?!" Matthew came running only a few hours later, padding almost doe-like into his study where he was overseeing some affairs. Sarah was nowhere in sight, and though the rooms were close-by, Matthew should never have been left on his own. Surely, she knew she would have to be punished for that.

"Yes, little bro?" What could his little brother want at this time? Ever so obedient nowadays, he normally would never act like this. He didn't even knock, and while it was definitely cute to see him desire a conversation with his big brother, he knew Matthew had better manners than this.

Spinning around in his chair, he made sure to face his little brother, so he knew he had his undivided attention, waiting for him to ask whatever questions he had.

"Is it true that you kill people?" Matthew bluntly asked, and Alfred could detect through all the concern in his voice that there was a tiny bit of doubt and fear. How dare they? Who the fuck did they think they were? He would have their lives. He would ruin them before making them beg for their lives to end.

Alfred brushed off the inquiry. "Oh, my dear little brother. Who was it that tried to tell you such things?" Their deaths would be painful. Alfred would relish their pleads for mercy.

Still, Matthew seemed tense, as if he still weren't sure what to believe. "But you won't kill them if I tell you, right? They said you would, but you won't. I know you wouldn't… you're nice, right?" Honestly, he could just kill all of them. Every single person in the castle for any reason, real or imagined. Bargaining was pointless, but Alfred still attempted to placate him.

"Of course, I won't... but whoever said that was lying, and liars get punished. That's fair, don't you think? It's not nice to slander people by saying things that didn't happen." He was exempted from that rule of course. Matthew was the only other exception as well, but he doubted this Matthew would ever lie to him. His body should have reminded him of why he shouldn't rebel against his big brother, but Alfred could tell that Matthew was still somewhat reluctant.

"You promise?"

"I promise. Now, who was it?"

Matthew kept his eyes closed, taking a few short breaths as he finally came to a decision. "It was Jill. Gillen's twin."

The female? He would have thought it would have been Gillen to act out... maybe the boy was a bit more trustworthy than he had originally assumed. Then again, Alfred mused, he could be playing the long con.

"See, that wasn't so difficult, was it? And as promised, you have nothing to worry about. You'll see her tomorrow." A bald-faced lie, as Alfred thought dark thoughts about the girl who signed her own death sentence. No, Alfred thought with a sick satisfaction, death would be too good for her. Now to find that traitorous secretary of mine. But first…

"Bedtime Mattie, big brother has things to do." As the child's eyes fell shut in sleep almost immediately, Alfred picked him up and had a maid take him to his room. He had a lot to do tonight.

Matthew woke up on his bed, extremely tired despite all the rest he got. It was rare for him to be tired with the strict schedule Alfred kept him on, but for some reason, it would happen every so often. Matthew didn't think it had a pattern really. The only thing he was somewhat sure about was that every time it happened, it felt like something was missing. He just wasn't sure what.

"Alfred?" He called out, hoping to get a response.

"Yeah, bro?" So, he was here. Good, maybe he could explain what happened to him. Alfred always remembered for him when he got like this. Matthew would be lost without him.

"Why do I feel so tired...?" Alfred put a hand on him.

"You had such a big day yesterday, little bro. Don't you remember?"

"Err... no." He didn't want to disappoint Alfred by saying he was unable to remember the previous day's events, but even just the thought of lying to him had him slightly shaking, body quivering at the thought. Even to appease and please Alfred, he didn't think he could do it.

"Oh... well that's alright. We only had dinner with some of the Nobles and you entertained them. You were hilarious and made everyone laugh, so it's a bit of a shame you don't remember," Alfred frowned, shaking his head.

Matthew hung his head downwards. He truly did not want Alfred to be unhappy with him again.

"I'm sorry! I just can't remember anything or even anyone..." he bit his lip before mumbling something else, "…it was fun though. A lot of fun!" Alfred had said before that it was good and that he had fun and Matthew thought he maybe remembered enjoying yesterday, but why was Alfred's eye twitching like that?

"Anything else you'd care to share with me about what you remember, Mattie?"

"No. That's all."

"If you say so. I know you wouldn't lie to me," again, those shivers came, "so I trust you. If you remember though, make sure you tell me about everything you can recall!"

"Yes, big brother."

Matthew wondered if it was wrong to feel like his big brother was hiding something.