AN: Hope you enjoy reading~

Chapter 7:

Flavio did not know what was more exhausting; a day in the labyrinth or a day working full-time in the restaurant. At least the customers were polite and friendly with him. And seemed to triple in number when he told some of them that he was working at the front and on the floor all day.

He did not mind being busy, and he did not mind chatting with others. What he did mind, however, was that he barely saw Fafnir. Maybe a glimpse here or there. But he had not shared a word with him at all.

It…was probably for the best, in the long run. In between dealing with customers, making drinks, and delivering orders his mind was plagued with theories of Mandelson and what part he had to play, if any, with those flowers he had been receiving.

From his short conversation with the man, he had indicated that he was not responsible for sending the flowers. In fact, he appeared agitated at the notion. For no other reason than the thought of someone attempting to 'woo' the person that looked like his deceased wife.

What an odd sentence.

After the dinner rush, Flavio stated that he was exhausted and left the clean-up to the others. With him working the main floor all day, it was the least they could do. Normally, he would hang around the restaurant with the others and chat. But not today. All he wanted was to rush back to the inn and into his room. Into the enclosed space of his room.

What occurred yesterday was still on his mind, but after his encounter with Mandelson, he felt as though he had eyes on him all day. He just wanted, needed to be in an enclosed space.

Flavio breathed an audible sigh of relief as he stepped into his room. He closed the door behind him and locked it. He spent a moment leaning against the wooden door, just relishing in the comfort of the silence and solitude of his private room. The curtains were drawn, held together in places with safety pins to ensure his privacy from prying eyes. The room was dark, albeit cold.

But he felt safe.

He kicked off his boots as he pushed away from the door. He turned and picked up the walking stick. Yeah, he still had it. No one asked for it back, though he should hand it back regardless. But it was his best thing he had for a barricade, and it eased his mind just a little. Anything was better than nothing.

Moving automatically, Flavio changed into something more comfortable as his mind went over what had occurred that day.

Mandelson's words resounded in his head; Princesses always got what they wanted…

Flavio shook his head to rid himself of that thought. No, he trusted Fafnir. If Arianna was just a sister to him, then that was all she was. Forcing him to feel otherwise would only be met with resistance from him.

Besides, he was not a knight, he was simply Fafnir.

After…when all the nonsense was over, Fafnir would go back to being himself.

There was something that concerned Flavio more, however; how did Mandelson know so much about them? True, they were pretty well-known amongst the locals because of the restaurant and their connection with the Grand Duchy through Regina. But how could he have known that Fafnir was a 'knight'?

Wrapping a throw blanket around his shoulders, Flavio sat down at his desk and pull out his notebook dedicated to his latest…situation.

He managed to swipe the card from the flowers that were delivered to the restaurant. He wanted to see if the writing on the card was similar to those of the previous notes. From the nature of the cards, there was no way the sender was going through an official courier of some kind. Especially the latest one. "Keep the curtains open"? That was way too creepy. And sure to rouse suspicion.

Opening the book, Flavio pulled out the other notes and compared them to the latest one. He knew that handwriting was not an exact science. Heck, his changed depending on the time of day and whether he was in a rush or not. But he had to check. There might be resemblances.

Laying the four cards out onto the table in front of him, he quickly noted that the lettering was similar. Only one of them were addressed directly to him, but the cards alluded to the previous, indicating that they were indeed associated with one another.

And none of them were signed by a sender. Simply signed off with a simple 'X' at the bottom.

The same person had sent them.

They knew where he stayed, the very room he slept in at the inn. And they knew where he worked. The latter was not as bad as it was public knowledge, but the former was more frightening. Yesterday was proof of that.

Should he try to change rooms?

No, he couldn't. That would rouse suspicion and raise too many questions. The fuss it would cause would only bring attention to his new location. Not to mention that when his room was to be given to someone else and they experienced the same things he did, it would only pull his plight into the spotlight.

What he needed to do was to figure out who was sending him the flowers.

That was not going to be easy. He had initially thought that Mandelson was responsible, but from their short but…unsettling conversation today, he was not so sure. The man seemed genuinely surprised and irritated that Flavio was getting flowers from someone.

But why did the first card begin with "beloved wife"?

Had someone else overheard their first encounter? Were they attempting to mess with the both of them or attempting some feeble and frankly pathetic attempt at matchmaking?

Nothing made sense.

Flavio honestly did not know what to make of Mandelson. He made him uneasy, seemed to know too much about his guild, and the comment that he looked like his deceased wife was greatly unsettling. Yet the man had not actually done anything. Nothing concrete. Nothing Flavio could point at and accuse him off.

Speaking of accusations, even if Flavio had proof that the man was sending him unwanted flowers and notes, since Mandelson was a man of the gentry, a respectable Viscount, throwing out an allegation was not going to be met with positive responses. There was nothing wrong with receiving flowers, after all. And getting attention from a man of his status? Why, Flavio should be flattered!

He really hoped Mandelson was not responsible for the flowers.

As he wrote down the words that Mandelson uttered to him, Flavio slowed to a stop.

Where was Fafnir all day? What was he doing?

A part of Flavio was resentful. There he was, working his butt off all day and what was Fafnir and Arianna doing? Probably having fun and getting to know each other. Worse still, Regina was helping them, purposely keeping him busy and apart from Fafnir. Outside interference…

No…he should not think like that.

They were in a busy week, the lead up to Lady Gadiel's birthday. A weeklong celebration. Every business was busy, taking advantage of the festivities. Regina was just taking advantage of the situation. And Flavio barely saw anyone of his guild, only Bertrand as he also worked the front bar.

It was just a busy day.

And his paranoia from the flowers were getting to him. That was all.

That was all…

A loud creak of a floorboard pulled Flavio from his musings, and he instinctively turned toward the door. His heartrate immediately increased when his mind recalled what had occurred just yesterday afternoon. But instead of spying a shadow blocking the light from the hallway under his door, his gaze fell upon a single white envelop lying on the floor just inside his room. As if someone had slid it under his door.

He eyed it off suspiciously as he silently rose from his chair. How long had it been laying there?

Purposely keeping his movements as quiet as possible, he crossed the distance between his desk and the door. He removed the barricade and carefully disengaged the lock. He eased it open enough for him to pop his head out, to look up and down the hallway. But just as before, no one was to be seen. An empty hallway. A suspiciously quiet one, too.

Thankfully, there was not a vase of flowers waiting for him on the threshold of his door.

Deciding not to step out of his room as the idea made him feel far too uneasy, Flavio pulled back and immediately closed the door and engaged the lock once more. Of course, his makeshift barricade followed shortly after.

With his door secure, Flavio crouched down and scooped up the envelop. It was light and thin, indicating that it held a simple note. Though, there was nothing written on the envelop, front or back.

He sat back down at his desk and studied the envelop for a moment longer. Could it be from his unwanted anonymous admirer? Finally, he turned it around and flipped open the lip. Inside was a simple folded piece of white paper.

'Stay away from Mandelson. He's not what he seems.'

Flavio eyes widened. He was not expecting that.

He grabbed a note from a previous gift and compared the two, but the writing was clearly dissimilar. A different author and sender? Had someone else witness his exchange with Mandelson earlier that day? Well, clearly. It occurred directly out the front of the restaurant. Anyone gazing out the windows could have seen the two of them.

But who…?

A sharp and sudden knock at the door caused Flavio to jump in his seat.

"Flavio?" Fafnir's voice, however, was a welcome relief.

Flavio quickly snapped his notebook shut and swiped everything related to his latest predicament off his desk into the top drawer. He pushed himself to his desk and hurried to the door. He had to be quiet when he removed the walking cane from its place as the barricade and he slipped it out of sight behind the chest of drawers before he unlatched the lock and opened the door.

Fafnir arched an eyebrow as he stepped inside. "You locked the door?"

Fair question as Flavio usually left it closed but unlocked. Allowing for Fafnir to let himself in whenever he wanted. Of course, he locked it when he was actually in bed to sleep. "Oh? Looks like your habit is finally rubbing off on me."

It did not surprise him that Fafnir immediately noticed the locked door. He hoped he had not also noted the barricade.

"Good. I'm glad that's finally starting to sink in," Fafnir said as he turned and shut the door himself, ensuring that it was locked. As he always did.

Flavio had always found Fafnir's protectiveness endearing, but today he found it comforting.

Still.

Please do not let anything creepy happen while Fafnir was in his room…

"Where were you all day?" Flavio asked. "I barely saw you."

Fafnir sent him a haggard look before he walked further into the room. "Coincidentally caught doing errands with Arianna."

"Funny. I was out on the floor all day." Flavio folded his arms lightly across his torso. "What did you and Arianna talk about all day?"

"Mostly about food. And about fate and destiny."

"But you hate that topic."

Fafnir snorted as he flopped down onto the bed. "Exactly."

It was clear that Fafnir had not enjoyed his day, his enforced time with Arianna. Flavio knew he shouldn't, but he felt…relieved.

Fafnir might have enjoyed his time more if it was not forced upon him by the whims or demands of another. Since Ginnungagap, he had been greatly against anyone telling, ordering him what to do. He especially hated it when fate or destiny was used as an excuse.

Flavio tugged his blanket closer around his shoulders as he walked over to his bed. He crawled onto it, close to Fafnir's side. "Is your hand hurting again?"

Fafnir nodded his head and lifted his cursed arm. "Yeah. It started hurting the moment Arianna started talking about fate."

Flavio's eyes soften with concern and sympathy. It had been hurting all day? "Let me see."

Without any hesitation, Fafnir lifted his hand toward Flavio, and he immediately wrapped both of his hands around the gnarled, distorted appendage. Just as he had done many times before, he carefully began to massage the darken skin, using careful but firm strokes of his fingertips to ease out the knots of tension within the muscles and tendons.

Fafnir closed his eyes and relaxed, sinking into the blankets and mattress of Flavio's bed. He always grew calmer and more comfortable whenever Flavio massaged his cursed hand, a reassuring sign that he was help rather than a hinderance to him.

Good. That was all he ever wanted.

It was clear that Fafnir had stayed with Arianna throughout the day out of politeness and because he did not want to hurt her feelings. But it was also becoming increasingly clear that he was growing frustrated. He did not mind spending time with his sister, but not when his 'sister' and others were trying to make him see her as something more.

Why do some people think they have the right to force another to change their feelings into something they feel is more suitable?

"Regina kept me out on the floor and doing errands," Flavio murmured, breaking the silence. "I think she's trying to play matchmaker for you and Arianna."

A frown immediately tugged at Fafnir's lips, though he did not bother to open his eyes. "Seems like it."

"What are you going to do?"

Fafnir peeled open an eye to peer up at him. "Make it as difficult for her as possible."

That brought a smile to Flavio's lips. There was his stubborn as a mule Fafnir.

"I'm looking forward to this week being over," Flavio said, still massaging Fafnir's hand. "It's exhausting working in a restaurant."

"I don't like you working the floor," Fafnir suddenly relieved, in all seriousness.

"Hm?"

"You know the customers are only there for you, don't you?" Again, Fafnir was serious.

Flavio rolled his eyes. Ok, the guy could be a little overly protective at times. "Don't be stupid."

Fafnir reached up with his other hand to poke Flavio on the cheek. "You're so oblivious."

That got Flavio bristling lightly. "Excuse me?"

Flavio was about to say more when a strange noise, one that could only be described as 'tink!' interrupted him. He paused and furrowed his brow. Fafnir must have heard the noise as he fell silent, too. They both sat in silence for a moment. Nothing was heard at first. Then…another 'tink' was heard. Then another.

He did not know what the sound was at first and he looked around the room in an attempt to narrow down the noise.

It then occurred to him what it was. And his heart sank into the pit of his stomach.

Was…someone throwing rocks at his window?

No, could it be the same person who had been sending, no delivering him the flowers?

A split second after his realisation, Fafnir sat up and looked toward the window. Flavio froze when he remembered he had safety pins holding the blinds together. If Fafnir tried to pull the curtains apart to look out the window, he would immediately notice the pins. As someone who once enjoyed gazing out the window at all times of the day and night, suddenly finding them practically stitched together would immediately rouse his suspicions.

Flavio bit the inside of his mouth as he looked down at the floor. What should he do?

Before he could formulate a plan there was a sound of a window rattling open abruptly in the distance, but still close by. Likely from a room next door. And what followed was a voice, loud and masculine, bellowing out into the early night sky.

"Would you kids piss off?! Don't make me come down there or I'll wring your fucking necks!"

The hollering voice made Flavio jump in surprise. Fafnir, however, snorted and flopped back onto the bed. Seemingly satisfied that the situation had been diffused.

Inwardly, Flavio breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank the heavens for the irritated explorer next door, whoever they were. They must have gotten a few stones to their window, too. Or there truly was just a bunch of kids throwing small rocks at random windows for the fun of it. Not a good idea, when the inn was full of irritable and tired explorers.

But kids will be stupid kids, after all.

He really needed to get his paranoia under control. Not everything was malicious or about him, after all.

Just as Flavio began to settle down, a soft knock at his door had him tensing once more.

"Sir Flavio," Arianna's voice drifted through the door. "Have you seen Sir Fafnir?"

Flavio immediately looked over at Fafnir. His best friend, however, lifted a finger to his lips in a shushing manner and shook his head, almost desperately. His gaze was pleading, a look that Flavio had not seen from him before.

"Ah, no," Flavio said as he turned back to the door. "I haven't seen him all day. If you find him, tell him that I want to see him, too."

The shadow under the door hesitated and Flavio wondered if Arianna believed him, or whether she had actually witnessed Fafnir making his way into his room earlier.

"Very well," Arianna finally replied, her tone giving no indication whether she believed him or not. "I'll keep searching."

"Ok, good luck."

Arianna's shadow moved away from door toward the stairs. Both Flavio and Fafnir remained silent as they listened to her footsteps until they disappeared.

Flavio pushed aside the rising feeling of annoyance. She was practically glued to Fafnir's side all day today. Let him have a few minutes alone with him, jeez.

"Looks like you're stuck here for a while," Flavio said, looking back over at Fafnir.

Fafnir rolled onto his side and rested his head in the palm of hand. "I'm sure I can handle that."