The pair of servants who were by his side during the first year of his academic endeavors finally arrived at his doorstep.
Well… only instead of a doorstep, they followed him, thinking he wouldn't notice, and ended up confused as to what their young master wanted to do in the artificial forest behind the Academy grounds in the dead of night.
"..."
Rotsard only stopped in a certain spot, different from the surroundings, only because of the white and blue flowers basking in a dim moonlight in a seemingly random location…
…coupled with a relatively fresh rose bush sapling that was just as out of place in the forest without any diverse vegetation besides the grass and trees planted there for lumber...
"You're both dismissed. For good. Go back to the family for your next assignment and don't bother me."
After some time spent in silence, Rotsard sighed and stated loudly, but neither of the hiding servants revealed themselves.
"..."
The lack of response certainly didn't do any good for the servants, as the beastly yellow eyes of the bleached-blond-haired youth shone through the darkness. Their cold glare was the last chance for the silent to redeem themselves.
…
…but they didn't take it...
"..."
Rotsard also went silent, but as he did, the area around him turned bright.
A circle of light spread out from beneath him while the disjointed, ephemeral wings spread out over his back.
*whoo* *whoo* *whoo*
Only that this time it wasn't all, and one after the other, licks of bluish-white flames ignited all around the trees, akin to floating lanterns, flooding the entire forest with their cold glow.
Not a single spot was left to hide, and the pair of servants, a butler and a maid, froze up, stunned by the display.
"You acted as if you were under the impression that I couldn't see in the darkness. Hope this helps."
"...!"
Rotsard's voice was even colder than what their surroundings had become, and one of the servants, the butler, shivered while biting his lips, most likely thinking of the best response he could give so deep in the mess.
"Young Master!"
The maid didn't seem to have as much trouble, though, and cried out while rushing up to the youth, spreading her arms. Acting as if overtaken by emotions, she forgot her place and wanted to hug the person she missed oh so much.
"Young master, I'm so sorry! It's Kyle! He told me to stay back an-GUEGh!"
Explaining herself as she ran, only for a seven-foot-tall pillar of ice to grow straight out of the ground in front of her, intercept her, and then push her back, sliding together with her until she was back where she started… only clinging to a pillar of clear ice instead of the young master she intended to hug.
"Y-young Master…! Are you mad at me? Nan is sorry, she tried to search for you, but the family elders ordered her to stay!"
The woman let out a pitiful whimper and changed her tone and the way she referred to herself to appear cuter or even a bit infantile.
After all, she and the butler next to her were the two people who stood by Rotsard's side for the longest. Of course, she had him all figured out...
Or at least, she thought she did.
"Kyle, you could learn a thing or two from your colleague and act appropriately."
"Wha…?! I… I'm sorry, young master… I will do my best from now on."
The bleached-blond-haired youth shook his head without looking at either servant, causing the butler to flinch and hurriedly lower his head and apologize.
"I was talking to Kyle Houndred, not you, Mister Kyle."
"!!!"
"Oh! Pardon my misunderstanding, Young Master."
But then Rotsard snickered and pointed out, causing the maid to flinch as her expression turned blank while the butler let out a relieved gasp.
"What's with that face, Kyle? Your nickname was always a short version of nanny, but you started to act as if you thought I had forgotten your actual name. Even I wouldn't forget something so important. Not about my actual blood-related cousin."
"..."
The maid just stood there, staring into the distance while he spoke, seemingly disassociating himself completely from the situation.
On the other hand, the butler was looking between the two of them, intrigued, wondering where their conversation was heading exactly.
"That said. The next few answers you will give me are very important, so listen properly to my questions."
Rotsard raised his head and this time looked directly at the blank-faced maid who refused to make eye contact with him as she stepped away from the pillar of ice.
"What is your connection with this place? What is your involvement with Miss Lilla's death?"
"!?!?"
"..."
As the questions were asked, the butler's eyes widened at the sound of the word death, while the maid remained indifferently silent.
"Death…? Wh-what's going on? Young Miss Kyle, why aren't you arguing with the implications of Young Master's questions…?!"
The butler gulped down his saliva and spoke up almost fearfully, while focusing solely on the maid by his side.
"Impale. Ice guillotine."
"...wha…?"
As she finally opened her mouth to respond, the words that left the maid's mouth were chants of incantations.
"Kuh…?!"
*STAB* *STAB* *STAB* *STAB* *SHING*
Before the butler could react properly, two ice spikes pierced his knees from the back, causing him to lose his balance and start falling back, where two more ice spikes pierced his stomach and chest, forcing the air out of his lungs right in time for a thin blade of ice to appear above and fall down, cutting off his head in one smooth motion…!
*thump*
"Emergency message, Evander Vallhall…"
As the butler's head rolled on the grass and the crimson blood gushed out from the wound, the maid muttered another chant with the same indifference…
"Master Evander! The young master Rotsard! He! He killed butler Kyle! Young Master has completely lost his mind! Help! Please send help! AAAAAAAAGH…!"
But then, as the spell seemed to connect, the maid suddenly cried in terror, ending the message with a heartwrenching scream of pain.