William continued to stare at the disappearing figure of the old man who was still hidden with a cloak when the knight approached him stealthily.

"You are late!

" he muttered when the sound of the footsteps disappeared and heard an audible sigh behind him.

"I apologize, you have taken so many turns that even if i knew the place in advance, i still lost my way there!

" The knight sincerely apologized as he took the task too lightly.

When the lord had burnt the letter in front of him, he had not thought much about it but when the master gave him the file to study and plan the visit accordingly he was confused.

They have never made a file for observing the town before. Yet he bowed his head and nodded and left the room silently.

But when he reached his room and opened the file, he was shocked to see that his master had asked him to act like he was sending them away but then follow him in the woods.

Though he did not tell the reason for the act, he had given clear instructions of catching the old man in the cloak and he had even left a map so that he did not lose his way.

Though utterly confused, he acted as his master wanted but he did not get enough chance to visit the woods in advance or take the map with him since the master had asked him to burn the parchments once read.

And just as he was afraid of, he ended up losing his way in the woods.

But even then he had reached before the old man was gone. But his steps halted when the old man turned to look at his direction.

He was sure that he had hidden himself well, yet he had no doubt that the man could not only see him but he knew from the start that he was going to come, which shocked him since he had burnt the file.

And had been silent all this time. Just who could be this cunning like his master?

"Master, though I am late, the old man is still close by. I can easily catch him!

" Since it was the task given by his master, he could not fail in it or how he would face his master later.

His hands reached to his sword and he was about to run away when he heard a snort from his master and his steps halted.

"You are still a fool! Did you not know that he was aware of our plan from the start!

" replied the man in a cold voice but rage could be felt from it easily! The man was furious and he was not even trying to hide it like always.

Though the duke was a cold and heartless man who only cared about his family, he mostly hid this fact under his neutral face and fake smile.

But at this moment, the way he was looking at this knight and his aide with a mocking gaze, he was not even trying to hide his reality.

"…….

" the knights bowed his head as he had felt that too that the old man knew the plan since start yet he played with the duke who was trying to stall for him by dragging the conversations and just left when he reached there as if he wanted to flaunt his wisdom in front of them.

"He was not flaunting. He was warning me that he knew our plans. So it would be better that we do not play such childish tricks in the future!

" the hands of the knights clenched into a tight fist when he heard his master!

Never in his life had any made fun of him like that! He not only wanted to cpatre the old man but also torment him to show the result of playing with them.

"That is more of a reason that I shall run and catch him so that I can teach him a lesson!

" came the voice through gritted teeth but it was once again only entertained by a cold look and shaking of the head.

"No need! We are going back to the office!

" the duke turned but the knight was not ready to let go!

If it would have been only about his respect, then he would have let the matter go, but it was also about the respect of his master that he did not want to be ruined because of his mistake.

"If you are worried about his threats, then do not worry. I will investigate everyone in the palace personally to see who had received strange letters or a large amount from ambiguous sources.

The more time you would take in thinking, the more he would be able to get a chance to run away, master.

I beg you, please accept my wish to catch him and beat him!

" the knight turned to stare at his master with pleading eyes.

He was looking restless as if he would never be able to catch the old man if he let him go today! And that thought was only making him crazy!

"Hmm, even I want to catch him but we can not even if we want!

" the duke continued to stare at the empty space as the words left his mouth that only deepen the frown on the face of the knights who transferred his weight from one feet to another as he parted his lips to ask what did he mean by that when the duke finally tilted his head and turned to look deep into his eyes,

"The man who had come to meet me was not the man i am looking for, he was a hired actor to speak the fixed lines and leave once he was done!

"

"………..

"

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