Muttering a curse under her breath, Vienna immediately ran to the stables to check her beloved pet. Valen was never weak during their whole trip. Why would he lose energy now?
As she opened the door, the horses were strangely quiet. 
From afar, she could only see her huge pet laying on the ground with eyes closed, his mouth open and his fangs bare. 
“Valen!” She yelled to catch it’s attention but he wasn’t moving. 
She checked his heart if it was beating and it was confirmed. There wasn’t any heart beat, 
Valen, her pet,  is dead. 
The whole of the stables were filled with Vienna’s yells as she grived for her lovely pet. Titus and Fedel helped her make the funeral. Duke Raziel returned, hearing her broken heart. 
Vienna watched as her pet was being buried by the hill. She couldn’t help but let the tears escape her. Avelina came to pat her back and she breathed deeply. 
Raziel came to her side to comfort her but she pushed him away. “Don’t get near me.”
“I’ll investigate this, please don’t worry Vienna.” His vpoice was almost giving up now, but he wanted to earn ehr trust again. 
Vienna gritted her teeth,  “I’ll make sure to make the person who killed Valen pay.” 
Mr, Martini approached her, “I apologize for these shortcomings. I swear I never received any killing report from the ministry.” 
“Mr. Martini! I can’t find Ella!” Reported a child from behind them. 
“What?” Mr. Martini then kneeled to reach the same height as him, “Tell us where you last seen her.”
“She was just running around with us, we were playing hide and seek there in the forest….”
“Let me handle it, Mr. Martini.” Said Duke Raziel.”
“But the duchess needs you.” Mr. Martini refused. 
“Then let my right hand man help.” He offered pointing at Fedel. 
Vienna then sighed, hating at how things turned out that day. “Help him, Titus.” 
“But your grace-”
“I’m fine.” SHe cut his sentence off. 
“I’ll join you too.” 
Titus nodded and with Fedel, the three of them left to the forest. They walked in silence. 
“Ella! Where are you?” Yelled Avelina, calling out the child’s name. She hit a tree branch and yelped in pain as she almost fell on the ground. Titus was quick enough to catch her, holding her hands and  Avelina blushed, “Thank you.” 
“Careful, the part here is muddy.” Titus warned her and loosening her grip on her and Fedel was behind them. 
“C’mon, you’re an adult, Avelina, you can take care of yourself. Don’t just fake your charms.” He teased and Avleina pointed her sword at him. 
“What did you just say?” She pushed the metal to his neck, “Repeat it.” 
“I was just joking to lighten up the mood, princess.” Fedel mocked, which irritated Avelina and wanted to fight back but then stopped them.
“Stop, you two. We need to find the girl as soon as possible. Focus on our mission.” Titus said, holding his sword. 
“Wahhhh! Help me!” 
Just then, a girl crying was by the cave. They instatly ran to the sound of her wailing. 
“There you are!” Fedel exclaimed, wiping off the invisible sweat on his forehead. “Whew, that was easy.” 
“Are you alright? Are you injured somewhere?” Titus asked, examining the girl for any injuries. Her tear stained cheeks and knees fillled with mud were there, and she hugged Titus.
“Wahhh! I saw a crazy woman who killed the duchess’ pet!” She exclaimed, and the three of them were in shcok, looked at each other with wide eyes. 
Avelina instanlty kneeled down to match the child’s leve, “Really? Can you tell us, Ella?” 
The girl yelled and hugged Titus’s knees tighter. 
Titus patted the girl’s head. “The girl is shocked, We must take her as soon as possible.” He tried to carry the little girl but the girl just cried more.
“She must have some injuries.” He started, carefully placing her down. 
Fedel then butted in, “Avelina, heal him.”
Avelina nodded, “Alright, thak goodness I still have my abilites. I’ll try my best” She said, “Now leave us alone. I kind of get shy when using it again around people.” 
Fedel snorted and Titus nodded, pulling Fedel and leave them alone.
They waited untl Avelina said, “alright, done, let’s return now.”
Titus carried Ella, the little girl on his back and returned to the orphanage.
They put the little girl to sleep and waited for things.
Titus went to Vienna, “Your grace, the little child knows who killed the beast.” 
Vienna raised her eyebrows, “I have a suspicion, as I saw some signs to Valen..but I’ll wait for the little girl to tell the truth.”
Duke Raziel left to report to the emperor what happened and investigate, and as nightfall came, the little girl woke up. 
Mr. Martini imeidately come to the rescue and hugged the girl tight. “Ella! you’re finally awake!” 
Titus offered a glass of water to the girl as they all surrounded Ella. Ella gulped, looking around them. 
Vienna cleared her throat, “She might feel a bit suffocated from the crowd. Leave us alone.” she ordered, and everyone followed. 
Vienna and Titus stayed behind, as Vienna sat in front of Ella and Titus stood by the door to guard. 
“I’m happy that you’re awake, Ella, you’re such a strong girl, but is it alright if we could ask you some questions?”
Ella nodded calmly, and glanced at Titus. 
Vienna smiled a bit, “You said to this man that you know who killed my pet, right?”
Ella’s calm expression turned into a  confused look. She blinked, “What? Forgive me your grace but…I don’t know what you are talking about…”
Vienna blinked, glancing at Titus who looked at her with a bewildered expression. 
Titus approached Ella and leaned in, “Didn’t you tell us that you knew who it was?”
Ella  shook her head, then gripped her hair and kicked the blankets, yelling and crying to herself. 
Vienna sighed, standing up and giving up now. “She might have forgotten it.”
“But that’s impossible, my lady….” Titus muttered. “I am getting a strange feeling from this. Your grace, if I dissapear someday, just trust your instinct.” 
Vienna looked at him , seeing him so serious. Titus has always been a serious knight, but times like this, when he’s saying some random things to her, makes her alarmed. “Why are you telling that to me?
Titus was just quiet and said nothing in reply. 
They decided to let it slip for now, but were still determined to find the suspect. 
Vienna just coulnd’t let this one get away. And something tells her that the suspect is just among them. The door opened as Mr. Martini appeared to offer assistance to Ella. 
“I apologize, your grace. Let me take care of her now.” He said, and restrained Ella to avoid her from kicking and breaking everything. 
From the corner, Vienna couldn’t help but notcie Avelina’s shaking legs. 
“Are you alright, Avelina?” She asked, and as she asked that, Avelina leaned on Fedel for support. 
Fedel looked at her weirdly, wanting to remove her hand but then he noticed her having a hard time standing, “Are you alright? You look pale, princess,” Fedel teased then checked her temperature. 
HIs eyes widened as he noticed she was burning with high fever. 
“Please excuse us, I’ll let her rest in her room.” As Fedel carried Avelina bridal style, Titus just stared at them as they disappeared. 
“Is there something wrong, Titus?” Vienna asked. 
“Nothing, your grace.” And he left. 
Vienna slumped back in her room, recalling the day’s events. Her mini arguent  with Duke Raziel, her precious pet Valen was killed by someone, the girl Ella’s disappearance and somehow knowing who the suspect is but ending up forgeting it, and Avelina falling sick. 
Somehow, all of this is connected, she’s got that feeling. It is like a domino effect. 
Night time came and she decided to visit  Avelina in her room. Avelina was sleeping on her bed. 
She saw Fedel sitting beside her and Vienna raised her eyebrows, “You like the princess?” She blurted out and Fedel turned to look at her. 
He snorted, “What kind of question is that, your grace?” He just laughed at her, “I’ll go get some damp cloth to put on her forehead.” He stood up and Vienna could see his cheeks reddened. 
Vienna sat on the chair where Fedel was just sitting. She looked at Avelina’s delicate figure and angelic face. She has a healing ability, maybe she could have known something about Valen’s death…
Minutes later, Avelina woke up from her sleep and gasped, “Oh, Vienna, I mean your grace, why are you here?”
“I just want to check up on you.” Vienna replied, “Are you feeling better now?”
Avelina nodded. “I apologize that I caused this trouble. I thought my body was strong enough and not stupid enough to catch a mere cold.” 
Vienna shook her head, “It’s alright. Just rest up, I’ll be delayng this trip anyways.” 
“Will the duke agree?”
Vienna just scoffed, “Oh he will defintely agree. Don’t worry.”
Avelina smiled, “Thank you, your grace…I am sorry about your pet’s misfortune…” She then cleared her throat, “I mean I didn’t mean to pry but…your knight Titus is really dependable..” She trailed off. 
“Yes, he is.” Vienna agreed, but felt strange why she is bringing this up randomly, “You’re bringing this up suddenly…don’t tell me you like my knight, Avelina?”
Avelina gasped, not daring to meet her gaze now, “Oh goodness, I won’t dare to have the courage to have..feelings for your knight…” 
Vienna smirked, feeling a bit pity for Fedel who seemed to have feelings for her, “What about Fedel?”