They may have started to fade a bit soon but there is nothing you can do about it at this point. Let them finish.

Great close ups of the calyx but I don’t see any mold. Looks like some physical damage like Sunny mentioned.

Hard to say from the pics. The fungus is white and it will turn the bud brown. You should see the fungus hyphae between buds if it’s there. You’ll smell the mold as well.

Correct.