The Duke's Passion

"Don't wander too far…" he whispered, sounding strangely gentle and sincere. "… just stay within Hell's reach."

I pursed my lips in a thin line. His words were simple to understand, but I always had this feeling I couldn't comprehend them entirely. Regardless, I could only think that this was his way of placating me. This was a huge step, considering the current mental state he was in.

"I never wandered anywhere beyond your reach," I mumbled under my breath, pouting. "You're being unfair…" and I just sounded like a child whining. 

This was unfair! Just a little coaxing and I'm willing to sacrifice the entire world! I couldn't even express how disappointed I was for our stagnant relationship, as that disappointment left without traces left in my heart. 

I exhaled. "I'd rather you say, 'stop whining or I'll break your bones', than placate me like this." I huffed. "What's got into you you're being like this now?" I asked out of curiosity, as this felt very new to me. 

Sam said nothing as he played with my hair in silence. His quietness somehow made me feel suspicious. Come to think of it, I never probed about Sam's matter. First, because he was my superior at work, and because I knew he wouldn't tell me. I wondered what Sam and Fabian had been up to. Rufus was out of the question as he had been leading the Order temporarily.

"I haven't seen Mister Fabian lately. Did something happen to him?" I asked when I received another silent response from him. "I know I shouldn't pry, but it worries me you don't tell me anything."

"You never ask, though," He replied, and I nearly coughed as he had a point. I never asked, but that was because I didn't want to get disappointed by not getting answers! "Fabian is well, just like me… trying to make sense of why we shouldn't be killing everyone," Sam explained in simple words, but despite his light tone, I felt a chill ran down my spine.

Being a witness to Sam's indifference to matters regarding life and death and his thirst for violence and destruction, I could imagine Fabian's situation. Although I had never seen it myself, Fabian was a notorious name among the members of the Order. 

Cold-blooded, ferocious, and wicked — that was what my colleague branded Fabian. I could still remember how the conversation went.

**

Sometime around four months ago, Ramin, Charlotte, Kristina, and I were out in Libira, an outskirt of the capital to investigate and confirm the recent undead sighting. It wasn't a huge case, but it was important since Libira was near the Capital. If an undead was sighted around it, then that only spoke of how far we're left behind. Along with our investigation, Charlotte suddenly muttered.

"I heard Sir Rufus got into a duel last night." Charlotte placed her finger on her chin, looking up as if recalling something. "I didn't get to see it. It would be nice to witness how Sir Captain Knight fight!" Her eyes twinkled as if the entire galaxy suddenly appeared during broad daylight. "I wonder who is the brave opponent, though." And then her mood suddenly pummeled.

I blinked as I gazed beside me at where Charlotte was. We're on the way towards the location of the incident, currently walking through the almost deserted street of Libira. 

  Sir Rufus did? I never heard of such information. Although Sir Rufus was only leading the third squadron temporarily, or rather, the entire third squadron was just temporary because of the undead, the Bearers of the Divine Order had high respect towards Rufus.

Since the Bearers of the Divine Order don't take direct orders from the royal family, our goal was to eliminate any threat imposed on the kingdom. For them, Sir Rufus was like a role model for a wise king. It was a complex ideal, but that's that.

"Tsk. Are your ears fine?" Ramin chimed in, annoyed, as always. Charlotte and I looked back, setting our eyes on Ramin, strutting behind us with Kristina beside him. 

"They are until I heard you screeching!" Charlotte complained through her gritted teeth.

Kristina chuckled, the back of her hand in front of her lips. "I heard it is not a challenge, but more like he didn't have a choice. They said he inflicted minor injuries."

My brows furrowed, curious who could possibly push Rufus in a situation. There were only a few vampires who could do that, and those few people wouldn't do something so out of place. Suddenly, the thought of Sam crossed my mind. If it was Sam, my meaning of out of place didn't really matter.

"What?" Surprised, Charlotte halted as she turned around, facing the two with her hands on her hips. "Are you saying my Captain Knight was easily left with no option?! Are you underestimating my Captain Knight's skills?!" she huffed, pointing at Ramin.

"Calm down, Charlie. No one will dare underestimate the strongest knight of the kingdom and also human." Kristina explained in a light tone, smiling and waving.

"This girl just knows how to speak nonsense and just see what she wants to see!" Ramin grumbled while I stayed silent, used at their squabbling. "You should listen more and stay silent like Lilou over there!" I flinched when he suddenly pointed at me.

Charlotte glared daggers at him before she huffed and turned around. "Let's go, Lilou. Listening to this blockhead makes me feel like I'm an idiot!" I glanced at Charlotte and then to Ramin, sighing as I shook my head and resumed my steps.

"They said a wild beast went out of control and ran amok, so Captain stepped forward to subdue him," Kristina recalled as they followed us from behind.

"But still got injured?" I muttered, a little curious about what happened.

"Yes!" Kristina affirmed. "Lilou, aren't you the duchess of Grimsbanne?" she asked out of nowhere, making me look back as I walked.

"Yes?"

"Then, what can you say about what's his name…?" She trailed off momentarily before she snapped her fingers and exclaimed, "Fabian! Yes, I think that's the name!"

"Mister Fabian?" My brows furrowed as I tilted my head to the side, before facing the road ahead." Well, he is kind and smart. He is also very gentle and understanding." I nodded in agreement and turned around, only to see the dismay on Kristina's and Ramin's faces.

"What?" I wondered, shifting my eyes towards Charlotte, who also looked at me in horror.

Was I wrong? But, I wasn't lying though.