The Duke's Passion

Just like the past half a year, Sam and I had to carry out our own duties, growing separately but also growing as one. I hope he also sees it that way.

"You died." I snapped my eyes, realizing I was currently sparring with Kristina. She retrieved her wooden sword from my throat as she stepped back, swinging that same wooden sword to her shoulder.

"You'd been looking so exhausted, Lil," Kristina said, cocking her head to the side with her eyes still on me. "You even get lost in thoughts in the middle of our spar now."

"That's because you're so boring!" Ramin yelled from the side. He was tapping the back side of the wooden sword against his shoulder, his other hand on his hip. He hunched in pain when Charlotte, who was standing next to him, elbowed him in the gut.

"When will you stop spouting nonsense, huh?" Charlotte gnashed her teeth before setting her eyes on us. "Why don't you two rest so that I can beat — I mean, Ramin and I can spar?" 

"All yours." Kristina waved and shot me a look. "Let's go, dear." She cocked her head to the side, and I followed her while Charlotte dragged Ramin to the middle of the training grounds. 

The two of them immediately engaged in an intense fight… or rather, Charlotte immediately beat Ramin without giving him time to prepare. Meanwhile, Kristina and I stood on the side, before I shifted my gaze on her when she asked;

"Is there something wrong?" 

  I pursed my lips, shaking my head. "No." 

Kristina frowned. "Are we not friends? You can always tell me if there's something wrong." She was a perceptive woman and always observed the people around her. That's why she was always the first to notice when one of us was acting strange.

"Aren't you getting enough rest?" she asked, once again receiving no response from me.

"No, that's not it." I shook my head lightly, moving my gaze towards on the one-sided fight between Charlotte and Ramin. "It's just that, I've been having… dreams."

"And?"

"My dreams are more like memories. In those memories or dreams, whatever they were, there were certain events that happened." I recalled thinking about Sam's words this morning. "It's as if I'm reliving those days and wakes up feeling exhausted. They felt very vivid."

My head often hurts whenever I tried to recall too much. It was as if something in my head was telling me not to remember. I could barely concentrate on other things and often get lost in thoughts just like moments ago.

"Lilou," Kristina called, and I turned my head to her. "You know vampires can erase a person's memory, right?" 

My mouth fell open as I forgot about that information. Sam did it once to me back in Whistlebird. Did that mean… my breath hitched as my heart suddenly pounded against my chest. Was it possible that a vampire seven years ago erased my memories? But why?

"Vampires can erase a person's memory. However, there's a certain limit to it. It depends on how strong or weak he or she is." Kristina explained, peeling her eyes away from me as she watched the two. "Most vampires can only erase a recent memory that just occurred, and it still takes a lot of energy to do so. That's why vampires would rather silence someone since it is easier to do that."

"I know…" I whispered as that immediately crossed my mind. Why would anyone bother to erase a person's memory if they could just end their lives?

"The stronger a vampire was, the more they can rob your memories; they can even erase their entire existence to a person if they really wanted to." Kristina paused as she let out a shallow breath. "In this kingdom, there were a few individuals who can rob people's memories. One of them is her royal highness, Silvia, but she's a special case since she was already born with that ability."

"Right…" I nodded, as I recently found out about Silvia's abilities. Silvia could rob people's memories and rewrite them into something different. 

That was the reason the House of Thornhart didn't raise flags after the devastating turn of events that night of the banquet. Everyone present in that banquet believed an unknown force suddenly attacked the banquet. Hence the casualties. 

"Her Royal Highness' ability to not just rob memories, but also rewrite them is terrifying. But, it can't be used repeatedly on the same person, people, since it would have less effect." Kristina explained, trying to soothe my worries. "Aside from her, the royal family had the same power to rob memories."

"Are you saying one of them knew me from seven years ago?" I asked, as that was what it sounded to me. Kristina just narrowed down the people who could be held responsible for these odd memories I've been dreaming about.

Kristina raised her shoulder, thrusting her lower lip forward. "I'm still unsure if that is the case. But if you're really retrieving some lost memories, it's not impossible. The royal family never lost their interest in Grimsbanne, after all."

"Even so, why would any of them erase my memories instead of killing me?" and that question rendered us both speechless. As she mentioned, vampires would rather kill than exert some effort in robbing another person's memory. I was a peasant, so my life would mean nothing to them.

"Why don't you ask his grace? Your husband?" 

I sighed and gazed down. "He was in his slumber, remember?" Sam just told me not to live in the past, and… my brows suddenly furrowed as I narrowed my eyes. Did Sam know anything about it? He wouldn't say something ambiguous if he didn't.

"Oh, speaking of the devil," Kristina murmured, and I raised my gaze to where she jerked her chin up. My eyes instantly landed on Sam. What a surprise, as this was the first time Sam visited the third squadron. 

"What was he doing… here?" I trailed off as Ramin suddenly appeared on Sam's side, attacking him out of nowhere. I never saw Ramin bare his fangs, but right now, he was seething, while Sam held on his wrist.

I gazed to my side and noticed Kristina's cheek twitching as her hand massaged her nape. "I salute Lil for not feeling the anger of your weapon." Her tone was full of restraint.

"Yaaah!" I recoiled when an arrow suddenly flashed before my eyes, which Sam managed to stop by clipping it in between his fingers. Two attacks from two different bearers, and Sam stopped them all, looking nonchalant.

"I only came to visit my wife," Sam said in a low tone, glancing at Ramin and then cocked his head to see Charlotte. "I don't remember my wife being as bulky as you, and as plain as her."