The Duke's Passion

I kept a safe distance from Cassara while we walked in silence. The air around us grew more awkward as neither of us talked. I don't know what she was trying to do, but whatever it was, I'm prepared. 

My shoulders flinched when Cassara suddenly broke the silence. "I heard Yul joined the third squadron."

"Ah, yes," I responded awkwardly, clearing my throat as I recomposed myself.

"You must be surprised." Cassara stopped treading as she faced the section full of red roses. Her hand reached for one rose, caressing the petals that made her look like a goddess in the garden. She was really pretty; I didn't know which was prettier between her and the red rose.

I snapped my eyes and replied, "Not really."

"Why, so?" she asked, playing a finger over the petals of the rose.

"Because anything can happen in the palace." 

Cassara nodded her head before she slowly shifted her eyes to me. "That's right. Anything can happen in the palace, for example, you going missing so suddenly."

My back instantly stiffened, a little surprised but not frightened. I didn't dare move my gaze away from her as we stared at each other in silence for a moment. 

"Just like what happened in Cunningham. Although, I doubt that will happen without you putting up a fight now." She added with a soft chuckle, moving her eyes back to the rose. "I still don't like you."

"Your royal highness, I know —"

"Cassara." She cast me a quick look. "I never like that title since it reminds me I am someone's wife now. So, call me Cassara."

"How dare I call you that?" I said awkwardly. Unlike my relationship with Silvia and Yul, I didn't have the same close relationship with her. So calling her so casually was quite a burden, whatever her reasons were. 

Cassara raised a brow, tilting her head to the side. "That's an order."

What a bother. I thought. "Yes, your royal — Cassara." I pursed my lips in a thin line as I gaze down.

"Good." she intoned, nodding before shifting her attention back to the roses. "You're not slow enough not to know about my feelings to Hell."

'I'm the wife, but why did she sound like the legal wife talking to her husband's mistress?' I thought, sneaking a glance at her side. Cassara traced the rose down to its thorny stems.

"But that is not the reason I asked you to accompany me here," she said, prickling her finger accidentally when she glanced at me. Cassara's expression didn't change, despite the blood dripping from her fingertip.

"Then, what is the purpose of your invitation, your royal highness?" I asked, not beating around the bush. "I believe you won't ask me to accompany you for a walk for idle talk."

Cassara raised her finger, staring at her own blood. "You're right. I want you to know that I am aware of your feelings for my husband."

"I don't have any other specific feelings for His Majesty aside from respect, your royal highness," I corrected. "I'm sired to him and we're both aware how the power of sire works." 

I didn't like how she sounded with her remarks. She couldn't be saying what I thought she was trying to say, right? There's no way, even if she didn't have romantic feelings for Stefan, she wouldn't tell me she wanted to trade husband. That was just… sick. 

"Are you sure?" Cassara faced me and I replied, "Yes!" with full of conviction. 

"You," she raised her hand, offering it to me, which made my brows knit. "Do you want to know if what you said is real?"

"What…"

"I'll show you, Lilou." Cassara tilted her head to the side. "The reason I oppose your marriage with Hell, and the lost memories you'd been slowly uncovering in your sleep." 

My eyes fell to her palm and then I gazed up at her. Reluctance flickered across my eyes as there's no way I would hold her hand. Who knows what trick she would use on me?

"My abilities are unlike Silvia, who can be useful in many things, nor it is like Yul's and Hanz. However, mine comes in handy because mind-control never works on me." Cassara explained, catching my attention as she held my gaze. "If Stefan can have a glimpse of the future, I can see a person's past and undo any mind-control they had on you." 

"Then, can you undo the sire?" 

"If I want to die for you, I can, but there's only one person I am willing to give my life to, and that's not you." Cassara bluntly responded with no other pretense. "If I can harm you with my abilities, I would've done it even at the cost of my life, don't you think?"

"Even so…" I trailed off as she cut me off.

"Why? Are you afraid that once you regain your lost memories, you will have a change of heart?" Cassara cocked her head once again, eyebrow raised.

"Even if you provoke me, I won't be trapped in any vampire's abilities again." I expressed honestly. "Apologies, Cassara. But, the past shall remain in the past and I shall live in the present where I will create my future with my husband."

Cassara slowly retrieved her hand as she let out a shallow scoff. I sighed as I had made my mind and shrugged the tiniest curiosity in my head.

"If that's all, I will have to excuse myself." I bowed politely with my fist across my chest. But when I raised my head, I froze as Cassara appeared in front of me. She suddenly held both sides of my head, leaning in with her eyes locked on me. 

"Cassa —"

"See for yourself," she said, and I felt like sprout roots grew underneath my boots, stilling me on the ground. All I could do was stare into her eyes, and I felt like I was being drawn in it before memories of the past flashed in my head.

***

The memories of the past half a year rolled back in my head, and then my time in Cunningham, Whistlebird, and then Grimsbanne. It went back to the time I first met Sam, and what my life looked like before him. My life before Sam was dull, hard, and meaningless… until I reached the memories from five, six, seven years ago.

"Lexx!" I called out to the person resting under the shade of a tree. The person I called slowly moved his head in my direction, a smile appeared on his face.

How I met him and every memory of him surged in my head. Unlike in the dreams where his face was blurred, Stefan's face was clear and all our memories together slowly filled the gaps in my head.