The Duke's Passion

Meanwhile, in the west garden, Claude and Klaus were just idling around the fountain. They were both seated on the concrete fountain basin while eating lollipops, eyes on Fabian, who was cutting roses to make a bouquet.

"Uncle," called Claude without casting a look at Klaus while the latter hummed and glanced at him. "Your fangs do not sting anymore, right?"

"Hmm. Why?" Klaus quirked a brow, gazing at his little ancestor, who just knew how to be a child in front of Lilou.

"Nothing." Claude shook his head before looking up at him. "It's just I suddenly think you are quite useless."

His blunt remark made Klaus scrunch his nose. "Little ancestor, you've spent too much time with that lunatic." pointing in Fabian's direction.

"Being with Mister Fabian for over half a year is more productive than being with you for many years, Uncle." Claude voiced out with all honesty, hurting his uncle's pride. "But this is not about me, Uncle. It's about you."

"What about me? Hell said just stay the way I am, so that's what I am doing."

Claude let out a deep sigh and shook his head once again. He couldn't believe his uncle's ignorance.

"Uncle, I don't know how you survived until now if you can't even read the change of air in the palace," he murmured with genuine wonder in his eyes. 

"Because I'm strong?" Klaus replied as a matter of fact. "I'm not as smart as everyone else nor do I indulge in such schemes, but your uncle is pretty strong."

"But you can't even retaliate against Mister Fabian."

"That guy is a lunatic, my adorable nephew." Klaus clicked his tongue in annoyance, resting his palm on the rim of the concrete basin they were sitting on. "No matter how I hate to admit it, that damn lunatic is on a different caliber."

"I suffered for centuries because he played dentist and extracted my fangs." Klaus continued but only felt a little fury unlike usual. "But then, just like him, I don't really want him to die."

"Just like him… you mean, Mister Fabian doesn't want you dead as well?" Claude cocked his head to the side, a little doubtful at his uncle's claims.

Klaus cocked his head to Claude, sporting a nonchalant look. "If he wants me dead, you wouldn't even meet me."

"Make sense." Claude nodded before shifting his eyes towards Fabian. "I guess I should thank Mister Fabian for that."

"Haha!" Klaus chortled with delight as he raised his hand, ruffling his nephew's soft hairs.

His action brought a frown on Claude's lip. "Uncle, what are you doing?"

"Let me tell you, my beloved nephew, you shouldn't thank Fabian for that. You should thank that your uncle, although not gifted with high intelligence, in terms of strength, I'm the strongest among my brothers." The side of Klaus' lips stretched into a grin, holding Claude's little head with no force. "So, you don't have to worry because this wonderful uncle of yours will protect you."

"Uncle, I hope you can say that you're the strongest in front of Uncle Hell."

Klaus' grin died down. "Of course, I can tell that to his face. He was the one who told me that."

"Uncle Hell is the greatest liar I had ever met in my life."

"Hey, kid. Why don't you just tell me you can't or don't want to rely on me?" Klaus frowned as this nephew was his was too judgmental. How could Claude not trust him when Klaus had been protecting him?

Claude just stare at him in silence before averting his eyes. His lack of response and expression made Klaus' face twitch. He was truly cruel to the only uncle who genuinely cared for him. But alas, although Claude's lips weren't smiling, his eyes were.

"Huh?" Klaus's brows suddenly quirked as he gazed up. "The weather is getting colder day by day. I think the snow will come earlier this year."

"It's been winter for a long time, Uncle," Claude murmured as he fixed his eyes on Fabian's back, before glimpsing at the sinister smirk on the latter's lips when he slightly turned his head. "And it will only get colder from today onwards."

"I wonder how is Alistair doing in the north. I hope he won't freeze to death so I can come and kill him myself." Klaus peeled his eyes away from the sky and he just spent the morning idling with his nephew and watching Fabian arrange the flower he had grown himself.

*****

Meanwhile, in the palace's guest chambers where Zero was being accommodated, Zero stared at the ceiling while laying on the carpeted floor. 

"Your Majesty, please lie on the bed instead. The floor is rather cold." Tristan uttered politely, staring at his king who hadn't been himself for a while… or rather, Zero acting like his usual self before he became the king.

"Today, I got a whiff of my fiance's scent." Zero raised his hand, placing it on his right eye with gaps in between his finger. "She has a lovely scent, suitable in creating a bloodline comparable to those purebloods back in the mainland."

Tristan pressed his lips into a thin line, as he couldn't deny that. Lilou's scent was so strong that they all knew she had fed someone, and that someone was her husband, obviously.

"At the same time, I got a whiff of Beatrice's blood as well." The corner of Zero's lips curled up into a smirk. "Things that happen in this country never cease to amaze me. It makes me want to own it."

"Your Majesty, there are a lot of ears around. We don't know if there are more ears listening."

"Let them listen, Tristan." His eyes glinted as his smile brightened up even more. "Prepare the gift that I asked for. We can't let someone else get ahead of us."

"Yes, Your Majesty. The gift will be ready soon. We'll just have to wrap it tonight."

"Good," Zero cackled as his eyes drooped and his aura grew sinister. "Ahh… what a good day to wake up in such an unnatural calm morning."