The Duke's Passion

Meanwhile, in the Avolire Palace, Claude walked silently through the hallway with his toy in his hand. This palace was rather quiet, unlike the rest of the palace. Not that the Avolire Palace was deserted, it was just that no one was moving, like statues standing just everywhere in the place.

Claude just walked in a certain direction and soon arrived in front of the door. He placed his hand on it, pushing it open as it creaked. 

"Auntie," he called softly, peeking his head in. He then entered the room and his eyes searched for Cassara. 

"What are you doing there, Auntie?" Claude asked coldly, despite that Cassara looked pathetic in the corner. A sigh slipped past his lips as he approached her.

Cassara gazed up, hugging her knees in terror. "You… why are you here, Dyrroth?"

Claude's eyes grew colder as soon as he heard that name. He gazed down at her, not a trace of pity in his eyes.

"I was worried about you, Auntie. Everyone is fighting, but here you are… like always." His eyelids drooped, tilting his head to the side. "You hide and tremble in fear when things don't go your way."

"I didn't do it… no, I didn't mean to, Dyrroth." Cassara raised her trembling hand, biting her nails while shaking her head. "That girl… will kill Hell. I should've killed her. No, no… I was going to kill her… she is a monster. I've seen it… her core — the Bloodfang's will, she has it. That's right, she can't hear them, but I do. But what am I hearing them? No, get out of my head…!"

Claude watched Cassara slowly lose her mind as she mumbled under her breath. This was the effect of her meddling with Lilou's memories. 

"If you didn't meddle with Lilou's memories, you wouldn't hear the voices that are solely for her ears, Auntie." He squatted down, eyes on Cassara, and let out a shallow breath. "And for that, you have our gratitude. So, I'll help you."

"Dyrroth, I can hear them!" Cassara clutched the child's sleeve, eyes shaking. "Help me, brother. We should kill her for them to stop. She can't exist, Rothie. That woman's existence shouldn't have existed."

Claude remained silent for a while, studying the state Cassara had fallen. "You look like your mother, Auntie. Poor thing."

"Dyrroth, I…" Her eyes suddenly dilated as realization struck her. "You are not my brother. Who are you?"

"I am his child, Auntie."

"No." Cassara shook her head sideways, staring deep into Claude's eyes. "You're not Claude either."

"Auntie, please don't say such a thing." Claude smiled, letting out a brief chuckle. "It is I, your nephew."

"You… Quentin."

His lips stretched into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You might be useless, but it's amazing how you hadn't lost your sanity completely, Auntie."

"Since my cover is blown, there's no need to hide it." Claude's face and physique gradually shifted into a man's form, revealing the cunning face of Zero. "I need you, Cassara."

Cassara shivered, backing away, fusing herself against the wall when he reached his hand towards her. Her heart skipped a beat as she froze when Zero held her hand and pulled her to him.

Zero leaned into her side and whispered, "Stefan had killed Hell, you need to get it together, Cassara."

"What…" 

"Your beloved hell… his head rolled." His eyes moved to the side, studying her stunned expression. "Why don't you see it for yourself? They were in the throne room."

A smirk appear on Zero's lips as his eyes glinted with malice. He slowly stood up, hands on his hips.

"I have told you because I owe you one." He shrugged nonchalantly, turning around to leave. "That is my repayment for making her remember everything and for keeping the voices inside your head."

*****

I forced my way inside the palace, slew everyone who stood in my way. It didn't matter if bloodshed trailed me like a shadow as I followed my husband's aura. Fortunately, Fabian didn't seem he catch up.

"Out of my way," I warned the person who suddenly appeared before me. "Lena."

Lena slowly raised her head, removing the hood of her cloak. "Your highness, please turn back. His Majesty will lock you up once —"

I didn't wait for her to finish her sentiments as I dashed forward, swinging Lakresha at her. As expected, Lena was quick to react as she repelled my attack and leaped back.

"Your Highness!"

"Lena!" I growled, my eyes bloodshot. "I won't repeat myself." 

Lena's eyes flickered with sorry, but that only made my blood boil. It was clear to me that no matter what, Lena would always side with Stefan. Be it in the past or today, she would choose loyalty over friendship.

'She's not your friend, Lilou.' My mind whispered in my ear, and I didn't feel any remorse in thinking she was my enemy.

"Lakresha." I could feel Lakresha's anger under my hand as if my weapon and I had become one with all this rage building up inside me.

Just when I was about to take her out, someone suddenly crashed towards the window from the outside. My eyes sharpened as a person standing on the shattered glass, faced me.

"Kristina, are you here to stop me as well?" I asked coldly, spinning Lakresha in my hand.

Kristina didn't speak as she slowly turned around and faced Lena. "I will handle her. You go, Your Grace."

My brows quirked, a little surprised by this abrupt help. However, this gesture was not enough to move my frigid heart.

"I will kill them all, Lilou. All of them." Her cold statement caught my attention, as I knew Kristina meant it from the bottom of her heart. I would want to ask her about the source of her fury, but I didn't have the leisure for idle chat.

"So then…" I trailed off as Kristina didn't waste a second, dashing towards Lena and swung her Mace at her. Lena was able to block the attack, but she couldn't stop the impact as Kristina sent her flying through the walls.

"I wonder what angered her," I murmured, but didn't dwell on it. "Sam…" 

My eyes glinted as I didn't waste a second and dashed towards the throne room. On my way, Klaus suddenly appeared behind me, speeding his way in the same direction.

"Oh, sister-in-law, you're also late," he said, making me instinctively look back at him and noticed the head in his hand. "Hehe. Happy to see my trophy?"

"You killed Hanz."

"He is a fool for standing up against my king! I taught him a lesson." Klaus exclaimed happily despite that half of his face was covered with thick blood.

"Sadly, he can't apply that lesson you've taught him," I muttered with disinterest. Hanz's life didn't matter to me — just like everyone else.

"Haha! He can apply that in his next life. Right, Hanzel?" 

I paid him no attention anymore, as I knew Klaus and I shared the same reason. Even though I disliked him, there was no reason to fight him right now. Little did we know, all we had done would be a futile attempt.

Because, after all, this was just the beginning of the cold winter.