The Duke's Passion

At the same time, in the throne room, Samael gazed down at Stefan. A sinister smirk turned up on his lips, stepping on Stefan's chest with his sword pointing at his throat.

"This is unfair, Stefan." Samael rolled his eyes as he glanced at the shadow knights surrounding him. "How can I kill you if you have this much aid?"

In the inner circle that the knights had formed, Yul and Silvia stood around Samael, drawing their swords to stop the knight's attack. There were only the two of them, but they managed to stand as a wall around the battle between Samael and Stefan.

"This is a duel between our family. How dare you step in?!" Silvia's voice thundered, holding a pair of sabers as she gazed at the knight on her side.

"It is not called treason if a pureblood challenged another. That is our law. Take another step and I won't hesitate to rip your flesh apart." Yul backed up. A warning to those who stood before him. If Yul and Silvia didn't intervene, these people would've helped Stefan, regardless of the king's warnings.

"Haha. How reliable." Samael chuckled, pleased at the outcome. "See, Stefan? The reason I don't keep a lot of people under my wing is that… I have high standards. My people... just one of them is equal to ten thousand men. It cost less too."

"Don't jest, Hell. I am still breathing." Stefan smirked, as he was rather relaxed, even in this current state.

Samael frowned. "Goodness. I just want to chat with you for the last time, but well, what else can I do if you don't want to." He lifted his Catharsis, about to thrust it towards Stefan, but froze midway.

His eyes dilated, feeling the two people's presence who just arrived in the throne hall. "Lilou!" Samael called at the top of his lungs until his voice shook. 

"What the hell are you doing here?!" 

Using this perfect opportunity, the corner of Stefan's lips curled up into a smirk. He spread his fingers, whispering, "Lancelot," and his sword flew back in his hand. As soon as he gripped his sword, Stefan swiftly swung it on Samael's neck, making a clean cut in a frame of a second.

Time stopped for everyone as this turn of events all happened within a few seconds. Before they know it, Samael dropped to his knees as his head rolled over several steps away from his body.

*******

"Lilou!!!! What the hell are you doing here?!" 

My breath hitched, as I didn't expect such an angry tone from him. Not that I expected a welcoming tone, so I didn't take it to the heart.

"Sa —"

Just as I was about to yell back, my heart… no, my entire world stopped. Everything happened slowly in my eyes. Blood suddenly spluttered from my husband's throat, and even when I tried to rush to him, I couldn't. The next thing I knew, Sam suddenly dropped to his knees as the sound of his head rolling sounded overly loud in my ears.

"Sam…" My mind went blank as the entire palace had become a soundless place.

"Hell!" Klaus yell and time resumed just at its normal pace.

My eyes fixed on the severed head of my husband… no, that was not him, was what I told myself. That was impossible. I shifted my eyes to Yul and then to Silvia. They looked shocked. Why, though? That was not Sam. Yul gazed at me in panic. Don't look at me like that, Yul.

"Lilou," Stefan called to me, making me look at him. A faint light traveled through the cracks of the ceiling, shining upon him.

"Drop your weapons, Yul, Silvia." He ordered, gazing around. "Everything is over. Hang Samael's head in the gates of the palace."

Whose head would they hang in the gates?

"Stefan!!!" Klaus's voice thundered, seething in anger. "I won't let you drag my brother's honor any further!" 

"Stefan!" Silvia's voice also pitched, facing that damn Stefan. Well, he was detestable. 

"You two seemed you hadn't grasped the outcome of this battle." Stefan voice out calmly. "Drop your weapons, and your punishment will be light. Especially you, Klaus."

Oh… did they do something to Stefan? I scratched the back of my head, looking around to find my husband. I thought he was here… my eyes dilated as I realized Sam might've gone to the border where we should meet.

"Lilou…" Yul suddenly called for me, and I raised my brows. I couldn't explain his expression, but he looked very sad and scared.

When he called me, everyone's eyes were suddenly on me. So, I gave them a smile and took a step back.

"Is the problem with the undead over?" I asked, trying to conceal the reason I was here was to find my husband. Now that I was certain he wasn't here, I should sneak out and meet Sam at the border.

"You…" Klaus's eyes dilated, staring at me in shock. "… what are you saying?"

"Nothing." I shook my head. "Good thing this is all over. I should help the third squadron clean up."

I didn't want to waste my time here. Hence, as soon as I uttered those words, I turned around to walk away. However, just as I took a step forward, I stopped.

"Hell!" It was Cassara, screaming her heart out, making me turn around only to see her rush to the severed head. "No, no, no!"

She was crying, screaming my husband's name. Why?That was not my husband… My eyes fell on the head she was cradling in her arms. That familiar argent hair was damp with blood.

"Lilou, your husband is dead." Stefan's voice blew past my ear, and I stood motionless on my spot, watching Cassara weep.

"No!" Cassara shouted, shooting glaring daggers at Stefan. "Stefan! I will kill you!" she raised her skirt, marching towards Stefan, but was stopped by the knights present.

"Let me go! I will kill him! I will kill him!" she shouted those words over and over and over, but her voice faded in the background. 

I dragged my feet towards Cassara, saying nothing. She kept struggling, yelling she would kill Stefan, so a knight knocked her out. As she lost consciousness, the head she was carrying tumbled down. I tried to catch it but failed. It rolled over towards my feet, and it stopped with its face facing me.

This face… I squatted down and picked it up carefully. "This is not him." I denied, even though I knew whose face was this. 

"This is not him," I repeated, shaking my head, hearing Yul and Silvia call my name softly. "Surely, this is not him."

To prove my point, I walked towards the body. Some knights blocked my path, but Stefan gestured them to make way. Without them on the way, I marched towards the body and I squatted down beside it.

"This is not my husband," I affirmed once again, connecting the head to where it should be. My eyes scanned him from head to toe, my hand on his chest.

Before I knew it, tears formed in the corner of my eyes and stained my cheek. This was not my husband, I convinced myself, but no matter how I denied reality, my heart beat slower and slower, dying painfully and slowly.

"Lilou," Stefan called my name once again, placing his thumb on my chin and raised it up. "I killed your husband."

And hearing that.... something within me died.