The Duke's Passion

My husband's death took the kingdom by surprise. Stefan was truly amazing in distorting the truth; I commend him in that aspect. Well, it was not like Sam, Rufus, and Fabian weren't heroes in this kingdom… but Stefan always made sure that he was doing me a favor.

Just like what he had also promised, he let Yul, Silvia, and Klaus out from being locked up in a separate prison. By looking at them, the exposed bruises on them told me they had it rough. Good thing they had survived this far.

No, I'm glad Stefan had kept them alive and used them as his bargaining chip. My husband had loved his siblings. It wasn't obvious to his personality, but he had protected them until the end… so I would continue that duty as his wife. 

The decision I made, I would never regret. Everything that my husband left, I would protect them… until he return to me one day.

I snapped my eyes, staring through the black veil at my husband's open casket placed on the stack of woods. Standing in the middle amongst all the few attendees of his funeral, I stayed silent. I could hear Cassara's weeping as if she was the wife; I envy her.

For her to weep, to cry her heart out until she hyperventilated… I envied her for that because I just couldn't shed a single tear. I wanted to, but I couldn't. If I mourned like her, if I accepted my husband's death… how am I supposed to keep going?

"Your Grace, please bid your farewell to His Grace," said someone who was facilitating the funeral. I glanced at him and nodded before I trudged forth to my husband.

My hand rested on the edge of his open casket, staring at him coldly. They had covered the slit in his neck by a high collar, so I reached for it, hooking it down to see his head and neck had this tiny gap between each other.

"You," I whispered, raising my eyes to his shut eyes. 'This is not you, right?'

I caressed his cold cheek with the back of my fingers. This was numbing. Even if I denied this person was my husband, the pain was unbearable. I was not good at dealing with a loss, that's why I was in denial about my father's death for a long time.

'Sam, I will keep denying this death and wait for you, hmm?' A weak smile resurfaced on my lips, feeling the coldness of his body seep deep into my bones. "My heart is with you… I will wait for you to return it to me."

I bent over and placed a soft peck on his cold and hard lips. Despite that, I kissed him for as long as I could. When I walked away, I watched them set him on fire. The crackle of the woods drifted into my ears as fire devoured him into ashes.

I remained on my spot even when other attendees left. There were a few people who were left with me: Yul, Silvia, Klaus, Claude, and Zero. Even though my eyes never left the fire, I could discern them just by their auras.

Night came and the fire already subsided. Some people collected my husband's ashes, and I still had my eyes on them.

"Lilou," Yul's melancholic voice came to my side, followed by his hand on my shoulder. "We should head in."

"I want to stay… just a little longer," came out my weak yet cold voice. "Just a bit, Yul… I want to breathe."

Yul didn't argue with me. Instead, he draped a coat over my shoulder. "Then, stay warm at least."

Warm… the second the fire was extinguished, I knew I would never feel what being warm feel like. The only warmth I sought would not be able to give me that for now.

I appreciate Yul's thought, regardless. 

Under this frigid winter, Yul stayed on my side in silence. Even when Klaus and Silvia left, then Zero left after another hour. They tried to approach me, but they knew talking right now was pointless.

After my long silence, my lips parted. "Yul, return with me to Grimsbanne."

"Lilou, I…" He cast me a look. I knew he was planning to refuse, but held back and gaze down. "There is no point in staying in this place. Of course, I'd rather be by your side."

Again, silence enveloped the two of us, until I turned and faced him. Yul turned his head to me, eyes flickering with pain and regret.

"Lilou… I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise." His eyes dropped as he couldn't look me in the eye. Yul had lived as a La Crox and I'm certain he had looked at Sam as his own brother, regardless of his origins.

I raised my hand, cupped his cheek, and offered a weak smile. "How can I blame you, Yulis? Your pain is just as painful as mine."

His eyes welled up, suppressing the pain of this loss. I guessed Yul and I had some similarities. He didn't know how to deal with our loss, so we deny it by sporting a brave front and locking our hearts away.

"Even so, I lost a brother, but I still have you, my sister. But you…" He trailed off, pointing out the obvious — pointing out that his pain was far shallow than mine. "… you lost your husband, and no one can ever replace nor fill that void in your heart, Lilou."

"Even until now, you don't hold back with your words, Yul." A weak and short chuckle slipped past my lips, shaking my head lightly. "You don't worry. My heart… Sam took it away with him."

"Sis…"

My eyes behind the veil sharpened, and Yul noticed it. "Yul, I will put you in danger." 

He stayed silent for a long time before hanging his head low, then raising his gaze back up. His eyes glinted with resolve.

"Then, I will face danger bravely." Yul reached his hand over my shoulder, pulling me into his embrace. "I won't fail you this time, sister."

I rested the side of my head on his chest, gazing down. "Our pain… I will make sure to double theirs, Yul. Don't die until then because now… you will be their next target."

"Yes, my Queen," he whispered back, knowing the eyes that were on us.

******

From a distance, Stefan narrowed his eyes as he watched Yul suddenly pull Lilou into his embrace. His jaw tightened as he slowly curved his hand into a fist.

"Yulis…" he smirked menacingly. "No wonder."

"Your Majesty, what should we do with Yul? It seemed he took advantage of the situation." Alistair inquired, standing behind Stefan.

Stefan stayed quiet before he turned around and walked away, keeping the rage in his heart at bay. "We observe for now."

******

Meanwhile, Zero chuckled, as he didn't expect the turn of events. Unlike Stefan's reaction, he didn't take what he was watching to the heart that much.

"Well, I don't mind if she kept one or two playthings to keep herself sane." He chortled, eyes on the two.. "Aren't I benevolent? You should appreciate that, my fiance."