The Duke's Passion

Heliot was truly a strange man... or rather, he was a little selfless. As for why I said such things, I just felt he was that kind of man. After meeting Stefan and Zero, I could tell Heliot's difference with them. 

I could not help but smile, thinking of how his mind works. If I had met Heliot before Sam, I could say I would like him. He was quite charming in his own ways, like a prince in all those fairytales.

"Then, like me more." 

His eyes grew gentle. "Even if you don't say that, I cannot help but be regaled by you.."

"You must've broken too many young ladies' hearts." I humored, chuckling, closed-lipped. "Do you know what everyone had been telling me?"

"I wonder."

"They are basically rooting for you." I smacked my lips as he withdrew his hand, sucking air through my teeth as I inhaled. "They said no one will blame me if I had fallen in love with a prince charming such as yourself."

"Your people are strangely understanding. They truly cared for you."

"Yes, they genuinely care for me." Again, my lips stretched bitterly. "That's why I can't leave just like that. I won't let them inherit this problem."

"How noble."

"Noble... more like 'how selfish'. Just because they think you make me smile and I give you more attention, they already accepted this 'new love'. I know they are doing this because they all wanted me to recover from Sam's death." I took a deep breath, gazing down. "Little did they know, no amount of support can change my mind nor it can revive my husband."

"New love? Don't make me laugh," I continued bitterly. "Sam had been and will be my only love. His death also marked the death of my heart. Even if I wanted to try it with a prince charming, I do not have another heart to give."

"That is quite a shame."

The right side of my lips turned up, setting my eyes back to him. "It is. I really think you are the best among all my friends."

"The best among all your friends... how about among all the men who abhor you? I think your enemies are more capable than your friends."

"They're all my friends, Your Highness." I chuckled and shook my head. "I put them all in a single box. In that box, they either love me or fear me... but that doesn't matter. It is all the same, after all."

"I am offended."

I pursed my lips, still smiling. "I'm sorry if that hurts your ego."

"Forgiven."

"It was fun talking to you, Your Highness."

"I thought I had humored you enough with my letters." 

"Much more fun." I winked, making him smile in delight. "Then, shall we head to the training grounds? I think we rested enough."

"Alright. I'm curious how the knight --"

Heliot was abruptly cut off when we heard a man's voice storming in our direction. I cocked my head to the side and stared at this young nobleman as he stopped in front of us.

"What is it that the son of Marquess Davidson wants with me?" I asked as the young nobleman, assisting myself up while Heliot also stood up. "Is your business with me so urgent you're forgetting your manners? In front of my guest?"

"Your Grace! How can you do this to me?" the son of Marquess Davidson's voice shook, patting his chest loudly. "You said if I give you our family's wealth, you will marry me! I did all you ask me to do, but why are you avoiding me now."

My eyes sharpened, raising my chin up. "I said, I will reconsider."

"What...! No, that's not it!" He fumed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Your Grace, you know my feelings for you! How can you play with my heart?"

"Did you approach me after seeing that I do not have my knights with me?"

"Your Grace!" Suddenly, he went down on his knees. He looked pathetic. "You can't do this to me. You said you love me, right? I can't live without you! I love you, Your Grace!"

As this person professed his love shamelessly, people started gathering around us. Although they didn't have the audacity to gossip with me as the subject, no one dared to help. It was expected. I abhor uncalled help and everyone knew that.

"If you can't live without me, why don't you hang yourself?" I sighed, shaking my head as I felt no remorse at suggesting the idea. "The next time you approach me, I will hang your entire clan as an example for those who attempt to disrupt my peace."

I glanced at Heliot and smiled faintly. "Forgive me for this, Your Highness. Let's head to the training grounds, shall we?" 

Heliot glanced at the poor man and then nodded to me. "Alright."

However, just as Heliot and I walked away, a loud yell from behind us — a yell from that same man who kept speaking words of love — resonated in the air. 

"I will hunt you even if I am dead, Your Grace! You will pay for humiliating me!" and then, followed by the onlookers' gasp before the air was filled with dead silence.

Slowly, I turned my head back to see him lying down with a slit in his throat. He killed himself, huh? There wasn't a trace of pity in my eyes as I gazed at his dead body.

"Your Grace! I'm sorry if --" the headmaster who approached me from the side in a panic halt in his unnecessary apology when I raised my hand.

"Don't let the children come into this area and throw his body in the gates of the House Davidson. They should be the ones to clean up their mess." I ordered coldly before turning around and walked away.

Heliot, who walked beside me, commented. "The level of stupidity some people hold truly leaves me in awe. You had a mountain of corpses under your belt, adding another one will not make a difference."

"And I was more foolish that I used to admire them from afar. How silly."

"You're not silly." He chuckled in amusement but said nothing for a minute. "They are silly... the joke's on them."

******

Meanwhile, outside Grimsbanne, three men in cloak stopped from a distant hill. They set their eyes on the land they used to live in, and in one glance, they could tell how Grimsbanne looked formidable from the outside.

Samael's jaw tightened as his eyes glinted menacingly. His hand balled into a tight fist, digging his nails into his palms.

"Lilou..." Bloodthirst laced his shaking voice as the aura he exuded felt stronger and darker.

"My lord, please calm down," Rufus advised, alarmed by the sense of dread crawling down his spine at Samael's aura.

"Calm down?" A ridiculing chuckled escape Samael's lips as he cast his pair of fiery eyes at them. "How can I fucking calm down if Grimsbanne... reeks of Lilou's blood?!"