The Duke's Passion

Heliot snapped his eyes as he slowed down. What was ahead of him was a derelict mansion that seemed no one had visited for years. He trotted his way through the broken, rusting gates. Looking around, withered leaves from all the passing season crisped under the steed's sole. Yet, that didn't bother him as he set his eyes on the grey and gloomy old mansion. 

"Thank you," He said, petting the horse as he dismounted it. Heliot tied the horse to one pillar of the mansion's porch. There wasn't a sense of dread in his eyes as he entered the seemingly hunted place calmly. 

'How quiet,' he thought, glancing back at the opened door as he felt that Lilou's people were already near. 'Her people are truly amazing, in a way.'

Heliot didn't idle anymore as he resumed his steps. Even though it was his first time walking through the mansion, he didn't look around to search.. He walked straight to where he could feel her presence and soon arrived in front of the door.

"Can I come in?" he knocked once, but he received no answer. "I'm coming in."

The door creaked loudly as it open as if, if pushed without care, it would break anytime. As Heliot walked inside, his eyes immediately caught the woman sitting on the bed. Lilou was just there, her arms hugging her knees, staring at the broken window with her back exposed. 

"It's cold," he said, marching to where she was and sat down on the edge of the mattress. Up close, he had noticed that the red marks across her arms and everywhere he could see.

"You found me," Lilou spoke, turning her head to him as she rested the side of her head over her arms. "Eli."

"I was simply following where I can feel you."

"You found me faster than Klaus."

Heliot let out a shallow breath, taking off his coat, and draped it over her shoulder. "It's cold."

"Are you not going to ask me why I am here naked?" she asked as he drew back after lending his coat. "Why aren't you asking me, Eli?"

"Does it matter?" his brow quirked, but his tone was deep. The two of them stare at each other in silence until they heard loud and hurried footsteps that grew louder by the second.

"I am not strong enough, Eli," Lilou whispered, peeling her eyes away from him. "In the end, I am still that weak girl acting tough."

"You are strong." As soon as those words escaped Heliot's lips, Klaus barged in a hurry.

"Your Grace!" his voice echoed across the four corners of the room, followed by several knights. Klaus' eyes dilated upon seeing Lilou's current state, making his entire body trembled in fury.

"Get out, all of you!" Klaus ordered, and the knights with him bowed, not daring to even glance at Lilou. "You too, Your Highness. Get out of here."

"It's alright, Klaus. He had seen it already, so there's no need to tell him to go away." Lilou brushed Heliot's coat away, clasping the sheet to cover her body.

"Your Grace..." Klaus hung his head low, clenching his fist until it shook. He had promised to keep Lilou's strong front and stand as a towering wall so not a single soul would ever see her weak. He failed. 

Lilou glanced at Heliot as she flung her legs out of the bed. She tied the sheet over her chest and then brushed her tousled hair back.

"He was good in bed." she stretched her neck in a circular motion, revealing more hickeys. "It's not that bad."

"Not bad?" Klaus scoffed as he raised his gaze, only to see her exposed skin almost covered with skin lesions.

"This will come off in a few days." Lilou ignored the rage that was clouding Klaus' eyes, setting her gaze at Heliot. "I'm sorry this happened while you're in Grimsbanne."

"Certain things happen." Heliot shrugged, not a bit bothered seeing her standing with only a thin sheet covering her. "There are situations we cannot control, so there's nothing to apologize for."

Lilou smiled at his response, nodding in satisfaction. "Thank you. I appreciate your understanding." She then took a deep breath, eyes glinting as she shifted them back to Klaus.

"Can you pick up clothes, Klaus?" she requested, which Klaus did whilst suppressing his anger. Once he had picked up all her clothes lying on the floor and placed them on the bed, Lilou spoke.

"Did you bring Bella?" Lilou picked up her clothes, started wearing the top without taking off the sheet tied around her. 

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Good," she intoned, dressing as she fixed her eyes on Klaus. Feeling her gaze, Klaus raised his head to meet her eyes.

"Three people. There are three of them, all formidable. Mobilize more men who can differentiate one's aura and kill them on sight. I will join the manhunt." Lilou ordered solemnly, noticing Klaus swallow down the tension in his throat.

"Yes, Your Grace." Klaus bowed before he left to execute the order. Even without her order, he had planned to slaughter the person who took advantage of Lilou.

When Klaus left the room, Lilou turned her head to Heliot. "Are you joining me?" she studied Heliot's expression, just like how he had studied hers.

"Do you want me to?"

"If you're here, that means you were feeling a little bored without my company. So, I guess, you should." Lilou proposed with a shrug, making him stare at her for a little longer before he nodded and stood up.

"Alright." That was what Heliot just said as he walked away and left the room.

As soon as the door creaked closed, a deep exhale slipped past Lilou's lips. She massaged her temple in distress, staring at the shut door.

'Those three are so dead.' she thought, grinding her teeth as she seethed.

*****

Meanwhile, just somewhere around the old mansion, Samael sucked air through his gritted teeth, eyes on the mansion. 

"Damn... we are so dead for sure," He muttered, ruffling his hair in irritation.