The Duke's Passion

Sam had been staying in Cunningham, as this place was the perfect hiding place for him. Cunningham was a place to keep people they wanted to keep hidden from everyone. I could imagine the shock Cameron had when Sam suddenly showed up in front of him, but I would hear it later.

Shortly after our quick journey towards the underground prison, Sam and I stopped in front of a cell. I raised my lamp, extending it to see the person inside. My eyes instantly landed on the person chained inside, littered with wounds and blood dripping down on the damp concrete.

"Good to see you, Baron Martin." I smiled, watching him raised his head. His disheveled hair dangled down in front of him, but the way he gnashed his teeth was obvious he had recognized me.

"How have you been?" I asked, tilting my head to the side. 

"Tch! I had underestimated your theatrical skills.." He spat out, unyielding despite his current state. "I will never swear my loyalty to you, Lilou Bloodfang. Once His Majesty hears about this, he will surely kill you."

"Oh, my! Such loyalty... it makes me want to weep." A low, ridiculing chuckle escaped my mouth as I squatted down. I slid the lamp inside through the gaps of the bars. 

"Alas, do you think Zero will care about you?" I tilted my head to the side. "I played with his chief shadow knights just like you, but here I am, alive. Unless you can benefit him more than I can, your death will not matter, Baron."

"What an arrogant woman," He spat out with deep hatred. I couldn't blame him. He was in such a pitiful state, after all.

"I know you hate me, Baron. But, I don't." I lowered my tone, holding on to the bars. "Your life and death will not matter to Zero, but it will matter to me."

"Haha! How shameless! After putting me in this state, you're telling me I matter?"

"It's ironic, I know, but I mean it." I nodded, shrugging my shoulders indifferently. "How long have you been in here, Baron? How come no one had found you yet? Do you think it was because your allies simply lacked the talent to find you? Or... they just didn't to look for you?"

He clenched his teeth. Normally, he would spat out his argument or go hysterical, but he just let out frustrated grunts while pulling the chains. The sound of the chains clicking against each other resonated in the air until he stopped struggling.

"Baron, what I want is something you and I can benefit from," I spoke once silence ensued. "You are loyal and placed your faith in the wrong people. Being stuck in here and meeting me despite having the King's escorts is proof I can do more."

I deliberately paused as I studied his expression. He still looked enraged, but he was listening. 

"If you allied with me, you will still reach your goal. The only difference is the person you will swear to obey." He still didn't respond as I stood up. "I hope you will make a wise decision."

I turned and faced Sam, patting his chest. "Good work."

"Don't mention it. I enjoy being bossed around by you." He humored as we walked away, his hand resting behind his head. 

*****

The night passed just like that. The king's knights awoke from their chambers with each memory replaced by Silvia. None of them suspected a thing. Klaus had also returned, and everything went according to plan. 

"Your Grace, I appreciate you want to visit the clan leader's grave before you go." Cameron expressed as we walked through the stone path. "The late Marchioness will be pleased."

I glanced at him to see the subtle yet candid smile he wore. "You really look up to her, huh?"

"Well, she is just as amazing as you, Your Grace. It's still a surprise that she had a child with no one knowing."

"I'm not her direct child." I shook my head as I felt his brief gaze on me. 

"Your blood says otherwise. Especially now, you smell..." He trailed off, causing me to arch my brow.

"Not human?" I continued in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I will call it a hybrid." He turned to me, raising his brows briefly. "It's not a bad thing, Your Grace. I'm also glad to be your kin."

"Strange story, isn't it?" I cocked my head to him as he chuckled.

"The twist and turns make me dizzy." He humored back.

We soon stopped in front of a tombstone. My eyes fell on the name inscribed on it.

"Lara," I whispered as my eyes softened, reading her name on it. Cameron gazed at me and I saw his smile in my peripheral vision.

"The last time I talked to her, I told her I didn't want to meet her again," I spoke, breaking the brief silence. "I had said a lot of mean things to her as well, but she just laugh it all off."

"She is someone who wouldn't get annoyed easily. Only Lord Samael can bring out the worse in her." Cameron reminisced in a gentle tone.

"She must've liked him so much."

"Maybe, maybe not." He shrugged, chuckling softly. "She is someone who is hard to figure out and very unpredictable. But one thing is for sure, Lara is the kindest and the most selfish person I had ever known."

We remained silent once again, letting the soft voice of the wind whisper in our ears. 

"Do you think my decision will make her happy?" I asked, breaking the ice after a long time. "Will it give her the peace she deserved?"

Cameron didn't reply immediately as he took a deep breath and exhaled it sharply. "I'm certain whatever your decision, be it death or life, will give her peace. She's peculiar, and it was hard to explain, but she's like that."

"As long as you voluntarily chose that decision, she will be happy for you." He added, facing me squarely. I also turned to face him, only to see his kind smile plastered across his face. 

"If she is alive right now, she will surely say 'what I think or feel doesn't matter because that is your life and your decision'." His eyes glinted with utter gentleness, with a touch of bitterness. "You might think she is being understanding, but she is not. As I've said, she is selfish, and she just didn't want to carry the burden." 

"It seems you have many things to tell to her."