The Duke's Passion

The throne is yours to claim, little child. Kill every single La Crox and avenge the Bloodfang. The Moriarty is your only ally, remember that.

My eyes snapped open as I gasped for air. I assisted myself up, wiping the sweats on my forehead. 

"What is that?" I murmured as I looked around my chambers. It was winter and freezing, and yet, I was breaking out in sweats because of a vague dream.

I massaged my temple as my head throbbed painfully. There had been voices in my head, but they were more like whispers. But in my dreams, the voices were loud — deafening, even. If I didn't get used to the whispering voices I had been hearing since a year ago, it would be a problem.

"What did they say?" I wondered under my breath, trying to recall the distinct orders in my dreams. Nothing came up, though.

"Ahh, whatever." I tousled my hair as my eyes veered towards the window. It was still dark outside.

"I should get back to sleeping..." My voice trailed off as I turned my head towards the door. Someone was outside. I could feel his presence. 

Stefan.

That prick...

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes. When I opened them, a glint of resolve flickered across my eyes. I flung my legs out of the bed, marching towards the door, and opened it unhesitatingly.

There he was. 

I raised my gaze up, locking eyes with him. "Can't sleep?"

Stefan just stared at me in silence. He was neither surprised nor had other emotions in his eyes. They were just blank.

"Did you sleepwalk again?" I asked and let out a sigh, recalling he had this habit before. I wanted to keep our memories together buried, but I couldn't.

"I thought you already got over it, but I guess you weren't just sleeping all this time," I murmured, clicking my tongue while I assessed him. 

I hated this man for many reasons. He killed Sam, and still couldn't let me go. Stefan was the reason my life was turned upside down. 

I blamed him for everything, but surely, that wasn't the case. Stefan wasn't the only person to blame. There were too many people involved and things would still be the same — maybe slightly different if he just didn't love me.

"Come," I said, reaching for his wrist and guided him inside my chambers. "I won't be sleeping, anyway. You should thank me for this kindness."

I glanced back at him, rolling my eyes as I guided him to my bed. Stefan didn't sit, nor did he laid on the bed. He simply stood on the side, gazing down. 

"Tsk. You're such a piece of work." I scratched my head in irritation, thinking of what I would need to do next. A sigh slipped past my lips, making a swift chopping move to knock him unconscious.

As soon as the bottom of my hand knocked against his nape, Stefan collapsed on the bed — face first. I planted my hand on my hips, staring at his back.

"You should always stay on your guard in front of your enemies. How dare you sleepwalk in here? Should I kill you now?" I kicked his legs that were outside the bed out of irritation, but he was like a dead person. 

Even if I wanted his death, killing him now was a peaceful escape. I pitied him, but pitying him would be an insult for him. 

"Rest well, Lexx." I sighed as I marched towards the fireplace to add woods so the fire wouldn't die completely.

Stefan must be exhausted, building an empire and gaining enemies and pretentious allies. This was the reason I didn't want the throne; I'll be a mad queen. 

The small fire that was barely holding on in the fireplace slowly spread through after putting more woods on it. I stared at its flames momentarily while I rested my arm over my leg.

"Strange, isn't it, Lexx? You love me so much you want to kill me, while I hate you that I wanted to keep you alive," I muttered, talking to him even though he was already fast asleep. "Our emotions are like a fireplace. If we just let it be, the fire in it will die down, eventually. But we keep putting more woods in it."

I had this mixed emotions about Stefan, to be truthful. There was this part of me that felt sorry for him, but it wasn't enough to change my mind. It was just... tragic. 

"If only we can dictate our hearts that easily, we wouldn't be in this situation." A whisper escaped my mouth as I raised my cold hands close to the fireplace. "I hope Mildred will bring me some hot choco later."

******

Morning came, and I didn't get a wink of sleep after letting Stefan in. Not that I couldn't fall asleep, I just didn't. I'm not Stefan, who would recklessly drop my guard around my enemy.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," I greeted in a light tone as I turned my head towards the bed. I was sitting on the divan, holding a cup of hot chocolate with both my hands.

Stefan massaged his nape, looking around in confusion. When he set his eyes on me, I shrugged nonchalantly.

"I can't let you just standing outside my chambers all night," I explained indifferently. "Although I will appreciate it if you don't do this again."

He cleared his throat, dragging himself out of the bed. I raised a brow as he sauntered in my direction, taking a seat on the armchair close to the divan I sat on.

"Give that to me." He pointed at my cup of hot chocolate. 

I instinctively held it close to my chest while gazing at him in dismay. "No way! This is mine."

"Please."

"No! You don't like sweets! What's wrong with you?" I ground my teeth. I wasn't overreacting, as I've been saving every sip because I had been waiting for this. There was no way I would give this up.

"I'm thirsty." His reaction was lazy, wriggling his fingers as if telling me to give it to him right this instant.

"Do you always practice your authority as a morning exercise? What a way to ruin someone's mood." I scoffed, still keeping my mug of hot chocolate.

"You should thank me for ruining your day first thing in the morning. It only means it can never get worse." He shrugged shamelessly, tilting his hand. "Give it to me."

"No." 

"Lilou, I have an entire storage of chocolates for you."

"I don't want any other chocolates but this. You should stop thinking you can replace everything just because things are similar." I huffed, rendering him silent at the double meaning behind my words. "If you're thirsty, why don't you return to your quarters?"

"For a hot chocolate, you're acting like this?"

"I should ask the same. For a mere hot choco which you never enjoyed before, you're acting like this?" I scoffed, gazing at him in dismay.

"Give it to me while I'm asking nicely."

"No way, it's mine and..." I trailed off as we both turned our heads when Klaus suddenly barged inside my chambers. 

"Oh, right on time, Klaus. Can you please tell Mildred to prepare another cup of hot chocolate for His Majesty?" I raised both my brows before furrowing them as soon as I noticed Klaus' expression.

"Your Grace." Klaus gulped as he bowed. "Greetings to Your Majesty, the Emperor."

"What is it, Klaus? You seem to be in a hurry?" asked Stefan as I gazed at him, then back at Klaus.

Klaus pressed his lips together as he cast his eyes on me. I nodded approvingly, as it seemed this matter wasn't something Stefan shouldn't hear.

"We found Her Royal Highness Cassara dead in the gates of the palace."

"What?" came out a confused voice, glancing at Stefan, who looked genuinely surprised at the news.