The Duke's Passion

Samael could've prevented what was about to happen that night if he listened to his intuition, but he was in denial. He convinced himself that the sense of dread he felt was just a figment of his imagination. That he was simply exhausted mentally and emotionally.

Just like what he said, he returned to the room after requesting healthy a meal for Lilou. The news of Lilou waking up spread faster than the speed of sound, making everyone rush to the third prince's palace. 

"Damn! Why can't we enter?" Yulis huffed, standing in front of Rufus, who was blocking the door, along with Kristina.

"Her Grace needs more time to rest," replied Rufus while keeping his stern countenance. He also rushed here when Samael called for him, knowing that these people would barge in the quarters once they get the wind of the news. 

"Sir knight is right," Silvia chimed, standing in the hallway with them. "It's already good that Lilou is fine now."

"What?! But we still need to see her so can be sure she's fine!" Klaus exclaimed aloud while Claude, who was standing beside him, nodded in agreement.

"Really... what is there in 'she still needs rest' can you not understand?" Kristina scorned while darting her eyes from Yulis to Klaus. "Her Grace will surely meet you all once she recovered. I'm very sure a lot of things still confuse her. Give them some time."

Klaus and Yulis clenched their teeth tightly but didn't argue back. Ramin, on the other hand, was leaning on the wall not far away from them and observed. He also wanted to see Lilou, but Kristina was right. Lilou needed more rest.

"You should return to your post. The empire is still unstable. The least we can do is keep this place from falling while His and Her Grace are not yet ready to rule." Rufus scanned their faces with his solemn front, heaving a sigh of relief when he felt they weren't being stubborn.

"Fine!" Klaus clicked his tongue in annoyance and gazed down at Claude. "Let's go, Claude. We'll see Lilou next time."

Claude nodded and followed his uncle through the hallway. Klaus glanced at Ramin as he passed by him, but the latter just gave a nonchalant bow. Meanwhile, Silvia let out a sigh and set her eyes on Yulis's side.

"Yul, we should head out as well," she urged in a soft voice, but Yulis didn't answer while gazing down. A shallow sigh slipped past her lips and glanced at Rufus. 

"I'm very sure Lilou will be delighted if she sees him. I will excuse myself first." Silvia's eyes didn't linger at Rufus that long as she shifted her eyes towards Yulis once again. "You know where to find me, Yul."

After spewing her reminder and staring at him for a moment, Silvia pivoted on her heel to leave. She didn't look back once again. Then the only ones who were left in the hallway outside the room were Rufus, Kristina, Yul, and Ramin from a good distance. 

"Ninth Prince, I know --"

"I'll wait." Yulis cut Rufus off as he raised his head, staring back at him straight in the eye. "I won't barge inside or intrude their time together, but I want to wait."

Kristina frowned. "Ninth Prince, why are you so stubbo --" she paused, turning her head to Rufus as he raised his hand.

"Kristina, return to your post. I trust the ninth prince's words," Rufus expressed without taking his eyes off of Yulis. "You've been working hard, Prince Yulis. You should rest as well."

"Thank you."

Rufus tilted his head down and darted his eyes from Kristina's frown and then to Ramin. "Let's go."

Kristina opened and closed her mouth while Rufus walked past her. In the end, she said nothing and just cast Yulis a look before following Rufus behind.

Ramin also stared at Yulis for a moment until Rufus walked past him. He also kept his thoughts to himself as he pulled himself away from the wall, treading away beside Kristina. 

As they left, Yulis stood in front of the door until the footsteps resounding in the hallway faded into silence. His eyes softened the more he stared at the shut door.

"Sis," he whispered with relief laced in his voice. "I'm glad you finally woke up."

He planted his palm on the surface of the door, smiling bitterly. Even though he wanted to see her and berate her for thinking that he needed protection, he respected that Lilou and Samael needed time together.

"Welcome back, Sis."

******

Meanwhile, in the guest quarters of the imperial palace, Beatrice knocked on the unguarded door. She didn't hear permission from inside the room, but she still invited herself in.

"Have you heard?" she inquired as soon as she entered the room, closing it behind her. "That Lilou had finally regained consciousness?"

She searched the room until her gaze caught the person on the chair near the window. His midnight blue hair and tanned skin matched his nonchalant expression while reading a book.

Beatrice let out a shallow breath, trudging towards the seat across Heliot. But even when she had plopped her butt down, Heliot didn't take his eyes off the book. 

"I said, Lilou is now awake and Hell doesn't want the throne. You don't have any cards to pull any more," she said in a knowing tone, but then sighed, thinking that pushing Samael to take the throne was more challenging than she thought.

Heliot fluttered his thick eyelashes as he slowly gazed up at her. He cocked his head to the side, looking back at her with misplaced puzzlement.

"I don't have cards to play anymore?" he repeated, making her roll her eyes and shrug indifferently. "Hell will be the emperor after tonight."

"Huh?" her brow arched before her eyes narrowed. "How are you so sure about that?"

Heliot didn't reply immediately as he turned his head towards the window. "If she is that important to him, he will have to be more ambitious and leave his naivety behind."

"Prince Heliot, I find calm men attractive, but I can never read what you are thinking." Beatrice let out a helpless sigh as she stared at his side profile. "Do you like Lilou or what? It's already a surprise that you are pushing Hell to become the emperor."

"Princess, I like Lilou as she is my dear friend. Also, our Karo Kingdom is under the Great Heart Empire, so of course, I support those who I think befitting to lead. Sir Knight Barret will make a wise king, but with the current things at hand, the third prince is more convenient."

"Convenient, huh?" she let out a short chuckle, amused by Heliot's simple reasoning. Well, not that it mattered to her since they have a common goal in the end.

"But how are you certain he will want to be the emperor?"

"He will learn a lot of things tonight, Princess," Heliot whispered, making her furrow her brows, but he didn't explain anymore. "That's for sure...."