The Duke's Passion

Samael knew where to find her; he was connected to her, after all. Despite that, he asked Rufus to send out people to search the capital. He did so just because he knew some people wouldn't need to see this state of her. 

As soon as he reached the throne hall without batting an eye at the scattered injured knights in the hallway, he gazed up at Lilou. She simply stood in front of the throne, not sitting but just staring at it curiously. 

"Lilou," he called in a low tone, but the silence in the throne hall still made his voice faintly echo. 

"I don't understand," Lilou voiced out without taking her eyes off the throne, tilting her head to one side, then slowly to the other. "What is so special in this seat aside that it is crested with real jewelry and clad in gold?"

"Nothing." His answer was quick while studying her back. "There's nothing important in it."

"Then why do they like it so much?" 

Samael took one step forward and shrugged. "I don't know?"

"One can be powerful even without it," she said, bending over to caress the throne. "Fascinating, isn't it? It is a mere stool, but I feel like doing anything to claim it."

"Anything?"

Lilou slowly turned around and sat her butt down, nodding at him. "Anything."

They looked at each other, and he could feel the unfamiliarity in her eyes. Lilou had never looked at her so coldly as if he meant nothing to her. 

"Will you fight me for it, darling?" asked Lilou with her brow arching. "You are strong enough to stop me."

"Does that scare you?" he inquired under his breath. His voice was laced with concern and bitterness.

"Scare me? Hah... apparently, it doesn't scare me at all. I am threatened, though."

"Because you feel threatened, what will you do to me?" 

Lilou pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes while scrutinizing him. She was rather amused by his calmness in this situation.

"Who knows?" she smirked with her head tilted, eyes squinting evilly. "I am honestly intrigued by how strong you are."

She smacked her lips as she pushed her hand against the armrest to stand up. 

"Actually, I am a little... how do I explain this?" she murmured while taking the steps down, stopping a meter away from him. "I feel a little tingly, as I can't seem to understand how the sight of you stirs my emotions."

Lilou raised her hand as a dark shroud enveloped her shoulder down and condense under her palm. The mist soon formed into a large scythe which she swung, producing a large swoosh noise. 

"It seems you are important to me... so I think I should eliminate everything that compromises my feelings." As soon as she spouted those words, Lilou charged towards him. 

Samael didn't move a muscle, watching her charge at him. He didn't even try to block her attack when Lakresha's tip came close to him. He knew she wouldn't miraculously stop after staring deep into her eyes for a long time. So, he slowly closed his eyes and waited for the pain. 

A powerful gust of wind blew past Samael, but the pain didn't come. 

"Heliot, how dare you intervene?" he asked in a dangerous tone even before he opened his eyes. 

Meanwhile, Lilou frowned as she turned her head to her side. Her eyes immediately landed on Heliot's towering figure. She glanced at the glaive while its tip pressed against the side of her neck, making it bleed slightly. 

"Your Grace, I should be the one asking that," Heliot spoke with his eyes locked with Lilou. "How can you accept your death so easily? You are more disappointing than I thought."

Suddenly, the door creaked open, revealing Yulis. With Yulis' presence, Lilou raised a brow and whispered.

"Down." 

As soon as she left those words, Yulis suddenly dropped to his knees. But alas, Samael and Heliot remained standing. The former furrowed his brows, and Heliot let out a chuckle.

"Unfair..." she whispered, realizing these two opponents were stronger. But the two ignored her.

"Heliot," Samael breathed out heavily, shifting his sharp eyes towards Heliot. "How dare you intervene?"

Heliot raised a brow and gave him a side-eye. "I am not doing this for you, Your Grace. I am doing this for my good friend here."

"You don't point your glaive at your good friend, my dearest," Lilou chimed in, not a bit affected by the point on her neck. Just one thrust from Heliot and she was certain it would slice through her flesh, but she didn't care. 

"Her Grace and I had a deal. I already fulfilled the end of my bargain, and it is time for her to fulfill hers." Heliot smiled politely before shifting his eyes back to Samael. "You don't mind, do you?"

"I had already taken her life, Heliot," Samael answered while staring at Lilou. "She's not there anymore... I can't feel her anymore."

It was not like he had given up on Lilou, but Samael knew that the Lilou he had loved wasn't there anymore. If he could trace the slightest of her aura, he wouldn't give in this easily. But no, he couldn't. This wasn't as simple as when he switched to Hell. 

"This... she's dead, right?" came out a deep exhale while staring at the woman, who looked back at him without the slightest affection. She was still wearing the same face, same body, and the same voice — but she was already a different person. 

And he could only blame himself for what she had become. So, if the throne was what she wanted, he didn't plan on blocking her way. If his life threatened her, then he would let his life be taken by her. 

That was how he would atone for not keeping all his promises. 

"I'm not dead," Lilou whispered and let out a chuckle while glancing at Heliot. "This guy wants to die and I am here to fulfill such wishes. For how long will you keep pointing that toy at me?"

Heliot narrowed his eyes at Lilou. "How tragic." He then withdrew his sword away and took a step back.

"I wasted my time in here."

Lilou shrugged as she faced Samael. The corner of her lips curled up into a smirk.

"You people are so easy to talk with," she mused approvingly before raising her hand that was holding Lakresha. "You sure you don't plan to stop me?"

Samael shook his head, closed-lipped. She looked at him a second more before she indifferently swung her scythe down. This time, however, she stopped even without some intervention from them. Heliot and Samael blinked in silence before their brows furrowed.

"Sam...."