The Duke's Passion

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"Hell is a good liar, but he can't hide this from Lilou or from Law forever. If he put down his guard even just for a second, he'll lose his wife and son. I'll kill him if that happens."

Claude rocked his head, as this wasn't a secret among them. Lilou was the person who kept them united, not Samael. Although they respected and supported Samael as the emperor, the primary reason they were doing it was all for Lilou and Law. To them, it was only just that Samael carry the weight of the empire and their expectations. 

They exceeded Samael's expectations, so it was only logical they would expect Samael to do the same. For Lilou, for Law, for the peace in the empire, Samael had to keep his eyes open at all times. 

"Will you fight us if that happens, Fabian?" asked Klaus in a dead tone, staring at him with eyes glinting. 

Fabian's eyes droop as a sinister smirk resurfaced on his face. "No, because that will never happen. You love Her Majesty, but His Majesty sees his family as his life. Please refrain from speaking as if you don't know the emperor."

"Just in case, Fabian." Klaus shrugged. "Lilou was in slumber for five years and she barely made it out alive."

"That was five years ago. Certainly, not only that incident taught you a lesson, but everyone else, including the emperor," Fabian reassured with a smile before gazing down. 

"Anyway, if you need my help, I can teach you ways to make this man happier. He'll be so happy he will remember the memories from his previous life as well."

"I will not refuse, Mister Fabian. The savages from the north need to improve their ways, after all." Claude smiled back while his foot swung back and forth over the body on the floor. "I'll make sure to sign them up in this class."

"Maniacs!" Klaus spat out in dismay.

******

Meanwhile, inside Rufus and Kristina's carriage. The two kept quiet as the latter stared at him for a long time. They barely talked ever since they got inside the carriage, and all they spoke about was the matters in the capital. 

"Our small troop will march back to the capital with His Majesty. I'll be the one escorting him back." Rufus spoke calmly, staring out at the window. 

Kristina rocked her head, staring at his unmoving countenance. "Captain, we already know that's the main purpose of why you're here; that is, to escort His Majesty back to the capital. But, how about Charlotte and Ramin? Will they stay in the south with her Majesty and the prince?"

"No. They were his right and left hands. He needs their presence for important affairs, especially when he is making public appearances," Rufus explained without casting her a look. His fingers tapped his bicep while deep in thought.

Rufus, although his position as the military general was important, his primary job was to mobilize the imperial knightage and assist the right and left hands of the emperor. His position was something Samael came up with, so to balance the power between Charlotte, Ramin, and Rufus. 

Moreover, since Charlotte was a woman, many women looked up to her and pursued careers on their own. And Ramin, as a nobleman and a bearer, showed the unity of the sovereign and the bearers of the divine order. If they didn't appear alongside the emperor, it would raise suspicion and questions that would eventually lead to rumors. 

Once people started talking and taking notice, it wouldn't be impossible if someone uncovered the emperor's life in the south with his wife and son. That was why this was a tricky situation.

Kristina pressed her lips into a thin line. She already knew Charlotte and Ramin's importance, but she was worried. 

"Shall I stay behind?" she asked, but her tone sounded more like she was suggesting. "You won't die without me in the war, right? Captain?"

"Kristina, what do you take me for?"

A weak chuckle slipped past her lips. "The Duke, the Marchioness, and the Earl cannot stay behind because of their duties. His Majesty had to return to the capital to appease everyone's worry and to settle the matters with the Spade Kingdom. If all of us left, no one will stay behind with the empress and the prince."

"Fabian will stay."

"We all know Fabian goes crazy if he sees too much blood, Captain." She let out a sigh, shaking her head as her anxiousness grew worse. 

"Don't think about it too much, Kristina. Even if you say you want to stay with Her Majesty, the emperor has the final say in it. He hadn't given out his decision regarding this, so all we can do is to wait."

"But... alright." She wanted to argue as Samael had been delaying this matter for a while now. However, she couldn't really blame him. This was a tough decision, as his wife and son were involved. It would take time for the emperor to decide and choose a wise move. 

Once again, the two of them shared a long silence. Rufus never left his eyes on the window, so it piqued her curiosity.

"Captain, why are you staring at so..." she trailed off as they were making a turn. Their carriage was in the last among everyone and making a turn granted them the view of the carriage ahead of them. What made her pause was she saw one carriage slide its curtain open. 

Her eyes dilated as Kristina caught Yul inside it with Silvia on his... lap! For a moment, her mind went blank, as this was something she never expected. Yulis and Silvia? She blinked twice and then, when Yulis and Silvia kissed, she looked away on instinct. 

"What the..." she muttered in horror, shifting her eyes to Rufus, who suddenly closed the curtain. "Captain..."

Rufus didn't look at her but gazed down, smiling bitterly. "He brought back the young lady in her."

"Ca — Captain... are you...?"

"I'm alright, Kristina." He raised his head and offered a weak smile. "I already realized it long before she did." — because he knew Silvia, and he was always watching her from afar. 

With his answer, Kristina finally realized why Rufus was calm about men desiring Silvia's affection. It was neither he still had a hold of her heart nor he was confident Silvia still love him.. It was because Rufus already knew that someone else already had a hold of her heart and it was not him anymore.