The Duke's Passion

"Good to see you again, Your Majesty, the Empress."

The expression on my face remained aloof, batting my eyes at the sight of this familiar person. Acheron Roseberg, a former Duke in the east, was said he had died. That was the version other people know, but the truth was, he only fled when Sam ascended the throne. 

Acheron knew the emperor would kill him. Death was the easiest part, but what was terrifying was the things he would experience before that. Now, this man was just a traitor — had always been — who connived with a rival country which only made things worst. If he was here, I was certain there were more troublesome people in here.

"It's an honor to be in the presence of the Empress," he added with the same smile. 

"Then you shall bow down, don't you think?"

"Hah... you've never changed once, Your Majesty."

My jaw tightened as I gazed at Acheron coldly. I couldn't underestimate this man, but among everyone in here, I was the only capable person who could fight him without being sliced in half within a second. My concern was if another one who was of the same caliber as him would appear. 

'Fabian... where the hell are you?' I gripped Lakresha while maintaining my stony countenance. I snapped my eyes when I heard Glory speak from behind me.

"Empress...?" A deep sigh that could shake the ground slipped past my lips as their murmurings volumed up a little. "Madam Roux, you are... the Empress?"

The gaze behind me grew intense. I didn't have the leisure to speak as I glanced over my shoulder, only to catch their surprised countenance as they looked at me, wide-eyed. Some even dropped to their knees. Damn. 

"Your Majesty..." Jaime called under his breath, catching everyone's attention. By their expression, Jaime's words were enough for them to put the pieces together. They seemed to finally realize the reason Jaime lie low, why he was so generous with a wealthy commoner family, and so on.

"Oh, right? You are in disguise, my bad. Please pretend you didn't hear that." Acheron smiled, which didn't reach his eyes, glancing at the people behind me. "Although... Your Majesty, your troop looked a little... pathetic. Jaime Malum surely destroyed the south as the knights, who used to be the strongest in the kingdom, became too relaxed. This is the downside of a longtime peace. Knights tend to be lazy with the lack of action."

I ignored the shocked people behind me as I gazed at Acheron from head to toe. He had become stronger, I thought, or he was just finally unleashing his pent-up urges. This man used to be like Rufus, but this was now war. 

"I don't disagree that Jaime ruined the knights in the South, but... I am more intrigued about you, Acheron. You attacked Minowa, knowing my husband is away." The corner of my lips turned up into a smirk. "Are you all that scared of him?"

He didn't answer, but his silence tickled me. It was hilarious! Did they think they would get away once Sam heard about the south? That man would teleport if he had to and god knows what he'd do once he sees Minowa. Just what were these people thinking?

"Hmm. Your Majesty, I won't deny that, but this game we've been playing had always been like this, isn't it?" Acheron broke his silence as he tilted his head to the side. "It's not always the strongest who wins. It's always been a matter of who was the greatest schemer."

I chuckled, nodding in agreement. "That is right. It's always been like that but..." I trailed off as my eyes dropped, my smile fading.

"... this scheme of yours... will never succeed for as long as I am alive."

"We know that, Your Excellency. That is why..." Suddenly, Acheron disappeared from his standpoint, taking everyone by surprise... excluding me. 

CLANG!

"... I am here." Acheron gazed down coldly as I blocked the attack meant for Jaime. The clash of the underside of my scythe and the blade of his large sword that was like a heap of raw iron, fitting for a huge man like him, produced a strong gust of wind that could blow a child away. 

With his sword against my scythe crackling, I glanced at the terrified Jaime. His complexion instantly turned white before he slumped on his butt. He nearly died before knowing it, so it was understandable it rattled him.

"Stay away from the line, folks," I ordered calmly, casting Acheron a smile, chuffed that his sword didn't even go past the line. "Even though I don't plan on letting him go past it."

As soon as I dropped those words, I channeled all my energy into my grip to fight off his sword. Acheron hopped several meters back and blocked off the wind created by Lakresha that could cut a person. His smile remained, pleased by this improvement in my skills. 

As a vampire, I could now naturally use the full extent of Lakresha. With everything heightened, I could fight this man — head to head. Unless they were two or more of them, of course. I had to end this battle before Zero himself comes.

'That creature holds a lot of grudge to me after what I've done to his son, Tristan. He wouldn't get Law as long as he was inside the mansion.'

"Don't think anything funny." I glanced over my shoulder to talk to the people behind me. Ah... they were too scared of this strong opponent. This made me miss my people, who didn't need this type of comforting every once in a while. We just all separate and run wild. 

I pivoted on my heel, keeping most of my attention to Acheron despite looking away. My eyes scanned everyone's blank faces; fear, shock, and worry were written all over their countenance. 

"Just store your energy to fight the rest of the rebels. I'll handle him." I pointed my thumb over my shoulders to where Acheron stood. 

"Are you really the... em — empress...?"

"Does it matter, Omar?" my brow quirked as I deemed this information irrelevant. "We're in the middle of the war. And if you want to help me, just do as I say. Stand back and don't go past this line unless I say so. Understood?"

"Ye — Yes, Madam — Your Majesty!"

"Goo — Acheron!" I ground my teeth, disappearing from my standpoint, and a deafening crash of metals resonated seconds later. 

"The second you turn your back on me again --" this time, he was the one who couldn't finish his sentence as I kicked his abdomen, which didn't hit him. He swung his sword down to cut my leg, but I withdrew it while hooking up the tip of Lakresha under his jaw, which only grazed him.

"You'll regret wanting my undivided attention, Acheron."

CLANG!

******

As Lilou and Acheron exchanged blows, everyone couldn't even see their movements. The only indicator that someone was fighting fiercely was the constant sound of metals clashing and the strong gust of wind that comes after.

"A... amazing..." Omar muttered, completely aware that even if he would give his all, he would die against Acheron in a second. Not just him, but everyone, especially knights, held their breaths as they kept their eyes on the fierce battle they had never seen in their entire career as knights.

"This is… without a doubt how a royalty fight."