The Duke's Passion

"I guess you didn't want your head attached to your shoulders anymore, Heliot." Samael's eyes that bore absolutely nothing, gazed at him. Life or death meant nothing to him anymore.

Power?

Duty?

The only reason Samael took up the position of the emperor was that he wanted to protect his beloved wife. 

But now that he had lost her... Samael couldn't see any reason why he shouldn't burn this damn land. 

"Your..." Heliot gripped Samael's sleeve, but to no avail. Samael was stronger than him, especially in his current state. 

"Your Majesty, please listen to --" Fabian couldn't even finish his sentence as a sudden force slammed him against the wall. 

"Fabian, you dared show your face to me. Does that mean you no longer value your life? Then I do not mind taking two as a warm-up." Samael gazed at where Fabian crashed, chuckling weakly. "This Great Heart Empire... and all the people in it... will have to die."

Samael paused as he gazed at Heliot, gripping his neck tighter. "This land had taken the life of my wife. They robbed the life that I value the most in this world, so I will rob this world of its life." 

Just as Samael dropped those words, his eyes narrowed while clutching Heliot's neck even tighter. He would kill Heliot and then Fabian, and then everyone that would come in his way. Samael was set to destroy this world altogether — just like how it destroyed him. 

Heliot gasped for air, watching the birth of a monster that had the purpose of destroying the world. He couldn't die without letting Samael hear his proposition. But... with Samael set to kill him with dead eyes, Heliot was losing his options to stop him. 

"Father..." Suddenly, Law's voice reached Heliot's ear as he watched Samael's eyes veer behind him. 

Law darted his eyes from Heliot in his father's grip and then to Fabian. His eyes then caught the figure on the bed, making him ball his hands before setting his eyes back to Samael. Without a word, Law approached his father and held on the hem of his father's shirt. 

"Father..." His eyes sweltered as he looked up at Samael's cold front. "Mother will not be pleased if she hears about this."

Samael dropped Heliot while staring into his son. The space between his brows wrinkled, swallowing down the tension in his throat. There was still a reason for him to fight, he thought. This little thing here, the fruit of their love, was still here. 

"Father," Law called in a muffled voice as his father squatted down in front of him. "Please don't leave me as well."

For the first time, Law had shown something he hadn't shown his father in the past. That was becoming a child in front of him as he leaped forward, wrapping his arms around Samael's neck while bawling his eyes.

As Law bawled his eyes, Samael's countenance broke. He carefully put his hand on his son's little back, burying his face in his little shoulder, and wept. 

'You... saved me once again, my son,' he thought, thinking back that Law also saved him when Samael couldn't see the light in this endless darkness he was trapped into long ago. 

"What... am I going to do, Law?" he inquired through his gritted teeth, voice shaking. "It's my fault... I cannot protect your mother."

Law chewed his lower lip as he, too, didn't know what to do. Before, the two of them could only wait for Lilou to wake up, no matter how long it would take them. But now... they couldn't do that anymore because there was no one to wait. Lilou wouldn't wake up anymore. That was killing the two of them as well. 

How... would the two of them accept it? Especially, Law who only got to spend time with Lilou for a very short time. Should they let her go? They couldn't do that. Even if they wanted to, they couldn't. They didn't have the heart to do that — it would destroy not just Samael, but Law as well. 

Heliot coughed as he massaged his neck, watching Samael break down while embracing his son. If Law didn't come, Heliot was certain he would've died and Fabian too. 

He took a deep breath, wanting to take advantage of this opportunity before it was too late. "Your Majesty, as I was saying, Her Majesty needs a proper burial as soon as possible. She needs to die... at least, in the knowledge of the people." 

Heliot studied Samael's trembling back as he didn't receive a reply. So, he took this opportunity to explain. 

"Our plan is for you to pass the crown smoothly, with enough reasons that can make the people accept the next monarch. Her Majesty's death will give more reasons for the people to respect this. After all, everyone loved Her Majesty and they would understand the emperor's heart," he continued in the same tone, watching Samael raise his head to him.

"Heliot, just because my son is here, doesn't mean I will not harm you," Samael warned as he set his eyes back to him. 

Heliot retained his firm expression without looking away from him. "I am saying these things for Her Majesty's sake. If you want her back, we should proceed with our plan. The sooner the better, because you... need to hasten and bring her remains to the mainland. That is, if you want Lilou back."

This time, Law also raised his head and gazed at Heliot, not far away from them. He hiccuped, staring at Heliot as if he was his only hope. Samael also had his brows furrowed as he narrowed his eyes. 

"The Grimsbanne are original purebloods who practiced ancient witchcraft. There is still one pure Grimsbanne who stays in the mainland." Heliot glanced at Fabian. "I'm sure the butler knew who I am talking about."

Fabian took a deep breath as he nodded. "Mathilda Grimsbanne."

"I'm sure she will be of help, Your Majesty." Heliot set his eyes back to Samael solemnly. "Time is running, Your Majesty. I... cherished my friend's life as well and I do not want to see her end here."

That conversation was what led them to the current time on the mainland.. The conversation that wasn't recorded in history.