The Duke's Passion

On our way, I've seen a few knights rushing towards the direction we were heading. Just what was going on? Sam only said he'd spar with Fabian! Did they end up trying to kill each other? But that made little sense. 

If Sam and Fabian were the ones who were sparring, the royal knights wouldn't be disconcerted. A feud between Sam and his people would be the least of their concerns. Unless Sam finally lost his mind and started wreaking havoc! 

'Really… while I was daydreaming!' I ground my teeth, as Sam had truly gone mad. 'Worst-case scenario, Sam and a royalty, maybe Hanz, had a confrontation.'

I felt a sudden tightness in my chest as we ran through the hallway. Suddenly, someone appeared before me, holding both my arms, and forced me to the side.

I snapped back to my trance as I gazed up, meeting a pair of glinting azure eyes. "Yul?"

"Where are you going?" He asked in a deeper tone, as his eyes glinted menacingly. 

"Yul, what's going on?" I unhesitatingly grabbed his collar. "Where is my husband?"

"Go back."

"Yul!" I snarled, grinding my teeth as I stared at him straight in the eye. "You can't stop me, unless one of us dies, then so be it."

I shoved him forcefully, scoffing as I peered at him from head to toe. For Yul to stop me only means something terrible happened.

"Stop deciding for me. Don't forget, I'm the bearer of Lakresha." My ragged breaths rasped in my throat as I clenched my hand tightly. "Get out of my way."

I froze the second I stepped forward as Yul spoke. "It's the king."

My eyes slowly turned to him as my heart pounded against my chest. 

"What did you say?" I asked and Yul met my gaze squarely.

"Hell and His Majesty were having a... spar." He remarked with his eyes glinting. "If you go out there, who knows if you'll get caught up in the crossfire again. Don't forget about your situation."

I heard my heart dropped to my stomach as my knees trembled. My situation… I'm sired to the king and he could use me against Sam.

My head throbbed as my breathing grew short, taking three tottering steps back as my back hit against the wall. What should I do?

"Sis, I'm saying this not because Hell is my king." Yul held my shoulders as he searched for my eyes. "I'm saying this because of you. Hell will rather accept your death instead of you getting in his way."

"Yul…" 

I've never seen Yul bore such sincerity and intense worry in his eyes. And his voice sought to be heard, making it harder for me to argue.

"Please, go back. They're just… sparring. We will stop them if things get serious." Yul nodded in encouragement. "Trust us, will you?"

I kept silent as I stared at him, unblinking. "Yul, have you ever trust me? Completely?" My question caught him off-guard as he couldn't answer for a moment.

"I appreciate your concern until now, and I know your intentions are pure." I took a deep breath as I brushed his hands off of my shoulders. "However, you and I, we never truly trust each other, not even for a second. So, how can you ask me to trust you when you never trust me?"

Yul staggered back as he rocked his head. Our relationship may not be that bad, but I couldn't take his words right now.

"If this is another situation, I will listen and trust you, completely, Yul. But this is my husband's affairs, and as his wife, you can't ask me not to meddle with his life," I said sincerely, feeling a bit bad for telling him all this, but it was a fact. This was not something I could let go of. 

I trudged away and let out a sigh. However, I stopped once again as I felt the intimidating aura behind me.

"You said, 'unless one of us dies,' correct?" Yul muttered in a low tone, and I took a deep breath. "Were those empty words?"

No, they're not, Yul. I'm prepared to commit treason if Sam got hurt. I promised myself that I won't tend to Sam's wound again because I'd protect him. It was a silly promise, but I meant it even if my life's at stake.

"Yul," I called out, holding my necklace, Lakresha, as I turned around and faced him. "I might kill you."

"I won't." 

I tightened my grip around Lakresha until its sharp edges pierced my palm. "Lakresha."

****

"Bloodfield." 

Dark red mist immediately appeared in the air, spreading across the entire palace as two equally powerful bloodfield's being unleashed at the same time. 

"You've gone mad, Stefan," Samael crowed as his grin grew more sinister. "Have you lost your mind? For losing your composure over someone else's woman?"

"Hell, you won't see that memory if you didn't seek it from her blood." Stefan seethed as his eyes glinted with bloodlust. "Did you purposely lured her into your traps and wrapped her around your fingers because you've known all along? How?" 

Samael chuckled, but it was cold. "And why would I tell you?"

"Because if you don't, that means my conclusion is correct," Stefan smirked, and he cocked his head to the side. "I always wondered why you sealed off Grimsbanne before your slumber, Hell."

Stefan's last remarks made Samael's smirk grow into a smile. The latter nodded, shaking his head while chuckling.

"Why did he seal off Grimsbanne? What's secret lies in Grimsbanne?" Stefan quipped. "Those questions crossed my head for centuries, only to come up with a few weak conclusions. I never realized I was asking the wrong questions. It should be who, am I right?"

"Shouldn't you thank me for keeping you busy during my absence, Your Majesty?" 

"It's never proven, but it's not impossible," Stefan muttered as he let out a deep exhale through his gritted teeth. "Were you listening to her, Hell? That's why you looked into that memory to confirm?"

Samael pressed his lips, thrusting his lower lips forward as he hummed. He spoke after he smacked his lips.

"I didn't know you have some romantic side of you, Stefan. However, you missed your chance and you let her go because of who she was." Samael lifted his finger as his eyes drooped.

"I wouldn't even touch her if you didn't make such a foolish decision — I'd even give you my blessings — but you did. So, you don't deserve her now that you know of who she will be."