The Duke's Passion

"Why do you always apologize for something you didn't do, Lexx?"

"What did you say?" he asked, catching my attention as I raised my head. "Just now… what did you…?"

"Your Majesty?" I furrowed my brows, perplexed at what caused him to look at me in surprise. Did I say something offensive? 

Stefan let out a weak scoff, shaking his head lightly. "It's… nothing." But I didn't think it was actually nothing, but I ignored it. 

"Your Majesty, please forgive my insolence and tactless actions just now." I bowed politely, acknowledging my impudent actions towards him. He was still the king, after all. 

"I will make sure it will never happen again. I must take my leave now."

He hummed a low tune, and I assisted myself up. I really needed to return or Ramin would be spitting fires; it'd be a miracle if the entire office wouldn't be set on fire now. But just as I took three hasty steps, I stopped when Stefan called.

"Lilou." My breath hitched, but I didn't turn around. "If by chance…" he trailed, and I heard his footsteps approach until I saw his shadow overlapping mine. "If by chance I saw you first, I met you first, took care and cherished you first, and loved you…"

"Your Majesty!" I exclaimed, turning around and backs away. "Forgive me, for I will have to remind you I am your brother's wife! What you're about to say…" I took a deep breath, calming my heart that was racing painfully. "... I beg you not to mention it, please, Your Majesty. You will gain nothing by using me to hurt my husband." I hung my head low, gritting my teeth as I clenched my hand.

Stefan didn't respond anymore, so I took that to my advantage to escape. For a moment, I thought he was at least normal, but it seemed he had really dropped his head somewhere.

'Saw me first? Met me first? Took care and cherished me first? Loved me first? I felt angry hearing those from him, and it was a source of anger that felt I would have for someone who had abandoned me.

****

"... I'm your brother's wife…" All her words after that drifted in his ears before she ran away from him. Stefan raised his hand, trying to reach her, but she just went farther and farther away from him until she was gone.

He closed his eyes, letting out a heavy exhale. "Again, I let her go," He whispered, running his fingers through his hair as he chuckled mockingly.

So, don't apologize for something you didn't do, Lexx. So, don't apologize for something you didn't do, Lexx...

Her words repeated in his mind over and over and over again until all he could hear was her saying, Lexx. That's right, that's how she called him before.

"Lexx…" Stefan whispered with a chuckle, tilting his head back as he stared at the starless sky. "Lu… that's right, Lulu." The corner of his lips curled into a twisted smirk. "Right… Lu." His chuckles grew louder and eerie as he spread his arms wide.

When Stefan pulled his head back, his eyes drooped, and his twisted smirk remained. In his eyes, the image of Lilou, which had been haunting him for seven years, stood in front of him, smiling. He reached his hand towards her, wrapping his long, slender fingers around her neck.

"You do realize I hate liars, right? My little sweetheart?" He tilted his head a little, staring at her illusion as he choked her while she struggled under his grip, just like how she struggled back then. "Lexx… that should be your last words, right? My name… that's the last thing you'll say before life slips away from your eyes and you take your last breath."

Stefan closed his hand and her illusion vanished, just like how she'll vanish that easily. His eyes fell on his fist, smiling in satisfaction.

"Not yet," He muttered as he slowly raised his eyes, glinting maliciously. "I'll kill Hell in front of her, then torture her for life. Hitting two birds in one stone, right?" Stefan smirked as a figure slinked out from the shadows behind him. 

"Alphonse?"

"Brother, you shouldn't underestimate Hell." The man, Alphonse, clad in a black cloak, responded. "He already had his suspicion about my involvement earlier than we thought. It wouldn't be surprising if he suspects you, as well."

"He's always dubious, brother." Stefan ran his fingers through his ebony hair, which faded its color into a dull silver. "But he'll never be sure since I'm a broken man obsessed over someone else's wife."

"Aren't you?"

Stefan smirked. "I am, unfortunately. That's why I'll keep her alive… forever." He chortled gleefully, thinking how Lilou could live as a vampire, and he could keep her for as long as he could... to torment, to hurt, to mess up, nothing more, nothing less.

"Don't get too excited, brother. We have plenty of time. Keep your act together."

"Oh, please, you worry too much." Stefan clicked his tongue as his hair returned to its ebony colors. "Just watch, Alphonse. I'll serve Hell's head on a silver platter on your first family."

Stefan started walking away without even glancing at the hooded man behind him. In a blink of an eye, Alphonse vanished while Stefan's smirk slowly faded.

'How dare you deny me again, Lu?' he seethed internally. 'You like Hell that much? If so, I'll definitely make your life a living hell.'

If Lilou had given him the slightest chance, Stefan wouldn't have snapped. However, it was bound to happen in the future because… Lilou was Samael's leash, but she was Stefan's poison. Above all, she was her own shackles.

A century-long plight, premeditated by the blood of those who had fought over the throne.

A story that was bound to recur, repeating the twisted history of everyone. 

Fear and blood would wash over the land of the kingdom, and only one shall stand above all. 

It was only a matter of time before the gears of the clock start clicking to twist the fate and lives of the many. 

-END OF VOLUME 3 -