The Duke's Passion

Seven years ago, in the land of Grimsbanne, a procession of carriages made their long, arduous journey towards the Duke's mansion. It was yet another time of the year where nobles made a parade to gather at the esteemed estate of the Duke. 

"Woah…" the 17-year-old Lilou awed, watching the lavish carriages crested with the nobility's insignias. She held her dirty hands closer to her chest, tiptoeing, hoping to see the nobles despite the crowd before her.

'It's the time of the year again,' she murmured internally, glimpsing quick at the nobility inside the carriages. 'They really look so… out of reach.' She frowned as she squeezed through the crowd.

She had been busy helping in the field that it was her first time in many years she watched this 'parade'. It was actually nothing, really, but Lilou thought about the children who were left on the farm who believed this was akin to a festival.

'The banquet started early this time, huh?' she mumbled internally, successfully squeezing herself until she reached the front. Her heart skipped a beat as the carriage galloped in front of her. 

"That's… too fast!" She yelled, clicking her tongue as she shot glaring daggers at the nobility crest behind the carriage. 'I hope the carriage malfunctions on the way!' She seethed inside, biting her tongue, afraid someone would hear her. 

Lilou had grown familiar with the heartlessness and cruelty of the nobility. However, there was still a little part of her that enjoyed this sight of them. They only have time to see this many nobles passing through the little town of Banse of Grimsbanne once a year, after all.

"Really. She sighed, losing her energy the more she watched the carriage passed through. Not a single one of the nobles inside those carriages looked out of the window. Some even had their curtain down while others left it a bit opened, enough to glimpse at their side profile. 

"If they only look outside and see the people…" She trailed off, pursing her lips as it couldn't be helped. Her hope that one of them could see and do something about the pitiful lives of the commoners and peasants had decreased even more. 

What did she expect? She had been alive for seventeen long years, but she had only seen cruelty from the nobles. Kindness? Did that ever exist? Ever? Were the nobles capable to have the slightest ounce of mercy?

"This is nothing. I should just tell the kids…" Lilou trailed off as she suddenly felt dizzy. At the same time, the crowds pushed her and she lost her footing, being tossed in the middle of the road. 

'Huh?' She blinked, trying to absorb what happened. Lilou heard the incoming loud steps of the galloping horse and the wheels the horses were pulling. 

"What…" she trailed off, hearing the panic voices telling her to get away mixed with the unaware cheers in the air. Her eyes peeled off the crowd as she shifted it at the incoming horses.

A part of her brain told her to get up, but her body wouldn't move. All she could do was stare at her impending doom. 

"I will… die," she whispered under her breath, barely blinking as she welcomed death. "No, I…" Her tongue rolled back as the noises faded. She slowly closed her eyes when suddenly, a large hand grabbed her bicep and pulled her to the side, saving her in the nick of time.

Time resumed in her as she snapped her eyes opened and the cheering of the crowd resonated in her ear. She slowly raised her gaze at the man who saved her, but could barely see the lower part of his face because of the hook of his cloak.

Although she couldn't see his eyes, she felt like he was staring at her. Lilou opened her lips, but he suddenly let her go without a word and squeezed himself out of the crowd.

"What just… happened?" she murmured in a daze, attempting to snap back to her senses. "That's right, I…" her eyes slowly dilated as she nearly choked on her own.

'Did I just saw death's door?!' Lilou gasped in dismay before she winced, glaring daggers at the road behind her. "I'm never coming back here!" she spat out, forcing her way out through the enthusiastic crowd.

When she got out, she cast everyone a glance. She wanted to shout at them, they're all wasting their time. Those nobilities wouldn't even bat an eye at them, nor will they ever help anyone in here. But she didn't say all those. Instead, Lilou kicked a stone in annoyance as she stomped her feet away.

"I'll tell the children…" Lilou trailed off as she turned her head in a certain direction, catching the glimpse of the hooded man who saved her. "Is that him?" she wondered, narrowing her eyes as she studied his stature.

"Oh!" she snapped as she clapped her hands. Her expression brightened up. "Mister!" she yelled, sprinting towards the man to thank him properly. Even though she was a peasant, she wanted to thank him as she could've died back there.

"Mister!" Lilou yelled once again, smiling brightly when she saw him glanced over his shoulder. However, he didn't turn around, nor did he stop in his tracks. Instead, he hastened his pace.

She frowned, but Lilou increased her speed. "Wait!" Should she stop the chase? She wondered, but she already exerted quite an effort so Lilou chased after him until he went inside a narrow alley.

"Mist —" She abruptly halted as soon as she turned to the narrow alley. It was a dead-end, but there was no trace of the man. "Huh? Where did he go?" Lilou cocked her head to the side, and then slowly to the other side.

Suddenly, Lilou heard her stomach let out a small growl, and she frowned. "To think I used up my energy just to lose him."

"Tell me one good reason I should let you live." Lilou stiffened when a man's low and cold voice trickled down her spine. "Why did you follow me here?"

Lilou bit her tongue as she held her hand close to her chest out of fear. One good reason he should let her live? Did she, unfortunately, encounter a thief? Or a loose criminal? Just what was going on with her life today? Was she supposed to die today? That's why her life had been in constant danger since this morning?

Myriads of questions clouded her mind, and Lilou stood there like a statue. Her mouth opened and closed until a meek reply came out of her lips.  "Because killing is bad?" Lilou winced as she figured that was only a good explanation for the children.

"Mister, I don't have money and even if you plan to kill me, please do it swiftly."

"How pathetic," the man behind her ridiculed under his breath before he turned around. He sensed nothing special in her, so he assumed she was one of those people who would solicit money. But the man stopped when he felt a sudden tugged from his cloak. He furrowed his brows and turned his head back.

"It's you!" Lilou's face brightened up. "Good thing I checked…" her words trailed off as a sudden gust of wind blew past them and his hood slowly peeled off from his head, revealing his ebony hair and his breathtaking beauty.

"God…" she whispered in a moment of daze.