The Duke's Passion

Another year had passed since then. Stefan would usually leave Grimsbanne for a while and Lilou had grown accustomed to his months of absence. There wasn't much of anything new to her life as she would still constantly go out at night and 'take a walk'. 

"Goodness, did you hear what happened in Sangrey? They said a nobleman is killed and his remains are scattered around the town!" Old Olly exclaimed in horror. "That's so close to our town! Just what is going on? I thought they caught already the culprit?"

"If the perpetrator can do this to nobles, just what are the chances he won't touch us, commoners?" 

"Why would that person pay attention to us? I heard the fortune he pillaged from those noblemen were given to those who needed it!"

"That's right! Rumor has it that he only targets those vicious nobles! If anything, we should be thankful to him for helping the less fortunate!" Another farmer chimed in. "Nobles don't care about us and see us like animals! They deserved this!" 

"Unbelievable! Have you men lost your minds? How can you sound like he is some hero? He is a vicious monster who commits heinous crimes! To have money from doing such a thing…"

"Then will you not accept it if a bag of gold is lying right in front of your doorstep?!" 

Lilou paid no attention to the quarrel between the farmers about the recent incident. The news about a vigilante who only targeted noblemen, robbing them and killing them, had been going around, and the public opinion was split in half. Some of them supported this unknown vigilante while others chastise and feared him. 

Little did they know, it was not a He. The person these farmers were quarreling about was just right beside them. 

"Lilou," called Old Olly, and Lilou raised her head to her. "Are you alright? You seem a little down these days."

Lilou sported her weak smile. "Yes, I'm just worried that the peace in Grimsbanne will not come anytime soon."

"You're right. I'm also worried about you since you've been living alone. Why don't you stay with us tonight?" Old Olly offered, as usual, worried about Lilou, as these attacks had been more active. 

"You're always worried about me, Old Olly." Lilou kept her weak smile as she faced her. "The attacker was only targeting the noblemen that were involved in slavery and such, so I don't think he will pay attention to a peasant like me."

"We can never tell, Lilou. His methods are cruel and wicked. We don't know what kind of thoughts that are going on inside those kinds of people." 

Lilou stared at her for a moment. "Between the vigilante and his victims, I don't think his victims are not less evil than the vigilante."

"Why are you saying such a thing, Lilou?"

"I'm just saying." Lilou shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly as she continued harvesting the crops. "I'm neither saying his ways are right or wrong, I'm just saying those nobles fell in the hands of a person more evil than them."

Old Olly stared at Lilou worriedly, as she was the only one who had noticed Lilou's slight change. Although it was normal for Lilou to shrug the rumors and gossips, there was just something different in her that Old Olly couldn't pinpoint. 

"Just be careful, Lilou." She let out a sigh, shaking her head lightly. "You're always welcome to our humble home. It's not much, but you won't at least be alone."

Lilou glanced back at her and nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Old Olly. I'll keep that in mind." 

Old Olly smiled back and resumed her work while Lilou fixed her eyes on her for a moment. One of the reasons Lilou hadn't lost hope in people was the people around in here. But after that night, she couldn't return to what she used to be.

'If only I listened to Old Olly and took her offer that night…' Lilou slowly peeled her eyes away from Old Olly and a glint flickered across her eyes. '… however, there's no point in regretting that now, because I can do things I can never do if I didn't meet that vampire… Lexx let loose.'

Stefan was unaware of it, but Lilou wasn't as clueless as he thought she was. There were just many reasons Lilou pretended not to know.

'At first, I was pretending not to know because even if I do, it doesn't matter.' Lilou thought as she paused and stared at the crops. 'But he keeps going away and he might not come back again.'

Her eyes glinted with murderous intent as she let out a deep breath. This feeling and obsession… there was only one thing that crossed her head whenever she thought about it. That was… kill him before he could hurt her or before he could stand in her way.

"If he didn't return today, I might make my decision," she murmured, tilting her head back and stared at the sky. "I hope he returns though. I'll be sad if he didn't." 

****

In the end, Lilou still went home despite Old Olly's insisting she stay for the night, like always. Unlike before, the night didn't scare her anymore as she trekked back to her home without fear.

"If he is still not there, I might say goodbye to Lexx," Lilou murmured and sighed once again, walking slower as she hoped Stefan would be there. "What is our relationship, anyway?" 

Lilou knew she would be sad if Stefan died, as she already got used to his presence as much as she was used to his absence. However, right now, someone like her was incapable of having a deeper feeling.

'Maybe, if he can pretend to love me, I can do it, too. Going out for walks at night is starting to bore me, anyway.' She thought as she smacked her lips and skipped her steps back home. 'I hope he's back so we can play.'