The Duke's Passion

Some time had passed, and the world continued to revolve. Things, whether expected or unplanned, happened. 

"Lilou." 

Lilou raised her head at the person entering the prison dungeon of an old estate in Whistlebird. She smiled brightly as soon as she met those pairs of crimson orbs.

"Lexx, you're back?" she asked happily, springing up to his feet and rushed towards him. 

Stefan chuckled as he welcomed her warmly in his embrace. "I'm just away for a few days and yet, you're acting like I was away for a year."

"Can you blame me?" Lilou complained as she broke free from him, looking up while pouting. "Lord Anton and his son Arthur are annoying fellows. I was planning to smother them in their sleep." 

"Calm down, sweetheart." He chuckled while patting her head. 

"How can I calm down when they kept talking nonsense?" she clicked her tongue, annoyed after recalling all her encounters with the Duke of Whistlebird and Stefan's ally, Anton Remington.

Lilou walked back to the person chained inside the cell. His wrist, neck, and feet were shackled despite his already mangled condition.

"Those two spouted things like a mortal can't be with you and something like that," she murmured in annoyance, kicking the barely alive person who was held captive. "What do those dimwits know? They even brought up my origins." 

"They said that?" 

"Yes!" she turned around, furrowing her brows when she noticed Stefan's lack of emotion.

Stefan's eyes glinted as he remained quiet for a moment. "Sweetheart, do you love me?" 

Her breath suddenly hitched, surprised by his abrupt question. She pursed her lips in a thin line before they parted, but no words came out. 

"Why can't you answer?" he asked in a low tone as he tilted his head to the side.

Instead of answering, Lilou returned the question. "Do you?" 

This time, Stefan was the one who couldn't answer her question. They've been together for almost two years now, but they never said those words even once. Of course, they value each other, but was it called love? It felt strange to think that their feelings were associated with love.

"Why are you asking me such a question when you can't even have your own answer, Lexx?" Lilou broke the silence with her indifferent tone.

"I have my answers."

"And that is?" she cocked her head to the side as her eyes never left his gaze, but he remained silent. A shallow breath slipped past her lips as she shook her head.

"Honestly, Lexx, I don't know what love is," Lilou muttered as she turned around, facing their prisoner before she squatted down. "But, what I am certain is that I will die for you and I want to stay by your side."

"Then, will you become one of us?" Stefan inquired after some time, which made her turn her head back at him. "If you want to stay with me forever, will you be one of us?" 

Lilou pressed her lips together as she peeled her eyes away from him. She stared at the almost unrecognizable person who had gone through the experiments and was now being monitored.

"Sure," she answered after a long silence. 

Stefan heaved a sigh of relief, but didn't seem happy about it. He had already guessed that she would agree, despite knowing the risk.

"You can become just like that one," He said coldly as he glanced at the half-failed half-successful subject. "You can lose your wits, cannot stand under the sun, and die after a while. Are you sure you want to be a turned vampire knowing all that risk?" 

"Are you sure you want me to?" Lilou inquired back as she glanced over her shoulder. "Between the two of us, it seems that you're the one who is against the idea."

"Sweetheart." Stefan let out a sigh. He knew that they would have to discuss this matter one of these days. After all, he was still the king of the kingdom, and she was, although exceptional, still a human. 

Lilou narrowed her eyes as the subject let out a low growl, and just like a maniac, he tried to assault her since she was near him. However, the chain around his neck stopped him a palm-length away from her. She didn't even budge or blink and just watched him struggle.

"Are you reluctant because you love me, Lexx?" she inquired, as she could be just this person she was looking at once the transitioning failed. "If so, then don't love me anymore."

Stefan remained silent and stared at her small yet brave looking back. He had hated humans for as long as he could remember, believing they were just annoying animals, no better than livestock. But all that changed in the past two years… and that was because of her. 

"If it fails, I'll lose you forever," He muttered as he let out a deep sigh, clenching his hand into a fist. "I don't want that."

Silence enveloped the two of them again and only the growling of the abnormal tickled their ears. Lilou appreciated his genuine concern, but she had already decided to stay by his side, no matter what. She had nothing to go back to, after all.

"You sound like you already know it will fail, Lexx." Her eyes softened as she raised both her hands, cupping the abnormal's jaw without fear. "It's my decision, and my only wish, if it fails, is…"

Her teeth clenched as she snapped the subject's jaw before letting him go, and his head hung low. Lilou glanced at her tainted hands before slowly standing up to face him.

"That." She cocked her head towards the dead subject. "Finish me off quickly, just like that."

"Your — Sir," Lilou's eyes shifted at the person who suddenly appeared behind Stefan. "Miss Lilou," the woman greeted as soon as she met Lilou's eyes.

"I will come back lat… er." 

"No need, Lena." Lilou cut her off as she glanced at Stefan. "You stay with him. I will go for a walk."

Lilou smacked her lips as she walked past him, but stopped when Stefan suddenly grabbed her wrist. 

"Don't be upset," he said, tightening his grip around her wrist. "I just —"

Stefan abruptly paused as Lilou's future appeared in his head, showing her loud screams from the excruciating pain and sufferings, and then… the scene changed into Stefan standing in the palace hall, staring at the casket before him. He walked towards the casket only to see Lilou lying beautifully in it.