The Duke's Passion

When Yul and I arrived, we just stayed idle and accompanied me around. We only did a brief patrolling, if that was what even considered patrolling as we didn't pay attention that much. 

"You are leaving in the worst season," Yul said as soon as we headed back into my chambers. He took a seat on the chair across from me.

"Mildred. Tea, please." 

Mildred was bowed her head and left without a sound. Once she closed the door, I set my eyes back to Yul.

"Can you look after her?" I asked, a bit worried about what would happen to her once we leave. "I don't worry about Lena, but Mildred will surely be in trouble. She's my lady-in-waiting, after all."

Yul stared at me before he smacked his lips. "All I can do is get a lesser punishment for her, but if the king orders her death, I can't step in."

I pursed my lips in a thin line. I understood his point as stepping in to save Mildred would raise suspicion. Yul interfering with the outcome was already risky for him. 

"Should I tell her to run?" I inquired, as I never had this idea before. "I don't completely trust her, but I can feel her sincerity to redeem herself. Having more hands and feet and eyes is never a bad idea, Yul."

"You're right. I'll see what I can do." Yul nodded, closed-lipped.

I stared at him and felt sorry for him. We always bantered at first and we still, sometimes, but he was my family. This story wasn't normal at all, but this relationship with Yul was one of what I was thankful for in this twisted story.

"I will excuse myself first, sister." Yul took a deep breath and assisted himself up.

"You're not going to have some tea before you leave?"

He shook his head a smiled. "I can't be complacent and I had to keep my eyes and ears open, just in case."

"Sorry. You have a stubborn and selfish sister," came out a weak apology as I smiled gently at him.

"Lump of meat, cheer up. You should get as much rest as you can since getting out of here is the easiest part." Yul chuckled as he teased, cocking his head to the side. "You will be running for the rest of your life, so I don't think you should be the one feeling sorry in here."

"Haha, pretend to be a little sweet sometimes, Yul," I chuckled, shaking my head as he barely changed whenever he wanted to change the mood. I assisted myself up to send him off.

Just when we were by the door, Yul faced me and stared at me in silence. "I will miss you, sis."

"The hair on my body can't help but raise, don't joke like that." I humored and snapped my tongue, making him chuckle.

"See? This is why I don't even try."

My tongue snap. "Give me a heads-up, at least. Now, go."

"I will." The side of his lips stretched wider as he turned and left.

I looked at him through the gap of the door until it shut in front of me. A deep sigh slipped past my lips as my anxiousness increased every passing second. 

"I haven't seen Sam, but he told me to meet him in the west wing later." I dragged my feet back to the divan but didn't sit on it as I looked around the large room. 

It wasn't strange that I didn't feel any sort of attachment in this place. If this was the duchy, I would probably cry or feel a little reluctant to leave. But all I want while looking at this room was… I wanted to get the hell out of here.

"Your Grace, here is the tea that…" Mildred trailed off upon seeing that Yul was gone and I was just standing.

"Mildred, you're dismissed for today." I turned my head in her direction, offering a weak smile. "I want to rest early. But before you go, please bring me water so I wouldn't need to fetch one later."

"Yes, Your Grace." There was confusion in her eyes, but she didn't pry and just accepted the orders.

As she turned around to leave, I called her name, which made her pause and look back. "I've forgiven you, Mildred."

"Your Grace…" her voice cracked as if that alone could make her cry.

"I hope you will get a good sleep tonight." I waved to avoid her seeing being emotional. Mildred sniffed and nodded before resuming in her strides. 

Just as she was told, Mildred fetched me water and run a bath for me before she resigned to bed. I, on the other hand, didn't act out of the ordinary and only when I was alone I prepared a few men's clothes to bring with me. 

After that… it was the waiting game.

Sam didn't return while I laid on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Time passed by slower, seconds felt like minutes, and minutes felt like hours. The anxiousness in my heart also increased as my breathing grew slower.

"I can't sleep now," I told myself, turning my head towards the window that filtered the illuminating light from the bright moon. "Just a few more hours, Lilou… just a few more hours."

My jaw tightened as I clenched my teeth, stabilizing my breathing as I nodded in resolution. I couldn't turn my back now. This would be a now or never thing… and it made me a little scared.

"It'll be alright, Lilou. Everything will be alright." I chanted under my breath, eyes closed as I attempted to calm my heart; I failed. 

When my eyes slowly opened, another heavy sigh slipped past my lips. "This feeling… felt so familiar."

It was the same as that time. That time I prayed so hard, but to no avail. 

"It couldn't be…" I trailed off as I jolted up to sit, alarmed by the sudden presence that entered my radar. "Who —"

"It's alright." My breath hitched when I heard an unfamiliar voice of a man inside this room. Because I barely lit a few candelabra, the corner of the room was dark, and he had camouflaged himself in the dark. 

"Who are you?" my eyes glinted as I stared in the voice's direction.

All I heard as a response was a low chuckle before he slowly slinked out of the dark. He had this cloak, pulling his hood down ever so slowly to reveal his argent hair and a pair of deep crimson eyes. 

"Alphonse, is the name, my dear sister," Alphonse stated while the side of his lips curled up into a smirk.