The Duke's Passion

                                                    — WELCOME TO VOLUME 5 — 

PROLOGUE

It had been seven months since we returned to Grimsbanne. There were a lot of adjustments at first, keeping everyone in the duchy busy for the first four months. But now, everything had settled down — even I got used to my duties as the Duchess.

I dipped my body in the cold lake I had discovered in one of my morning runs. The water was cold, especially now that it was nighttime, but I liked the view and quietness in here. I gazed up to see the moon shining brightly above.

"How pretty," I adored, smiling amusingly. "It always looks pretty every time I bathe in here."

My brow arched upon hearing a footstep approached me. "It is rude for you to intrude when someone is bathing, Zero."

"Haha! How did you know it was me?" he chuckled, standing not far away from me. "Also, I was simply taking a night walk, but lost my way. I didn't mean to peek at you while you bathe."

"How pitiful. You must've marched a long way to reach Grimsbanne from the Spade Kingdom." I turned around ever so slowly, looking at him in a foreign uniform.

"Marching by that distant is worthy." He gazed down, smirking seeing my exposed shoulder. "Shall I join you, so you don't get bored?"

"Haha…" I shook my head, calmer than ever. "It's been a while, Your Majesty."

"It has been, Your Grace." He smiled brightly. "Although, please tell your people to stop aiming at me. I have a frail heart, it's been racing anxiously."

"How keen. I thought you didn't notice."

"How can I not sense the bloodthirst of the fifth prince?" Zero humored back, glancing in a certain direction. "Although, it makes me wonder if they had been watching you bathe all these times… I'm envious."

"You'll be surprised how obstinate my people are." I raised my finger and crooked it down, signaling those who were aiming at Zero from the distance to drop their weapons. 

"Mildred, bring me my robe." My voice was low, but I knew a lot of people were listening to my orders. My people were just around, waiting for orders, or just guarding me from a safe distance.

It didn't take long when Mildred, my lady-in-waiting, appeared with a robe draped on her arm. She glanced at Zero, performing a curtsy as she greeted him with respect.

"Shall I turn around, Your Grace? Although that will dishearten me for this golden opportunity to glimpse upon your body." Zero smirked, and I replied with a smile as a warning shot was fired near his foot. 

"My… your people seem they do not have long patience," he added, cocking his head back as Silvia pointed a sword over his shoulder; the blade an inch away from the side of his neck. "It is nice to see you, Your Highness."

"How dare you step foot in where the Duchess bathe?" Silvia's eyes glinted as she lifted her chin up. "Even if your head rolls over right this instance, it is just."

"Silvia, please don't scare my distinguish guest like that." I raised a hand, and Silvia only huff as she withdrew her sword before taking a step back. "His Majesty had an arduous journey in coming here. Please treat him with respect."

"How sweet." He chuckled and cast Silvia a look to taunt her.

"Your Grace, I will…"

"It's alright, Mildred. The waters are cold, and I don't want you catching a cold." Without a second hesitation, I stood up from the lake, not a bit embarrassed to walk naked with all the eyes around.

Zero smirked as he narrowed his eyes, not even concealing his enjoyment of what he was looking at. I let him, raising my hand and Mildred helped me wear the robe.

"You have a nice body, Duchess." He sized me up from head to toe, licking his lips as he raised his eyes back up on me. "Now I regret being able to see it because I can't touch it."

I chuckled, unlike Silvia's reaction, who obviously had to use a lot of restraint not to slay Zero. "That's too bad to hear," I smirked as I hook my damp hair out of the robe.

"Well, anyway, can this regretful one greet you formally, at least?" Zero walked towards me, extending his hand for me to clasp.

"How dare I refuse your greeting, Your Majesty?" I raised a hand and clasped his hand.

A smirk appeared on his lips, smirking as he bent over, eyes burning on me. "It is nice to see you again, my duchess," he said, placing a brief peck on the back of my hand.

"The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty," I smirked as my eyes glinted viciously. "Thank you for coming after receiving my invitation."

"Your invitation is quite unique, my duchess." He let my hand go, studying my face. "You've become stronger."

"Are you threatened by what kind of woman I had become?"

"Who knows?" He smirked, raising a brow as he tilted his head back. "But surely, the rumors about you aren't just hearsay. I can tell in a glance you've changed."

"I hope you liked the change... just like I do." I turned and marched away, but stop and glanced back at him. "Shall we head to my humble estate, Your Majesty?" 

The smirk of his lips stretched wider. "I won't refuse that offer," he said, walking towards me as we head back to my den.

******

Meanwhile, from a distant hill from the lake, Klaus stretched his neck in a circular motion. As he did, someone clad in all black appeared not far away from him.

"Seize everyone who is lurking in the shadows." He ordered, stretching his arms up and then tilting his body from one side to the other. "Her Grace ordered that every single rat from the Spade shall be served tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Captain." The man, who was akin to a shadow, immediately disappeared without a trace.

As Klaus stood alone, he gazed at the surrounding from the center top of the hill — the location of Lilou's shack that was now a school — and smirked. 

"Welcome to Hell's Den, Quentin." His smirk grew sinister as the mild wind blew past him.