The Duke's Passion

Meanwhile, Heliot galloped his way through the rocky path in one town in Whistlebird. The night breeze grew harsher as his eyes glinted sharply. While he was staring ahead, his mind traced back to the first time he had a conversation with Lilou. That time he had visited Grimsbanne for the first time before he left the Capital after the founding celebration.

"Prince Heliot, I believed you have a motive in requesting me to lead this negotiation," she said as soon as she sat down across from him. He gazed at her, studying her expression that baffled him quite a bit. 

"Are you planning to just look at me?" she inquired, receiving no answer from him. "This negotiation wouldn't proceed if you keep silent."

Heliot bat his eyes languidly. "What is your motive in approaching me?" his question didn't take her by surprise but instead made her smile.

"Depends on your answer."

"That doesn't make sense."

"I like you, Prince Heliot. You don't seem the type to go around in circles." Lilou took a deep breath, leaning back while tilting her head. "That is why I don't find the need to mind my words."

"You like me?"

She chuckled. "Yes. Flattered?"

"I am." He nodded approvingly, but his expression remained stoic. "But yes, I do have my reasons I requested you take over this negotiation. I want to get to know you."

"To get to know me?"

"Hmm. I was curious why the King of Heart and Spade was smitten with you." He expressed in full honesty. "Of course, with the blood you are carrying, a human who stood the same ground as purebloods is one thing. Reproducing will create a new powerful bloodline is another. But it seems His Majesty La Crox just wants you for something more personal. I'm curious."

"Curious? What is there to be curious about?" she chuckled, shaking her head sideways. "He wants me to bear his heir, that's all. A beauty on his side is a plus."

Heliot peered at her eyes; he couldn't read her. It had only been two weeks since Samael's death, and yet, he couldn't detect grief in her eyes. There was just... nothing. It was strange for him, as he had heard Lilou and Samael had loved each other dearly. Heliot doesn't know love, so he couldn't understand it. 

"Is love so easy to throw away?" his question this time made her brows furrow. "I heard tales of the Duke and Duchess of Grimsbanne and how they would die for each other. So, it baffles me why you don't look sad. Did you love His Grace?"

Lilou chuckled, closed-lipped. She studied his face and could tell he was simply being honest with his thoughts.

"My husband and I loved each other. However, our kind of love is not something for us to die for each other." She explained with a subtle smile, peeling her eyes away from him. "Dying is so much easier than how it sounds."

There was a long pause before Lilou continued. "We love each other so much so that we would live, breath, survive for each other, not die."

"I see. That makes sense." Heliot nodded in understanding. "Living is more challenging than dying. How noble. Is that the reason you're done grieving?" 

"I didn't grieve." Her eyes veered back to him. "If crying can bring him back, I wouldn't be with you in here. However, no amount of tears, no matter how loud I scream, and abhor this world, he wouldn't come back to me. So, why would I waste my time on something unnecessary?"

Heliot's lips parted, but he pressed them together again. He didn't expect to hear such remarks from her. 

"I don't like people seeing me," He remarked, making her brow raised. "I do not understand why emotions were so important to share. I don't like people reading my emotions because they're mine. Your grief is yours, and I respect that. However, that is not what I came here for. I wanted to ask you which will you choose: doing the right thing? Or doing what makes you happy?"

There was a long silence between them as they stared at each other. Although they couldn't read each other's eyes, they could read the emptiness circulating in the room.

"Should I... choose between what makes me happy and what is right?" she queried, breaking the prolonged silence. 

Heliot let out a shallow breath, expression still the same. "I don't know what makes you happy, nor what is right. But what I know is my reasons."

"Reasons... and they are?"

"Your life, Your Grace." He didn't beat around the bush as he answered almost instantly. "Will you offer me your life?"

"My life?" Lilou chuckled, studying his solemn expression, and could tell he wasn't joking. "And what will I get in return?"

"My support. On the way here, I could tell Grimsbanne is in a terrible crisis, especially now that it's winter, I could already see the pile of corpses that will loiter the street." 

Lilou let out another soft chuckle once again. "You're funny, your highness. You want me to trade my life to develop Grimsbanne?"

"I am giving you an option to choose what will make you happy, Your Grace."

"And you think offering my life to a man I just met will make me happy?"

"The man you just met is someone capable of fulfilling your wish. You are not afraid of death, Your Grace. What terrifies you right now is living. You had lived for his Grace. Aren't you thinking of dying for yourself now that he is gone? But you don't want to die just like that, isn't it?" Heliot cocked his head to the side, eyes glistened with genuine wonder.

"As I mentioned, a human who can stand on the same ground as purebloods is amusing. However, vampires have more pride, ambition, and bigger egos than a person could imagine. They don't accept you."

"They? And who are they?"

"They… those from the mainland. If they get their hands on you, your death is impossible, Your Grace. They will use every drop of your blood for their own benefit. I am simply trying to avoid that from happening." Heliot explained calmly. "We, the Von Stein, don't care if a war between the Heart and Spade will break out. We prefer our peace and you have the ability to disrupt that."

"Hah…" Lilou took a deep breath, keeping her silence for a long time. When she opened her mouth, a kind smile resurface on her lips.

"Will you court me?"