The Duke's Passion

After the initial shock wore off, Yul and Klaus, even Kristina, insisted on following that man. However, since I kept reassuring them, Noah and Silvia helped me out to convince those three hot-blooded vampires. The hardest one to convince was Charlotte since Ramin had to stop her from going after that thief — she was always stubborn.

"We don't even know if this is poisoned." Kristina gazed at the pot the man cooked before raising her head to us, who were gathered in the small living area. 

"Picnic and a thief. I guess this picnic we had been looking forward to is..."

"No, Yul. We won't cancel the picnic." I forced a smile, facing Yul, whose sarcasm had manifested in him. "Noah is a skilled cook. I mean, yes, he is, but you all need to help him prepare, alright?"

"Really?" Kristina scoffed, gazing at the La Crox. "Your Grace, I'm sorry if I'm overstepping, but this won't work."

"I agree with her. We can work together, but we will never get along." Klaus nodded in agreement.

"Instead of having a picnic, we will probably enjoy a manhunt." Ramin voiced out.

"A manhunt with you four?" Klaus scoffed, shaking his head lightly. "Right... you'd been working in the shadows, so I guess you can do that without being noticed."

"Yes, you're right. We'd been working in the shadows and kills with no one noticing about it. So, if I were you, you better shut up. You don't know when it is your time." Ramin took a step forward, chin up, taunting Klaus.

"Ramin, spouting threats won't help anyone." Noah let out a deep sigh, gesturing Ramin to stop. "If Her Grace wants a picnic, then let's just prepare sandwiches and refreshments. Can you help me, Charlie?"

"Will I get more sandwiches?" 

"Just don't eat everything." Noah sighed helplessly while Charlotte sprung up and skipped her steps to follow him.

"I'll go and help Noah." Kristina patted the dining table, following Noah and Charlotte outside. She didn't wait for our response, nor did she look back and just left, saying nothing further.

Silence enveloped the house as Kristina stepped outside. I studied their expression, and it was obvious that Klaus, Silvia, and Yul weren't truly happy. Meanwhile, Ramin kept quiet and just observed. 

"Are you sure there's no need to come after that person?" Silvia queried, breaking the stifling silence in the air. I nodded as a response, rubbing my palms against the armrest.

"It's fine. You can say they were... one of my secrets?"

"Just how many more secrets do you keep from us?" Yul let out a hiss, peering at me in disbelief.

A sigh slipped past my lips. "Yul, I'm keeping secrets, not because I don't trust you. It's just..."

"We don't need more protection from you, Your Grace." This time, Silvia voice out her thoughts. Her voice was laced with bitterness as she gazed at me. "We had done our best for the past eight months to protect you just as much as you protect us. Your secrets are yours and letting us in is your decision we must respect. However, you'd been taking too much risk whilst keeping us in the dark. So things like the last incident took us all off guard."

"It's either you trust us or not at all, Your Grace." Klaus chimed in solemnly. "Either way, we will still follow you and your orders without question asked."

"I'm sorry." I took a deep breath, smiling sincerely at them. "It was too much for me, and I know it's the same with you. I... I don't have an excuse. So, I'm trying to rectify it."

They remained silent, staring back at me. If not for that recent incident, I knew I wouldn't let the three La Crox know about the third squadron's presence in Grimsbanne. There was already a plan I meticulously concocted; giving each person their own task without the need to know who were the other people involved.

The Bloodfang way; like a puzzle, each piece had its own purpose and, if done correctly, one would see the entire picture if put together.

I cleared my throat as I raised my chin, tapping my palms against the armrest to get their attention. Their expression grew solemn as soon as they saw the change of my expression.

"By rectifying it, I planned to be honest with everyone. There is a major change in my plan and that's the reason we're all in here." My voice imposing, examining their expression. "However, I had to confirm something before telling you all about the entire plan. I wish you will be patient until then. We only have a short amount of time before I return to the Capital... we all know that once I'm back in that hellhole, Stefan will take you all out one by one."

"I can't let that happen. I'm not losing any of you," I added as my eyes sharpened, feeling the suppressed rage in my heart pounding against my ribcage. "The freedom he had granted me, us, is a mockery for me to realize that no matter what I do, I would never win against him. I don't want any of you to die."

Another wave of silence engulfed. I noticed how Yul hung his head low, keeping his thought to himself. He was my brother, so I knew what he was thinking. Not just him, but everyone here was aware that their lives mattered more to me than my own. 

"I don't want to die," came out a whisper, making Yul raise his head while their pupils dilating. "I know you never heard that from me, but I sincerely don't want to die... now."

Not until I proved that Sam was not Sam. But there was this part of me, this dominant part of me that believed my husband was alive. If he was, there was no reason for me to die. Even if I had to face Heliot, I wouldn't give up the chance to be with Sam.

"Sis..." Yul's voice trembled, pursing his lips as his chest moved in and out heavily. "Did you really mean that?"

I smiled, nodding. "I want to live, Yul. Klaus, Sivi... Ra. Let us all survive and come back to Grimsbanne."

There was a moment of silence after my remarks before they took their knees, bowing, followed by a determined, "Yes, Your Grace."