The Duke's Passion

I whistled softly, standing on top of the third prince's tower. From my vantage point, I could see the Avolire Palace and the main palace.

"Your Grace!" Silvia's voice suddenly rang from the other end of the roof, appearing out of nowhere. "What is going on? Why did you...?"

She trailed off as she gazed up at the dark sky covering the entire imperial palace. Silvia was aware that my darkfield had its own downside, but it seemed Sam helped me. The darkfield looked more sturdy, like a cage, trapping everyone inside.

"Have you found Yul?" I asked in a calm tone.

"Klaus is still looking for him. But Lilou, I was just with him hours ago."

"And I was with him just right before I gave out the order." I averted my eyes away from her and set them on the main palace. "His ability is copying a person's appearance and scent. He knew a thing or two... I guess he had sunk his fangs into Yul's."

"What...!" 

My eyes zoomed in and out, narrowing them at the main palace. "Focus on finding Yul, Silvia. I won't accept the news of his death."

I shook my head lightly. Until now, I couldn't feel Yul's presence nor I could share a mind link with him. He was probably unconscious.

"Yes, Your Grace." There was a slight hesitation in her voice, but she still followed my will. "About the king, I heard he had mobilized all royal knights. Some of them are heading in here."

"Don't mind them, Silvia."

"Lilou, we --"

"Shh..." I slowly set my eyes back to her. She pressed her lips into a thin line, tilting her head down.

"Are you sure I am Lilou?" I inquired emotionlessly. "Trust your instincts, Silvia, just like how I trust mine. Stefan isn't a fool not to see this darkfield as an opportunity."

I paused while I gazed up at the darkfield. "Mobilizing the royal knights is just what I need to find Yul even faster."

"I know you care about Yul, but is this really necessary?"

"If this happened to you, I will do the same, Silvia." I cast her a side-eye nonchalantly. "My sincerity for my people is equal. Even if I had to devise another plan or put myself in a trickier situation, I would."

Sam had approved and respected my decision. I didn't have to hear it from his lips. His help in stabilizing the darkfield was proof. 

"I'll keep that in mind." Silvia bowed, and I gazed at her. Her eyes glowed in crimson as her canine grew longer.

I only saw Silvia bare her fangs once or twice, so doing it right now told me she had understood my point. 

"Take care," I reminded her before she vanished from my sight. 

I didn't dwell on where Silvia went as I gazed in a certain direction. I took a deep breath, jumping from where I stood, and leaped towards the person I wanted to see.

Once my feet landed on the grass of the vast inner ward close to the main palace, I raised my head and smiled. 

"Are you going somewhere? Lexx?" I inquired, locking my eyes with him.

Stefan quirked his brow and cast me a look before facing Alistair, giving out his orders. My brows raised and waited for them to finish.

"And..." He raised his finger and turned his head to me. "What do you need?"

"Yul." 

"Is he missing?" he queried without the slightest interest in his voice.

I nodded. "I want you to find him."

"That's not my problem nor my duty." Stefan peeled his eyes away from me and set them back to Alistair. "That's all. You're dismissed."

Alistair bowed and then glanced in my direction with a mocking smirk. When he turned to leave, he stopped as I spoke.

"I want Yul alive, just in case." 

"That is not the orders I received, Your Grace." Alistair scoffed, suppressing himself from mocking me blatantly. "My apologies."

"They're now part of your mission." The corner of my lips stretched into a smile as my eyes shifted to Stefan. "I don't intend to resort to unnecessary killings, Your Majesty. Help me find Yul and bring him back alive."

"The audacity." Alistair hissed, as his eyes glistened with murderous intent.

I shrugged indifferently, as I had no energy to agitate him further. Instead, I bat my eyes at Stefan since he called the shots.

"You did all this..." he paused and gazed above. "... because of Yul?"

"Do you have a problem with that?"

"He must be very important to you." Stefan snapped his eyes, looking back at me. His face was devoid of emotion, but his eyes were glinting menacingly.

"He is, Your Majesty." I took several steps forward until I was a step away from him. "Yul is one of the most important people in my life and if something happened to him? I don't know what I will do. Find him for me and I will help you."

Stefan bent over to my side. I could feel his intimidating aura weighing down on my shoulders, but I ignored it. 

"No, thank you," he whispered, and he drew his head back, eyes on me. "Alistair, if you see Yul, kill him on the spot."

"Hah! Yes, Your Majesty."

"There is a limit to my patience, sweetheart." Stefan raised his hand and planted his palm on my jaw. His thumb caressed my cheek as the side of his lips curled up subtly.

"I'm not kind enough to save my mistress's lover." He stressed his words through his gritted teeth. "Once I get my hands on Yul, I will hang his head in the gates of the palace as a lesson for those who touch what's mine."

I frowned as I looked at him apathetically. "I am forever Sam's, Lexx, and if you don't want to search for Yul, then so be it. I'll search for him myself." 

"Good luck." He withdrew his hand away and turned his back against me.

My lips pressed together, gazing at his back, and waved. 

"Just so you know, someone will die every ten seconds without Yul and if he dies, everyone will as well." My voice raised before turning around, walking away from the opposite direction.

"One, two, three..." I counted while I entered the main palace, holding my hand behind. "...eight, nine..."

Lakresha took form in my hand as I stopped treading, gazing at the guarding knight near me. 

"Ten." Dark blood spurted on me as I pulled my scythe from his throat. After this action, his body instantly collapsed, and I gazed down.

"They have dark blood just as I thought." I nodded in understanding. "You should have run away when you have the time. Why stay near me?"

I stepped my foot on his back, clicking my tongue. For reasons unknown, I had noticed the difference between auras in this palace. Probably because of the darkfield. That was why I figured they weren't Stefan's people, but he 'probably' didn't know that.

"But, oh well, this will be a win-win for me." Killing the enemy's spies that polluted the palace would act as my front for 'my madness'. It may indirectly help Stefan, but it was not like their presence wouldn't trouble me.

"Tsk. Whatever." I snapped my tongue, resting my scythe over my shoulder. "One, two, three..."