The Duke's Passion

Lilou didn't regain consciousness, even when Samael had stolen the core from her. According to Alexander Bloodfang, it was more likely an unconscious decision she made. Also, with her pregnancy on the table, it was better for Lilou to stay unresponsive, as it would be painful because of being human with a vampire in her womb. Turning her to a vampire now would mean killing the child.

It was just what Heliot said. 

After the search, the causality Lilou left wasn't as devastating as what happened a month ago. She injured a few while others bled out. One could say she didn't mean to kill them, but one could also argue she simply wanted to give them a slow death. Thanks to Rufus and the third squadron, many knights had survived. Even so, their view towards Lilou and the royal family grew more hostile.

Either way, this occurrence remained a secret from outside the palace. Now Klaus, Yul, Silvia, Kristina, and Ramin were gathered outside the third prince's palace. They had already heard what happened and what Samael planned to do with Lilou. 

"They will force her to a slumber we never heard before...?" Yul murmured while gazing at the door, curving his hand into a tight fist. "Not knowing when she will wake up?"

"They said she will wake up every month," Silvia chimed in with the same despondent and worried tone. She was displeased about this, of course, but thinking that she would suffer more if they forced her to regain consciousness was worse. Lilou chose to stay unconscious, after all. 

"She will wake up? Or do you mean that person?" Klaus queried sarcastically while clenching his hand. He gazed down when Claude suddenly held his fist, looking up at him innocently.

Ramin stayed silent while leaning on the wall not far away from them, who was standing in front of the chambers. He was worried about Lilou, but he trusted Samael's judgment. Meanwhile, Kristina, who was standing on his side, remained quiet. She used to antagonize the La Crox at every turn she got, but she kept her mouth shut this time. 

"I guess you can't hate them forever if you agree with them in one thing for once," he muttered, glancing at her, who was staring down at the floor.

"I will dislike them forever, but I can't deny that they are genuinely worried about Her Grace," she whispered as her eyes softened with worry. "Will we ever see her again?"

Ramin swallowed down the sudden tension in his throat, sporting a firm expression. "Of course. Her Grace isn't weak."

"Ramin... have you ever thought that we were wrong all along?" she inquired after the brief silence between them. "If we just barge into this place and raised a rebellion just like the original plan — if we concerned ourselves less about Alphonse, do you think this will happen? Have it ever crossed you how dumb this plan turned out to be?"

His mouth opened and closed, losing his voice momentarily. "No." His answer made her gaze at his side, revealing her eyes, which were on the verge of tears.

"Whatever planned we push through will have their own risks. Barging in here while raising a rebellion is easier to be dealt with instead of making them believe Her Grace is trying to fulfill the end of her bargain. They will have to tread on eggshells just like we do — giving us the fairground. It's just we failed to consider her problems with her own clan and it's no one's fault.

Alphonse is dead, and so is Alistair. About the previous king Stefan, we might not know what happened to him, but we still reached the goal. We seized the palace, and the empire is now under our control. We just needed a king to rule it." 

Ramin nodded at her reassuringly, as he believed this was already the best outcome they could ever get. Although it pained him to think like this, considering what happened to Lilou, it was the truth. Fighting their enemy head-on was what just the enemy wanted. 

"I... don't know." Kristina let out a deep exhale as she shook her head. "Captain doesn't even consider himself in ruling the empire."

"That's because the captain could see far ahead than we do," Ramin replied, making her gaze at him once again while he set his eyes on the three La Crox.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Kristina with genuine wonder in her voice. "Do you think Captain shouldn't be the emperor?"

Ramin stayed silent for a while, diverting his attention back to her. "The captain is the emperor we all want, but I'm sure he knew he is not the one this place needs, Kristina."

"What are you..."

"After this incident, no, after that occurrence a month ago, I'm pretty sure Captain had known that. The Great Heart Empire, those kingdoms under the empire, nobles, schemes after schemes, having him as the emperor will only fuel the fire of those people, Kristina," Ramin explained from a point of view of a Bearer, a knight, and a nobleman. "Captain is what the people who will want, for he is compassionate and put his people first, but this world doesn't work that way."

"Do you think those people in the Karo and Cross Kingdom would stay still if Captain became emperor?" he added while arching a brow, speaking in a knowing tone. "You and I know that vampires won't easily bow down to anyone, Kristina. The one this empire need is someone who will put all those people in their places, and I think we both knew who I am talking about."

Kristina let out a sharp exhale as she gazed at the door in distress. "So, you're saying this empire needs if His Grace?"

"The true face of peace is not about just being in peace." Ramin also turned his head in the door's direction. The three La Crox were still there, waiting for the people inside the room to go out.

"Peace can only be achieved if there is an underlying fear no one will ever dare to touch."