The Duke's Passion

"She fell head over heels at the Duke of Grimsbanne."

It took me a minute to process what Sam said just now. When I absorbed this news, my eyes dilated as my mouth fell open. I didn't hear him wrong, right? Beatrice and Yul? What?

Sam rocked his head, closed-lipped. "I don't know the details since I don't care about them, but I remembered Yulis sending me a letter concerning this."

"Was it a wedding invitation?" I blurted out, horrified at the thought of Yul getting married.

"No. Rather a complaint." I didn't know whether to heave a sigh of relief or feel sorry for Yul or Beatrice at Sam's correction. "I think Beatrice is courting Yulis, but the latter had adamantly rejected her sincerity. He must be very stressed for him to send me a complaint."

"Goodness..." now my curiosity was piqued. Never in my imagination that Beatrice would fall for Yul. 

Although Beatrice was the person who would sell her soul to get what she wanted, I liked her character. She had this strong sense of proving that she was capable. Our story together wasn't that complicated as she was the person who reached out to me back when I was managing the Duchy.

How we ended up being an ally was simple. Beatrice wanted something, and my goal would help her reach that. We came to terms, and she gave me intel about the palace. Of course, she was open about her relationship with Alphonse. So I didn't trust her that much and used her as a backup plan. 

Now that I thought about it, I was wary of her, even when I liked her. She's that type of character. Hence, it made me wonder what happened to her to fall for Yul? Not that Yul wasn't worthy; actually he was more than admirable.

Still... it was an odd combination.

"Don't worry. Yulis wouldn't give in easily." His voice brought me back to the current lapse, making me look up at him. 

"If Yulis had sent a letter of complaint to you instead of banning Beatrice from entering Grimsbanne, I don't think so, my husband."

Sam chuckled as he looked at my pale expression. "You don't like Beatrice as your sister-in-law?"

"No." My answer was quick as I shook my head. "She is a good ally, but I don't know? Maybe it's just... I'm being overprotective of Yul, but it's an odd mix. I mean, the two of them."

"I see... will you object if they ended up getting married?" he asked with his brow raised. This time, I didn't answer immediately as I gazed ahead and sighed.

"How can I?" came out a murmur. "If Beatrice makes Yul happy... how dare I interfere? Yul deserved to be happy too, you know?"

"Well, they are adults. They will settle things on their own." Sam winked at me before staring ahead. There was once again a moment of silence between us, but the air was light and harmonious.

"How about Stefan and Zero?" I queried after a long silence and hung my head low. "What happened to them, Sam?"

Sam didn't speak for a long time until I set my eyes back on him. To my surprise, his expression and aura felt a little eerie. I gulped, hearing my own swallow, and kept my mouth shut.

"Stefan... until now, there are no leads about him. He just... vanished, just like that. Stefan and his shadow knights." Sam explained after a minute. His tone was solemn, and I knew this was an issue he had at the back of his head. 

"How can that be?" I wondered under my breath while clutching the stuffed animal on my lap. "How can he just disappear overnight?"

"Overnight?" Sam raised a strange question and cast me a baffled look. "The Stefan you had seen isn't him, Lilou. It's that loathsome Zero."

"Huh?"

"Zero's ability was to shift and copy someone, Lilou. Although it's tricky, it also had downsides. You noticed it with Yul, so you will be fine."

My brows furrowed even though I understood his explanation. "But Stefan is there, Love. That night before my slumber, I talked to him."

"That's Zero."

"No," I argued quickly, making him furrow his brows. "I know Stefan, Sam. Even though our relationship was complicated, I know if the person I am talking to is Stefan or an impostor."

Sam narrowed his eyes suspiciously at me. I looked at him with conviction in my eyes. 

"Sam, what the hell is going on?" I asked when I couldn't take his silence anymore. "Have you faced this Stefan you are calling Zero?"

The glint that flickered across his eyes told me the answer I was looking for. Sam didn't have the chance to face that Stefan he believed Zero. Considering everything that happened, I couldn't blame him. 

"Heliot clashed with him," Sam informed me, and this made me cock my head to the side. "And I doubt he was telling me lies. Heliot will be either an ally or an enemy and he will assure his side is clear."

I nodded as I agreed with Sam. Heliot was that type of guy, and he was the last person who would scheme. We could be wrong, but I trusted my gut feeling. 

"Then, how come Heliot didn't notice?" I wondered. "If he is certain Zero posed as Stefan, then who is that person I met? Dominique and Alistair were with him, they must have..."

"Alistair is dead and Dominique has no clue." I trailed when Sam relayed this news to me. Alistair was dead? There were a few questions that rose in my head, but they were mostly simple curiosity.

Sam narrowed his eyes and hummed a low tune. "This is a headache, but at least, we now have some clues."

"Clues?"

"Mhm. What you said just now opens up new possibilities." He cocked his head to me and smiled. "Don't worry too much about it. This time, I assure you I will handle it properly."

"Sam..."

"Mother!" 

Suddenly, I heard Law's voice and turned my head in his direction. When I saw how this young boy rush to us with the young earl, my heart warmed up.

"Then, I entrust our life to you, Your Majesty," I whispered while waiting for my son to approach us. It was then I cast Sam a look and smiled gently when he replied.

"I will never disappoint you and our son this time.... for sure."