The Duke's Passion

As the sun was about to rise, I took part in helping the injured. The sun, the beginning of the new day, gave us all hope despite the heart-wrenching sight of last night. Although a lot of us survived, there were also those people who lost their lives. We couldn't even celebrate as we helped the injured, those who lost a limb, an eye, and those on the verged of death. 

Some people from inside the estate also helped carry the injured and retrieved the corpses of their family or friend. It was silent. Although there were constant sniffles and yells to communicate, it was dead silent for me. 

While we're all busy... the sun we were all expecting to shine through gradually disappeared once again. Everyone stopped, including me, as we turned our heads to where the sun was rising. I held my breath and gazed up, seeing that we're slowly being caged in another darkness. 

This time, I could tell the darkfield shrouding Minowa was darker, sturdier, and more dangerous to be in it. My heart throbbed loudly against my chest until it was painful.

"Why is that up again?" someone asked in a shaking voice.

"Did His Majesty..."

"Don't jump to that ridiculous conclusion!" Jaime yelled in irritation. 

"It's darker than the previous one."

"This... when will it stop and end?" 

Their confusion and worries filled the silent air before I felt their gazes on me. I ignored them and just stared at the darkfield with closed lips. 

'When will this end...?' I repeated the question that lingered in my head. "Soon."

My eyes softened as they flickered with bitterness. A darkfield was always connected to its caster's emotions. The previous darkfield emanated danger and gave off the hint of Stefan and Zero's intention: disaster. But this one... this darkfield that the emperor created spoke... the end. 

It wouldn't disappear unless Sam died, or he put it off. That also meant my husband... would take another brother of his. I knew Stefan was someone who must die with everything he had done. However, Sam always had a place in his heart for his siblings. 

"Soon... this will all end," I whispered while balling my hand into a fist, taking a deep breath before peeling my eyes away from the darkfield. "Everyone, continue to help the injured and retrieve those honorable men from their families."

I paused and looked around at their faces mixed with all sorts of emotions. "The emperor had joined the battlefield. Rest assured... he will return victorious."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the first to respond without question was Jaime, followed by Glory, and then the rest. 

The emperor would return victorious for sure. I had trust in him. But... Sam... my husband... would return with another piece of his heart missing. That was the weight of the crown and this story. For the people, for our family, for peace... one must carry all the burden to meet that goal. 

And the person who was carrying all that was Sam. 

'God... please save my husband from falling further into the abyss.'

*****

Meanwhile, Heliot stood several meters away from Zero. He only glanced up at the darkfield created by Samael before setting his eyes back to his opponent. Around them were vampires from the Karo Kingdom fighting the undead, giving enough space for the two in the middle because none dared take a step in their vicinity unless they wanted to suffocate to death.

"He figured it out sooner than I expected," Zero mused, nodding approvingly. "As expected of the emperor of the Great Heart Empire."

Heliot didn't speak as he blinked calmly. Samael's letters turned out accurately. At first, Heliot was about to march to La Lona March to send a reinforcement as the first half of the letter from the emperor told them about the attacks in the west and east. But in the latter part, Samael requested his presence in the south while demanding reinforcement to the east. 

Since Heliot had some level of trust in Samael's judgment, he followed the orders without question. But when they approached Minowa via ship, he finally understood the dangers in this place. If Samael didn't foresee this or they were late for a day, they could only expect the worse.

Although Heliot was certain Samael could reclaim control in Minowa, the latter would lose his mind before that. Zero and Stefan's aim was Lilou and Law, the emperor's son. Only those two individuals kept Samael sane until now; they were his Achilles heel. So, targeting those two and successfully harming them would result in the fall of this empire.

"I always wonder what you are thinking whenever you are deep in your thoughts, Heliot." Heliot snapped his eyes when Zero spoke in the same amused tone. 

"It's nothing serious, Quentin, the king of Spade Kingdom. I'm simply relieved that we arrived on time."

"Oh? So you're just relieved, huh?"

Heliot let out a shallow breath as he glanced around. "Yes. I'm relieved to know that there were some from the mainland that are still around."

"Right... do you plan to use them as leverage to get away from disobeying the orders you received about killing Lilou?"

"Indeed. The people they sent on my way had drastically increased." Heliot nodded calmly. From the moment he stepped afoot in the south until now, his expression remained the same. "Thanks to His Majesty, the Emperor, my negotiation with the purebloods in the mainland had changed."

"Oh? Is that why you came here? To help the great emperor of the great empire? Are you perhaps thinking of subduing me?"

This time, the corner of Heliot's lips curled up. "Apparently, I do not have time to deal with you. Although I did come in here to help His Majesty for something else."

"Hah..." Zero frowned as he cocked his head to the side. He was certain Samael would surely go to Stefan first since they were brothers. Considering Samael's personality, he wouldn't allow other people to kill his brother other than himself. So that meant someone who was at the same caliber as Zero should face him, right?

Heliot was the perfect person for that role. In the blood hierarchy, the two of them were equal. In terms of strength, one could also say if they fight against each other, the result would be uncertain. 

Noticing Zero's puzzlement, Heliot smiled politely. "It was a pleasant chat, Quentin. I will go collect the traitors of the mainland so they can finally let me go." He pivoted on his heel to walk away, just like that. 

Zero frowned as it seemed Heliot was serious about dealing with those vampires instead of him. He rolled his eyes, pondering whether or not to let Heliot go. If he wanted to be smart, he would let go of Heliot, since that would work to his advantage. 

"Alright, bye." He waved as if they were not in the middle of the battlefield. "See you around."

Heliot just glanced at him, seeing that Zero also walked the other way. He truly didn't plan to fight Zero for the greater cause of this situation those two had caused. To take advantage of the situation... everyone had expected and waited to happen. 

"I don't think I will ever see you again, Quentin," he whispered as he marched away. 

As Zero thought of going to Stefan to watch his fight with Samael, he stopped when a sword struck the concrete several meters in front of him. His brow arched, gazing at the figure that came right after to pick up the sword.

"Oh..." his lips formed into an o-shape as soon as his eyes landed on the person before him. "So, that is the plan... Heliot."

"Hello there, Sir Rufus Barrett," Zero added as the side of his lips stretched into an amused smirk.

----

NOVEL FACT:

Did you know? Yul actually had a different appearance than what everyone sees? Only Yul and another person can see what he actually looked like through his reflection in another person's eyes. 

Question from April:

Is writing your main occupation?

Yes. I dropped my previous career to pursue writing, a passion I never thought I will love. So, even when I don't earn that much (even less than my previous job), but I am happy. 

*whispers* my broke ass will worship you if you gifted me magic castles or spacecraft. tehee... xD