The Duke's Passion

Meanwhile, in the cold north called Monarey, Claude was lying on his bed with his arms covering his eyes. His room was dark with all the curtains closed, but not too dark, as the fireplace gave the room some light.

"Lilove is getting married the second time," he mumbled, peeling his arms away to look at the ceiling. "She sounded so happy in her letter, although she scolded me for tearing Uncle Klaus' letters."

In the past three years, unlike the South that went through a lot of changes, Monarey had been the same. It wasn't an exaggeration to say Monarey was the only place across the empire that didn't have much to do in the past three years. Although the development in the said earldom was progressing, there weren't many events that were worthy of his attention.

Claude only sent reinforcement and relief to Grimsbanne and La Lona as those two needed help after the war three years ago. Rufus helped once he succeeded in the throne. The new emperor had been helping all the lands as much as he could, so Claude was able to focus on the earldom. 

But... there was missing. Claude was already in his twenties — around the age where he should marry. But he didn't fancy anyone, although he had tried to play around.

"I wanted to be happy for her and Uncle Hell, but I don't..." he whispered, raising his hands up with the letter. "Actually, I don't know, Auntie Lilove. I am neither happy nor sad... just empty. Knowing you are within the empire is better than knowing you are somewhere far."

Samael truly took Lilou away from the land that nearly took her life. The news of Lilou's death nearly caused Claude to start an uprising against Samael. Fortunately, he was in the middle of the war where he could release his frustration and stress to his enemies. 

It was the first war Claude took part in personally, but he had been battling ever since he was young. Claude didn't have a peaceful life that long since Stefan killed his parents, Lucia and Dyrroth. Also, he was a child who had to live with his parent's murderer and call that man his father. 

So Lilou was the warmth Claude had yearned. She was the first person who gave him warmth in his cold life. So, Claude could understand why Samael was head over heels to Lilou. Unlike them who lived within the cold palace as royalties, Lilou was warm and shone just as beautiful as the break of dawn. 

Claude could also understand Stefan's obsession with her. Actually, he couldn't blame Stefan for that since Lilou was that magnetizing.

A shallow breath slipped past his lips while gazing at the letter he read multiple times already. "I'm so envious of Uncle Hell and Law. I wished I was also born as her son so she wouldn't leave me alone too." He tossed the letter to the side, covering his eyes with his arms once again. 

"My lord, the carriage you asked is already prepared. You are ready to set off anytime." A voice from outside his room reached his ear. Claude carefully peeled his arms away from his eyes and gazed at the ceiling once again. 

"Ahh... I forgot I need to do an inspection in the territory," he muttered as he simply resigned to his room to read Lilou's letter. "What a bother." 

Claude dragged his body to sit up and out of the bed to do his duties as the earl. It was still early outside, so Claude planned to finish his duties early before he set off to the mainland to see Lilou. 

*****

That day, Claude set off to inspect the earldom he would do twice a year at random times. Usually, Klaus would do it, but since he was in the south, Claude had no option but to face the cold weather himself. It had been three days since he left his estate and Claude was still half off his route.

"We'll take a break here," Claude uttered to the knight riding outside his carriage. 

"Yes, my lord." The knight picked up his pace to inform the coachman to take a break. When they stopped, Claude went out of the carriage.

As a pureblood, Claude stood out among everyone, even though he was covered by a thick winter cloak. A charming face that wasn't easily forgotten.

"I will take a look in this town. You two will come with me. Don't bring your horses," he ordered, glancing at two knights who bowed at his orders. Claude only wanted to walk around and breathe some fresh air in a town that he only set foot in once a year. Well, he was always cooped up in his office, so a little walk in a place that had fewer chances of people recognizing him was what he needed.

"What a town," he mumbled, holding his hand behind him as he looked around at the small plaza of the town. What he liked about these surprise inspections was, aside from the murders he would commit to those corrupt people they would catch red-handed, was the joy of seeing the result of his governance.

To see that his people were at peace and had enough, despite the cold weather, felt rewarding in a way. He smiled subtly, watching some townsfolk in the plaza. 

"Out of the way!" 

Claude quirked a brow as he turned his head in the voice direction on instinct. He narrowed his eyes upon seeing a woman sprint in his direction from an alley, waving to get out of the way. Since the knights he brought kept a respectful distance, Claude was the only one standing on this spot in the plaza. Knowing his knights, Claude raised his hand to keep them on standby. 

"Out — Aish!" the woman ground her teeth as she picked up her pace, adjusting so she wouldn't have to crash into Claude. The latter's gaze veered towards the very few people chasing after her. 

"A thief?" he wondered, as that was what the three men chasing after the woman were saying. Just as he was pondering whether to resolve this matter out of the goodness of his heart, he froze. 

Long hazel hair.