The Duke's Passion

Another month had gone by...

"You've been detained here for three weeks?" Claude inquired at the distressed Klaus inside the prison they were in. Unlike usual, Klaus was only in his inner blouse, with his coat crumpled in his hands. 

Klaus clicked his tongue as he glared at Claude. "My nephew, that smirk of yours will disappear once days go by and you will be shocked. It's already been a month since you're stuck here."

"Apparently, the wedding is already a week. So, staying in prison for a week is not a problem."

"Claude, stop teasing Klaus. He's been here the longest." Claude raised his gaze at the person leaning near the bars. It was Dominique. The person sitting near him was Rufus — the emperor of the Great Heart Empire. Claude couldn't help but chuckle as those two surely looked tired. 

"Uncle — I mean, Sir Dom and Your Majesty, just how long have you been detailed here?" he inquired playfully, making their already dead expressions die the second time. "May I ask what crime did you do outside?"

"God... you should've arrived a week later." Klaus took a deep breath, barely keeping his sanity. It was better when it was just him inside this prison; he had some peace. Dominique's and Rufus's arrival a week later was still bearable. But to think he would be stuck with the devious Claude, Klaus would definitely lose it on the second day.

Claude bit his tongue to suppress his laughters. "Uncle, I was worried about you. That's why I arrived a day earlier than planned." He sighed. "The earldom just feels empty without you."

"Really?" Klaus raised his brows, moved by his nephew's words. But just as his heart began to melt, it froze instantly when the corner of Claude's lips hooked up. 

"You devil," he spat out, clicking his tongue in irritation. He should've known Claude wouldn't speak such blasphemy. This child was just getting more evil with every passing second. 

"Uncle, I wasn't joking, though. I was really worried about you because you traveled alone. You could've waited for me."

"Shut up." Klaus rolled his eyes, so Claude elbowed him slightly. "That will not work, my nephew. I'm numb."

"Forgive me, will you?"

"What a bunch of clowns," Dominique mumbled, but his voice was heard loud and clear. Claude and Klaus raised their glinting eyes, making Dominique shiver.

"I'm sorry, alright?" He raised his hands before these rascals bite him. "I was just stressed."

"Dom, I didn't the know the man who killed me once is this pathetic." Rufus sighed while shaking his head. "If the person in charge of fetching us in the fort is Fabian, we'll get executed before he comes."

"Fucking Fabian." Klaus rolled his eyes, not surprised at this.

"Damn that lunatic." Dominique ground his teeth, trying to contain his irritation. 

"As expected of Mister Fabian, he wants us to break out instead." Claude nodded, translating Rufus' conclusion the way he wanted to. 

"Are you his child?" asked Klaus helplessly. His hope for Claude to be better just went down to negative zero. 

Dominique also let out a deep breath as he shook his head. "Silvia should've raised you."

"Claude had a point." Meanwhile, Rufus rocked his head in understanding. "If it's Fabian and my lord, considering it was also a busy time because of the wedding, they might have thought we would break out."

"Your Majesty, have your senses grew dull because you've been stuck here without a shower for two weeks?" Dominique queried, as it seemed Rufus had forgotten his principles. 

"Wow... the emperor is planning to commit a crime." Klaus clapped in disbelief.

"Watch your tongue, Sir Klaus." Dominique suddenly faced him and cast a solemn look at Klaus. 

The latter smirked in mockery. "Sir Dominique, being stuck together for quite some time surely put a lot of stress on all of us. I guess if your sword is with you, you would've withdrawn it." Klaus slowly stood up, as he also wanted to let off some steam.

"We're all equal in this untouchable land." Rufus glanced at the both of them and sighed. "Once we stepped foot in here, our titles outside the land mean nothing. Dom, don't taunt Klaus. And Sir Klaus, even though that is the case in this land, do not forget I am also capable of breaking all your teeth."

"That's Your Majesty." Claude whistled as the tension in this cell increases by the minute. 

"Damn, this is the worse," Klaus mumbled while Dominique simply clicked his tongue.

There was a five-minute silence in their cell before they heard footsteps approaching. Dominique tried to peek and both their brows furrowed upon catching the people approaching. When the people stood in front of their cells, Rufus and Klaus also turned their head, wide-eyed.

"Get in." A guard wearing a strange uniform pushed Silvia's shoulder. 

"Aw." Silvia glanced at him sharply as she entered the cell with her hand bound behind her.

"You two. Inside!" the other guard pointed at the other two: Noah and Kristina.

"Tsk." Kristina clicked her tongue while Noah glanced at them as if to remember their face. Even so, they still went inside the small cell, smiling awkwardly at the people already inside.

"Your Majesty." Kristina and Noah greeted Rufus formally, although their voice sounded awkward. 

Meanwhile, Silvia just glanced at them and momentarily had an eye contact with Rufus. Her beautiful ebony hair was shorter as it only reached her armpit. Yet, she still looked more stunning than ever.

A shallow breath slipped past her lips. "It's a good thing Kristina and I planned to travel together. Thus, our late arrival."

"Auntie, how come you look prettier as you grow older?" asked Claude while looking up at Silvia. Now, he wouldn't survive if he had to stay in this crowded yet small space overnight.

"Claude, I am also glad to see your handsome face. No wonder even some people bother me about your marriage.." Silvia smiled subtly before turning around to face the bars. "So, how do we get out?"