The Duke's Passion

Chapter 771 This particular night

When Samael entered the room, he caught Lilou marching towards the stand where the decanter of wine and glass were at. She stopped midway, glancing in his direction, and then continued. "Hey," he called, approaching Lilou. "Is everything alright?"

"Is everything alright?" Lilou let out a dry laugh, pouring herself a glass of wine. She unhesitatingly chugged down the beverage, hissing at the heat lining her throat. "Are you asking because you don't know?" she turned to Samael, showing miff in her eyes. "No, Sam. Everything is not alright." ael pressed his lips into a thin line. "You misunderstood," he said, taking the empty glass from her hand.

"I am not asking the situation, but you. Are you alright? Can you endure everything for now?" he asked, pouring himself a glass, which he drank in one go.

"Do I have a choice?" she returned after hearing him gulp. "What can you do if I can't endure it?"

"Then stay." Samael poured wine into the glass again, holding the bottom, and offered it to her. "You don't have to go if you don't want to. You and Law and maybe Tilly can stay in here."

Meanwhile...

"Your Majesty."

Rufus paused from feeding his steed when he heard Claude's voice. He turned his head, seeing Claude march in his direction. "Is there something you need me for?" Rufus asked while Claude stopped a few steps from him. "Yes." Determination flickered across Claude's eyes, placing his hand on the sword's handle that was clinging to his waist. "Since Mister Fabian and my uncle left, can you spar with me?"

Rufus glanced down at where Claude's hands were, before slowly raising his eyes back to his eyes. "Shouldn't you conserve your energy since we might meet enemies before we can even reach the Spade Kingdom?" he blinked. Rufus just had an intense spar with Fabian before his brother left, but he didn't mind. Actually, Rufus and Klaus had been sparring as well before the latter left for the Heart's Kingdom with Stefan. All Rufus did during their stay in the land of Karo was spar with different people nonstop. It was actually him who needed to conserve his energy, but the dominant part of him didn't think that was necessary. "Since Quentin had sent his undead, I'm certain he retained his memories. I heard he nearly succeeded in conquering the South Minowa if not for Uncle Hell arriving on time," Claude said solemnly. The determination in his eyes continuously increased. "Since I wasn't there back then, I don't have any notion how strong our enemies were."

"I do not want to burden everyone anymore. So... I want to keep getting better and for that, I need to keep sparring with only the best," he continued, his gaze at Rufus unfaltering. "Please tell me if you are available."

Rufus studied Claude's demeanor. The latter was a confident young man, and Rufus couldn't blame Claude for being arrogant, as his skills and strength wouldn't pale with anyone. But for Claude to ask Rufus as if this favor would mean the world to him, Rufus was rather in awe. "How can I refuse if you are this determined?" Rufus smiled subtly, nodding in agreement. "I have to warn you, though. I haven't been holding myself back."

"That's better." Claude's eyes lit up as he grinned from ear to ear, making Rufus chuckle. Rufus told Claude to give him a moment as the former fed his beloved horse, Bella. When he finished, the two of them headed to the courtyard, where they had multiple rounds of intense battle as if their life depended on it.