The Duke's Passion

Chapter 237 - Putting Back The Missing Piece

[A"N: To avoid any confusion, this is the continuation of Lilou's dream in 226]

After Lilou mistaken Stefan as someone who had been there for her all this time, he came to check what happened to the vampire he let loose. The only traces left were bloods that trailed in a certain direction, which he followed until the traces stopped.

Stefan squatted down, brushing the slightly elevated ground, and soon saw the clothes of the corpse. The corner of his lips curled into a smirk because this was no doubt the abnormal he let loose.

"What an interesting girl," He muttered approvingly, thinking about the girl who clung to him as if they knew each other. "Considering her petite body, not only did she manage to escape, she killed an abnormal and buried it."

A soft wave of a chuckle escaped his mouth thinking about it. "Grimsbanne is surely an interesting place to…" Stefan trailed off upon sensing the presence behind him.

He turned his head back ever so slowly. His eyes caught her petite figure standing not far away from him.

Lilou.

"What are you doing here?" asked Lilou in a weak and tiny voice, shifting her eyes towards the spot where she buried the vampire. "I told you don't leave it's dangerous."

"I came out for a walk," Stefan explained as he stood up and faced her. He studied her lifeless expression and the dullness in her eyes as if life itself barely mattered.

Lilou remained silent for a moment before she asked. "Did you see it?"

The eerie air that exuded from her made Stefan smile. In his mind, this human girl was pushed to the brink of madness after her encounter with the abnormal. Still, it was commendable that she hadn't snapped completely.

"See what?" Stefan asked, feigning ignorance. "Is there something you're hiding?"

"Nothing." Lilou shook her head, lying without batting an eye before turning around. "Let's go back."

Stefan smirked as his eyes glinted in amusement. He watched her walk away, noticing her gaze over her shoulder before continuing.

"Should I bring out her full potential?" he muttered while the corner of his lips stretched broader. If Lilou could exude such aura despite being weak, what else could she do if she was skilled?

Since Lilou was a peasant and a human born in Grimsbanne, using her for his own benefit wasn't a terrible idea. Moreover, who would suspect someone like her?

"I wonder if she will be useful or end up being useless?" Stefan let out a low chuckled before he followed her tracks and they returned to her shack.

****

Ever since that night, the complicated relationship between Lilou and Stefan started. She still came to the field during the day and return to her shack at night. No one noticed Lilou's change as she still managed to keep her smile in front of them, nor they knew the monster that was being nourished inside her vulnerable mind, and the person who was taking advantage of it.

"Lexx!" Lilou called out at Stefan, who was resting under the shade of a tree.

Stefan drawled his head in her direction. A smile appeared on his face. It had been half a year since they met, and their relationship… Lilou still relied on him while he favored her greatly.

Lilou dashed to his side and happily smiled. "You returned?"

"Did you miss me?" he asked, raising his hand and placed it on her head.

"How can I not? You've been away for two months!" Lilou complained as she brushed his hand away.

"I've brought you chocolates on the way. So, don't be mad." Stefan chuckled as he shoved his hand inside his cloak and tossed her a bar of chocolate. Lilou caught it excitedly and unwrapped it to eat.

For the past half a year, Lilou had surprised him in many areas as she was a quick learner and she could adapt to any situation. But the longer he associated with her, there was this fear that had been growing in his heart, especially seeing her smile so brightly.

That was, Lilou was a naturally born monster, and that fateful night… there was no doubt something in her head snapped.

"This is unfair, Lexx!" she frowned as she munched the chocolate bar. "You can't just bribe me with chocolates just so you can get away from leaving me!"

"I told you I need to do something important."

Her eyes glinted as she caught his gaze. "More important than me?"

Catching the glint that flickered across her eyes and the air that exuded from her sent a chill down his spine. The monster he had nourished out of curiosity had started to pose a threat to him. If not for the fact that Lilou emotionally depended on him, Stefan was certain Lilou would be a troublesome fellow to deal with.

"Lilou, on my way here, I heard some incident that had been going on in the neighboring towns." Stefan's tone grew solemn as he stared at her straight in the eye. "The previous culprits about those incidents were all dead now. So, why are you continuing their crimes?"

"Continuing their crimes?" Lilou tilted her head to the side, a misplaced innocence flashing across her eyes. "I had my own pattern, so that sounds like an insult. Also, how is it called a crime when I'm merely trying to uproot evilness?"

Stefan let out a shallow breath. "What are you going to do if you are caught? Your victims are noblemen and they'd been searching for the culprit."

"They can search all they want, but they won't find out." Lilou smiled sweetly as she offered him a chocolate bar. "Don't worry about it. It's your fault for leaving me, so I need to kill some time. Here, have a bite!"

Her remorseless response that was justifying her actions and nonchalant attitude made him narrow his eyes. Stefan thought if he stayed far away from her for a little while, it would calm her urge for violence, but it seemed it only heightened her desire for destruction.

"Lexx," Lilou called, receiving no response from him. "Are you not happy? I thought if I worked diligently, you will be happy once you hear the news. Why are you looking at me as if I'm some sort of monster?"

"It's not that I'm not happy, and I don't see you as a monster. I'm just… worried."

"I told you, you don't have to." She frowned as she dropped her hand and her eyes fell on it.

Stefan sighed heavily, as coaxing her was his top priority. Making Lilou his enemy now would only cause him more trouble, as he had been dealing with a lot of stuff.

"There, there." He patted her head gently, making her raise his head. "I'm worried, not because I doubt your abilities. No matter how strong you are, I will always be worried."

Lies. Her mind whispered, but Lilou still smiled brightly. "Is that so?"

"Mhm." A faint sigh slipped past his lips as he stared at her. There was also one reason he didn't want to kill her despite that she knew too much and she had been posing a threat to him.

That was, Lilou only had Stefan in her eyes. No one around him had looked at Stefan the way she looked at him.

"I'm really happy to see you back, Lexx." Lilou expressed happily, making his eyes soften.

"Me too."

Both of them smiled and the air around them grew light. However, none knew that behind her sweet smile, something wicked was hovering in her head.

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