The Duke's Passion

Meanwhile, far away from the empire, Rufus leaned his side against the tree in a vast garden. Right now, he was attending the world summit — a gathering of sovereigns from empires to the king of smaller kingdoms. It was his first time attending such a gathering since Samael retired earlier than they calculated.

"Your Majesty, your people will look for you if you stay outside for too long." Rufus glanced over his shoulder after hearing Dominique's voice from behind the tree. "I'm just concerned since you nearly went head to head with the emperor of Haimirich Empire."

"That man's virulent tongue deserves to be cut," Rufus stressed, eyes glinting as he recalled what happened earlier today.

During the meeting, the emperor of Haimirich kept pressing Rufus' nerves just because they sat beside each other. Rufus tried to keep their conversation civil and revolve around politics, but that said emperor kept teasing him. In a way, he reminded him of Samael — just the worst version.

"Even so, I appreciate that my lord isn't a terrible person like that man." he nodded, appreciating Samael even more, meeting more people after becoming an emperor himself. "Surely, this position is more suffocating than what it sounds like."

"Of all people, you should understand the other sovereign if they had a few loose screws in the head."

Rufus rocked his head as Dominique had some point. After meeting different kinds of kings and emperors from across the world, and after witnessing how the meetings always played out, Rufus' horizon surely broadened. Part of him was glad to attend this gathering instead of Samael.

The latter didn't have that long of patience to indulge in other people's bullshits. Samael would certainly return to the Great Heart Empire to prepare for a war that started with diplomatic discourtesy.

"Dominique, I heard someone sent an assassin to the representative of the Maganti Empire?" Rufus raised a brow while crossing his arms, breathing in the fresh night breeze in this vast garden where the world summit was being held.

"Well, only our Heart Empire hadn't had a dispute with any of the attendees. The Maganti Empire had its own way of conquering the lands that caught their interest.." Dominique, Rufus's right-hand man, shrugged. "So, it is no surprise that someone will try to take out such vicious people. Well, it will also not be a surprise if someone dies in here. So far, even if people will go missing in every gathering, all the sovereigns will leave the place in one piece."

"This place is an eye-opening experience for sure." Rufus nodded in agreement. "I realized this place had only two types of people: one is the person who does the talking and the other one just observes."

During every meeting, those sovereigns whose lands were prospering would usually keep quiet. Meanwhile, those lower kings would usually speak and banter, standing as a proxy for those wealthy emperors and kings. It was a vicious game of words, as one wrong word could lead to war.

By this, it came clear to Rufus who held the most power amongst everyone: some of them were to be wary of and some who could be a potential ally in the future. At this time, Rufus was one of the emperors that fit the category of those big shots. He adapted well because, on the second day, he met a king from some land who would do his bidding for him.

The main reason why this emperor from Haimirich kept bothering him, because of how quickly Rufus adapted to the circumstances.

"After this gathering, I will drop by to the mainland to attend their wedding." Rufus broke their silence with something that was out of the topic. "I'm certain His Lordship chose this date since he knows very well I will be away from the empire for a while."

A subtle smile appeared on Rufus' unchanging countenance as he shook his head. It wouldn't hurt if he had to come to another place before returning to the empire. Actually, after just three years of being the emperor, Rufus already craved some time to breathe and relax.

This job was far more draining than being a knight.

"I knew you'd say that. I already told everyone." Dominique chuckled, gazing up at the starless night sky. "I'm certain everyone will be there."

"Not everyone. Jayden will not be there."

Dominique chuckled as his eyes softened. "Well, that brother of mine is living the best of his life. He's young, so traveling the world will help him."

"Was he sending you a letter?" Rufus raised a brow as he glanced over his shoulder.

"Apparently, sending letters is not a La Crox style."

"So he didn't?"

"He is sending me letters, Your Majesty." Dominique chuckled as he cocked his head back to shake it lightly. "I mean, we... are all trying to erase the remnants of being a La Crox. Strange, isn't it? The blood that is running through our veins will never change who we are and yet, we kept trying."

There was a slight mockery in Dominique's tone, but Rufus could understand his vassal all too well. They've been together for the past three years as Dominique along with Kristina swore his loyalty to Rufus. Hence, his right and left hands.

"Our past is simply a lesson for our growth, Dom." Rufus' tone grew solemn as he looked ahead. "It will not determine who we are — neither the blood that is pumping into our hearts that keeps us all alive. Only our actions today and tomorrow matter and determine who we are."

Dominique smirked at Rufus' words, gazing up in silence. "I wish... you're right."

"When I became the emperor, although my merits as the military general helped me ascend the throne, it doesn't determine my ruling. My past achievements were simply a preview, and all that hard work will go down the drain if I failed my people."

"But the Heart's Empire is stronger and in much peace than before. Those noble vampires and purebloods such as myself bowed our heads to you." Dominique let out a snicker as he rocked his head.

"That is why our past isn't what determines us, Dom," Rufus repeated in a firmer tone. "Who you think you were and what you did doesn't matter once you decided to change. Some might still see you for the person who they knew you, but even the wariest person would accept the changes if it's sincere."

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EXTRA:

"By the way, do you think Kristina also received a letter from Lilou?" asked Dominique after some time before Rufus would leave for his quarters.

Rufus pressed his lips together and shrugged. "I'm certain she did since she was friends with her ladyship. Even so, I don't think she will attend since she was still on her leave for her honeymoon."

"How weird." Dominique scratched the back of his head. Kristina didn't come with them to the world summit because she got married and was still on a honeymoon. Although the left and right hands of the emperor always bantered as Kristina always nitpick on Dominique, he was somehow used to her presence.

"What do you mean, weird? Kristina is beautiful. Hence, many men will want to take her as their wife."

"Only a man who doesn't know her will think she is a lady who cannot hurt a fly." Dominique clicked his tongue.

Rufus chuckled as he looked back. "But the man she married knew her very well."

"Noah had lost his mind for breaking his engagement to marry that crazy woman." Dominique shook his head and sighed. "I really hope she wouldn't attend Lilou and Hell's wedding so she can give me some break."

Rufus chuckled as he walked forth, pausing in his steps as he caught two figures not far away from his vantage point. Dominique also turned his head in the same direction, sensing this powerful presence from someone.

"Is that the emperor of Haimirich?" Dominique inquired with an arched brow. "He's... strange. He reeks with the pungent smell of death. Now I understand why you let his legal advisor talk you out of your threats of war. He's no joke."

"Mhm." Rufus' eyes veered towards the other person. It was a woman kneeling in front of the man he nearly wages a war to earlier. "And that woman..."

"The soldiers from the Maganti are scattered." Dominique pointed out as he caught more people searching the dark.

Rufus darted his eyes from the two figures before he shrugged. "Whatever trouble that man is trying to cause, our empire will not get caught up with that," he remarked before resuming in his strides, turning a blind eye to what he just saw.

A/N:

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