The Duke's Passion

Chapter 676 Not an easy fix

"There's something wrong with Mister Fabian."

Samael looked down at his son as he tucked him into bed. Law's eyes were full of concern, just as keen as his father to detect something was off.

"His problem is not an easy fix, but he's Fabian and he has his ways to settle things down on his own." He sported a smile, brushing his son's forehead with the back of his hand. "Rest for tonight. We'll set off before dawn and see your mother."

Law pressed his lips into a thin line as he nodded, closing his eyes to force himself to sleep even when he didn't feel like it. He was already grateful that despite his father could feel very dangerous at times, he still tried to be a father to him.

As he watched his son sleep, Samael sat on the edge of the mattress. His legs spread open, resting his elbow on his thigh, and buried his face in his palm. A deep exhale slipped past his lips, hearing a faint creak coming from the door. And yet, he didn't raise his head to check who was standing in the corner, looking at him in silence.

"I told you it's a terrible decision," Tilly spoke after several minutes of silence. "He'll never get the peace he wants with your sister, retrieving the memories you erased from him."

Samael pulled down his hands, only for his eyes to look at Tilly. He glanced over his shoulder, checking if Law was already asleep. Despite his son's chest moving up and down heavily, Samael pushed himself out of the bed and walked towards the terrace.

"Not here, Tilly," he said, glancing at her. He didn't invite her to come with him, but Tilly followed him until the two of them were on the balcony.

She stood by the door, staring at his back as he leaned his arms against the railings. There was a long and thick silence between them and all she could hear for minutes was his continuous, deep sighs.

"I had no choice." He broke the silence with his incredibly low voice, gazing at the heavy darkness from afar. "I erased his memories with our blood contract, but I knew one day he would be able to regain them again. It's just a matter of when. All I can hope is Fabian being able to deal with them after years without them."

the idea. I need Fabian, Tilly. The Fabian before he became the butler and the holder of Maleficent. We need him, I need that Fabian."

"If it's that easy, he would've dealt with them without your help."

"I know… but it's been so long ago." Another sigh escaped his mouth as he ruffled his tousled silver hair. "Fabian had lived differently… he lived far better than when he was my father's henchman. I'm certain his will was no longer Fabian's."

"If you were that certain, you wouldn't be sighing continuously like this."

"But if I was a hundred percent uncertain…" he paused, turning around to look at the only person who knew things more than what she appeared. "I wouldn't even propose the idea. I need Fabian, Tilly. The Fabian before he became the butler and the holder of Maleficent. We need him, I need that Fabian."

Tilly opened her mouth, only to close them once again. Her eyes studied his eyes, and all she saw was desperation to use everything and everyone at his disposal to settle this situation. She couldn't blame him — his wife, son, and daughter were at stake and if he didn't step up on his game, he would lose them.

"What Fabian did for my father, and for that witch — Alphonse's mother — doesn't matter. I accepted him and fulfilled his wish to forget to let him live." Samael pivoted on his heel once again and turned his back against her. "It's time for him to embrace those things after years of running away from them."

"I don't think that's the only problem," Tilly voiced out. "Fabian was the cause Silvia had to sacrifice Rufus's men, subsequently putting an end to their story. It would've been better if he didn't feel the slightest guilt for his brother's misery, but he was."

There was a long silence between them, knowing this part of the story that even the people involved didn't know. It was a complicated detail of the past — a past that should've been long forgotten. A part of the past Fabian ran away from instead of facing them and leaving them behind settled.

"This reversal of time… is forcing us to face the matters in the past that we thought we had settled," Samael mumbled, thinking of all the things that had happened so far after the reversal of time.

Just like Fabian, who used to be one of the people who worked for the previous king — Samael's father — in the shadows, Cassara also had to face this confrontation she tried to ignore before her untimely death. Like Rufus, who had to express his heart while he could, knowing he wouldn't be able to in the future, Stefan also chose something that differed from his original decision.

It was neither good nor bad. Some could call it finding closure, others might consider it as something to make up for their regret. But Samael simply considered it as a mess.

"People's heart… and an inner turmoil is the worst enemy of all. Having enemies to fight is easier than being your own enemy," he added under his breath, closing his eyes to rest them for a bit. Meanwhile, Tilly remained silent as she walked towards the railings and stood beside him.

"Although I said it's a terrible decision, I didn't stop you because I believe in Fabian." Her voice was low and soft. "I'll monitor him closely."

"Thanks." He cast her a side-eye, only to notice the faint spark in her eyes. "What is it?"

"Since I will be busy with Fabian's condition, you'll have to carry a heavier burden on your shoulder." He frowned at her remark but kept silent. "Claude… there were two Claude in this lifetime. The younger and the older one."

Tilly slowly set her solemn eyes on him. "To put it simply, there should only be one that is alive in this lifetime. Samael, that also means…" his eyes dilated as he listened to her conclusion as he felt this heaviness placed on his shoulders that nearly caused his knees to tremble at the weight of it.

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