The Duke's Passion

Chapter 766 Tilly likes her

"That night of the regression… what happened to us?" Florence balled her hand into a tight fist, staring intently at Fabian's back. She waited for his reply, but all she heard for the next minute was the silent whisper of the night.

'What happened that night of the regression?' Fabian repeated in his head, and a glint flashed across his sharp eyes. Although Florence couldn't see the solemn expression dominating his face, anyone could tell what happened… was something he didn't want to talk about. "You remembered, did you?" Florence continued when another minute had passed and Fabian didn't answer her. "I heard a voice in my head that night, brother. But after that, I didn't have any control over my body and the darkness devour me completely."

She took a step. "Tell me. What happened that night?"

"Nothing." Fabian snapped his eyes and looked back at her nonchalantly. "Nothing happened. After you collapsed, I also collapsed. When I woke up, I was back in the duchy."

"I don't believe you." Florence stomped her feet towards him and grabbed his coat. "You're lying."

"And why would I lie to you?" he cocked his head to the side. "I don't have a reason to hide the truth, especially to you, Your Highness. You said it yourself, my brother didn't value you as his wife and you are irrelevant to this land right now. I don't mind being called a lunatic, but I'm not a liar."

Her grip on his coat tightened, glaring at him straight in the eye. "That's… why I can't understand," she breathed out. "You don't seem the person who is anything but a liar. That's why I can't understand why… are you lying to me right now?"

"I'm not."

"You are, right now, you are." The tightness in her chest felt inexplicable, shaking her head sideways. "I don't know you that much, but I dislike you to the bone — you and your brother. Your brother torments me for neglecting me for years… but you torment me even more. At the very least, Rufus had always been clear of his feelings and stayed within the line. He never crossed it, unlike how you shamelessly toe the line until it blurs."

Florence slowly let him go but kept her eyes on him. "I don't know why you were there that night and helped me. Nor do I understand why did you return my memories. Lie all you want; I'm tired of everyone thinking they can dictate how I live my life."

"I never lectured you on how to live yours —"

"You don't have to say it to send the message." She took two steps back from him. "Don't show you care for me if you're just going to be a jerk, brother. It turns my stomach."

With that being said, Florence turned her back against him and took a step away. She stopped when she heard him casually say, "don't call me brother."

"Calling you brother is a reminder for me that I shouldn't associate with you or with Rufus," she explained without looking back at him. "And to be independent to avoid being used as a political tool for anyone."

Florence bit her lower lip as her eyes blazed. Her steps didn't falter, wanting to get away from him as fast as she could. That man… only knew how to break her head and leave all these questions in her head. Ever since the first time they met that night, all he did was stir her emotions. Was giving her clarifications? Or answering her serious questions too much to ask? Sure, he saved her back then and even took her out of the dark. However, she didn't know whether to thank him for this gesture since Fabian was doing all this for his own selfish reason.

His help for her was unintentional. "I hate him," she whispered, picking up her pace to get away from the land of Karo with a more determined heart to prove herself. "I hate everyone."

****

Meanwhile, Fabian stared at the end of the alley where Florence disappeared to. He stood still, keeping his eyes to where she left, wearing this unusual solemn front. "She's truly beautiful, don't you think?" he snapped his eyes after the prolonged silence, raising his eyes, only to see Tilly standing on the roof of the old building. He took a step to the side when Tilly jumped, landing three steps from him soundlessly. "Rufus' wife is, indeed, beautiful." Tilly nodded, looking at him almost innocently. "Do you like her?"

"No." He smiled. "But I think Lady Tilly likes her."

Tilly blinked twice. "Tilly likes her."

"I figured."

"But you like her too." Tilly peeled her eyes from him to the direction where Florence left. "I wonder… if that has something to do with her beguiling personality."

Fabian chuckled with his lips closed. "She is an unusual one. For a pureblood… she is rather human."

"Humane," Tilly replied without taking her eyes off of the end alley. "Being humane isn't exclusive to humans, Fabian."

"Apologies, my lady. You are right. After all, I am a mere human and yet, I don't have the heart to sympathize with the tragedy of others." He rocked his head in agreement, arching a brow as his eyes fell on her side profile. "Are you sad that I'll be away, my lady?"

"Mhm. Tilly likes Fabian a lot." Tilly slowly returned her gaze to him. "I want to send you off, but I found out something interesting."

The side of his lips curled up into a subtle smile. "Very well. I appreciate your kind gesture."

"Why did you send her away?" she asked just as he turned. "You didn't tell Samael or Rufus about what you remembered. Yet, you took the risk of returning her memories. Heliot's sister will run away... just as you planned."

"Then, that's better." Fabian smiled subtly. "At the very least, I don't have to end everyone the second time. You do not have to double-check, Lady Tilly. I do not plan on returning to the Heart's Kingdom to end Silvia."

Fabian resumed his steps and whispered, "although… I can't guarantee that Cassara won't. After all, she had seen everything I had seen the night of the regression."

**** A/N: Daily updates will resume. I wasn't home for days and couldn't write as much on the phone.

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