The Duke's Passion

Chapter 775 This particular night V

Heliot stood in front of the window, hands on his back, deep in thought. Beatrice had left. He didn't accept her request, but he also didn't refuse it. The answer he gave her was a simple, "I will need time to think about it."

Fortunately, Beatrice from the royal family of the Le Blac didn't press on the matter. She only told him, "I'll be waiting, but they didn't have that long patience to wait for a long time," before she bid him farewell.

"Beatrice Le Blac," Heliot whispered monotonously. Even though Heliot hadn't met her until their secret meeting tonight, he had heard about the Le Blac clan and their kingdom. Their clans used to have strong ties, founding the Heart's Kingdom, and lived in it once in harmony until the late king of the Heart's Kingdom was eaten by his greed.

As a result, the founding clans, Le Blac, Von Stein, and Moriarty, left the land. The Crawford and Bloodfang stayed, but everyone already knew the massacre that happened in the Bloodfang while the Crawfords lived as silently as a dead rat in Cunningham within the Heart's Kingdom.

So, Heliot, as a man who was always attentive, especially to these particular clans, had heard about them. For instance, he knew what sort of place the Spade Kingdom was. That was the only place that had these strange beliefs and practices that left a lot of intrigue for Heliot. But what was the most beguiling of all was how the people in the Spade Kingdom take in werewolves as pets for luxury. That practice of taking werewolves as pets or slaves to toy with was the reason Heliot had taken an interest in it at first. Heliot had always been curious about people and their beguiling nature, but his interest never last that long. The reason for this was because his passion for making the land of Karo the best place for humans and vampires to live was his priority. "Lilou Bloodfang, a product of a forbidden ancient spell," he muttered, now understanding the reason she smelled so desirable. The said woman, Lilou, was very pleasing in the eye even as a human. However, when her mien changed, her scent smelled different. It was as though her blood had a mix of a potent aphrodisiac, making any vampire desire her. If not for Heliot's years of abstinence, the temptations Lilou was giving off would affect him even the slightest. Not only that, but as a product of an ancient forbidden spell, the quality of her blood was in the caliber of the king on the mainland of vampires. Meaning, that she was only a second to the Grimsbanne Clan who stand at the top of the blood hierarchy. No wonder people wanted her dead.

That had always been how it was, wasn't it? Since they couldn't have Lilou, as Samael, a pureblooded vampire of La Crox and Grimsbanne, claimed her, she had to die before she could even produce an insufferable bloodline of her blood and the Grimsbanne. "Why… didn't I end her back then?" Heliot wondered, tapping his fingers against his wrist as he held it on his back. "I would've."

Considering all the details laid on the table, Heliot understood the worries of some people who wanted Lilou dead. Lilou's cursed blood, which could produce a bloodline that could challenge the king and the Grimsbanne, was something to be alarmed about. Sure. Lilou probably didn't intend to harm anyone and she might be able to raise her children well. However, no one could tell what that bloodline could do after several generations. It happened in the founding clans of the Heart's Kingdom as the newer generation shared a different sentiment, parting ways instead of living in harmony.

"This time, I will protect you. I promise."

Heliot's eyes drooped, narrowing them as Lilou's promise to him crossed his mind. His jaw tightened, recalling the deep sincerity in her eyes once again. "Why didn't I kill you?" he repeated, thinking about the possibility of him sacrificing his life and the land of Karo for Lilou. "Why…"

Again, her promise rang in his head and he trailed off, pausing from repeating the same question for the umpteenth time today. Just then, Heliot had an idea why he did what he 'probably' did for Lilou. "She had a way with her words," he whispered as her last remarks to him left an impression on him. He wouldn't recall her promise repeatedly if there wasn't something special in it. It could be because of how she said it, the message itself, or the look in her eyes while speaking such a promise. Either way, Heliot had an idea why he chose his own end just to protect her. "She… probably did something that only she can do," he guessed. "After all, I didn't find it repulsive hearing her words of promise." — Heliot would normally deem it insulting if someone wanted to protect him, as that would make him feel the other party was looking down on him. But he finds her promise reassuring in a strange, platonic way. "How conflicting, indeed."

Heliot raised his eyes at the clear night sky, keeping his silence for a very long time. He only stared at the moon, shunning all unnecessary thoughts from infiltrating his peace. "I am now more intrigued… about the current situation of the mainland."

Knock knock

Heliot fluttered his eyelashes, glancing over his shoulder. A knight entered the room, and after he ceremoniously paid respect to the prince, he straightened his back. "The remaining guests of Karo had left their lodging. They were moving in haste; it was hard to follow their tracks," reported the knight sternly, referring to Samael's group. "However, some knights managed and had confirmed their departure from your territory, Your Highness."

"I see…" Heliot rocked his head in understanding. "And the small unit I told you to gather?"

"They had discreetly left Karo, Your Highness. There were no eyewitnesses."

"Good." Heliot nodded, pleased at the report. "Gather another unit and send them to check the current state of affairs on the mainland."

"I will do so immediately, Your Highness."

"And another unit to the Cross Kingdom." Heliot's eyes sharpened. "Investigate the Princess named Beatrice Le Blac. I would like to know her connections on the mainland."

"At once, Your Highness."

Heliot let out a shallow breath as he listened to the knight's footsteps as he left. His eyes were still sharp and his expression was solemn. For obvious reasons, Heliot was expecting the worst after this night. Knowing Samael's plans and their destination, Heliot was aware of the brewing tension that would explode at the right time in the Spade Kingdom. "The land… of the remaining Moriarty. He is the only person I didn't want to wage a war with."

Under the same moon and dark sky, the restlessness in Heliot's heart was felt by many. For reasons unknown, the air and the silence on this particular night felt especially unsettling and filled with uncertainty. No one had any idea what tomorrow would bring or if tomorrow would even come just as quickly as how the night fell. Regardless of that, everyone only had one choice, and that was to survive this seemingly endless night. – END OF VOLUME 10 –

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