The Duke's Passion

Chapter 289 - A Royal Order

Meanwhile, in one of the castle towers, Claude was sitting on the window, his feet swaying, hanging outside the window. He hugged his stuffed toy while chewing a piece of gum before he blow a bubble. Once the bubble was big enough, it popped around his lips. Claude didn't remove it as he bats his eyes ever so slowly.

"It had started," he whispered and gazed up at the bleak sky. "This will be a long winter."

"There you are!" Klaus' voice reached him from behind as his uncle approached him. "Hell threw a banquet for everyone. Aren't you going to join?"

Klaus leaned on his side against the concrete wall, arms crossed. "Stefan gave out a royal order. Did you hear about it?"

"No, but it's expected."

"You, did you know about this?" Klaus scrunched his nose up as it seemed he was the only one that was left in the dark about this.

Claude slowly turned his head in Klaus' direction. "It is just the beginning, Uncle. I will stay here, but you have to see things for yourself."

"Are you ordering your uncle?"

"I always order you around." Claude's response brought a frown to Klaus's lips. "Take care, Uncle. I will be safe in here."

Klaus stared at his little nephew before he sighed and ruffled his hair. "Aish! I will come back a little later."

Claude smiled and nodded without saying a word. Klaus glanced at him and let out another sigh before turning around to leave.

'He always acts like a fool, but I'm certain he is worried about Uncle Hell.' Claude uttered internally, shifting his eyes outside. "A royal order for Uncle Hell's head… he surely enjoys doing things grandly."

Claude gazed down and lifted his teddy bear up. He looked at it for a long time before he leaned forward, immediately falling from the tower's window.

"Auron."

*****

In the palace where the delegation of the princess of the Cross Kingdom stayed, Beatrice paused in sipping the tea. She turned her head in the window's direction, while the corner of her lips curled into a smirk.

"I knew he would surprise me," Beatrice whispered, and someone suddenly barged into her room. She turned her head and her eyes immediately landed on her knight's figure, catching the mask that covered the right half of the knight's face.

"The third prince had declared a war against the king. We should leave, Your Highness," said the knight in a solemn and deep voice.

Beatrice chuckled as she leaned back comfortably. "Oh no, I want to see how this will turn out."

"Your Highness."

"What do you think, Zarros?" her smirk remained, with eyes glinting with amusement. "Who will take the seat of the La Crox at the start of the founding celebration? Will it be Hell? Or Stefan?"

"Your Highness." Zarros let out a deep sigh. "This is not something to look forward to. The third prince brought a cursed army with him."

Despite Zarros's remarks, Beatrice chuckled as she peeled her eyes away from him. She didn't show any sign of wanting to leave.

"Hell is very strong but…." She trailed off, and her cunning smirk remained. "… he is not the same as before, Zarros. To mobilize such an army without completely regaining all his strength, do you think he can last that long?"

"Are you saying…"

"Hell will die." Beatrice gazed back at Zarros once again and smiled. "That's why I didn't put my bets on him."

"You sided with the king?"

As soon as Beatrice heard that, a loud laugh escaped her mouth. Zarros furrowed his brows, confused as it seemed that wasn't the case as well.

"Oh, Zarros." She shook her head, recovering from the joke she just heard. "Just guard this palace and don't let a single fly in here. Be it Hell or Stefan's men, don't let them in."

"Your Highness…" Zarros sighed for the nth time as it seemed he couldn't change Beatrice's mind. As he turned around, he halted upon hearing Beatrice's next words.

"Your Highness?" he turned his head back, appalled at what he just heard.

"If Quentin came here, just send him in." She smiled cunningly. "Don't worry about him, Zarros. I think, for the first time in our lives, Quentin and I will have to agree with something."

Zarros's expression turned grim, deadly, but said nothing and left. Seeing his reaction was normal, as Beatrice and Zero had a long and dark history.

"I can forget the scores I have to settle with Quentin for now, Zarros," Beatrice whispered as she looked at the tea, seeing her vicious reflection on it. "This is merely the beginning. I will have his head later."

*****

It wasn't the time yet, but when I felt this strong sense of danger that suddenly enveloped the entire palace, I knew I had to move. Fortunately, after Alphonse's visit, I changed into men's clothing so I could move better and faster.

"I don't know what is going on, but it is coming from the west wing," I muttered, kicking the door open, as I could use this excuse of checking the situation as a Bearer.

Was this the preparation Sam was talking about? A distraction? It could be. In the end, I only brought myself and Lakresha with me. Having a gut feeling bringing more would only be a hindrance.

"Lilou!" As I marched through the hallway, Yul suddenly appeared from who knows where.

"Yul, what is…" I trailed off and drew back because he suddenly grabbed my shoulders, scanning me from head to toe. "Don't go to the west wing."

"Yul, Why? What is going on?" My brows furrowed as my heart suddenly pounded against my chest.

"He had lost his mind, Lilou." Yul ground his teeth as he tightened his grip. "The undeads are inside the palace, and it was Hell and Fabian who had kept them hidden in the west wing."

What? I fixed my eyes on him, attempting to speak, but I couldn't.

"I don't know why Hell would do something as grand as this, but this is his declaration of war against Stefan." Yul's eyes darkened as he bent over and stressed each word. "You have to go."

"What? No." a scoffed slipped past my lips. "If my husband had declared a war, I will fight alongside him. Why do I have to go?"

"Lilou!" His voice thundered as it echoed, but that didn't shake me.

"Yul, will you stop me once again?!" I hissed, as my eyes glinted menacingly. "Again?!" this time, my voice hitched as my body trembled in rage.

Yul looked down momentarily as if he didn't want to do it as well. "I don't want to, but Hell told me I need to get you out of here, sis."

"And why would he tell you that? Hah!" I held Yul's arms tightly. "Does he really see me as a burden? Someone he needs to protect and not someone he could trust his life with?"

"Sis, that is not it. It's —"

"Move," I ordered coldly. No one would change my mind about this. "If that is not the case, move aside and I will be the one who will drag my husband out of this place."

"You don't understand, sis. The king had passed an order for his head and to capture you."

"Then, the more reason I had to take up my weapon." I stared straight into his eyes and brushed his hands away. "This time, I won't let it slide if you stop me once again. Know your place."

"I'm afraid it is not the ninth prince who will stop you tonight, my lady." Suddenly, a voice reached my ear, along with his approaching footsteps.

Fabian.