The Duke's Passion

Chapter 306 - The End And The New Beginning IV

Meanwhile, somewhere in the east wing palace. Zero smiled brightly as he watched the darkness above slowly vanish.

"Oh, my… did she like the gift?" he chuckled in delight. "Of course she did."

"Your Majesty."

Zero peeled his eyes away from the gloomy sky as he turned his head to Tristan. "There you are and you look, oh… that's deep a wound."

He gazed at his right-hand man from head to toe and could instantly tell how intense the battle he got into. Tristan was almost covered in blood, and the most distinct of all was the deep wound across his face.

"He is just as monstrous as they said." Tristan approached Zero, stopping several steps away from him, and planted his fist across his chest. "If the Duke of Grimsbanne didn't die, I am unsure if I will be able to return. My apologies, Your Majesty."

"Why are you apologizing for?"

"I am incompetent, my king." Tristan hung his head low as his battle just now made him realize there were individuals like Fabian who existed.

Zero let out a chuckle, shaking his head sideways. "My, he had died, and you lived, yet he killed your spirit. That butler never ceased to amaze me."

"Anyway, he is dead now," Zero continued, smacking his lips and laid his palms open. "Where is it?"

Tristan glanced at Zero's palm and pursed his lips into a thin line. His action made Zero furrow his brows.

"Maleficent. Where is it?" Zero inquired in a low tone, narrowing his eyes as Tristan raised his head.

"It's gone, Your Majesty."

Zero cocked his head, appalled. "Gone?"

"It turned into dust, just like its owner," Tristan explained, keeping it short. "My apologies, Your Majesty. It seems that Maleficent only exists because of him."

"Haha… hahaha!" Zero laughed, startling the dejected Tristan as the latter gazed up.

"It's gone?" He clapped, running his fingers through his hair. "Just like him? Pfft—!"

"Your Majesty…"

Zero's laughter lasted for a while before he took a deep breath, eyes flickering with malice as he gazed up. "That damn bastard… that thing won't just disappear, Tristan."

"But, Your Majesty. It turned into dust when I touched it." Tristan affirmed, afraid Zero was suspecting him of stealing it.

"Oh, Tristan…" Another brief chuckle escaped Zero and the corner of his lips curled up into a smirk. "Send people and search for them."

"Your Majesty?"

"That thing wouldn't just disappear, Tristan… unless it's not real." The smile on Zero's face disappeared, facing Tristan solemnly. "Conduct a secret search."

Tristan was lost in words momentarily, confused at Zero's words. Find who? Fabian? They already died, though. But knowing Zero, his king could be irrational most of the time, but he wouldn't speak nonsense with such intensity.

Zero peeled his eyes away from his chief shadow knight, gazing at the capital from his high vantage point. "I need to make sure they are truly dead. Because if not… they outsmart everyone, including us, and that... irks me."

*****

In the cold palace, Claude opened his eyes, staring at the gloomy sky as the snow started falling. He raised an arm, wiping the blood on his upper lip.

"It was a long night," he murmured, eyes still on the sky while laying on the grass. "Uncle Klaus."

His eyes softened as the ground underneath him felt colder than ever. He didn't get to see everything unfold, but he was aware of those who had perished. His heart could feel and hear the mourning hearts, the silent cheers of the victors, and the screaming of the dead.

"I hope we can all survive this cold winter," He murmured once again. "Because it's only just the beginning."

*****

Meanwhile, in one of the Remington's estates where Ramin and Charlotte were, the two of them turned their eyes in the palace's direction. Soon, even everyone had set their eyes in the same direction, watching as the darkness that had covered the entire palace slowly dissipate.

"Kristina…" Ramin whispered in worry as his heart just suddenly raced. "Captain…"

"Ramin." He snapped when Charlotte suddenly called him. He turned his head to Charlotte, who was standing a few meters away from him, staring at somewhere.

"We should leave," she said, taking him by surprise as she set her eyes on him. "His Grace… lost. The royal knights are heading this way. We should flee."

"Hah… we did nothing wrong, Charlie," Ramin argued in disbelief. "At least, not yet, so there's no reason for us to flee."

Charlotte was always smiling and expressive, but her expression right now was grim and solemn. "We have to go." She repeated.

"Do you really believe they will not find fault in us? Even if we are proven innocent, we can't let them have their hands on our weapons." Charlotte continued as she gripped her bow tightly. "We did nothing wrong yet, but you and I can agree that we had committed treason in our hearts. I am going against this monarchy, Ramin. His reign… this madness is not what my heart will ever tolerate."

Ramin stayed silent and stared at Charlotte for a very long time. A sigh slipped past his lips and nodded.

"You're right, Charlie. We had already committed treason the second we questioned the monarch." He took a deep breath, glancing at the people who were not paying attention to them. "His madness… is also what my Labyrinth wants to break."

They stared at each other for a minute, sharing a moment of silence, and then, they're gone. Where they went, no one knew. However, people would only notice their disappearance once the people in the palace searched for them.

*****

"He died…" Kristina wept, clenching her teeth as she pressed her dagger into Lena's chest. "She failed."

Lena gnashed her teeth, stopping the dagger from going deeper. However, she had lost too much blood and her life was slowly slipping away from her grasp.

"Hell… is already bound to happen —"

"Shut up." Kristina's eyes sharpened as she planted her other hand over the hilt to put more pressure on it. "Just die you. Your existence doesn't make this world a better place."

The veins in Kristina's eyes reddened as she watched the life in Lena's eyes fade away. It was not her who was dying, but Kristina felt she was in more pain than her dead opponent.

Rufus' death… Samael's… Fabian… she had respected those three. And now, they're all gone and who knew what could've happened after this. She didn't even know if they could hold a funeral those three deserved.

"I won't forgive you… the La Crox. Their existence… doesn't make this world a better place." She mumbled, chuckling as tears spilled from her eyes.

"Kristina." Suddenly, a hand was placed on her shoulder.

Noah stood behind her, squeezing her shoulder lightly. "We should go before the people of the king can find us. They won't surely let us get away from this that easily."

"I don't care. I will fight them all." Kristina stared at Lena's lifeless eyes. "This kingdom will fall if the La Crox's reigns continue, and as a bearer of the Order, I must do my duty."

"Miss Monroe, don't be impulsive. If we all die, their…" Noah choked, as he still couldn't believe the outcome. "… their deaths will be all in vain. Just think of Sir Barrett and His Grace, even Mister Fabian. We can't let their will die on us."

Kristina gnashed her teeth, wanting to argue with him, but she couldn't. No matter how angry she was, Rufus would condemn an impulsive and reckless suicide mission.

"He is the only noble person in this kingdom, Lord Noah…" came out a muffled cry. "Captain… he died honorably."

"Yes, they all did, Kristina." Noah suppressed his emotions, but his eyes also started welling up. "That's why we have to carry on for their sake."

The two of them stayed in silence, their hearts weeping for their loss. However, no one was able to find their trace.