The Duke's Passion

Chapter 317 - Heliot Is Not Hell

I smiled until my eyes were squinting, loving every second I could see the anger in his eyes. It was a surprise to me as well upon discovering this knowledge. Tristan, Zero's chief shadow guard, was his son. No wonder a person like Zero, who wouldn't even trust anyone to make him tea, trusted Tristan.

"It was a wrong assumption to think you are heartless, Your Majesty." My response caused him to grip my shoulder tighter, but I ignored it. "Because if you are, you wouldn't keep the bastard you had with a turned vampire."

His pupils dilated, hearing my remarks. "Surprised that I know about that too?" a smirk resurfaced on my lips. "I was wrong on thinking you are not passionate, Zero, because you surely are."

"Let him go." He hissed, and I could tell he wouldn't hesitate on killing me if I pushed him too far.

"Of course, I plan to let him go. I told you, I only kept him here so he wouldn't get hurt outside." I smiled gently, letting out a shallow breath as I reached for his collar. "You are, after all, still an ally I will need."

Zero squeezed my shoulder tightly before he let me go. "What do you want?"

"What I want… is rather simple, Your Majesty," I smirked, withdrawing my hand from his collar. "An alliance between you and me, not between you and my clan. It's simple, isn't it?"

"You want a blood contract with me?" he asked, eyes burning, but I chuckled, shaking my head.

"No, I would be foolish to think you will easily agree on an unfair blood contract just like that one." I glanced at Tristan, whose life was connected to me through a blood contract. Thanks to my experience tagging along with Stefan in the past, I applied all the experimenting knowledge I learned from it.

"Hah…" Zero chuckled in ridicule, staring at me like a beast staring at its prey. "Then, are you telling me this alliance will hold a middle ground of simple trade?"

"Yes. You've been in constant dispute with Stefan and everyone knows it is only a matter of time before a war between Spade and this kingdom will break out. I will support you and you will support me." My smirk stretched wider. "Marriage and blood contract aside, isn't this what the plan all along?"

"Hah… I guess you are not afraid of betrayals for wanting an alliance without the reassurance of blood pact."

A chuckle slipped past my lips as I assisted myself to stand up. I walked towards the cell, unlocking and pushed it open. "Do not worry, Your Majesty. I will make sure you and I will trust each other. Tristan, dear, break those chains, can you?"

Tristan's eyes glowed in red, gnashing his teeth as he pulled the chains with all his might. Blood spurted from his wounds as he struggled, making me smirk at the sight of it. I felt Zero stand behind me. His aura felt more alarming than ever.

"Trust, huh?" his gaze lingered on my back. "You've really changed, and it gives me mixed emotions about this."

"I didn't change, Your Majesty." I turned and faced him squarely. "The Lilou you've met first is the changed one. I just returned to how I was."

We stared at each other, listening to the sound of Tristan's hissing along with the chains he was struggling to break. I felt no remorse in doing this, nor I was afraid of Zero's retaliation later on.

"I hope you will find your stay in my estate pleasing, Your Majesty." I performed a curtsy, not waiting for him to speak as I left him with Tristan. Before I turned to leave, I looked back and saw him enter the cell. In the end, Zero still had to help Tristan with the chains.

I smirked. Of course, Tristan wouldn't be able to break those chains on his own. Zero knew Tristan would be either choke to death or lose his limbs if he wanted to escape the chains. I made sure that would be the outcome without anyone's help, after all.

'I'm just starting, Zero.' My eyes glinted as I trudged away. 'The best is yet to come.'

*****

When I exited the underground dungeon, my brows furrowed upon laying my eyes on Yul. He was just standing outside the entrance, wearing his usual poker face.

"Were you worried?" I asked as I continued to walk away while he followed me from behind.

"I will always worry about you, Your Grace."

A weak smile resurfaced on my lips. "How funny. Sivi said she doesn't worry about me anymore, but you always worry about me."

"I trust you just like how Silvia trust you, but worrying about you simply comes naturally," Yul replied in his same stoic tone. I was used to his stubbornness at this point — not that I found it displeasing.

"Will you resign to bed now?" he asked when I didn't respond to him. "Or, you…"

"I will have to check my mailbox," I answered without beating around the bush. "Prepare Bella for me."

"You're going yourself again?"

"Of course. Since when did I let any of you receive his letters?" I cocked my head back, casting Yul a knowing look. He sighed, frowning as he had been displeased about my ambiguous movements regarding Prince Heliot.

"I don't know why you are so interested in Prince Heliot that you always bother receiving his letters personally. Not that we will peek at it." Yul complained and clicked his tongue.

"I didn't mean to make you feel that I don't trust you, Yul." I stopped in my tracks and faced him. "If there is a person I entrust my life with, that would be you."

"Then, why are you like this with Prince Heliot?"

I pursed my lips and smiled weakly. Yul's frown grew more gloomy.

"You don't like him, do you?" he asked the question he had been restraining from asking me all this time. "Lilou, Prince Heliot is not Hell."

"Yul, please prepare Bella for me." I cut this conversation upon his last remarks. "I had a long day, and I wanted to end it in a good mood."

Yul's eyes flickered with sadness as he hung his head low. "Yes, Your Grace."

With that being said, Yul left to prepare my steed. I watched my brother's back as he walked away, feeling sorry for him.

'Heliot is not Hell... hah, of course, Yul.. No one can replace Sam.'