The Duke's Passion

"How do we get out?"

"My lady, I don't think that is the plan." Kristina voiced out awkwardly.

"Hey, you two. I heard you got married, but why are you here?" Klaus followed, darting his eyes between Kristina and Noah with an arched brow. "You didn't accompany His Majesty to the devil's den, but here you are!"

"Klaus, where we spend our honeymoon is ours to decide." Noah frowned as he glanced at Klaus, the person who never changed.

"They are correct, Klaus." Rufus shook his head as he ran his fingers through his hair. This was awkward, he thought.

Silence. After Rufus spoke, none of them made a sound as if an angel just walked by. Claude's eyes glossed over their gloomy expression. It was all obvious this wasn't just uncomfortable; it was suffocating and draining.

"Awkward..." he muttered only to raise a brow as he heard light footsteps.

Soon, the sound of footsteps caressed everyone's ears as they gazed at the bars to see who it was. Their thoughts at this point leaned closer to a more negative one; there was another prisoner, or they probably wanted to kill them by stuffing everyone in this particular cell.

They all sighed in relieved when they saw the familiar butler standing across from them. Although there were hidden grudges against him before Fabian came.

"My. What a lovely sight to behold. I hope you bond well." As usual, Fabian's smile made his eyes squint into mere slits.

"I'll kill him," Klaus grumbled while Claude tried to stop him.

"Uncle, calm down. He might change his mind," came out a quiet and careful voice.

"I'll dismember him," Dominique mumbled in irritation, but Rufus slapped his chest with the back of his hand.

"Don't taunt him," Rufus remarked under his breath, knowing Fabian's personality.

"Mister Fabian, will you let us out?" Noah inquired helplessly, holding onto the bars.

Fabian's countenance stayed the same before he raised a key. "My. Please don't kill me as soon as I unlock the gate. We were told we could only make one trip. Thus, we cannot go back and forth. That is why I waited for everyone to arrive to make it one trip without breaking a royal decree."

"Of course, we understand, Fabian." this time, Rufus sported a kind smile.

"Huh..." Fabian averted his eyes, dropping the key in his hand. "I will wait for you outside."

With that being said, he kicked the key closer to the cell before he walked away. Rufus rarely smiled at Fabian, but everytime he did, that only meant he truly meant to kill Fabian.

"God damn — Fabian!!"

*******

When they all reached the mansion by chasing after Fabian, Lilou welcomed them all. She was gorgeous as ever, with that lovely smile plastered on her face.

"Goodness! Did you all travel together?" she asked in excitement, watching them drag their feet towards the stairs. Her question made everyone stop, raising her brows as her beloved guests just looked at her.

"Lilou, what do you mean by did we all travel together?" Klaus inquired in a dead tone, cocking his head to the side.

"Well, because you all came together?"

"What about the one trip bullshit Fabian was talking about?" asked Dominique, although he already had an idea it was a lie. All of them just needed to hear Lilou say it.

Lilou furrowed her brows as she chuckled in confusion. "What one trip?" to her surprise, they all laughed in mockery. Rufus even loosened his cravat while Dominique cracked her knuckles. Klaus even revealed his fangs, which he licked.

"We'll come back later, my lady." Rufus smiled at her before he vanished from his spot, as if he wasn't dragging his feet moments ago. Klaus and Dominique also disappeared, following Rufus. The three of them were the longest stuck in the prison, so the rest didn't bother hunting down Fabian.

"Uhm... what just happened?" Lilou darted her eyes at Silvia, then at Claude, before setting them to Noah and Kristina.

"Oh, dear. Let's just say they miss each other." Silvia took the last step and opened her arms to embrace Lilou. "I miss you, sister."

Lilou smiled as she hugged her back. "It's good to see you too, Sivi."

After that, Lilou also greeted Claude, Kristina, and Noah before accompanying them inside.

EXTRA:

"They're having fun." Tilly gazed down, sighting Dominique, running around searching for Fabian. "How lively. I like weddings."

"My lady, I'm certain they will really kill Mister Fabian this time." Charlotte, who also grown close to Tilly, stood beside her in the balcony. She cupped her cheeks, leaning against the railings.

"If Master gave this order to us, we would've fetched them when they came," she added, shaking her head. "But I can't blame Master. We were all busy preparing and helping the madam."

"Samael probably knew Fabian will do this. That's why he gave this order to him." Charlotte glanced at Tilly's pale face and sighed. "If Samael told him to receive the guests properly, Fabian will not dare."

"My lady, can it be master simply forgot?"

"Hmm... perhaps you are right."

Charlotte pouted as she stare at her for more. "My lady, you're always so negative and dark. Sometimes, I understand why you and Mister Fabian get along very well."

"You get along as well."

"And we get along too!" Charlotte's smile brightened. In her mind, the only people that she get along with were strange people.

"But you don't get along with Ramin. You two always fight." Tilly pointed out.

"We do, I think? Since we haven't killed each other."

"Charlie, why did you become a maid?" Tilly inquired out of nowhere, catching her off guard. "You were talented and strong; I see you spar with Ramin and Lilou. Samael also told me you refused his adoptive son's offer. I don't understand. Was being a maid better than having an authority?"

Charlotte chuckled as her eyes softened, gazing at the dark forest ahead. "Honestly, I don't know. It sounds good to have a title and wealth, but when I'm here, even though it's tiring, I don't hate it. Instead, I wake up with a smile and still looked forward to the day even though I knew it would be the same as yesterday."

"I don't know the right words for it, but I never regret coming in here," she added with a smile, glancing at Tilly. "Maybe I was born to be a maid.." She grinned.