The Duke's Passion

Chapter 88 - Cunningham II

Long ago, the La Crox, the founding royal family of the Heart's Kingdom, had sheltered five fellow pure-blooded vampires: the Bloodfang, Crawford, Von Stein, Le Blac, and the Moriarty.

However, with six pure-blooded vampires in the same kingdom incited constant dispute against each other. Hence, three of the most powerful pure-blooded clans — Von Stein, Le Blac, and the Moriarty — that was said to par with the La Crox's strength, had left to establish their own kingdom.

It was a peaceful mutual decision regarding each other's different perspective of governance.

Two clans remained in the Heart's Kingdom and supported the La Crox family through and through. The Bloodfang and the Crawford had believed shared the ideals of the founding clan leader of the La Crox.

Those two clans had ought to serve and pass the will of the founder of this kingdom. However, as time flies and a new generation came in to take the throne, things had changed.

"Despite the change, we, the Crawford, never turn our backs on the Heart's Kingdom." The corner of Cameron's lips curled into a smile.

Upon asking my previous question, Cameron and I had taken a walk together outside this maze-like garden. Obviously, Sam insisted to come. I refused as my payback for smiling throughout this confusing situation.

Also, I'm glad I did. Because of how I see it, the La Crox had abandoned the people who had been there for them since day one. I glanced at Cameron, who was walking beside me.

"But, why?" I asked in a low tone as I set my eyes ahead. "Why do you have to stay and worship someone you didn't know?"

"My lady, as I've said, you're chosen by our founding leader."

"Where is he, then?" I immediately threw my follow up question.

It just made little sense to me. I had heard about the Bloodfang's tragic ending. Why did the Crawford stay, knowing the King might annihilate their clan whenever he pleased? They're pure-blooded vampires — it still surprised me until now.

"She had perished long ago, but her spirit remained."

"She?"

Slowly, Cameron turned his head to me as he halted in his tracks. I also stopped with my brows furrowed.

"Have you heard her humming?" He inquired. I held back on answering, taken aback at his question.

"I haven't heard of her humming. Not one in the Crawford had heard it."

Cameron added with a smile. However, I noticed the glint of bitterness and longing flickered across his eyes.

"What do you mean by that?"

"There were few people who had heard that humming — his Highness and you, my lady, are one of them."

Huh?

Taking notice of my baffled expression, Cameron chuckled as he took a step forward. I followed.

"If one heard it, they would either sleep forever or be put on another test." Cameron continued. I followed him closely, listening to his every word, afraid I'd missed something.

Sleep forever, huh? So I'm not over thinking about it. I discreetly patted my chest as I literally came out from a bloodless life and death situation.

"The Crawford Clan had abilities to possess someone's mind for a brief moment of time."

"That's sounds…" I trailed off and Cameron guessed.

"Awful?"

"Fascinating." I corrected. I'm not lying, though. Sometimes, I just wanted to go inside Sam's mind to know what he was thinking.

Not that Sam was lacking in explaining things to me. However, I'm intrigued by how his mind works.

Cameron's expression slightly changed before he smiled. "You're quite surprising, my lady. The person who possessed you earlier was the founding clan leader, and you forced her out of your mind."

"Ah?"

"You're the second person who could do that." Cameron let out a quick chuckle.

"The first one was Sam?"

"Yes. If a new figure appears in our head from our founding clan leader, we are ought to serve him or her with our lives."

"In… where?"

"When our founding clan leader perished, she had passed on her will to the next clan leader of the Crawford. We inherit that will and abide by it no matter what." Cameron explained.

That sounded… sad. No wonder Sam disliked them. They may mean no harm, but the Crawford was nothing but prisoners of their own mind. They live to follow the will of someone who had perished long ago.

However, who am I to judge? We're all slaves to something to survive.

We continued on our stroll.

"The reason the Crawford had stayed alive despite being a pure-blooded vampire is because our abilities were useless against the La Crox."

Useless? How could that be useless? If I had an ability to control someone's mind, I would've… uh. I never had such thought before, so I didn't know what to do if I had such power, honestly.

"The royal family can easily counter our abilities; they're far stronger in every aspect. If one had a stronger and much refined will, our mind-control is useless. What more, the royal family had a better mind control prowess."

Sam's family had the same abilities? Right. Sam had robbed a memory of mine, but he couldn't return it. Not because he didn't want to, he just couldn't.

"Also, because our founding leader put the sake of the Crawford and the Heart's Kingdom, she had passed her will to us to never go against to the royal family for our own benefit. That's why we had lived in silence."

"Living in silence by worshiping other people instead of the king?" I blurted out. When I realized it, I pursed my lips in a thin line.

Did I sound sarcastic? I didn't mean to.

"The current king had abandoned us long ago. But, we never abandoned him. We still serve him, follow his royal decrees, and never schemed behind him. The Crawford never turned their backs on our words. We would live in silence, away from the political affairs of the royal family, and fulfill the long wish of our clan."

"Wish?" I repeated. "Is it rude to ask what kind of wish is it?"

I'm curious.

Cameron cast me a look and smiled. "Even after hundreds of years, to be honest, I still don't know what our clan wishes."

After Cameron's answer, we remained silent the entire time. We walked back to the castle. It was a long walk, but neither of us talked.

To inherit a will to serve someone who passed the test of the spirit the second they were born. To live and wanting to fulfill a wish the Crawford didn't know…

"The history had always multiple truths." I whispered unknowingly.

"My lady?"

I snapped out of my thoughts upon Cameron's call. Slowly, I faced him and offered a subtle smile.

"Do you want to kill me?" I asked, just to make sure.

"Huh?" Cameron furrowed his brows, baffled at the sudden question.

Hence, I rephrased my words. "If I cross a line, will you kill me?"

"No, my lady." He answered almost immediately. "We had served his Highness."

Cameron didn't even need to explain why they wouldn't harm me, even if I ended up a bad person. Mentioning Sam's name was enough for someone to realize how long their patience was.

It's silly, but effective and believable. If that's the case… I took a deep breath, clenched my teeth, and pluck up my courage to speak about what's inside my mind.

"I hope I'm not crossing the line, Lord Cameron. But, have you ever wondered if the founding clan leader was mind-controlled as well?"

Cameron's expression suddenly changed. It told me they never thought about that. And that expression only solidified my thoughts about this entire ordeal.

It's a curse.

"I don't know if I'm in the position to say this, but what if… that wish the Crawford had ever desired to attain was to break free from this curse that befell upon your clan?"

At this point, Sam's words had finally registered on me. In the Capital, there were often multiple truths.

Having multiple truths didn't mean one side of the truth was not credible. It's just that… there's always a reason not to put all the eggs into one basket.