The Duke's Passion

Chapter 495 - Do You Want To Stay Here Tonight?

When Fabian returned with the tea, he informed them that Lilou put Law to sleep while Samael shared a drink with Klaus and Claude. Since he took his precious time, Silvia and Rufus had already talked about almost everything; varying from the closure of their love to political affairs.

"Fabian, if you are planning to kill me, I'd rather if you took out Maleficent," Rufus voiced out calmly while staring at the tea in front of him. "Or were you trying to insult me by poisoning me?"

"I was told that I have to try peaceful methods first," Fabian explained, bearing the polite smile he had been carrying. Surely, for someone who was caught poisoning someone, he was rather relaxed about it.

"We waited for tea and the tea that arrived is poison. My gosh..." Silvia sighed while shaking her head lightly. When she raised her gaze, she waited for Rufus to look back at her.

"Sir knight, since it already came to this, I won't lag you behind. I'm certain His Majesty is eager to see you."

Rufus nodded as he planted his palm on the armrest, pushing himself up. Silvia also stood from her seat and curtsied.

"It was a good talk," she expressed while Rufus bowed slightly.

"Thank you for humoring me, my lady. I will look forward to the project you told me about."

"I hope it won't disappoint you," she replied before glancing at Fabian. "Even if Sir Knight drinks that tea, it is not enough to kill him. If you are interested, I can recommend you something else."

"There is no need, my lady. I prefer a slow, painful death so I wouldn't get accused of murder."

Silvia chuckled, as she had already figured out Fabian's thinking. The poison was, after all, not deadly if taken once. It should be taken consistently and it would look like the victim would die from a disease.

"Well then, gentlemen. I hope you have fun tonight. You don't have to lead me to my room, I already know my way," she said before leaving the Barret brothers alone.

As Silvia left, Rufus's eyes remained on the door. Fabian arched his brow as he studied his brother's expression.

"Sir Knight, it is very impolite to not drink the tea I brew with all my heart." Fabian urged, making Rufus gaze at him. "I'm sure the little pain from the poison will heal the pain in your heart."

"Fabian, you never changed."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Rufus let out a shallow breath, staring at Fabian's nonchalant expression. "I'm fine, Fabi. You don't have to worry about me."

"Do you have a problem with your eyesight, Sir Knight? I'm certain the worry in my eyes is because I was wondering if you will drink that or not." Fabian cocked his head to the side, still smiling. "Do you want me to pull your eyes out for a check-up?"

"See? You never changed." Rufus chuckled as he reached for the tea. "It won't hurt you to admit you're worried about me. But that will still feel strange and I might actually feel threatened."

Fabian's smile gradually disappeared, watching Rufus enjoy the poisoned tea. "You are a fool, Ru."

"I never said I am not," Rufus admitted while nodding his head.

"So, you deserve it." The smile on Fabian's face resurfaced once again before pivoting on his heel to walk away. "Wallow in the pain you inflicted upon yourself. I changed my mind. I'd rather see you get eaten by your own regrets than give you a free exit."

Rufus chuckled as he watched Fabian leave. Silence instantly deafened him once the door closed behind his brother.

"Really... he never changed. Instead of consoling his brother, he rubbed salt in my wound." A chuckle escaped his mouth as he glanced at the teacup in his hand. "It's not poisoned. How sly to make her go away. Fabian... were you that disappointed in me? But you never understood the matters of the heart, my brother."

******

Meanwhile, when Silvia left the room, she looked at the door for a long time. Her eyes softened as she exhaled a deep sigh.

'I did a good job,' she told herself, thinking that saying all those to Rufus was just right. 'This way, he will stop worrying about me and stop blaming himself for what I had become.'

Her lips curled up bitterly before turning around to leave. She had been in this mansion before, so she didn't need to ask to find her room. Silvia waltzed through the hallway with her mind drifting away. Before she knew it, she was already standing in front of a door.

She gazed at it and looked from her left to right. The corridor was empty with only the candelabras burning slowly.

'Why am I in here?' she wondered as she set her eyes back on the corridor. This wasn't her room. This chamber was Yulis's.

She raised a hand, about to knock, when she suddenly stopped. "No," she whispered.

Silvia just stood in front of the door for a very long time, wondering why her feet drag her into this place.

"I'm mad at him and I wanted to smack him in the head, but..." she muttered, letting out a sigh while clasping her skirt. "... I'm a bit sad."

"Never mind." She clicked her tongue as she planned to leave. However, the door suddenly opened from the inside, making her freeze on the spot.

"Silvia?" Yulis called with furrowed brows, holding the door open with his other hand on the jamb. "What are you doing here?"

"I... don't know." She slowly turned her head to him, sporting an awkward smile. He was already in his night attire, telling her he planned to sleep.

"Who about you? Where are you going?" she inquired, and Yulis cocked his head to the side.

"Nowhere. I came out to ask you why are you standing outside my room," he answered in a knowing tone, as it shouldn't be a surprise that he was aware of her presence. He tried to ignore it, but she had been here for quite some time, so he came out.

Silvia stared at him for a moment before taking a step until their toes touched. His brows rose when she suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her forehead against his chest.

"I told Rufus that I am letting him go. I should be happy about it, but I feel a little sad," she muttered, clasping his shirt on his back. "And yet, I am not sad enough that I want to cry. Lilou is with her son and I don't know anyone who I can talk about this with."

Yulis sighed but smiled subtly right after. In the end, he stroked her head gently.

"What a piece of work, coming to the person who is less affectionate than a cat," he humored while consoling this lady, who never once showed her vulnerability to others.

Silvia opened her eyes as her shoulder relaxed. "You're warm, Yul. Very warm," she said while gripping his clothes even tighter.

"No wonder Beatrice keeps visiting you. You make people want to be themselves without worry," she added under her breath. "I want to be myself for once and breathe, Yulis."

Yulis kept quiet and didn't move a muscle. His expression remained the same while stroking her head gently. He called her once, gazing down, and waited for her to look up. Once their eyes met, a subtle smile appeared on his face.

"Do you want to stay here tonight?"