The Duke's Passion

Chapter 631  No need to explain

The seize operation went out smoothly. The earl rescued the women and children that were held locked up in a dungeon. They also rescued men who were enslaved to be traded for labor. Smuggled weapons and drugs, basically, all things to be expected to see in a crime organization. Since the women and children were high on opium, and men were starved and tortured, Monarey was quite busy tending to the victim. The members of the guild were also treated in one of the Earl's estates that stood as the hospital. Meanwhile, when the news of the arrest of the Nightwalker was known to the public two days later, the masses were enraged. They demanded a public execution, which the Earl happily obliged. In another three days, the execution would take place to appease the public. It had only been three days since the arrest and only now Claude could breathe. It was quite a hectic two days for the Earl since some noble families were also involved with the Nightwalkers. They were still hunting them all down, with Klaus leading the order. Claude let out a deep exhale as he stood in front of the door. He raised his hand to knock, only to stop midway. Beyond this door were the members of the guild. He hadn't visited them since the seize and he knew they had a lot of questions. They might feel betrayed for keeping his identity a secret. There shouldn't be a problem since he was the earl, and he didn't need to explain himself. But... 'Why am I hesitating?' he wondered, staring at the door with bitterness in his eyes. 'I don't need to explain myself. I saved them and they should be grateful for it.'

Claude talked to himself, convincing himself of what they should feel. However, no matter what argument he spoke in his head, his hand wouldn't budge. Standing frozen in front of the door, a shallow breath slipped past his lips. 'Never mind.' He mentally shook his head, dropping his hand as he took a step back. 'I don't need to see them again. We'll just go back to our normal lives. It's not like I was with them for a long time.'

His eyes once again flickered with bitterness as he clenched his teeth. Just when he turned around to leave, the door behind him suddenly opened. "Third?" Gai furrowed his brows, gasping when Claude turned his head back. "I mean, my Lord."

Gai instantly tilted his head down while Claude studied him. Gai only inflicted minor injuries, but he was still covered with bandages. The bruises and scratches on his face were still visible.

"Did you come to visit Leader? She is inside with everyone." Gai opened the door wider so Claude could see, or the people inside could see their visitor. "I just came to check. It seems you are all fine." Claude's demeanor remained distant, glancing at the room behind Gai nonchalantly. "Even with minor injuries, don't move around too much."

That was all Claude said to Gai before he turned around.

Before, Gai would always cling to him as if they were best friends. But now, there was this clear line between them and the former didn't want to cross it. Claude didn't want to make them uncomfortable with his presence, so he decided to leave.

But just as he turned around, he halted when Penny's voice reached his ears.

"You're quite cold to your father." Her voice was soft, but she had this cocky smirk on her. "That is not how I raised you."

There was just something in her audacious remarks that truly irked him. "You are not my father. Aren't you afraid that what you are spewing can cost you your life?" came out a brooding voice as he turned around. Gai, at this time, already stepped aside so Claude could see Penny easily. He kept his mouth shut, wanting to just leave before the two would clash. "I am." Penny snorted, shrugging. "But at least, before I get my tongue cut, I said what I wanted to say and I will not regret that." "This is why you and everyone nearly died." His hand balled into a fist. "Can't deny that." She rocked her head, eyes still on his dry and dark expression. "You don't owe me or anyone here an explanation. It was also partially my fault for falling for such a cheap trick and your handsome face. But anyway, the Earl of Monarey mingling with commoners like us is something to be bragged about."

A dry laugh slipped past her lips while shaking her head lightly. They don't have questions for him. Sure. It was surprising that Claude turned out to be the earl of Monarey and not just a pitiful pushover. But they weren't stupid not to understand his disguise, since it was a strategy the earl had to use.

The earl didn't have to explain himself.

"I just... want to know if you will still visit the pub sometimes." Claude looked at her blankly, while Penny smiled wearily. His eyes veered to Peter on the other bed and he also smiled, just like the rest in this room. "We might not mean anything to you, but you are already part of our family. Thank you for saving us. You will forever have free drinks in the pub just in case you want to visit." Penny wiggled her brows awkwardly since he was just staring. "You're always welcome."

There was a moment of silence between them. Claude just stared at her, clenching his teeth secretly.

"I hope you will recover well," he replied after a minute before turning around to leave. Claude didn't look back as he walked farther and farther.

Meanwhile, Penny frowned as she cast everyone a look, smiling with closed lips. She shrugged helplessly, sighing. "He is so stubborn." She breathed out.

"Leader, don't worry. I don't think the Third we all knew is all a disguise." Peter smiled at her, touching the bandage around his head. "I think… that is the real him."

Her eyes softened, gazing at the door. "I know. He's just stubborn, but he's not that bad of a person."

******

Meanwhile, as Claude was walking in the hallway out of the estate, he stopped. His vision zoomed in and out, making him pinch the space between his brows. 'That drug he injected into me is potent,' he thought, snapping his eyes and shaking his head. 'It will wear off in…'

Suddenly, he looked back when he felt someone walk behind him. But there was no one. He frowned but blamed it on the drug Rowan injected into his system. "I should also rest," he whispered, resuming in his steps. "It'll wear off with enough rest."