The Duke's Passion

Chapter 386 - What Will You Do Without The Great Me?

Meanwhile, in the private estate on the outskirts of the capital. Samael walked out of the estate, seeing that Noah was just standing outside.

"Noah," he called, making Noah look back at him. The latter bowed to show respect until Samael stood beside him.

"Did you think he believed it?" he inquired, looking at the enormous gates of the estate far ahead.

Noah set his gaze forward, rocking his head lightly. "Well, he seemed he did a job well done, Your Grace."

"He must be happy. I put all my effort into acting, after all."

"You're truly an artist, my lord." Noah chuckled, assessing the proud smirk on Samael's lips.

Noah could not help but heave a sigh of relief while gazing at him. Samael wasn't the type of person to scheme, but when he do, he would do it with passion.

"You're really terrifying, my lord," he muttered helplessly. "I'm glad I didn't choose to be your enemy."

"Before you praise my godly strategic plans, the night is still long. Lilou is still out there and I can't still get through her head." Samael's voice lowered as his breathing grew slower. His pair of crimson eyes glinted as his jaw tightened.

"Lilove... just listen to my voice or I will have to go there myself." He balled his hand into a fist, suppressing his urge of rushing to the palace himself.

He had promised to stay out of it and trust her, but he could barely contain himself. If Lilou didn't respond to him soon, that only means this plan would be half-success.

"Ten minutes, Noah." Samael breathed out heavily. "You better prepare yourself to restrain me from spoiling this fucking plan."

He then jogged towards the stairs while Noah followed him in a hurry. "We have ten minutes to kill. Let's kill Alphonse. Shall we?"

******

Back in the Capital, Silvia and Yul ran far away from the palace. Yul looked back at the shroud around the place, balling his hand into a fist.

"Sis..." he whispered in worry, trying to contain himself from going back.

"Yul." He frowned when Silvia slapped his chest with the back of her hand. He gazed down to see a small glass cylinder clipped between her fingers.

"What's this?" he asked upon accepting it, gazing up at her. "Blood?"

"Blood of the dead."

His expression distorted in disgust. "Blood of who?"

"Cassara." Silvia offered him a side-eye, witnessing how his eyes dilated in shock.

"Didn't she...?"

"Yes, she's dead, and we got every bit of her blood." She ground her teeth while taking deep breaths. Her shoulders relaxed after letting out her third sharp exhale.

"Did you... kill her?"

"I swear it's not me or any of us." Her answer was quick to clear up whatever misunderstand he had. "Just drink it, Yul. This is not the time to hesitate."

Yul rubbed his thumb on the small glass container. Aside from disgust, it was dishonorable for Cassara. Not that Cassara had something to be proud of, but this still felt strange.

"She's still my twin even though we aren't that close or share the same blood," he murmured, gritting his teeth and opened the bottle to drink it.

Drinking Cassara's blood had unlocked the missing memories in their head, which Samael erased.

Yes, memories.

The memories they all agreed to be erased.

******

Three months prior to the present day. As usual, they had gathered in the third squadron's hideout, brainstorming on how to deal with their enemies.

"I disagree." Samael raised his hand, catching everyone's attention.

As usual, Samael had his feet resting over the table with his chair inclined while rocking it. Lilou, who stood at the end of the table with her palm resting on the edge, raised her brow.

"You disagree? Why?" she asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Well, it's a poor plan."

"Mister, if you disagree with this plan, give us some explanation so we can understand." She rolled her eyes while shaking her head lightly. "You're not working alone anymore. We're a team, remember?"

Fabian and Rufus suppressed themselves from clapping and cheering, 'Well put, Your Grace.' But they suppressed the urge from doing that.

"Well." Samael shrugged. It was obvious he was not used to letting everyone in his plans.

He cleared his throat and knocked on the table lightly. "It's been almost a year since you've gone to the Capital. With all those ingrates walking freely in the palace, it will be more strange if Stefan is alive or still sane."

"Stefan stayed alive for centuries, Sam. I also confirmed it from Prince Heliot." Lilou reasoned out, tossing facts on the table.

"Do you honestly believe whatever you see in that place?" he asked as his eyebrow raised.

This time, Lilou's mouth parted, but no words came out. She closed her lips into a thin line in the end, as she couldn't argue with that.

"You kids are so hopeless." Samael sighed heavily while shaking his head. "I'm not saying this plan wouldn't work, but we have to tweak it a bit."

Lilou and everyone tilted their head to the side, eyes on him. Samael was only listening to them all this time, but only now he had voiced out his thoughts.

"If you stick to one subject, you will lose sight of some minor details. Take it as looking at a painting. We naturally look at the subject but rarely notice the minor details that complete the entirety of it." Samael paused as he scanned their attentive faces.

"Right now, your focus is Quentin, Stefan, and Alphonse. The bigger details are the people working under them; their allies." He counted their subject with his fingers, and then cast them a knowing look. "How about the smaller ones that made them the subject of this discussion?"

Lilou and everybody else could not help but furrow their brows. Little details why they were the subject of this discussion? Wasn't that obvious? Because they were their enemies?

"Goodness... what will you do without the great me?" Samael sighed as he looked at them in pity. They didn't know whether to accept his aggravating stare or get mad about it. He had been quiet all this time, after all.

"Quentin wouldn't be a king if he is that stupid. I bet he had figured out that I was alive even before I woke up. Stefan wouldn't keep his position if he was easily defeated." Samael took a deep breath before he resumed. "And I wouldn't be wary of Alphonse if he is not a crafty bastard."

Silence ensued when Samael spouted all those facts. He had a point, a strong one at that, which they were already aware of, but unconsciously disregarded it.

"What a hopeless bunch. My wife's plan is perfect, if she plans to die, at that. But since we're a team," He stressed the word with sarcasm, eyebrow raised. "We have to make it work while sacrificing no one who is sitting around this table."

"Brother, is that possible?" asked Klaus in shock, staring at Samael intensely.

"Well, it'll be hard and tricky."

"Hell, do you have a plan in mind?" This time, Silvia inquired with the same interest as everyone in the room.

"Hmm." Samael pressed his lips together in a thin line, gazing at each and every single one of them. After a moment, the corner of his lips curled up into a smile until his eyes squinted.

"Will you allow this great one to erase your memories?"