The Duke's Passion

Chapter 575 - A Step Before The Finish Line

When Dominique and Jayden finally caught up to where the emperor was, they halted from a distance. The place Samael and Stefan fought was quite far from the ruckus in Minowa. Hence, there weren't people around to witness what happened. Even so, just by the figures they were seeing, the two of them knew it ended.

"We're late," Dominique whispered as he balled his hands into a fist.

"We took quite a while fighting those vampires from the mainland... this is to be expected," Jayden muttered as his eyes were fixed on Samael and Stefan.

It had been around three hours or more since Samael left them to clean up the vampires posing as Stefan and Zero. It didn't take them long since Stefan and Zero didn't have time to control those vampires anymore. But what kept them behind were the purebloods from the mainland.

"This is what I said when he shouldn't do it himself." Dominique's eyes softened as he gazed at Samael's back. Right now, Samael was slumped to the concrete while still holding the kneeling Stefan in his arms. Blood pooled underneath the two of them, but it didn't matter.

"One had lost his life... while the other lost a large piece of his heart," he added while his fist trembled.

Although Dominique had followed Stefan from the beginning, he had always known Samael had loved his siblings. The latter might have his unconventional way of showing it, but that was an unchanging fact. There would always be a place for them in Samael's heart and their deaths... was not something Samael would ever wish for if he had a choice.

After all, Samael went through unimaginable torture just so his siblings could survive those dark days when their father was alive. He went through all that and never once complained, nor did he bring it up to guilt-trip them. Those alone were enough proof for them to know that Samael had tried to be the big brother they could rely on.

But their circumstances slowly went out of hand. With the La Crox children having unique personalities and such, Samael's sacrifices weren't enough anymore.

"That is the weight of the crown." Jayden's jaw tightened as he steeled his heart at the vulnerable side of Samael. None of them had witnessed Samael break down in the lives he had taken. Their third brother, the emperor, was strong enough to squash his enemies like bugs.

So until now, none of them witnessed, nor did they have an idea of how Samael grieved for Alphonse's death. They didn't know how Samael's heart broke apart during Cassara's funeral, and how he held Alistair's cold hands in silence. None of them knew the gravity of the crown that happened during this long story.

Only today, right at this moment, the two realized that Samael wouldn't just laugh after killing his brother, nor did he bear a smug smirk as if he received a badge of honor. Only now do they realize that Samael... in every death of his brothers and sisters, he was the one who was in the most pain.

Just now... did they see Samael would be vulnerable because he promised to protect them. But the circumstances and the life choices they made resulted in Samael having to kill the ones he promised to protect.

"I don't even want to know why Stefan betrayed us." Dominique let out a shallow breath as he looked down. His brows elevated and wrinkled a bit as he forced a smile despite the angst welling up in his chest.

"It's obvious why," he added as seeing this made him realize one more thing. "Because if he didn't, Hell will have to kill us as well."

"In the end, Stefan is the wise one. He didn't want us to die, and he saved Hell the trouble of killing more of his brothers," Jayden whispered with a heavy heart.

Their guess might be incorrect. There were more other reasons why Stefan left these two behind five years ago and connived with Zero. But... they wanted to believe in this reason. After seeing Samael, they wanted to believe that was Stefan's only reason.

"Jayden, you may go and check Rufus and Prince Heliot. I will oversee this area so no one will see His Majesty's current state," Dominique ordered while Jayden tilted his head down.

"Then I supposed I should entrust this to you. It wasn't the end yet, after all." That was all Jayden uttered before glancing back at Samael for the last time.

When Jayden left, Dominique's lips parted. "No, Jay. We are at the step before the finish line. Rufus... will never get defeated by someone like Quentin."

*****

Rufus covered his right eye as blood dripped down from it. Zero was strong and he could barely keep up with him.

"That's quite a weak reaction considering you just lost an eye," Zero mused with a smirk, nodding approvingly. "Well, considering you only need a miracle in this battle, losing an eye or a limb is actually amazing in a way since you're still alive."

"That is right." Rufus dropped his hand to reveal the slice that came from over his brow, across his cheek. He had his bleeding eye closed, enduring the stinging pain that prickled a part of his brain.

"I am prepared to sacrifice a limb or an eye or even my capabilities to fight again."

"Amusing!" Zero clapped as his smirk cemented on his face. "I like you more and more, General. No wonder you are called the strongest human in the empire."

"I beg to disagree. I am not the strongest human on this continent." Rufus picked up his broken sword ever so slowly. Unlike Zero, who barely had scratches, Rufus's injuries were dire and fatal. But this didn't kill his spirit as he already planned to kill Zero — even if that meant he would also lose his life.

"Right... there is a certain butler who didn't fight for that title." Zero nodded, recalling Fabian, whom he only fought for quite a while. "Honestly, unlike you who needs a miracle, that butler will have more chances of survival if he fights me. Just the thought of him could sense a chill down my spine. What a lunatic."

Rufus chuckled, not a bit offended at Zero's words. If anything, he was quite proud that Zero recognized his brother's strength. Fabian was, after all, stronger than Rufus. The only issue with Fabian was... he was a lunatic.

"I will surely let your praises..." he trailed off as both of them furrowed their brows.

"Hah... he died before me, huh?" Zero muttered as he looked up, frowning at the life force he felt ended. "What a shame..."

Meanwhile, Rufus ground his teeth and gripped the handle tightly. He also felt Stefan's aura disappear. That only meant Samael had killed him and... that was his cue to end this as well.

"Don't be sad, Quentin," Rufus muttered as he watched Zero return his gaze at him. "I thought you are only working together, but it seemed a surprising friendship was created in the process."

"Well, Stefan was surprisingly a character, you know? He is probably the only person in this world I will never understand, but he is also the only person I can't disagree with."

"Mhm." Rufus nodded as he hummed. "Then... I will send you with him so he wouldn't get sad."

Zero smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Let's see it then."

Rufus took a deep breath as he channeled all his remaining strength into his sword, his eye glinting dangerously. For Samael, Rufus promised to end his sufferings. In a second, the two of them leaped forward to meet halfway.

"Heavenly departure," came out of Rufus's mouth as his sword glowed with a blinding light. "Strike."

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Fact:

Did you know? When Heliot returned to the Karo Kingdom five years ago, he was put into torture because he surrendered half of his life to Lilou? Heliot was supposed to kill Lilou, but instead, he gave her a chance to live. He was only saved when Samael marched into the said kingdom and dealt with the Von Stein clan and the purebloods from the mainland, who gave the order for Lilou's death.

Question:

Is it possible that Lilou will end up with Stefan if Samael didn't wake up from his slumber?

No. If Samael didn't wake up from his slumber, Lilou will still regain her lost memories. If she did, the story will lead to Lilou getting over the bullshit of the palace and will end up wandering from place to place — far away from where Stefan wouldn't see her or get near her — and then, she will meet Heliot. Yes. Lilou and Heliot can be the end game if Samael didn't wake up.. And the story will be entirely different.