The Duke's Passion

"Uh. Is she my sister-in-law? We're not brothers anymore since you're a La Crox now, Your Majesty."

Fabian stopped by the entrance to the palace from the garden. He slowly turned his head to his side, eyes landing on Rufus's figure leaning against the pillar.

"Ian, what are you doing in here?" Rufus's eyes glinted as he cocked his head back, eyes on Fabian. "And why did you do that to the empress of the empire?"

"Well, I was ranked as the least desirable back in the mansion. I am proving that is not the case." Fabian faced Rufus squarely and then smiled until his eyes were like two lines. "If the empress is the noblest woman on the continent, then if she fell in love with me, that means the game is rigged."

"You... what?"

"In the mansion, we had a poll on who was the most desirable and the least. The Madam obviously won the first spot by a landslide. I cannot accept that Master is ranked above me," Fabian explained, basically summarizing the source of his actions. "That is why I am proving my point. So far, there were at least thirty noble ladies who blushed by being kissed or complimented. I think Her Majesty is a bit easy, too."

"She's not an easy person."

"Then that means more fun."

"Ian, I don't care what kind of ridiculous ranking the people in that mansion have. Don't go around kissing people like a creep." Rufus let out a shallow breath, shaking his head sideways. "The empress had already suffered enough with our marriage. Showing her unnecessary attention will not benefit anyone."

"It will benefit me."

Rufus closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. He thought Fabian had already got it together after all these times. But it was obvious Fabian was unstable. The only good thing was that he wasn't doing anything crazy other than kissing strangers to feed his ego.

"Anyway, why are you..." Rufus trailed off when he heard Florence's voice.

"Hey!" she panted for air, glaring daggers at Fabian. "Where do you think you're going?"

Fabian raised his brow as he cast her a look. "Will you look at that? Your Highness, did you come to me to ask for seconds?"

"Se — seconds?" she scoffed in ridicule, staring at him from her to toe. "How did you get into the inner palace? I don't remember having a brother-in-law like you."

"So you called the knights to arrest me?" Fabian didn't beat around the bush. The side of his lips curled up wickedly, making Rufus narrow his eyes.

'He wants to fight.'

A shallow sigh slipped past Rufus' lips. He had to take Fabian away and spar with him before his hand itched and fight anyone else. So Rufus retracted his back from the pillar and walked for a bit to show himself.

"So what if I —" Florence's breath hitched as soon as she caught Rufus appear from behind the pillar. "Your Majesty?"

"Apologies for my little brother's impudence. I will surely discipline him." He snapped his eyes as he looked past Fabian and then glanced over his shoulder. Knights were rushing to them. They all stopped when Rufus raised a hand.

"Don't touch him if you value your life," he warned sternly, eyes glossed over Fabian's countenance and then at Florence. "Empress, I apologize on this man's behalf. It will never happen again."

"It will happen again."

"Fabian." Fabian zipped his mouth as soon as Rufus's eyes grew cold. "Assist the empress to her palace. I will handle this person."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

As the knights acknowledged the emperor's command, Florence darted her eyes from Rufus to Fabian. Unlike the emperor's unchanging and distant countenance, the latter was smiling from ear to ear. Fabian even waved at her, mouthing, 'see you later.'

She clutched her skirt, feeling the hair behind her neck raise. 'See me later?' her teeth clenched. There was just something in Fabian's smile that was annoying. It was like no one could read what was behind that smile.

'No, that isn't what's important. So they're really brothers?' she wondered before the knights approached her. "Raise the security in the Avolire Palace. Don't let that man enter my quarters."

Florence huffed as she turned her back on them and stormed away. As she did, Fabian chuckled while staring at her back.

"How cute. She should ask her husband to sleep in her chambers if she truly didn't want the monster under her bed to visit her."

"Fabian." Rufus exhaled while bearing a poker face. "Don't tease her like that. Follow me. Let's spar."

Fabian pressed his lips with both sides curved down. Rufus was already walking away without looking back at him.

"Spar... is it friendly? I won't indulge with you if it is." He muttered as he followed Rufus' tracks.

Rufus led Fabian to the emperor's training grounds. It wasn't that far, so they reached it shortly after. Standing several feet away from each other, Fabian tilted his head to the side.

"A wooden sword?" he asked, seeing that Rufus only brought a wooden sword instead of wielding his sword. "I'm not interested in friendly fights. Master and I always spar with our lives on the line."

"Do you think I need to wield my sword to kill you?"

"I like the enthusiasm, but just so you know, I actually didn't come here to fight you." Fabian slid his hand inside his suit before tossing something to Rufus. The latter instantly caught it by instinct, brows furrowed as he opened his palm.

"A pocket watch?" he frowned, raising his eyes at Fabian. "What is this?"

"My wedding gift, obviously. I got it from the infamous Nightwalkers."

"What?"

"The crime organization in the north. I asked them kindly to give it to me and they wholeheartedly gave it to me since we're friends."

Rufus narrowed his eyes. "You don't have friends. And you came from Monarey?"

"Yes. Madam and Master were still there. Oh, I think --"

"What? Who's in the empire?"

"Madam and Master?"

This time, it took Rufus several seconds to process Fabian's words. Lilou and Samael were back in the empire? Why? They told no one about it.

"Oh, don't worry. I went ahead before them. They will probably drop by in the capital to get me. I just hope you defend me just in case since I used the earl's name as my disguise."

"Ian, what are you doing in the empire?" asked Rufus to understand the situation. "Is there something wrong? Did something happen?"

"Oh, no. Please do not panic, Your Majesty. We were simply traveling because of the Grimsbanne blood. To make the story short, Master and Madam were going paranoid because of Lady Tilly's vague statements." Fabian laughed briefly, waving his hands to calm Rufus down before he panicked even more.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, definitely."

Rufus narrowed his eyes, studying Fabian. Knowing his brother, he wouldn't lie about something like this. Even so, this alarmed Rufus. It reminded him of the letter from Stefan and Lena.

"Ian, can you answer my question clearly and honestly?" Fabian arched his brows and tilted his head at Rufus' request. "How did you cut Stefan's link with Law?"

Fabian blinked many times before a blunt answer slipped past his lips.. "I didn't."