The Duke's Passion

 Nôv(el)B\\jnn

831 Who could've died

The soldiers near Heliot's vicinity and also the ones in the front line halted. Their eyes went wide, staring blankly in Heliot's direction and the debris falling on the ground. Never once in their career had they witnessed someone stop Heliot's sand dragon. Therefore, the sudden pause and shock.

If the person who stopped Heliot's sand dragon was an enemy, then this person was a formidable opponent. Which also meant they would be held back from advancing.

Silence descended in the area, all eyes on Ileliot and the thick smoke before him. The first thing they saw through the thick fog of dust was the establishment. Everyone subconsciously held their breaths, anticipating who was the person who stopped Heliot's rampage.

As the smoke gradually cleared up, Heliot narrowed his eyes. Unlike his soldiers, whose guards were all up whilst staring in the other person's direction with hostility, Heliot maintained his calm mien. Heliot studied the silhouette behind the thick fog until he recognized that familiar figure.

"What do you think you're doing?" asked Heliot sternly, not pleased with the interruption this person caused. "Claude?"

Claude drew a deep breath, stretching his arm while wincing. Soon, the fog that was surrounding him was thin enough to reveal his face.

"Ugh... I want to ask the same, but then again, I realized we're at war. So wreaking havoc wasn't surprising. Claude grumbled, moving his shoulder in a circular motion. "Goodness. Whatever that was, it's surely strong. I thought I'd lose my limb trying to block it."

'Lose a limb?' Heliot repeated in his head, raising his brows at that remark.

He assessed Claude, and despite that Claude was displaying a pained countenance, Heliot knew that the injury wasn't as grave as Claude claimed. After all, Heliot felt the strength this young man had displayed to stop his sand dragon, and Heliot nearly inflicted injuries, if not for his quick reaction to sacrifice his sand dragon.

"State your purpose, Your Highness." Heliot threw his thoughts at the back of his head, gazing at Claude solemnly. "As far as I remember, we are in an alliance. I do not want to jump to a conclusion yet. Therefore, I would appreciate it if you state your reason for standing in my way." Claude scrunched his face slightly, looking at I leliot from up and down.

"Goodness... I rushed in here and didn't even take a breath. But now, I am under suspicion - what a life!" A frown turned up on his face. "How do I say this... hmm... I need your help?"

"Help?"

"Uh-huh!" Claude breathed out heavily, turning on his heel to face the establishment. "There were many things we found out in the capital, Prince. You might not care about this land since it is not the land of Karo, but my future wife had already decided.

"Tuture wife?" whispered Heliot, wondering who could be the person Claude was talking about, only to realize there was only one lady Claude fancied in the strangest way. But that woman was already married; Heliot already accepted that he would never figure out how this setup with Samael, Lilou, and Claude as it seemed they already deemed Claude's 'feelings' as normal.

"Prince Heliot." Heliot snapped his eyes when Claude called. "I will only say this once, so you have to listen. We don't have much time."

Ileliot furrowed his brows, staring at Claude's back as the latter waited for the fog to clear up. As they did so, Claude summarized everything that had happened in the Capital of Spade. The more I leliot listened to this sickening story that was almost unthinkable to believe, the more he couldn't pinpoint what to feel about it.

As someone who also ruled the land and pledged to protect the people, Heliot could never understand Zero's intention. It was obvious, despite that, how could such a person be so heartless as to sacrifice the entire nation for whatever reason?

It was sickening, unspeakable, and wicked.

"That is why... you shouldn't let your emotions and goals take charge, Claude continued, marching toward the establishment. "Unleashing such destructive power is not hard. To be fair, it was easy. We can just wreak havoc and mess everything up. However, would we be able to lift our chin proudly, knowing we had massacred the innocents?"

Claude's expression turned solemn, opening the door of the establishment. There was no light inside and the only light outside was the torches from the cavaliers in the area. But Claude didn't need light to see in the dark. None of them needed that since they were originally creatures of the night.

His eyes shone crimson red, gazing at the people cramped inside the establishment. Two children, hugging each other. Tears flooded their pale face that was dominated by nothing but dread. Their little bodies were trembling in fear, turning their heads at the person standing by the door.

"We are not Quentin," Claude breathed out, his voice shaking as he tried to suppress his anger. "Turning a blind eye to these people... is just as wicked as what he had done to them."

Claude stepped inside the establishment, watching the two children hug each other tightly. Their bodies trembled violently at the sound of his footsteps. Seeing their reaction, Claude felt a pang in his chest.

"Truly despicable, whispered Claude to himself, squatting down as he was several feet from the children. Their muffled whimpers caressed his ears, making him sigh once more.

"I won't hurt you," Claude reassured in the gentlest tone he could speak. "I'm sorry if that surprised you, but you're safe now!"

His lips stretched into a subtle smile, nodding at them reassuringly. However, reluctance still shone in their eyes, which was understandable. These children, despite barely knowing what was going on, were aware that they had no one to rely on. If their king could sacrifice them, of course, they couldn't simply trust others.

Meanwhile, Heliot also followed Claude and stood by the door. His eyes fell on Claude's figure, who was squatting down. He moved his gaze over Claude, and his heart clenched the moment he caught two pitiful children, who could've died with his monstrous attack.

"Quentin..." Ileliot breathed out a jagged breath, unable to discern which emotion was dominant in his heart. But for sure, these feelings weren't anything pleasant at all.

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