The Duke's Passion



855 End of his nightmare

Stefan has a ton of regrets before the regression. One of the biggest regrets he had was treating Claude the way he did. That child was innocent of anything and he should've been left alone - Lucia and Dyrroth too.

Greed and insecurity consumed Stefan, and he had lost his mind, dragging the innocent people. into his personal problems. Stefan only realized how wrong he was at the brink of death, questioning his integrity, morality, and ethics.

Was he wrong all along?

That was the only question that crossed his mind before meeting his end.

Therefore, Stefan had long accepted he might not be forgiven, ever. The reason, even when Claude would sass at him or talk to him with his sharp tongue, Stefan wouldn't react. Claude was a sweet child, after all, and Stefan... the palace, the power struggle, and the king's personal instability ruined him.

Stefan had no excuse.

Regardless of knowing his relationship with Claude was irreparable, Stefan still wanted to make up with him. Claude might disregard all his help, but Stefan was set to protect Claude in any way possible, not because he wanted forgiveness, but because that was the right thing to do. Seeing that Claude was being held captive by the Kraken made the world stop for Stefan. Ilis breathing slowed down until his heart stopped beating for a second. Ilis eyes were wide and blank, and his complexion turned pale.

SHRIEEEK!

Another wave of screams crupted in the air, creating violent waves on the sea. More tentacles resurfaced over the occan, joining the severed tentacles Stefan chopped off. When the Kraken stretched its tentacles, only then did Stefan realize the parts he had chopped off were akin to the monster's fingernails.

The Kraken's tentacles were longer than one could imagine. Looking at it from Stefan's vantage point, they were almost touching the sky,

The Kraken wasn't a legend for nothing.

But that didn't intimidate Stefan. It didn't even affect him in the slightest. All he had in mind was his nephew, as his eyes were fixed on the unconscious Claude.

'Why is he here?' wondered Stefan, watching the Kraken twirl its tentacle in the air. 'What are you doing... here?

His train of thought halted as his eyes widened even more upon having a realization. Stefan shifted his attention to the fort where Alphonse stood, realizing the aggressive but careless rampage from the Kraken wasn't Alphonse's doing.

It was Claude's.

What the hell was Alphonse trying to do?

Alphonse was still motionless, which also meant he was occupying another person's or animal's body. Whatever or whoever it was wasn't important. What mattered was that Alphonse had a

plan. What plan? Stefan had no idea, but he knew Alphonse more than anyone else in this world.

Stefan set his attention back to the Kraken, clenching his fangs. Blood dripped from his ears at its continuous screams, but he didn't lose his composure.

'I don't know what sort of plan he had, said Stefan to himself. But my priority is to make sure to get him out of here!

Stefan's eyes glinted menacingly while his sword's blade slowly turned black. The air around him looked darker as his crimson eyes shone brightly. In a blink of an eye, Stefan disappeared from the sinking tentacle he was standing on to save the child he had ruined.

*****

Meanwhile...

Blood dripped from the tip of Lilou's scythe, Lakresha. Her face was dark and shaded, as she had her head hung low. Her clothes dampened the ground with blood, turning it red.

Her eyes were fixed on the severed hand near her vantage point, making her grip her scythe tighter.

"I felt the same heaviness the last time," came out a whisper, peeling her eyes from the severed hand to the person standing several meters from her. "I shouldn't feel this way now, for this was the second time I will end you, Acheron Roseberg. However, the second time wasn't easier. In fact, the heaviness in my heart doubled.'

ller eyes shone with sympathy, assessing Acheron Roseberg from head to toe. Truly, this man deserved respect. Be it then or now, Acheron fought for Zero, even if that meant dropping his integrity.

"Back then, I don't truly understand why you allowed Zero to be the man he was. Or rather, I didn't understand why you were tolerating him." A short smile turned up on her face. "But now, I understand. Though I don't agree with your methods, I understand you, Acheron"

Acheron's expression was the same; stoic and plain. It was as though he didn't relate, or rather, he couldn't relate anymore.

"Zero didn't have to take your control to secure your loyalty," continued Lilou, breathing out the tension in her throat. "Your loyalty... is praiseworthy. I am sorry that we are in this situation again, Roseberg"

Lilou pounded the bottom of her scythe against the ground before twirling it with her fingers. She swung her arm to the side, locking all sympathy and remorse she felt for her opponent. In a blink of an eye, Lilou disappeared from her vantage point, only to reappear beside Acheron Roseberg.

Acheron instinctively raised his arm, forgetting his arm was already severed from the last time he mindlessly blocked Lilou's attack. His eyes grew wide as her blade passed over his severed arm, holding his breath as his body wouldn't listen to him move away.

Her eyes glinted, gritting her teeth. "Ah!" Lilou moved down her seythe, slashing Acheron's neck instead of thrusting her scythe into his temple.

Blood spurted out of Acheron's neck, making him cover it with his hands. When Lilou landed on the ground near him, Acheron fell to his knees.

THUD.

Acheron gripped his neck as tight as possible, gasping for air. However, blood continuously seeped through the gaps in his fingers. The slash she inflicted on him was small, but it was a vital point. It didn't take long for his body to collapse to the ground.

Lilou watched him struggle to stay alive for as long as he could until the life in his eyes faded. She closed her eyes and cocked her head back, reopening her eyes as she breathed out deeply. "Wicked," was all that came out of her lips, turning her heel to walk away. She didn't even look at Acheron for the last time, getting away from the scene as soon as possible. Even though this battle was over, there were still many things to do.

Zero was still out there, running rampant as we speak. There was no time for her to mourn the death of someone whose only fault was to love a person as his own, only to get used over and

over.

As Lilou walked away from the scene, her steps halted as she heard faint coughs behind her. But before she could look back, she heard a quiet and rasped voice, saying:

"Thank you."Nôv(el)B\\jnn