The Duke's Passion

Chapter 772  This particular night II

Meanwhile…
Klaus glanced to his side, catching Stefan bouncing along with his steed as they galloped through the thick forest. They had been rushing back to the Heart's Kingdom without taking a break. Their group had also grown bigger because Stefan's shadow knights had been following their king and just kept themselves hidden all this time. 
"Your Majesty!" yelled Klaus to get Stefan's attention. "Did you say we will make a detour?"
"Yes!" Stefan yelled back, casting his brother a sidelong glance before focusing on the road. "I'll have to visit some people."
"Who are they?"
"People…" Stefan's eyes glinted, recalling he had recruited those people around this time in the past. "... members of the Divine Order."
Upon hearing Stefan's remarks, Klaus rocked his head. The latter kept his mouth shut, listening to the loud footsteps of the horses and the constant rustle of the leaves every time a shadow knight land on a branch. 
"I think we should separate!" Klaus proposed after several minutes of silence. He looked at Stefan once again, and the latter kept his focus ahead but was listening to his voice. 
"Fabian told me to keep an eye on Cassara and Silvia," he continued after pondering for a moment, recalling that Fabian approached him before they left the land of Karo. 
The only time Fabian would approach Klaus was usually because that sick butler wanted to kill time by antagonizing Klaus. The reason it was strange was that Fabian asked him for a favor, but kept everything vague. What was only clear to Klaus was Fabian was deeply concerned about Silvia and Cassara. 
Therefore, despite the lack of information, Klaus didn't want to disappoint Fabian. This was the first time that the butler asked him for a favor, and Klaus was determined to help Lilou's situation. If any of Lilou's people died in this lifetime, once they returned to the original time, they couldn't bring those who died before. It was a tricky situation. 
Meanwhile, Stefan remained silent as he mulled over Klaus's proposal. He cast his brother a look, only to see the solemness and unbending resolution in the corner of Klaus' eyes. 
"The only reason I'm taking you is that I know you don't trust me," said Stefan, peeling his eyes away from Klaus to look at the forest path ahead. "But if you have a more important thing to do that required your presence in the palace, then we can part ways at the end of the forest."
Stefan's eyes fastened with resolve, considering Klaus' proposal wasn't really bad. What he said was nothing but the truth. Since there would always be doubt in their relationship, knowing their relationship wasn't always a relationship with deep trust, Stefan was willing to take Klaus with him while he gather the rest of the divine bearers. 
During this time, he knew where were the rest of the divine bearers right now. Some bearers were easier to find, but there were some, like Maxine, who never stayed in the same spot. Hence, Stefan couldn't afford to track them down if they changed location, so recruiting them now while he knew what those people were doing and which place they were staying currently was the most efficient way.
Both Stefan and Klaus didn't exchange words again as they galloped through the thick forest. When they exited the forest, they didn't even cast each other a look as they parted ways; Klaus continued ahead while Stefan turned to the right. 
Their eyes, despite separating, bore indistinguishable fire with the unbending resolution to attain their goals. 
*****
[ Heart's Kingdom: Inner Palace ]
"You've been acting strange."
Silvia turned around when she heard Yulis' voice. Yulis was approaching her while she stood in front of the window in one of the hallways. 
"What are you doing here?" he asked as soon as he stood beside her. Yulis glanced at the window to see what Silvia was staring at so intensely, only to realize there was nothing out there but a vast expanse and thick darkness. 
"Nothing interesting." He shrugged, looking back at her. His brows elevated when Silvia was staring at him silently. "What?"
Silvia hugged herself and shook her head, setting her eyes back to the window. 
"Nothing, Yul," she said, swallowing down the tension that suddenly appeared in her throat. 
"Are you certain?"
Her eyes lowered upon his question, knowing the answer was definitely, 'no.' Silvia's mind had been in disarray and her heart had been restless since remembering her forgotten memories. But more than the puzzlement of why they all go back to the past, there was one thing that was like a stake that was stuck in her heart.
Yulis. 
At a time like this, Silvia would usually seek her husband's warmth. Yulis was the warmest person Silvia had ever known, and his comfort often put her heart, mind, and body at ease. But right now, Yulis only sees her as his sister while he pretended to be a member of the La Crox, waiting for his Queen (Lilou) to come and claim what he believed was rightfully hers: the throne.
"Silvia, if there is anything you need, you can always tell me." His voice once again pierced the still air while observing her side profile. "I am always here for you. You know that, do you?"
Silvia gripped her biceps tightly, telling herself not to do or say anything rash. She slowly faced him, and her heart sank with longing, seeing the deep worry in his beautiful eyes. 
"Can you…" her lower lip quivered and her voice cracked. "Can you… embrace me, Yul?"
Her request took him aback, but seeing the desperation in her eyes, Yulis reconsidered. He let out a deep exhale, treating this as Silvia, simply wanting comfort from her longing. 
"Come," he said, spreading his arms wide with a subtle smile. 
Seeing him open his arms with that gentle smile, Silvia's heart clenched. It would be nice if his eyes mirrored his lover, not his sister. But she missed him, and regardless of the biting pain his eyes brought to her heart, Silvia, without a second hesitation, leaped into his embrace. She buried her face in his chest, feeling his arms wrapped around her securely.
"Is this one of those nights?" Yulis asked, patting her back gently. When he received silence as an answer, he sighed but asked again. "Do you miss him?"
Bitterness pooled in her eyes, clutching his back tightly. His question was obviously about Rufus, but Silvia still answered even when she was referring to a different person.
"Yes… very much. I feel like breaking, Yul," she whispered, telling herself not to cry, but her traitorous heart let a tear leak out of her eyes. 'I really, really, missed you… Yul.'
A/N: The author focused on her health first and didn't upload chapters because I want to make sure to get the proper rest my body needs.  
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