The Duke's Passion

Chapter 777  Questionable family values

Meanwhile…

Samael opened and closed his hands, flexing the muscle in his arms. His sleeve was folded up to his elbow, staring at the multiple bruises on his pale skin he got from the constant injection of needles. "Apparently, those little needles stings than when fangs sink into your skin," he remarked, shifting his eyes at the person sitting on the chair near him. The other person had his back facing him as he placed back little jars containing red fluid inside a suitcase.

"How many can you make with those?" Samael asked.

The person slowly turned around to face him, revealing an old vampire that Samael was so, so familiar with.

Theodore Darkbridge. One of Zero's strongest support and also a part of the 'seance' Lilou used to attend back then, which was also attended by Mortas Martin, Acheron Roseberg, Tristan Willow, Yulis, and Zero himself. Thanks to Lilou, who used to be a part of this group in the past, they were able to create a meticulous plan. They got an idea of whom to approach first, and how to make these people agree in a negotiation. Samael still thinks using violence to threaten these individuals was far easier, since this man, Theodore Darkbridge, died in his hands if he remembered correctly, or probably in Fabian or Rufus's hands. But well, they all wanted to survive and couldn't be complacent of just brute strength alone. They had no idea what sort of crafty trap Zero had prepared. Samael would applaud Lilou for her strategic planning if only she were here. "I've been drawing your blood for over a month now," said Theodore as he took off his monocle, facing Samael squarely. "Once I finished the production in a few weeks, my men could start the distribution. You just have to tell us when would you like to launch it."

"Heh…" Samael snorted, sitting upright while unfolding his sleeve. "That, if you can, start distributing it as soon as possible. It has been two months, after all."

Theodore Darkbridge gazed at Samael solemnly. "Once this had reached the royal palace, he will hunt me down to the ends of the world. Zero… is a madman, and I only accepted your offer because you gave me your word."

"You will stop Stefan La Crox from his madness," he continued, watching Samael fix his cufflinks from his seat. "Both kings are mad, and as someone who had human affiliates, the last thing I want is to watch them fall into their madness."

"No, you accepted my offer because you know I can be twice as crazy as Zero or Stefan." Samael snapped his eyes at the old vampire. "I got Stefan by the neck. All you need to do is go into hiding once the distribution starts. Take your family with you in the land of Karo because I cannot guarantee your safety. You'll be on your own until I displayed his head and his people's head at the gates of the royal palace."

Theodore gulped, huffing sharply. "I cannot do that." n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"You cannot, what?" Samael blinked with genuine wonder in his eyes.

"I had sent my wife and children to the land of Karo and by now, they had probably settled down in their temporary homes," he explained solemnly, holding Samael's gaze firmly. "I will stay. In that case, even if he finds me, he would need some time to find them."

"Using yourself as bait, huh?"

"I am a man who has a family to protect, Your Grace," said Theodore as he slowly rose to his feet. "The danger I have to watch out for will buy my family enough time. If my death will save them, then I do not mind walking to hell myself."

"That, I can understand," Samael smirked. "Everything for our family."

Theodore glanced at Samael and barely concealed the dubiousness in them. What could this man know about family values? This third prince of the La Crox and also the Duke of Grimsbanne disgraced his own father after winning a duel against him and still continued to antagonize Stefan, Samael's brother, and also the current sovereign of the Heart's Kingdom. So what was Samael was talking about? Theodore would want to renounce Samael and his questionable family values, but it wasn't important. Lecturing this man was akin to lecturing a frog to stop eating insects. It was pointless.

"May this be the last time we meet again, Your Grace." Theodore Darkbridge lowered his head, taking a step back from the chair Samael was sitting on. "You will hear from me once everything is prepared."

"I'll be looking forward to it." Samael nodded with a smile. With that being said, Theodore Darkbridge left the private lodging of the house, where he would secretly meet Samael once a week to draw his blood. Samael watched the old folk's figure with a smirk, chuckling with his lips closed when Theodore was out of his sight. "Theodore Darkbridge, life is funny, isn't it?" a glint flickered across his eyes. "Back then, you were Quentin's avid supporter. Who would have thought? I only need to meet you sooner to steal that unbending loyalty you had to that guy sitting on that golden throne?"

His smirk stretched, recalling the last memory he had with Theodore Darkbrigde. Their last memory wasn't very pleasant as the latter died along with Zero and Stefan in Minowa. Acheron Roseberg also died that day in Lilou's hands.

At times like this, Samael couldn't help but feel satisfied with keeping his circle small. He only had Rufus and Fabian and no one couldn't change their mind just like what he did to Theodore because they had known each other for many, many years. The additional people in their group were all Lilou's people including, Klaus, Silvia, Yul, some members of the Divine Order, Noah, and the list goes on. It wasn't surprising, though. Lilou was an outstanding leader in her own right and he couldn't blame others for getting attached to an admirable leader like her. Unlike Samael… who only attracted the weirdos.

Well, Rufus was quite normal by the standard of society, but Fabian was definitely far from ordinary, and his sanity had always been questionable. Yet, those two were the only ones who stuck with him — the land of Cunningham too, but well, that place was also filled with a bunch of weirdos as they were literally cults. "Goodness, why do I feel so depressed whenever I think about leadership?" he mumbled, flinging his legs out of the long chair. "I gotta go see her before her admirers steal her attention again. Damn! This is probably the curse of marrying a beauty."