The Duke's Passion

Chapter 779  Why did we go back?

"What do I owe this pleasure, Klaus?" Klaus assessed the sharpness and hostility in Silvia's eyes. For the past two months, Klaus had always kept an eye on Cassara and Silvia. These two always had this love and hate relationship, until years later, hate would be the only thing that would remain. During this time, before the regression, Silvia and Yulis also had a good relationship. Hence, there was nothing wrong with Silvia's tea time with Yulis since she hadn't done anything suspicious. Moreover, Silvia had acted the same: hostile, always wary, alert, and sophisticated. It was hard for Klaus to find out whether or not Silvia and Yulis had regained their memories since both of them had drunk Lilou's blood and it wasn't just a small amount. Lilou enhanced their blood, after all. He couldn't also ask them outright, knowing giving them the idea of the regression would do them no good. Even when Klaus was aware of the regression before he retrieved his memories, the sheer thought of it messed with his mind. He could imagine Yulis and Silvia having all sorts of questions in their head and the frustration of not recalling a single thing. That was the reason Klaus was careful. But it had been two months, and Klaus had to make a gamble. "Did you ask to have a private audience with me to stare at my face, brother?" the side of Silvia's lips curled up, assuming Klaus was still at Stefan's side at the moment. She had been wary of everyone aside from Yulis, but Silvia had to constantly remind herself not to cross the line with Yulis. Until now, Silvia didn't know if Stefan knew about the regression. If he did, she was afraid if Stefan found out she regained her memories, he would kill her. That was the least she wanted right now. "If that is the case, you are wasting my time. Don't do this again." Silvia planted her hands on the armrest and pushed herself up, a layer of frost coating her eyes as she gazed down at Klaus. "Even if you tell me to love that child as if he was my own, I will never do that. Claude is Lucia and Dyrroth's child, not mine. And even when Stefan legally adopted him, don't expect me to have any maternal attachment to him."

There was not a trace of remorse in Silvia's tone, despite knowing her words were nothing but harsh. She could always protect Claude in the shadows, just like what she had always done in the past. "Claude is just right next to this room. Get him out of the Avolire Palace. He doesn't belong in here," she added before she stepped away from him. Her steps, however, came to a halt when Klaus spoke. "You were an excellent teacher," he said, slowly setting his eyes on her back. "And an admirable marchioness."

Silvia's eyes zoomed in and out as her pupils dilated, holding her breath at what she heard. But instead of rushing back to him, she kept her composure. This could be a trap laid meticulously by Stefan. "Have you lost your mind, brother?" Silvia looked back at Klaus, mockery apparent in her eyes. "A teacher? And a marchioness? Me? The Royal Consort of His Majesty, the King, is being mistaken as a lowly marchioness? Did you learn a new way to antagonize me?"

Klaus was unfazed; he had expected such a reaction from her. This could be a natural reaction or just a facade. Either way, he wouldn't leave the Avolire Palace today without knowing the truth. "You remember, do you?" he continued calmly, assessing her subtle reaction. "That time in Grimsbanne with her and that time with Hell… you remember everything, yes?"

"I remember no such thing, Klaus." This time, her voice was firm and dark, facing his vantage point squarely. "However, I will surely remember this insult."

Klaus slowly rose from his seat and faced her. "I remember everything, Silvia. And when I say everything… I meant every single damn thing."

Her neck turned taut, eyes shaking. However, her resolve didn't break completely, although it faltered slightly. Anyone could say all these vague remarks to make someone confess. Silvia was far too familiar with such a tactic that she would be dumb to fall for it herself. "And those were?" she pried with a delicately arched brow. "I don't think your vague remarks will refresh my memories."

"Grimsbanne…" Klaus strutted towards her as he spoke. "The Duchess of Grimsbanne — you and I pledged an oath and offered our blood to her, didn't we?" n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

He stopped right in front of her, his expression solemn, which was very rare to see with his blithe nature.

"I was her chief knight while you were a lecturer in an academy and her handmaiden," he continued quietly. "When she fell into a five-year slumber, even though we had supported the new king and became his limbs, our hearts were always with her."

"I hope you understand that everything you are saying now can be considered treason," she replied stubbornly, knowing what he uttered was all common knowledge. Their enemies knew these details, and she was only waiting for him to mention a small piece that their enemies didn't know about. Something private... It didn't matter if it was an embarrassing moment or just a menial detail that left an impression on them. Just anything. Anything that others didn't know but them.

Seeing her unyielding front, Klaus drew a deep breath. He was keeping things vague for her own sake, lest she truly didn't remember. However, it seemed this wasn't enough and he couldn't blame her. Silvia was a meticulous person, and she wouldn't yield so easily.

"Do you remember that time… in Minowa?" Klaus breathed out. "When we gathered there for her son's birthday. We were on the second floor, talking. It was just the two of us back then. You were... a bit emotional — jealous, to be precise."

This time, her heart thudded. It didn't cross her until now that there was such a thing in the past. That time wasn't an essential event for the two of them, but now that he mentioned it, that conversation with him suddenly bore importance.

"Silvia, I… remember everything and came back to this place under her orders." Klaus took another step as he lowered his head to her. "If you say you don't still remember, I will pretend this didn't happen. But if you do remember, which I wish you do, I need your help."

Silvia gulped, studying his pair of burning eyes. This time, she was certain he was being serious and candid.

"Klaus," she whispered in a shaking voice. "Why did we go back?"