The Duke's Passion

Chapter 780  Do you think he’s pretending?

"Klaus, why did we go back?"

Klaus's eyes softened with bitterness, pressing his lips into a thin line. He watched the layers of defenses in Silvia's eyes carefully unravel as she waited for his response. The aloof and fierce woman had slowly disappeared, leaving this vulnerable and confused Silvia. "Let's seat first," he suggested with a mild tone. "We have many things to talk about, Silvia."

With that being said, Silvia and Klaus returned to their previous spots. They looked at each other, and knowing filling her in was more important than his questions, Klaus let out a shallow breath. When his lips parted, Klaus let her know about every little detail that had happened.

The regression, what happened in the north and Claude, Stefan and Samael's alliance, Lilou's death which caused their memories to return, and things for her to understand the situation. Although Klaus didn't detail Samael and Lilou's plans for Spade and their whereabouts, he told her they were already doing something to fix this mess. "If…" Silvia's lips quivered while doing her best to absorb all these pieces of information in one go. "... Lilou's death was the reason our memories returned, why can't Yulis remember?"

She swallowed the frustrating tension in her throat. "My husband was with us in Grimsbanne and, just like you and me, he had consumed Lilou's blood. Perhaps, much more than us, since Lilou was always worried about him and their fallacious affair."

"That… I have no idea, Silvia." Klaus shook his head in disappointment. "I can only think of two reasons Yulis hadn't regained his memories."

"What are they?"

"He didn't drink Lilou's blood," he answered almost immediately. "You know those Bloodfangs and their affection for each other. Lilou is Yulis' only blood family, and therefore, he probably couldn't stomach drinking his sister's blood just so he could survive."

"But that doesn't make sense," Silvia argued with a shaking voice.

"Why?"

"It is true that Yulis cherished Lilou more than his own life. However, he wouldn't insult her as to waste her blood, Klaus," she explained with a level of certainty. "For us vampires, blood is the most essential thing. We lived for the blood, and we die for the blood. Yul will not disrespect Lilou like that."

"That's why I am not fully convinced about that." Klaus let out a shallow breath because what Silvia had said was all true. "You said there are two reasons you can think of," Silvia breathed out sharply, clasping her skirt tightly. "What is the other one, Klaus?"

"That…" this time, he trailed off as he held her gaze. "... I wish that is not the case."

Silvia bit her inner lower lip. "Do you think he's pretending?"

"Yes," Klaus answered with great difficulty, knowing this suggestion would hurt her. "Just like you and I, he probably didn't want to show any sign that he remembered. After all, during this time, we didn't have a great rapport."

"But Yulis and I always had a good relationship."

"Even if he knew that… you were still his wife, Silvia," he argued calmly. "Your husband cherishes you, and knowing you'd be fine for the next several years, he probably didn't want to burden you with such information."

There was a moment of silence between them. Silvia carefully lowered her eyes, rearranging her thoughts. When she raised her head, she shook it mildly.

"No," she whispered, causing deep lines in between Klaus' brows. "Yul doesn't remember."

"How are you sure he didn't?"

"Because he never looked at me anything like how he used to look at me."

"Yulis is good at concealing his emotions, Silvia. He had lived his entire life within the palace's walls in deception. Even Stefan and Hell didn't know he was a Bloodfang, and not a La Crox," Klaus stressed but maintained his voice at the lowest volume. "That had always been his survival method, Silvia. Do not underestimate how the Bloodfang could hide things from anything — they could even deceive the world. You saw how Lilou deceived people for her goal."

Klaus huffed silently. "It is in their blood, sister. I hate I sound like I was badmouthing them, but that was a fact we mustn't overlook. If he wants to deceive you, he would. It might be for a good reason or for something else, but we cannot rule out all possibilities just because of your personal feelings."

Silvia opened and closed her mouth, but no words came out. She couldn't argue with him because everything that came out of Klaus's mouth was nothing but the truth. If Yulis had regained his memories and was simply pretending, then… it wouldn't be hard for him to make everyone believe what he wanted them all to believe. "Is… that even possible?" she fumbled with her words, her voice cracking. "I am his wife. How can he not look at me with the slightest affection other than affection for his sister?"

"Because if you didn't remember, what would you see him?" Klaus returned, and this time, she couldn't answer him. "Just like how you've kept him around without crossing the line or letting your longing overwhelm you, he's probably doing the same. I have good faith in Yulis, not because I had admired him, but because I know he will never betray Lilou."

He leaned forward, looking at her straight in the eye. "Convince yourself that if that is the case, Yulis is simply doing it for your sake."

"But now that I know Stefan and Hell had an alliance, I won't have any problem if I confront him."

"Don't." Klaus shook his head. "Until we know his reasons, don't tell him you knew things."

"Why?" Silvia frowned. "Isn't that better? And also the easiest?"

"Silvia, what we had discussed was nothing but speculation. I still have another conclusion and that was there were only certain people who drank Lilou's blood who knew about the regression, but I highly doubt it. It's still better if we are careful; we don't know who is watching our every movement."

Silvia's grip on her skirt tightened, having these conflicting emotions in her heart. Sensing her dispirited mood, Klaus pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I'm glad that you already remember everything," he said, dropping his hand from the bridge of his nose. "For now, focus on your own survival. Continue doing what you are doing, but be extra cautious of your surroundings, especially around Cassara."

"Why? What's with Cassara now?"

"Nothing." Klaus shook his head. "Just — just be careful around her. She retrieved Fabian's memories, and you know what that means. As for Yulis, I will investigate him. Allow me to carry this burden, Silvia."

"I don't know what to say, but let me know if you got anything."

"Of course —" Just then, Klaus and Silvia's bodies stiffened as their pupils slowly dilated, catching a whiff of Claude's blood.  Nôv(el)B\\jnn