The Duke's Passion



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Underground passages weren't new to Lilou. However, this was the first time she had seen such a huge underground place that it looked like an entire town. Although it was quiet, there were sources of light and small houses.

"Those who believed came, but those who didn't were up there," Orly remarked, guiding them to one of the houses. "In the span of months, we gathered a few thousand people."

"I low did you make them follow you?" Lilou blurted out as she looked around the surrounding. "Heh" Orly let out a short laugh, stopping in front of a house before looking back at them briefly. "Religion."

Ahh...

Orly pushed the door open, inviting them to come inside. This time, the other men who were with him stayed outside the small house. Meanwhile, Orly sat on the wooden chair around the table. The place was small. One didn't need to turn around to scan the surrounding because everything in it was in sight.

"Come. Take a seat," offered Orly to the mother and daughter.

"This is no time for chit-chat," Law commented. "There were still people up on the surface who needs to be rescued. Talking right now will not help."

"Law." Lilou cast Law a look, understanding her son's frustration. She then set her eyes back to the old man. "We came with you because we wanted to help, but it seemed this underground is a safe place!"

"For now."

"For now," she repeated, marching forward and taking a seat across from the old man. "Right now, my people were doing everything they can to calm the situation. However, we figured there were still survivors out there who weren't infected by the king's spell. I don't know the reason, but I assumed you understand the emergency"

Orly stared at Lilou squarely, studying the woman's burning eyes. "I know that. After all, since this night started, we found a few people who had survived the first wave of the king's greed." Ile slowly rose from his seat, marching toward the drawer on the side.

"We went up when another citizen told us they had seen a child stuck in the alley. We came to check and met you two," he continued as he searched for something in the drawer. "Perhaps it was fate, or maybe it was luck. But, as you know, this underground town is only safe now. Even if the king or anyone didn't find us, problems will soon arise, such as shortage of food, medicine, and water."

Orly went on and on, talking about his concerns for the future. Listening to him, Lilou could not help but commend the man. This man had a broad insight into survival. Probably it had something to do with his experience growing up, especially from that night of the rebellion. "That is why, sooner or later, we have to get out of this underground to find resources. Here it is!" Orly took out a rolled paper before limping back to the chair across from Lilou. "That is our concern before this night, another reason we were out."

Orly placed the scroll on top of the table, eyes on Lilou. "Take it.

Lilou's brows furrowed, darting her eyes from his eyes to the scroll on top. She slowly reached for the scroll, opening it to see what was its content.

"This..." she trailed off, eyes widening as she raised her gaze back to him.

"It's a drawing of the entire underground structure, passageways, waterways, connecting routes, shortcuts, and such," explained Orly to Lilou. "When we first went back to the ground surface, we saw that people we never met before were fighting the undead. I also received reports that some parties in another town were being attacked by looters. Though I believed they were simply mistaken as looters, people who were being held back by the infested citizens." Lilou's expression turned solemn as she held his gaze, holding the drawings securely. "Right now, the king of the Heart Kingdom had led his soldiers to this land. Zero owed us a great debt, and the only way we can stop it was to end him."

"We didn't expect that he would sacrifice all his people for this battle. Therefore, I apologize." "You don't have to." Orly shook his head. 'Our fates would be the same whether you attacked or let him be. Ilis conquest for power was bottomless and he would do anything to stand above others. I'm just glad that we now have a bit of hope instead of wondering how we would survive the next several months with all those undead in every street of this kingdom."

"If you need help, I can deploy everyone to assist you in your destination. We had chariots and carts to use," he continued, offering all the help he could offer to assist Lilou. "We'd do anything, but in return, can you give us your word that you will end that man?"

There was a moment of silence that fell in the house as Orly and Lilou stared at cach other.

"My husband... is fighting him right now. I believed in him and knowing what he was fighting for, I don't think he will ever lose this fight. Her quiet and solemn voice broke the silence. "Right now, more warriors were fighting the undead while another group was focused on rescuing the citizen.'

"Which one are you there?" Orly didn't beat around the bush, asking what was Lilou's role.

"The latter." Lilou's eyes burned with sincerity and determination. "We needed a place to evacuate those survivors. Will you allow me to use these drawings to save as many people as we can? It would be very cramped in this underground."

His eyes were shown reluctance before he answered, "For as long as they were not infected. I'll send my men to be on standby at every entrance. You can tell your people to go to those marked arcas someone will await for the rescued."

Lilou breathed a sigh of relief as that took a load of burden from her heart. Fighting with the survivors was troublesome and the bigger the group they would be, the bigger the risk. She gazed at the scrolls once again with relief in her eyes. With this, she could come up with a better strategy.