The Duke's Passion

Chapter 667  Yes, no way.

"… it's around four months. That right. He was here in the palace to see me and ask for my hand in marriage."

When those words flew out of Cassara's mouth, Silvia finally realized why her sister had been sticking around with her. There was no other anomaly or strange visits to the palace aside from that time over four months ago. However, knowing Rufus, it was impossible for Cassara to seduce the man.

He was like a wall. Moreover, he didn't hear Cassara being associated with Rufus until now, and if she was, it would surely reach Silvia's ear. So, Silvia simply shrugged Cassara's taunting as something the latter spoke just to annoy her. It was smart, but Silvia didn't buy it.

Who would have thought Cassara could be telling the truth? Silvia didn't think much about Cassara's words until days later.

Standing in the open hallway, Silvia had her eyes on the two figures standing in the open Avolire Garden. Her expression was blank, eyes fixated on Cassara's figure as she held Rufus' hand to drag him with her. Normally, Rufus wouldn't even let others touch him, but he let her drag him in the pavilion's direction near the lake.

"Can't be…" she whispered, keeping her eyes on the two departing figures. "… there's no way."

As she denied what her eyes just saw, Cassara's words the other day hovered over her head repeatedly. Silvia lowered her eyes, scoffing in disbelief.

"No way." Her denial ran on as she couldn't move a muscle, filling her head with how, why, when, and so on. She flinched when a figure suddenly came up to her side, making her raise her head. Her eyes slowly dilated upon catching those squinting eyes with that classic polite smile that felt otherwise.

"Yes, no way," said Fabian in a kind tone, staring at that devastated expression clouding her features. "He's not Sir Knight's type. I thought Your Royal Highness knew that more than anyone."

"You… why are you here?" she asked, in disbelief at seeing this man's face after many years.

"More like… His Grace needs something from her."

"Hell?" Silvia nearly choked on her own breath. "He's awake?"

Fabian kept his smile. "To meet Her Royal Highness Cassara. I need something from her."

His explanation made her brows knit. This man, Fabian, needed something from Cassara? Silvia racked her head for a minute, but couldn't think of anything Fabian would need from her sister. Actually, she couldn't think of anything that the Barrett Brothers would need from her sister.

"More like… His Grace needs something from her."

"Hell?" Silvia nearly choked on her own breath. "He's awake?"

She held her breath on instinct, staring at Fabian blankly. The news about Samael immediately overwhelmed her confused mind regarding Cassara and Rufus. Who wouldn't? Samael had been in his slumber and he didn't have a good relationship with Stefan!

If Samael awoke from his slumber and he was here, that sounded trouble. Especially, Stefan hadn't been in the royal palace and she didn't know where the hell he was all this time. It was not like this was the only time Stefan was away from the capital, but he was taking his time this time around.

What were these people planning?

Fabian smiled until his eyes squinted. "Fret not, your royal highness. His Grace is too busy with something else. He won't wreak havoc, that's for sure…"

"You… don't believe that, do you?"

"I don't." His smile remained as he replied almost immediately. "At least, not now."

Silvia could only look at this butler in disbelief. Although Fabian still appeared he was still in character for being a butler, the sight of him still send a shiver down her spine. This Fabian… forget about Samael. This man was a menace himself.

"What is going on…?"

"A lot, that's for sure." His eyes squinted even more before he peeled his eyes away from her to where Rufus and Cassara went to. When his squinting eyes opened slightly, that was when Silvia realized Fabian was barely in character anymore.

Something was definitely happening, and she didn't know about it until now.

*******

Meanwhile…

"Why don't you sit down, Sir Knight?" Cassara motioned her hand towards the intricate chair across the round table across from her inside the pavilion in the avolire garden. "It is a surprise that you want to meet me, so I hope you don't mind if I asked my sister to meet the man whom I fancied?"

Rufus' eyes never left Cassara's coquettish expression since the beginning. Expression was still as cold as ever.

"Her Royal Highness Silvia isn't someone who will fall for such a bluff," he said in his signature aloof tone. "Your Highness, I don't know what you're planning, but I need your help."

Cassara laughed and shook her head, propping her jaw against her knuckles. "Sir Knight, that's a surprise. I never thought you will ever need my help. I wonder what it is… oh? Do you perhaps need me to for your lunatic of a brother?"

He didn't have to answer to receive the confirmation. Rufus was a person who was very easy to read. Not because he wore his heart on his sleeve, but a man like him wouldn't go to someone like Cassara if not for her ability.

"Haha…" She once again shook her head before she leaned back, raising her chin, eyes on the beautiful knight. Looking at him, Cassara finally understood why Silvia was so crazy over him. Rufus, although just a mere human, wasn't so bad. He had his own charms, and he looked so manly. However, he wasn't her type — his personality was a "turnoff" for her.

"No." Her eyes sharpened as the side of her lips curled up into a smirk. "Why would I help you? I'm not that generous to awaken a monster. I learned my lesson before the reversal of time. I am not so foolish as to commit a mistake the second time."

Cassara waved her index sideways, referring to the time she used her ability on Lilou. That was the gravest mistake she had ever done and she would never commit the same mistake, knowing what kind of monster Fabian was.

"I am asking you nicely…" she arched a brow when Rufus mumbled as he lowered his head. "… before His Grace arrives."

"What?" this time, the smile on her face faded upon the mention of Samael. "Did you say Hell…"

THUD!

Her breath hitched as soon as she heard a faint thud caress her ears. Cassara turned her head in where she heard the subtle noise, only for her eyes to dilate and her heart to pound against her ribcage loudly.

There, not far away, was a man with his bright silver hair standing up from his crouching position. As soon as her eyes locked with those pair of deep crimson orbs, Cassara swallowed a mouthful of saliva to squash down the sense of dread creeping up her spine.

"No," she whispered.