The Duke's Passion

Chapter 719  the invited guest

"Fabian, did you work in the interior? This place suddenly becomes pleasing in the eye." Samael looked around as soon as he sat beside Law. In his eyes, everything just seemed so wonderful and full of colors.

"Father, did you eat the sun?" Law carefully removed his hand from his forehead, seeing the invisible twinkle surrounding his father. "You are glowing."

"Literally an eyesore," Stefan remarked.

"My eyes." Tilly, on the other hand, covered her eyes from the radiating man sitting just right across her. "Fabian, feed me."

"Happily, Lady Tilly." Fabian smiled, walking towards Tilly. When he stood beside her, he cut a small piece of meat, but then slipped his hand inside his suit. He took out a small jar containing a black liquid and poured a drop on Tilly's food.

"Open your mouth, Lady Tilly." He picked up the spoon again and, as instructed, Tilly opened her mouth and ate the food.

Watching this, Rufus furrowed his brows. "What is that?" he asked, only to see Fabian smile brightly.

"Lady Tilly, you shouldn't trust Fabian that much," Rufus remarked, getting a little nervous in Tilly's stead.

"He's poisoning me," Tilly answered and then opened her mouth, only to get fed by Fabian again. "But it's good."

"…" Rufus watched those two before he shook his head. "I really shouldn't pay attention to those two."

When Rufus peeled his eyes away from Tilly, who was still covering her eyes, and Fabian feeding her to Samael, he caught Stefan's dead expression.

"Come on, brother. Don't be so grumpy. This is why you had three failed marriages." Samael teased, tapping Stefan's arm on the table. "You should smile more. This world is so beautiful. You just have to open your eyes."

"Is it just me, or is it getting dark?" Stefan pulled his arm away and clicked his tongue in irritation. "I'm starting to see red."

"Aww… don't be like that. You should act a little cute and call me Big Brother, like before." Samael chuckled, trying to poke Stefan only for the latter to take a move away.

"Touch me, and you'll lose a limb."

Rufus shook his head and sigh. While Fabian was poisoning Tilly, the willing victim, Samael was teasing Stefan to death. He glanced at Law and sighed once more. Fortunately, Law seemed to be used in such a chaotic environment.

A subtle smile appeared on Rufus' face. Although the dining hall was chaotic and loud, it was more peaceful than when he was eating alone in the imperial palace as the emperor. He glanced at Stefan once again, noticing that although Stefan was clearly annoyed, he wasn't suppressing his feelings like how he used to.

<nulli>'Maybe… it's because I was in his shoes once.' Rufus picked up his cutlery as he peeled his eyes away from Stefan.<nulli> 'That's why I cannot completely hate him. A king isn't all about personal feelings, after all. And thus, the crown is heavier to carry than what it looks like.'

Because at the end of the day, Stefan made his decisions in the past as the king. They may not be right, but Rufus knew Stefan's verdict was the best he could come up with. For his people, for his land, for the name of the La Crox. That's what most rulers do, even if they had to sacrifice their hearts for the sake of duty and their loved ones.

That was the meaning of the throne: to have the world at your feet at the expense of their own happiness.

Time passed in the dining hall with such irony in the atmosphere before they all paused amid their breakfast. Samael and Stefan looked at each other, and the former shrugged.

"I did nothing," Samael immediately defended himself.

"What did you do this time?" asked Stefan, ignoring Samael's claim. He then glanced at Rufus, and the latter tilted his head to the side. Rufus was too sensible than everyone in this dining hall. So, Stefan shifted his gaze to the only person who could've angered Heliot.

Fabian.

"Hell… what sort of order did you give to that devil?" Stefan's voice was menacingly low, looking at Fabian's squinting eyes.

Samael leaned back, arms behind his head. "Invite Heliot?"

"Of all people you could give that order to, you chose Fabian?" Stefan's eyes sharpened, grinding his teeth in irritation at Samael. "Do you truly want this problem to end?"

"Of course."

"What sort of invitation did you give Prince Heliot, Fabian?" Rufus inquired, glancing at Fabian. If Samael ordered something from Fabian and not to Rufus, that only meant Samael didn't want to go through the proper process. Rufus was too decent to force people, and everyone knew that.

"Well…" Fabian kept his smile, eyes glossing over to everyone. Unlike Samael's feigning ignorance, Stefan, Law, and Rufus looked at him with anticipation. Tilly was still covering her eyes, waiting for food. But before he could tell them the secret, he caught a figure entering the dining hall.

The piercing sound of a sword being drawn resonated in the air, and like a shadow, he jumped over the table. Fabian was instantly backed against the wall, an arm pinned across his chest, a blade pressed on his throat. Everything happened so fast, but they had seen everything unfold right before their eyes.

"Tell me one reason I shouldn't plunge my sword into your throat." Heliot's eyes were burning in red, getting more annoyed when Fabian's squinting eyes remained.

"Just kill him," Stefan suggested without care, while Samael whistled.

"Oh, no… don't kill him. He's not innocent, but he will change…" Samael's tone was dramatic, trying his best to sound concerned. However, he didn't move a muscle to help Fabian. Meanwhile, Rufus simply glanced at Heliot and Fabian before continuing with his food.

"Young Master, you should finish your milk. I'll help you train later," said Rufus, completely ignoring his brother, who was about to have his head rollover.

"Alright." Law nodded as if Fabian wasn't being threatened with his life.

"Prince Heliot, please put down your sword." Fabian raised his hand, but Heliot was too miffed to be talked out of it.

"Food," Tilly uttered, still covering her eyes, waiting for the food to come.

"Let me feed Lady Tilly first, then behead me right after," Fabian added, but when Heliot didn't move, his eyes slowly cracked open. "My beloved sister-in-law will die if you don't let me finish my task, Your Highness. Her time is ticking."