The Duke's Passion

809  This punishment was indeed crippling

Days later…

Silvia wiped the blades of her saber while sitting on the edge of the bed. Her white nightdress was drenched in blood and her face had some speck on it. She cleaned it so calmly, but her eyes looked dim and lifeless as if she was unconscious with her eyes open. "It's crazy," she whispered, blinking and a sign of life resurfaced in her eyes. "How did I get this far for you."

Silvia looked back and her eyes fell on the dead and bleeding body of Yulis lying on the bed. She smacked her lips, not showing the slightest remorse for what she had done. "I warned you many times, Yulis. I sent you as many letters and invitations. What did you do?" Silvia twisted her body, crawling her way on top of his lifeless body. "I was left with no choice, Yulis."

The only time her eyes revealed a tinge of sadness was when she thought of the longing she felt every time Yulis made her feel unimportant. Even her act of kindness and sincere deed, he wouldn't listen to her. If only he did, Silvia, or rather, the person who possessed Silvia's body, wouldn't need to sully her hands. "Now, you won't have to worry about many things, Yulis." Silvia cupped his cheek, smiling subtly at him. "You will rest in peace… and I'd be at peace too. After all, I wouldn't think of what you and your wife are doing since she wouldn't be able to be with you." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Her eyes narrowed until they were partially closed. She bent over until she was resting her body on top of his lifeless body. The side of her head rested on his bloody chest, humming him a lullaby. "They won't be able to hurt you anymore, Yulis," she whispered after some time, patting his arm with her fingertips. "And you wouldn't be able to see what else I'm about to do. Or rather, what I'd do with these hands. Don't worry, Silvia wouldn't know a thing. Once everything is over, I'd join you to hell, Yulis. Silvia can just do whatever the hell she wants to do. I'm tired."

Exhaustion washed over her face and her eyes softened as if all hope she used to have disappeared. "I missed Alphonse," came out a murmur, letting out a deep exhale. "Good for him he died early. He didn't need to witness or experience everything I was going through. Cross Kingdom is in shambles because of those damn wolves. Now, the mainland had everyone on a leash."

"How would I face Alphonse in hell with this failure I'm carrying with me?" she continued, speaking the things that she only knew. "I need to make things right. Quentin is still giving me a headache even when he's dead. Seriously. Just what the hell did that man do to make the king support him and silence Stefan?"

"I think it's all Stefan's fault," she added with another deep sigh. "If not for him, I wouldn't be in this mess."

Silvia pushed herself up, setting her eyes on Yulis's pale face. "It's Stefan's fault, right? Or was it Heliot? Well, Stefan's dead, and Heliot is about to die soon. People are just dying with no one knowing. But you… those people you care for might not know your death, but I will always remember you, Yulis."

"See? I am the only one who truly cares for you." She cupped his face once again, smiling. "Too bad you'd never realize that. But oh well, it's your honor to die in the hands of the woman who truly cared for you."

"Do not forget, Yulis," she added, giving her remarks a little bit of stress. "Beatrice Le Blac. That is the woman you need to come after."

Silvia's face turned colder as the thin smile on her face disappeared. That night, Silvia locked this chamber in her castle in La Lona March and forbid anyone from coming inside. The next day, when Silvia woke up, all she felt was her aching muscle as if she did a marathon. However, she didn't dwell on it as she went on with her day like usual. That same day, she received a letter from the Grimsbanne — a letter from her husband. Not knowing her husband was simply rotting in one of the rooms inside the same castle. Since then, her setup with Yulis continued, living separately. There were a few times Silvia would 'meet' Yulis and spend time with him, not knowing she was simply living in a well-crafted illusion. Not just her, but everyone especially in the duchy lived in an illusion where Yulis was alive. Not knowing, the Grimsbanne was slowly crumbling down with people from outside the empire taking charge bit by bit. No one knew what was going on and how the capable empire like the Heart's Empire was getting handicapped without their knowledge. Until that night of the attack, the same person once again possessed Silvia's body.

Just like what she did to Yulis, Silvia carefully poisoned Rufus so he wouldn't struggle like Yulis did. Rufus trusted Silvia so much that he didn't know she was already ruining him like a parasite. Even the empress, Florence Von Stein, had no idea she was keeping a snake under her nose. However, no matter how perfect her plans were, things still didn't go the way she planned. On the night of Rufus's death, Fabian was in the imperial palace. Hence, Fabian managed to stop 'Silvia' or rather, Beatrice, who had gotten control of Silvia's consciousness. That night, Florence was able to live and Fabian ended Silvia without mercy. Silvia, who was very useful, died beside her first love. Meanwhile, Fabian was able to find her, but before he could kill her, Zero's plans came into motion. The time reversed.

It saved Beatrice in a nick of time, and the damages she caused were repaired, driving her to square one. It wouldn't be a problem if people didn't know. However, some troublesome people retained their memories. Cassara brought Fabian's memories as well, and now Cassara had done the same to Silvia. Cassara brought back all the memories that were not originally Silvia's, but of the person who possessed her while she was inside Silvia's body. It was, indeed, Cassara's punishment for Silvia. This truth was enough to cripple Silvia.