The Duke's Passion

879 Please... live and survive this nightmare.

"I will say it one last time! Come out now if you are not an undead! I do not want to harm you, so, come..."

Lilou and Law held their breaths as they looked around. Shadows stretched to the faint light on the street until people slinked out of the shadows. They studied those in their full view, recognizing their haggardness and cautiousness in their eyes.

"Uhm." A meek voice of a child stole Lilou's attention, making her look back at the narrow alley.

There, hiding between two houses, was a little girl. Her face was covered with dust and dirt, and the hem of her dirty dress was torn. Just the sight of her, Lilou already guessed why this girl was in this narrow alley and who were the people in this district.

"Are you the only people who aren't turned into undead?" asked Lilou, turning her head to the people in the street.

The people didn't speak. They simply looked at each other, reluctant to give out any details to a stranger. Although all of them didn't know each other, as they only took shelter, they could say Lilou was a noble vampire. Their views toward nobility changed drastically since the night. began.

"I know it is hard to believe this is happening. However, please give me a little of your trust and I assure you, I will never make you regret taking a leap of faith." Lilou pressed her lips into a thin line, staring at the middle-aged man who was standing near her. Iler lips parted, but then she shut her mouth again, setting her eyes back on the little girl stuck in the alley.

"Come!" Lilou approached the alley, offering her hand to her. "You'll be in trouble if you stay inside there for a long time."

The little girl looked at the beautiful lady, who was smiling warmly at her. Her eyes landed on Lilou's hand, only for her reluctant to reach out. Lilou's hand was not only dirty, but it was almost covered with blood. One could tell she had hurt someone.

Realizing this, Lilou curled her hand into a ball before retrieving it. Instead of offering her sullied hand, she bent her knees with her hands on her legs.

"Do you like it there?" asked Lilou to the little girl. "If you think you're safer there, then I won't force you to go out. However, if you trust me, I will not let any harm befall you."

"Who are you?"

Before the little girl could even consider Lilou's offer, one of the men who came out inquired. They watched Lilou look back at them.

"Who are you and what do you want? We can smell you are a nobility!" The middle-aged man kept a brave front, but his voice and body tremors didn't hide his facade. "Are you acting under the mad king's order?! If you think you can slaughter every survivor of this madness, we won't back down so casily!"

Law frowned, glancing at his mother. "That's not it," he said. "We are looking for survivors to rescue them and to keep them safe."

"Nonsense! Even the king wouldn't do that! Ilis Majesty... that madman sacrificed his subjects for his own reasoning. I low are we going to believe the words of the nobility when the kingn/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

himself wanted all of us dead?"

"If that is what we want, why do we need to waste time talking when we could've used this time to end you all in one swoop?!"

"Law." Lilou cast her son a look, shaking her head to stop him from arguing.

These people were already exhausted, afraid, and abandoned. They couldn't blame them if trust was something they couldn't give out so easily. Their own king, who was supposed to protect them, had done this to them.

"I understand your heart." Lilou took a step forward, speaking quietly and calmly. "And it is too bold of me to ask you to give me your trust when your king broke it. I apologize."

Lilou planted her hand across her chest, giving everyone equal attention. "Ilowever, you all understand that your time is running out. Isn't that why you are all outside instead of hiding where you should be hiding?"

"Whether you come with us or stay, you know you are not safe here. Your end is still coming and you are all aware of that," she continued, stressing each word. "You have two options. One is to stay here - I will not force you to come if you do not want to come. The other one is to take a leap of faith. You be the judge whether coming with me is right.

The people stared at Lilou's burning eyes. One would say she was glaring at them or probably furious. However, as people who were shoved into the pits of darkness in this madness, they could understand that fire in Lilou's eyes.

It was a fire of determination; a flame that somehow lit up the extinguished hope in everyone's heart.

"Please." Lilou breathed out, almost begging them to listen to her. "Please... live and survive this nightmare."

Law slowly veered his gaze to his mother and slowly balled his hand into a fist. 'Mother...' He knew his mother was a wonderful person. To be fair, Lilou was the one offering help. However, by the look of it, she was almost begging them while holding back her tears. She could just force them to come if that was what she truly wanted. Lilou was capable and strong enough to do that, but she didn't.

Surely, Lilou has a heart of gold. It didn't matter what or whoever she would become. Her heart would always go to the people. And because of that, it wasn't hard for others to trust and believe in her because of her sincerity.

The people stared at her in silence before giving each other a look. When the middle-aged man set his eyes back on Lilou, he huffed.

"Come with us."