The Duke's Passion

806  What did they do to my real twin brother?

Silvia stayed on the balcony while deep in thought. Her exchange with Klaus didn't alleviate the heaviness in her heart. If anything, it only left her with a myriad of unanswered questions and doubts. It just didn't make sense to her. However, there was a point that was clear to her. Regardless of her personal issues, she was still currently the king's wife. As Stefan's wife and royalty, Silvia had to protect the court from collapsing while the king was in the war. Many officials already declared their opposition to Stefan's participation in the war, especially without a son and heir.

Claude might be the current crown prince and Stefan had already declared Claude his official heir. But despite that, many didn't support that. The only reason everyone just accepted that fact was that they were terrified of Stefan. Now that he was away without a guarantee of return, Silvia's duty was not only to protect the young Claude, but also to keep the order in this kingdom. "Seriously." Silvia drew a deep breath with her eyes closed. "Once this was over, I won't just let them off that easily. And that includes Yulis, Klaus, and even Lilou. How dare they leave me behind just like this?"

Silvia reopened her eyes ever so slowly, letting out a deep exhale.

"Get yourself together, Silvia. We'll figure out the truth one day." She nodded in agreement, telling herself Klaus or whoever would explain the reason. There must be a deeper reason why they were keeping her in the dark. So it was only a waste if she dwell on this instead of doing something more productive. Silvia turned on her heel, going back inside her chamber to rest. But as soon as she closed the balcony, she jolted upon catching a figure standing in the dark. Her hand clutched her chest, turning her head to the person who was standing several steps from her vantage point.

"Cassara?" her brows furrowed, assessing Cassara from head to toe. "What are you doing here?"

"I just thought my sister needs some company tonight." Cassara shrugged and smiled, causing Silvia's brow to raise. "Did you find that strange?"

'It was suspicious,' was what Silvia wanted to tell her sister, but bit her tongue to stop herself. All she could do was hold Cassara's gaze momentarily. Her relationship with Cassara wasn't enough to consider good, but they had been civil. At the very least, Cassara had behaved herself for the past months. Cassara had also been vocal in wanting to live peacefully and luxuriously without getting involved in her sibling's craziness. 'I guess she really wants to change.' Silvia mentally sighed once again, feeling a little guilty for always being so wary of her sister. "Do you want some tea?" offered Silvia with a subtle smile. Cassara smacked her lips. "Up to you."

"I see. Then have a seat. I'll call for someone to bring us some."

"Alright."

Silvia watched Cassara march to the set of chairs in her chambers near the fireplace and let out another sigh. 'I'm really terrible for thinking she always has bad motives.'

She didn't dwell on her thought, shaking her head mildly. Silvia then sauntered toward the stand, picking up a bell to alert anyone outside. In almost an instant, the personal maid serving Silvia came to the chamber where she received an order from Silvia. "Yes, Your Royal Highness," said the maid politely before leaving the chamber. "The night is quite cold, so it's better to stay in," Silvia remarked as she sat down on the divan across from Cassara. When she lifted her eyes, she caught Cassara staring at the hearth silently. Her lips parted just to keep the mood light since silence meant awkwardness. "Crazy isn't it, Silvia?" Cassara mused before Silvia could speak, facing the latter squarely. "Pardon?"

"We are sisters, and yet, it feels like we are just strangers put inside the same chambers," explained Cassara with a light chuckle, setting her eyes back to the fire. "You know, Silvia, I had always thought why I was always so drawn to Hell. Even when he rejects me and abandons me, I always yearn for him."

"I realized my heart and my emotions aren't what I thought they were. It wasn't that kind of love that drove me to yearn for him, but because I felt like he was my only family. He is the only one I have, Silvia," she continued with a tinge of nostalgia in her soft tone. "Dyrroth and Hell, they're my precious brothers who loved me sincerely. So when Dyrroth left with Lucia, I couldn't believe that he had left me here. I thought Hell wouldn't do the same, but he also left to travel the world."

"At first, I told myself, everything will be fine. He will return and wouldn't leave just like Rottie. But in the end, he also abandoned me. I've always known Hell won't come back for me, but there's a stubborn part in my heart that believed he will not forget about me," she added, chuckling bitterly. "It's strange, isn't it?"

Cassara slowly faced Silvia once again. "Rottie and Hell are my half-brothers but my love for them was deeper than most biological siblings. Yet, I can't feel the same connection to my twin brother, Yulis." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"It's not even as distant as my connections to the rest of my siblings like you, Klaus, Alistair, Alphonse, and everyone. One way or another, even when I'm not particularly close with everyone, a part of me… my blood in particular recognized you as my siblings." She peeled her eyes from Silvia back to the hearth. The light from the fire danced on her beautiful, unsmiling face. "It just feels nothing as if he wasn't my family at all, like a stranger that has no connection to me except everyone's claims that he is my twin brother and carries the name La Crox."

The corner of her lips curled up. "Should I keep turning a blind eye to that, Silvia?"

Silvia held her breath, eyes fixed on Cassara's side profile. When the latter faced her once again, her lips quivered open, but her voice was stuck in her throat. "Or should I keep wondering what did they do to my real twin brother?"