Meanwhile…

Samael watched Lilou, not planning to get his eyes off of her. Although Cunningham was a neutral place to stay for now, something had been bothering him ever since last night.

"Uncle." Suddenly, Claude called him out. Yet Samael didn't respond as he stared at Lilou's back.

"Uncle."

"Don't call me Uncle." Sam muttered indifferently. "I don't know what's your intentions, but it doesn't matter. I'm merely sitting here with you because Lilove is fond of you."

"I'm also fond of Auntie Lilove. That's why I'm sitting here with you…" Claude shrugged as he played with the food with his fork.

"… Uncle Hell, you're putting her in danger."

This time, Claude caught Samael's attention. Slowly, Samael shifted his gaze from Lilou to Claude from across him.

"Oh?" He arched his brow as the side of his lips curled into a sneer. "Now, that's interesting."

Samael leaned in, tilting his head to the side as he gazed at Claude.

"I know you're different. But, I'm not sure how different. Now, I'm intrigued, little crumb."

"Lucia and Dyrroth." Claude only mentioned those two names. But Samael's reaction gradually changed to a slight surprise.

"Dyrroth…" Samael muttered under his breath.

"They are my parents." Claude added in the same unaffectionate tone.

"Hah…" Upon Claude's confession, Samael scoffed in disbelief. "Impossible."

"They're dead, Uncle. Hunted down by father, the king, Lucia died and they tortured Dyrroth to death." Claude continued on playing with the food with his plate, gradually slowing down as he spoke.

"It's your fault, Uncle."

Claude added as he slowly raised his head. "It's all your fault."

Samael clenched his hand until they trembled. Lucia and Dyrroth were his brother and sister. The eldest daughter of the La Crox Family while the latter was the original crown prince.

The two had eloped to live a peaceful life; away from this hell. But now, this kid was telling him they're dead?

"If only you accepted the crown, they wouldn't…" Claude paused as he dropped the fork.

His doe cerulean eyes glinted as they grew crimson. It was as if he was staring at the person he loathed the most.

Even though Claude was young, he was older than mortals — ten times older than Lilou. Hence, he knew it wasn't entirely Samael's fault.

However, he couldn't think otherwise. Samael had all the right and capabilities to sit on the throne; some already considered him as their king.

Yet, here he was. Enjoying life with a mortal.

Samael let out a faint scoff as he shook his head, chuckling. "It's my fault because Dyrroth is hopelessly weak?"

"Hopelessly weak…?" All the lingering emotions plastered on Claude's adorable face instantly faded.

Seeing this, Samael glanced at his surrounding. Everyone froze, as if time stopped itself.

"This ability is dangerous, little crumb." Samael advised. "Even Lucia inflicted repercussions whenever she used this ability. You will die young."

Despite the situation he was under, Samael remained calm. This ability was his sister Lucia's, no doubt about it.

Samael snapped his finger and time resumed as the people started moving once again. Every vampire had a special ability, but the more powerful they were, the more dangerous the effect on its caster.

Claude was young. If this ability was used frequently, he would die. They didn't have a good start, but Claude was still Samael's nephew from his beloved brother and sister.

"Really, Uncle." Claude scoffed bitterly. "You only need to snap a finger to dispel it. You received the power to lead, the ability to stand above all, but you deny it. Instead, you turn your back on your people to suffer in the hands of a tyrant."

"Turn my back on my people?" Samael sneered as he shook his head. "So what if I did? Did you come here to kill me?"

He raised a brow, lifting his chin up. The smirk on Samael's lips grew wider, while his crimson eyes glinted.

"Dyrroth is a bearer of the divine order. Did you inherit it?" Samael asked in interest. "Auron?"

Claude remained silent as he shoved his hand inside his pocket. Slowly, he fished out a chain bracelet. Seeing it on Claude's small palm made Samael chuckle briefly.

"Heh. I wonder why you didn't use it while I had my guards down." Samael cupped his jaw as he slowly raised his gaze at the adorable Claude.

"Lilove will be shocked out of her wits if she knew this adorable one wants to kill me."

Claude glanced at Samael before he put the bracelet on. "I told you, Uncle. I like Auntie Lilove. I would've used Auron the second I laid my eyes on you, but I don't want to hurt her."

"Huh? You can't hurt her or me, little crumb. You'll lose not just your arm even before you can think about it. Don't talk big." Samael's face scrunched up as he spoke in a knowing tone.

"Yesterday, Auron sensed Lakresha's presence. I thought you died since the scent of your blood waft across Cunningham last night. Is Marquess Cameron the new wielder of lakresha?" Claude inquired, ignoring Sam's previous remarks.

"Why would I tell a little crumb like you?" Samael teased.

"Because I can sense a faint presence of Lakresha in Auntie Lilove." Claude answered solemnly. "I have to know."

Seeing Claude's sudden shift of mood made Samael squint his eyes. "And why would you have to know?"

Silence dawned on the two of them. Despite the chattering and clattering noises in the background, the two didn't bulge.

"My father, the king, had been gathering the bearers of the divine order — he had six bearers, excluding me, on his side right now. He could've killed me and take Auron, but since I inherited mother's ability, he adopted me instead."

Claude stared Samael straight in the eye.

"It's impossible for a mortal to wield any divine weapon. However, I can't ignore the fact that I can sense lakresha in Auntie Lilove." Claude's hand clenched.

"The king had been preparing for your return, Uncle. And recently, he had been very interested in the mortal you'd been with. It'll be more dangerous for Auntie Lilove if she could wield lakresha. I'm telling you this because I didn't want to owe you for this meal."

Samael listened in silence, tapping his finger against the table lightly. He had been in his slumber for hundreds of years. Hence, he didn't know the private details in the Capital.

"Ahh…" Samael muttered. "… so this is the reason, Lara?"

"What?"

Samael raised his glinting eyes. The corner of his lips twisted into a smirk. "You don't owe me. You owe Lilove because I could've killed you. She's your savior. However, I appreciate this information. So…"

Suddenly, Samael trailed off as he shifted his eyes to the direction Lilou was supposed to be. However, she's nowhere to be found.

"Lilove." Samael sprung up from his seat as he looked around, but to no avail.

As realization dawned on him, Samael shot his eyes towards Claude. His eyes glinted with killing intent, thinking Claude purposely distracted him for another reason.

"You…!"

"What…" When Claude saw Sam's fiery eyes, he looked around. Before he could think, he stopped time once again on a much larger scale.

"Uncle, I can't use this ability for a long time! Kill me later when you find Auntie Lilove. She shouldn't have gone too far!"

Samael ground his teeth, wanting to kill Claude first. However, his priority was Lilou. Also, Claude seemed he knew nothing.

With that thought in mind, Samael rushed outside to find Lilou. Meanwhile, Claude clasped his chest. His nose bled as he stopped the time in the entire Knotley.

'Did Father use us...?'