The Duke's Passion

That night, I didn't know why I apologized to him, but it felt that I had too many things to apologize for. Sam had never shown me his vulnerability, so it took me aback. He felt more like Sam, or rather, an equal mix of Sam's fear and Hell's anger. I barely remember what happened after that as we kissed passionately and made love all night, and the rest was history. 

"Lost in thoughts again?" Kristina cocked her head to me, snapping me out of my thoughts from that night one week ago. I faced her and smiled, closed-lipped. 

"His Grace told you to observe. Why are you always so distracted?" she asked as she tilted her head a little. 

"It's just… there are too many things I notice and try to figure out the reasons things happened that way."

Kristina nodded as she peeled her eyes away from me and set them back to Ramin and Charlotte who were sparring. Sam hadn't arrived yet, so those two were warming up and were on fire than ever because Ramin had fully recovered from his injury.

"By the way, how was your mission?" I broke the ice between Kristina and me as I cast her a brief look. "You've been rather busy these past weeks. Are. Are you alright?" 

The corner of Kristina's lips hooked up into a subtle smile and only nodded. "I guess." 

"You guess?" 

Kristina just gazed at me for a second and let out a shallow breath. It seemed she had a lot to say, but couldn't. 

"Is your mission that Sir Knight Rufus asked you to do is dangerous?" I queried, trying to understand her situation. Although Kristina was reliable and strong, her expression worried me.

"Dangerous…?" Kristina chuckled, and I sensed a trace of ridicule in her tone. "… it's more than just dangerous, but I'm alright." 

My lips pressed into a thin line. I wanted to pry more about it, but if she couldn't tell me, it would only burden her. So, I took a deep breath and decided not to pry but cheer her on.

"I know you can do it," I said with a weak smile. "I believe in you, so don't die on any mission and come back to the Order in one piece."

Kristina gazed at me and let out a low chuckle before turning her attention back to the two. "Of course, I had to do well and come back to you guys." 

The air between us suddenly felt refreshingly light as we observed the two. Ramin and Charlotte seemed very excited as their battle entered an intense exchange of blows. Well, Sam had tickled their eagerness to learn, so I guessed that was great.

My eyes snapped when Kristina suddenly uttered, "I won't bring you down, Lil."

"Huh?" I furrowed my brows and glanced at her. Kristina cast me a side-eye and smiled.

"I mean, you don't have to worry about me or Ramin and Charlotte. From what I see, Charlotte and Ramin's fighting style had changed a little, and although their moves seemed reckless, they were surprisingly calculated and knew what to do. So you don't have to worry about us." 

I was aware of her words as I noticed that Ramin and Charlotte weren't just throwing attacks thoughtlessly. However, I was not worried about them as I knew they were strong and excellent fighters, so her words were quite baffling.

Kristina noticed my puzzlement and chuckled while shaking her head slightly. "Don't think too much about it. Just know that the third squadron will always be by your side."

Her words puzzled me, but at the same time, they sounded very reassuring. My heart warmed up and my eyes softened. 

"Hmm!" I nodded, as it surprisingly gave me courage. "I'm glad to have reliable friends." 

I felt Kristina gazed at me once again but said nothing. Instead, the two of us observed the fierce fight that seemed it wouldn't end as Charlotte and Ramin were giving it their all. Charlotte and Ramin hopped back, and they landed on either side of the ring.

"Not bad!" Charlotte exclaimed, grinning maniacally as her eyes glinted.

Ramin smirk and shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly. "Just so you know, Charlie, careful not to enter the labyrinth garden."

The two of them read the air between them and the ground underneath them cracked, preparing for another exchange of blows. Just then, I narrowed my eyes as I notice a small figure from across the training grounds. 

Claude. 

"Auntie Lilove!" Claude raised his hand up, waving it excitedly before jogging towards me. However, instead of walking around the safe zones of the training ground, Claude took the straight path, entering the center of the training ground at the same time Charlotte and Ramin bolted forward like bolts of lightning.

"Claude!" I shouted and didn't think twice, bolting towards the training ground to stop the two before they could harm the child that suddenly entered their vicinity.

*CLANG!*

A wave of a deafening clash of metals rang in my ear and echoed across the training ground. Ramin blinked his eyes, surprised, as I held his wrist up with one hand.

"What…?" Ramin murmured, blinking his eyes as he realized our sudden interference. 

My heart was racing fast as I let out a deep sigh before shifting my eyes to the other person next to me, Kristina. She had reacted just as fast as I did and managed to stop Charlotte with her weapon. 

"Goodness, you two," Kristina uttered as if she was utterly relieved that we stopped them by the skin of our teeth. "Did you plan to plunge your weapons into this child? Do you have a death wish?" 

We unconsciously gazed down at Claude in the middle. Claude was gazing up at us cluelessly.

"Oh, sorry." Ramin awkwardly withdrew his hand, and I let him go. Charlotte also did the same. 

"Claude," I called out under my breath and squatted down. "Do you know how dangerous that was?!" 

"Oh… I'm sorry, Auntie." Claude pursed his lips and glanced at Ramin standing behind me before scanning the other two. 

I let out another sigh as I patted my chest to calm my anxious, beating heart. "Next time, wait for Auntie Lilou to come to you instead, alright? I thought I was going to die in worry! What will you do if I'm not here and Kristina?" I didn't mean to nag, but that was close… really close. 

"I'm sorry, Auntie." Claude frowned as his tiny hands reached for my forehead, wiping my cold sweats away. "I was just too excited to be with Auntie, so I was reckless."

Seeing him this adorable while admitting his wrongs poked my soft spots for him. All I could do was let out another sigh and nod. 

"Charlotte and Ramin were still training. Let's go over there, alright?" Claude nodded with my proposal, so I got up and he immediately held my hand. My eyes darted from Charlotte to Ramin, and then to Kristina.

"I'm sorry about that." I expressed.

Kristina offered a weak smile and said, "It's alright. You two go first. I need to talk to these two." 

"Alright. I'm sorry again," I expressed and went away after the three reassured me it was nothing. What I didn't notice was the glint that flickered across Claude's eyes as he glanced back at them.