The Duke's Passion

Sleeping on a proper bed was truly amazing. It was as soft as those clouds in the sky, bringing out the child in anyone's heart. But when did it get firm?

I squeezed myself into it. Indeed, the bed somehow felt harder. But it still offered comfort and… warmth?

Slowly, I opened my eyes. Opening and closing them until my vision grew clearer.

Huh?

I blinked and blinked. After a snap, my eyes widened as my brain fuzzed. 

"Oh, morning, fuzzy bunny." Sam greeted sluggishly. He only gave me an indifferent look, his fingers casually stroking my back.

I stiffened. My spine shivering. 

Who wouldn't? I woke up with my head on his shoulder, my arms over his chest, and my leg wrapped around his waist!

Was this a nightmare…?

"You should sleep more. It's too early." Samael urged, staring at the ceiling with little to no emotion in his tone. He wasn't moving, letting me cling onto him in my sleep.

I finally came out of my shock in time to sputter, "My Lord! I — I — I'm sorry!", springing back to my side of the bed.

How could I take him as a hostage in my sleep?! I could tell with how I held him, securing him when I woke up!

"For?" Slowly, Sam pushed himself up by his elbow, bending and crossing his feet as he tilted his head to the side.

"For… that." I trailed, fidgeting my arms from him to me.

Lilou, what are you doing? This was embarrassing!

Sam blinked his eyes innocently. Slowly, his brows furrowed as he narrowed his eyes.

"Can you not deny me?" He asked.

"Ah?"

"You know I like it. So, there's no need to feel sorry for it. You're making me feel bad." He explained in a knowing tone.

I pursed my lips. Looking down on my lap.

Obviously, deep down, I was aware of that. However, I didn't want to give him mixed signals. Until I'm fully prepared to take responsibility.

After all, our conversation last night and his words were still fresh in my memory. My mind and heart were unstable.

"You don't remember?" Amidst my thoughts, Sam snapped me back with his question.

I raised my gaze and furrowed my brows. Remember? Our conversation last night?

"Remember… the conversation we had last night?" I pried.

"Huh?" This time, Samael cast me a baffled look. "Last night when I laid beside you."

Last night when he laid beside me? What happened?

I remembered after telling him goodnight; I went back to bed. It didn't take long until I fell asleep and now I woke up.

As if he read my thoughts by my expression, he let out a sigh.

Why?

"Did I do something horrible, my lord?" I asked awkwardly, sporting a conflicted look as I studied his face.

"Here." Sam stretched his neck and pointed to the side of his neck.

I narrowed my eyes. Because of his pale skin, the dark red mark on his neck was noticeable. It looked like a bruise.

"Did I strangle you — no? Did I hurt you? My Lord?" Aghast, I asked a series of questions.

How could I leave a bruise like that? Although it didn't look like I strangled him, it still left a bruise. I haven't seen such a strange bruise before. It looks painful.

"Haha!" Yet, his response was a brief chuckle.

Why? Why was he laughing?

"My... lord?" I called out, puzzled by his reaction.

"Nothing. Forget about it. It's nothing." In between his chuckles, he waved and brushed his silver hair back.

Nothing? But why does it feel like it was not nothing?

Out of habit, I bit my lower lip. However, it felt numb. Instinctively, I touched my lips and furrowed my brows.

Was it swollen? Did I bump it somewhere last night?

"Heh,"

Upon hearing him smirk, I gave him a look of suspicion.

"You want to remember? Come here." He winked, his smirk grew evil, patting the vacant space beside him.

However, his expression and his eyes only made me crawl back a little.

Come to him? Why would I go over there if all I could sense was danger?

I'm not saying he was an evil man. But, somehow, I felt like something would happen if I accepted his invitation?

"You don't want to?" He queried. Without thinking twice, I shook my head.

"Well, that's too bad! Regardless, I still enjoyed it." He winked as he dragged himself out of the bed.

I arched my brow. What did he enjoy? Why does it feel like I was forgetting something very important?

"What a splendid morning!" Sam exclaimed, followed by his waves of laughter. He trudged towards his private room, connected to our bedchamber.

I watched him as he walked in high-spirits, as if the man I talked with last night was a different man. I could not tell if he was pretending or not.

"Forget about it." When he left, I shook my head. "It's nothing." 

Under my breath, I convinced myself. After a while, the maidservants came in. Like in the past days, they helped me get everything done. From helping me bathe, get dressed, brushing and fixing my hair. 

I could still remember the scalp tugging process when they first got my hair done. I couldn't hold the pain that they had no choice but to let it down.

It may look like a bedhead that was decently brushed down. I prefer it like this, though. Not that I had to look pretty in front of the duke. Also, it seemed he didn't really care.

Once they finished, I joined Samael for breakfast. As usual, Sam just spoke nonsense, teasing me every so often, then conversing with Fabian about the duke's inconsideration for consuming a barrel of wine last night.

Meanwhile, I ate in silence. Sometimes, I would glance at Sam. Mysteriously, whenever I do, he was also looking at me and then he would just wink and smile.

What a strange man, I thought. Yet, those small actions oddly made my heart flutter. I bit my lip, resisting myself from smiling.

"My lady?" Suddenly, Fabian's call snapped me back from the current lapse. "You've been in a daze. Are you alright?"

He asked. His brows furrowed, looking at me worriedly. I smiled and nodded. 

After our breakfast, Fabian and I headed straight to study. However, my mind could not help but recall how my morning was nothing like yesterday. It was rather calm, if I forgot the little riddle about the bruise on Sam's neck.

"Mister Fabian?" 

"My lady, just Fabian." Again, Fabian corrected. However, I didn't plan on changing how I addressed him.

"What kind of person is the duke?" I inquired, unhesitatingly.

Fabian briefly raised his brows, as if he didn't expect my question. Well, I tried asking my attendants earlier, but they told me I should ask the duke. That's ridiculous, though. Sam would just brag about himself... I assumed.

"Hmm." Fabian hummed a low tune, leaning back as he rubbed his chin. When he thought of an answer, he gazed back at me.

"He is kind." 

I narrowed my eyes. Fabian didn't believe his own words, did he? 

"The duke's action unintentionally made him appear a kind and reliable ruler. Although his reasons differed from others, the outcome helped the weak and the land he governs benefited from it." Fabian explained.

I listened in silence. I recalled Sam telling me he does things for fun. Whether he was unintentionally helping the people of Grimsbanne. Then, I guess that's good?

"Although, it surprised me the duke had taken a fancy to you." Fabian added with a polite smile.

Upon his last remarks, my cheek burned up. "You're mistaken." I denied as I sported a conflicted look.

"It's alright, my lady. Everyone was aware of the duke's fondness for you and this may surprise you, but I think it's for the better." Fabian chuckled, which made me raise my head.

"For the better?" I queried with a furrowed brow. "Mister Fabian? What was the duke like before he went into his slumber?"

Fabian sighed upon hearing me address him the same after countless of corrections. Still, he didn't bother correcting me this time, as if he already gave up.

"The Duke before his slumber..." Fabian trailed and let another sigh. His change of expression made me anticipate his answer even more. 

"He was rather... I mean, far different from his current temperament. As you know, the duke hates restrictions. His constant defiance and brutality forced his father, the late King, Victor La Crox, to cut ties with him." Fabian paused as he smiled. It seemed he was recalling a beautiful time in the past.

"I remembered when the duke was banished from the capital, everyone in the capital celebrated."

What? He was that... detestable? That his misfortune incited celebration? My gaze narrowed at Fabian. He seemed he wasn't recalling a terrible memory, though. That's odd.

"The Duke celebrated with them." Fabian said.

"huh?"

"When the late king cut his ties with his son, the duke even stole a few barrels of wine from the palace and threw a large celebration." Fabian chuckled as he shook his head.

Oh... I didn't expect that. I imagined Samael celebrating his misfortune with everyone, and it made me smile. Did I assume too soon? Perhaps it wasn't his misfortune, and the people grew fond of him. Were they happy he finally got his freedom?

Sam... he was truly a strange man.

"The duke had always wanted to travel the world. Visit other kingdoms and not just those neighboring kingdoms." Fabian continued.

I felt like the more he spoke about the duke before his slumber, the more I got to know the man I'm marrying. And I... could not help but think I've judged Sam too soon.

Before we know it, Fabian and I tackled about the duke instead of our supposed lessons.

"Did he see the world outside?" I asked, interested in his answer.

"For a hundred of years, yes. Although the duke said the world outside was too vast that even after a century, it was not enough for him to see everything."

"Then, why did he come back?" I asked, cupping my cheek as I tilted my head.

Fabian glanced at me momentarily and smiled. 

"The late king had perished. And the duke didn't set out anymore, for his own reason. That's when he claimed a lawless land abandoned by the kingdom and named it Grimsbanne."