The Duke's Passion

I half-expected him to bring me into a strange place. The route was a little dark and suspicious, after all.

However, what I didn't expect was, the good place he was talking about was actually real. After a long walk, we reached another plaza — a bigger one. 

A market place full of people; stalls, customers, men and women, even children!

"Knotley is divided into two. The plaza we arrived at was its front. Since they were all devotees, they treated the main plaza as the holy land. That's why it had fewer people and a lot more organized." Sam explained.

I didn't even ask, yet he already informed me. I gazed up at him in awe.

Sam looked down and smiled. "In here, we can display our affection publicly. This side of Cunningham is a lot less reserved." 

He then casually slipped his fingers through the gaps between mine.

As he did so, I bit my lower lip and looked around. Sam didn't seem lying. 

There were also lovers walking around, hand intertwined. No one seemed to care. A subtle smile pulled up on my lips.

It seemed this place was freer than I had expected. The complete opposite of the square where we arrived.

Still, the thought of how this kingdom had been like suddenly crossed my mind. That there was always a face beneath the mask.

Just like Knotley, Cunningham, which first appeared to be a reserved place for tourist, had this kind of place behind it. A place where everyone was free from their duties in the cult.

If I only passed by in this place, my first impression would be how clean and peaceful it was. Not that I'm saying this other side wasn't peaceful; it was much livelier, even.

Sam escorted me in a direction I didn't know. As we walked, my eyes landed on the child standing near the jewelry stall across the road.

"You want a jewelry?" Suddenly, Sam whispered in my ear again.

I nearly jolted as he found a new way to startle me. I turned my head to him briefly and shook my head.

"I'm looking at that child over there. He's just standing. I think he's lost." I pointed at the little boy.

The little guy was looking from left to right. He didn't seem restless, but the way his eyes drooped couldn't hide his worries.

"Oh?" Sam's gaze followed at the direction I pointed at. "So, what?"

Right… Sam was an apathetic fellow. I sighed and shook my head.

"What are you even going to do if we had a child?" I didn't think about what I said as I let out another sigh.

Without realizing the effects of my remarks, I looked from left to right before crossing the street. I hurriedly approached the little guy.

"Greetings." I greeted, placing my hands on my knees as I lowered my body to meet his eye level.

The little boy slowly gazed up at me, blinking in puzzlement. He looked more adorable up close with his chubby cheeks. He had dark hair, eyes that had the color of the sky, and a small cute nose.

"Are you perhaps lost?" I asked, not beating around the bush.

He stayed silent, staring at me. By the looks of it, he was trying to figure out my intentions of approaching him.

Still, I offered a smile. What a smart child not to give in immediately. It reminded me of how father taught me not to talk to strangers.

"I see. You're waiting for your mother?" Since he wasn't answering, I nodded and assumed.

I glanced at his clothes. It seemed he came from a well off family. If so, maybe I could bring him to his parents and receive a hefty reward?

'Hehe…' When I realized my vile thoughts, I shook my head. Sam has influenced me! Pure thoughts, please!

"Do you want me to wait with you? There's many people around and someone with bad intention might approach you." I suggested. 

I didn't want to tell him to come with me since he's obviously wary about me. Also, since it was a little crowded, I might lose him in the crowd as well.

It was better to wait in a place where he got separated from his parents, after all. So, I didn't mind waiting with him for a little bit. Sam wouldn't mind as well, I thought.

"Hmm?" I raised my brows, smiling upon seeing his lips parted.

"My mother is dead. My father was tortured to death, too. I'm not waiting for them to crawl out from hell."

A chill instantly ran down my spine as I gasped. How could such a child speak such words in his adorable voice? Not to mention, he should say heaven! His parents should be in heaven! Not crawl up from hell!

"Who — who told you that…?" 

"My uncle." 

Whoever his uncle was, this child was not in good hands. I could not help but look at him in pity. Even so, it seemed his uncle didn't seem he was maltreating him.

***

While Lilou conversed with a child, Samael's feet remained glued on the ground. His eyes fixed on her, stunned.

What are you even going to do if we had a child?

Her words repeated in his head like a broken record. A child with Lilou…?

Until now, Samael never thought that far. Yes, he planned to marry her, even if the entire world was against it. He planned to live with her forever.

But a child…

'You want a child with me?' He wondered as he watched Lilou act more adorable before that little boy.

'Right… she likes children.' 

Samael watched her only from a distance. As he did, he unconsciously imagined a life with her, with a child.

A child that looked like Lilou. With the same bright smile as his or her mother, and had the same adorable gaze as her.

A subtle smile slowly turned up on his lips. But his eyes glinted with bitterness.

"Is it even possible?" He whispered. "Lilove?"