The Duke's Passion

"Eat well." I said, patting the little boy's head gently. He smiled back and nodded.

It was quite a surprise at how quick he trusted me. Moments ago, he couldn't even smile. But now, he was blushing as he ate.

I watched him in delight. Cupping my cheek as I placed bits and pieces of everything in his plate. He was eating too well. It made me want to feed him.

When he gazed up at me, he blushed. Ahh… he was too adorable~

"You look so happy." Sam uttered tonelessly.

Slowly, I moved my gaze at him. Sam was sitting across us, resting his jaw by the bottom of his palm. 

His displeasure was written all over his place. I could not help but giggle at the sight of him.

"Aren't you hungry?" I asked, placing a piece of meat on his plate. "You didn't eat plenty this morning."

It was true. Although Sam wasn't a glutton, just like me, he still ate less today. Even if he was a vampire, he shouldn't neglect his health.

Health…

Unknowingly, a bitter smile resurfaced on my lips. I've been treating Sam like a human, despite knowing he was not. I wondered if eating these had been doing something for his health.

Even though I've been with him for months, I never asked him about his preferences. Deep down, I didn't have the gall to ask if his claims in the past — eating human flesh — were all real.

Knowing him, he'd surely be transparent with me. And that scared me. What if he actually preferred raw meat? A shiver immediately ran down my spine at the thought.

"You smile when you're serving that little thing over there." Sam pointed at the little boy, snapping me back from my thoughts. "And then smile bitterly at me. I don't like that thing even more."

"Sam." I sighed, casting him a sharp look. "He is not a thing."

I corrected with a frown before turning to the boy. It seemed he didn't mind as he continued on eating.

Now that I thought about it, I didn't know his name. I wanted to ask him, but he was eating too well. There's not much time for him to speak as he kept stuffing food in his mouth.

"You." While I waited for the little boy to swallow down his food, Sam snapped his finger.

The little boy slowly raised his head. He blinked adorably. His plumped cheeks doubled with all the food he was currently chewing. 

"What's your name?" Sam asked indifferently.

Unlike Sam's indifference, I waited for the boy's response. I needed to know his name as well, so I could call him properly.

The boy didn't answer immediately. He devoted his time to chewing the food down, staring at Sam without shying away.

'He seems he is not afraid of Sam anymore.' I thought, recalling how afraid he appeared previously.

Well, I was like that as well when I first met Sam. He scared me out of my wits, which made me look like a fool. (I was already one, though.) But the more you got to know Sam, he was more than just an evil vampire.

Sam was actually kind… unintentionally kind. His actions were a mix of destruction and reparation.

The longer the boy chews while staring at Sam, the less emotion Sam had on his face. Still, none of them broke their gaze.

"Swallow the food down." Sam coldly ordered.

Instinctively, I shifted my eyes towards the little boy. He stopped chewing as the side of his lips curved down.

"Sam." I called out as a warning. The boy seemed he would burst out of crying by Sam's cold treatment.

"Can you please act a little more gentle? He's just a child." I scolded in a low tone. Sam clicked his tongue in annoyance as he leaned back.

A sigh escaped my lips as I patted the boy's back. "It's alright. Chew it carefully and then swallow it, alright?"

The boy looked up at me. His doe eyes a bit teary. My heart broke in half for him.

I offered a gentle smile, nodding my head encouragingly. His fragile heart would break once he realized his uncle abandoned him.

Finally, the boy swallowed the food down. After doing so, he clasped my hand.

"Auntie Lilove, why are you with that bad mister?" 

I froze upon hearing his innocent query. I knew he was merely curious, but Sam would take it as an offense.

Carefully, I glanced at Sam. To my surprise, Sam only arched his brow as he tilted his head to the side.

'Fortunately, Sam listened to me and is not being petty.' I heaved a sigh of relief as I smiled at the boy.

Just as I did, Sam finally spoke. "Did you say Lilove?"

So he was just registering how the child addressed me? My face twitched.

"Auntie Lilove…" Upon Sam's inquiry, the boy clung on to me tightly, as if wanting to hide from Sam.

"Listen, you." Sam leaned in, resting his arms on the edge of the table, raising his other hand and finger up. 

"You can't call her Lilove because that is exclusive for me. Just like how she calls me Sam, she's the only person who is allowed to call me that." 

Sam explained in a knowing tone. He was calmer than I expected. I expected him to threaten the child again. 

Also, now that Sam mentioned it, everyone called him Hell; if not his title. I'm the only one who called him Sam, and this thought somehow made me smile.

"But I want to marry Auntie Lilove." 

As soon as I heard the little boy's claim, I nearly choked on my own saliva. Although it was sweet of him and I would normally take it as a compliment, he shouldn't be saying that in front of my groom!

"You want to snatch my bride away?" Sam smirked dangerously. "How cute."

"Ha, ha ha." I awkwardly chuckled as I leaned closer to the boy. "You, you shouldn't…"

Before I could lecture the boy not to keep on pressing Sam's nerves, he spoke once again. This time, my mind momentarily buzzed.

"Give Auntie Lilove to me."

'Good lord…!' I nearly wept.