The Duke's Passion

"Your neck it is." I snickered, eyes glinting with murderous intent as I'm prepared for this. I must not falter and show them that this side was not one to mess with, but before I could strike her neck, the knock on the door before it creaked open halted me. It was Lena.

"Your highness." Lena bowed and glanced at Mildred, assessing the situation. "Please forgive my interruption, your highness. But if her highness will grant me permission, let this humble one punish Lady Soulton."

"And why would I do that?" I raised my chin up, tilting my head as I kept my cold exterior intact. I wouldn't mind passing the burden to Lena honestly, but I had to show mere words were not enough to persuade me. The trust was broken, and I had to show the consequences.

Lena raised her head and faced me with determination. "You already bathe twice in a row, your highness. Getting tainted again, I'm afraid you will catch a cold," she explained sincerely.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance, swinging Lakresha as it rested on my shoulder. "Make sense," I said, nodding as I walked back to the divan, "Do it here, Lena. Lady Soulton broke my trust and it will take a while to blindly trust again."

"Yes, your highness."

I plopped down on the divan, resting my leg over the other while crossing my arms, watching Lena approach Mildred. Mildred's body was shaking as she looked up at Lena. I wondered what Mildred was thinking for a maid to look down on her. Well, I'm a lowborn peasant, so it wouldn't probably change his abhorrence. 

"Lady Soulton, please take off your loafers," Lena said politely, but her tone was cold. It was my first time hearing her sound so dangerous, but not surprised as I've grown accustomed to the other sides of vampires. Lena threatened Mildred for the last time, using the excuse I need to retire to bed.

When Mildred caved in, Lena severed Mildred's pinky toe with a small knife. I arched my brow when I saw it, but held back on saying anything. Does Lena often bring weapons with her? And for what reason? I need to be wary of her, more than I already was.

"Lady Soulton, I hope this serves as a reminder of who is your master," I said as I briefly glanced at the severed toe before meeting her distraught gaze, showing no emotion. "The moment you introduced yourself as my lady-in-waiting, you should've etched in your mind whose orders you must follow, but you failed, Lady Soulton."

Mildred's lower lips trembled as her mouth opened, but no words came out. So, I continued, "Although it is such a disappointment, I still wished you learn from this mistake and try to redeem yourself by your unbending loyalty."

"Your highness…" came a meek and tiny voice from Mildred. Did she think I could forgive her easily? I wanted to see her try.

"Mildred, there won't be next time. Your head will roll even before you can say a word, and I can't guarantee the House Soulton's safety," I warned sternly, not looking away for her to see my sinister resolution. I had gone this far and survived, there's no way I'd always live as a damsel in distress.

Her expression told me she understood clearly. So, I dismissed them with a wave. Lena assisted her up, picking up the toe as they left. When they were by the door, Sam was entering and he whistled as if he had analyzed what happened with a glance.

Sam strutted his way in, smiling from ear to ear. "I see my wife had gone stark raving mad!" he said as he plopped down beside me, draping an arm over the seat and faced me. He looked rather proud, and it gave me mixed emotions whether I should be proud or chastise myself from going extreme.

"I'm merely trying to survive, my husband." I rolled my eyes as Lakresha transformed back to a necklace without reacting to Sam. 

"You tamed it?" he asked, and I glanced at him, seeing his amusement flickering in his eyes. "Didn't you tell me to do so? You should've known since you… checked." The sarcasm in my voice didn't conceal itself, and I didn't plan to hide it. I couldn't still forget how I had to wash up twice in a row because of his whims.

"Hmm," he hummed, catching my attention with his stare. So I asked, "what?" but Sam pulled his shoulders up and cocked his head to the side. 

"I don't have the same ability as yours, so I wouldn't know what you're thinking or what happened to you for the past three weeks if you don't tell me," I said after putting on my necklace around my neck before facing him. If he was pulling off his childish tricks, I'll happily oblige to play along with it. 

A battle of pettiness.

"I was somewhere, dealing with annoying bastards," he explained. My expression grew even glummer. Did he think I didn't know that? What I wanted were details!

Sam leaned his back on the other end, pulling up his one leg on the divan to fill the space between us. What was he thinking now? His mysterious facade was starting to tick me off. 

My ears flapped when I heard him say, "Methinks everything makes you all… fretful." He bats his eyes every so slowly before his eyes lowered to my stomach, humming.

When he raised his eyes and met mine, I furrowed my brows. "Your gaze makes me all tingly, husband," I humored, "care to share why you're staring at me like that?" for reasons unknown, my heart pounded against my chest as I felt a minor discomfort with the subtle movements of his eyes. 

"Nothing." He shrugged as he crooked a finger. I instinctively went closer to him, watching him positioned himself before pulling my bicep and I landed on his chest with a faint shriek. 

I gazed up when he asked out of the blue, "Do you like children?"