The Duke's Passion

"Ni — Nitri, milord," said the child bravely, and the four children gazed up at her. Nitri's courage brought out this strong spirit for the children as they answered one after another.

"Yasmeen." The other girl answered in a tiny voice, squeezing herself to the other child's shoulder like an adorable kitten. 

A willful voice from another child followed Yasmeen's introduction. "My name is Dao ZD, and this is my twin Dao CC." Pointing at the other child next to her named Dao CC.

"What a strange name," Samael commented as he darted his eyes on the twins and immediately noticed the difference in their demeanor. "Admit it. You just made that up, huh?"

Dao ZD pursed her lips in a thin line as she raised her little arm as if protecting her timid twin. Samael clicked his tongue before shifting his eyes to the last child who was lending Yasmeen her shoulder.

"And you?" he asked, raising a brow. "What's your name?" 

"Rhe — Rhea." 

"I see." Samael nodded after getting their name. His eyes scanned the children once again. The emotions in their eyes somehow reminded him of Lilou's innocence and braveness in the past.

Fabian gazed at the children and when Dao CC instinctively raised her head and met his eyes, he smiled. But the child's expression instantly grew pale.

"My lord, let's kill that child." Fabian requested as his expression died. "She is already pale, let's not prolonged her sufferings."

"Don't scare the children, Fabian." Samael chuckled in a low tone. "These children survived until now for a reason. However, they are not safe since their blood is not pure anymore."

"We can just toss them inside that house before our people set it on fire."

Samael clicked his tongue as he shook his head. "Fabian, my dear confidante, my wife will set me on fire if she hears about it, also, Lilou likes children."

"Dead people tell no tales. Her Grace wouldn't know about it if no one will tell her."

"But there's no secret that time does not reveal," Samael argued calmly. "Also, these children might help me in something."

The corner of Samael's lips stretched broader as he grinned at the innocent children. He just thought of something that he would need their help in the future.

"For now, let's take them to Lord Remington's estate so they can look after these children. Also, send a word to Marquess Crawford that some pitiful children will be suffering from an incomplete blood transfusion. I need him to soothe them so they won't die."

Fabian let out a sigh. Not particularly happy about the hassle of saving the children's lives. However, deep down, he understood Samael's reason for saving these children on top of the reason Lilou had soft spot children. It was mercy.

"Understood."

Pleased, Samael offered the little children a smile and offered his hand that was covered with blood. "Let's go to your new home, little crumbs." 

The children stared at him with doubt in their eyes. Just a moment ago, they witnessed how Samael ravage the people experimenting on them mercilessly. 

"My hands are dirty and no amount of water can clean them," Samael spoke, noticing their reluctance to believe him, which he understood. "You kids had seen hell yourselves. Even if you refuse to take my hand, you will die either way."

The children pursed their lips in a thin line, backing away even though Samael's tone was gentle, his eyes were glinting sharply. Still, they listened to him until the end.

"If you're going to die, don't you think choosing your own end, your own hell, is better than being forced to be experimented on and being disposed of once it failed?" Samael cocked his head to the side, scanning the five children who were staring back at him with the little innocence left in them.

"I won't force you to come with me and I will let you go if that's what you wish." He let out a shallow breath. "But, if you take my hand, I won't guarantee that you won't face danger anymore, but I can guarantee your safety. Of course, I don't give free meals so you need to work for me."

'I should've secretly cut their tongues so they had a valid reason for being mute.' Fabian thought, staring coldly at the children who weren't answering Samael.

The children stared at Samael. His words weren't sugar-coated with too good to be true promises, nor his expression showed kindness. However, the irony of it was that they felt his sincerity in his frankness. 

"What… what do you need us for?" Nitri inquired, her voice almost muffled.

Samael smiled until his eyes squinted. "I need you to do something dangerous. So whatever decision you will make now, do it with the consideration of the possibility that I am tricking you."

He handed his hand once again, waiting for any of them to take it. To him, these children weren't dumb because they survived that hellish experiment until they ambushed their hideout.

To everyone's surprise, Dao CC was the first to reach her hand out, that pleased Samael. So the latter took her in his arms and carried her as he stood up. He gazed down when Yasmeen immediately held onto his other hand. 

"Take the other children with you Fabian," Samael ordered before marching away with Dao CC in his arms while Yasmeen holding his other hand. Yasmeen held her hand towards Rhea and the latter took it, following Samael's lead.

Meanwhile, Fabian gazed at the other two children — Dao ZD and Nitri — who were looking up at him. He noticed the blood in his hand and was a little reluctant to offer his hand. However, before he could speak, the two children took his hands without a second hesitation.

Their action startled him a little, but his expression remained cold. "Let's go, children," Fabian said, holding their little hands before walking away; away from the dreadful sight of the massacre that happened in the slums of Libira… away from the children's nightmare.