The Duke's Passion

As I've planned, I followed the direction where the pebble directed me to go. It stopped me from going on a different path and it led me to this place. The hill where I used to live. 

"Whoever it is, he surely knows where to press a nerve." A ridiculing chuckle escaped my mouth as I gazed up at the path going up the hill. "Now I'm a bit pissed."

Regardless, I still trekked my way up and the pebble already stopped coming. I didn't know why he would lead me to this place, but it left a bitter taste in my mouth. 

The reason I avoided going to this place was that... it was the place where my father rest and also the very place which reminded me of Sam. It was funny that I lived in the mansion where Sam and I stayed and built our memories together.

However, this place hits differently. It made me want to think that Sam was just out there, listening to me from somewhere. It was giving me false hope... despite knowing that wasn't the case anymore. And now that I'm walking in this very path — I had walked on almost all my life — the emptiness in me was widening its range. 

"Bastards..." I scoffed, thinking of the best tortures once I got my hands on whoever these people were. "... I will never let you get away from this, for sure."

After a long trek, I finally reached the top of the hill. My eyes instantly landed on the bungalow.

"I'm..." I choked, clasping my hand into a tight fist as I bit my tongue. "... back, Father."

It hurts. 

To do the habit, I used to do hurts very much. After eight months, I finally step my foot in this place, and just as I expected, it hurt me like hell. 

'It's alright, Lilou,' my mind comforted me. 'Your Father and your husband are in a better place now. Don't you want to visit your Father at least once before you head to the Capital?'

I hung my head low, hearing the melancholic song of the wind. "I came here to have fun..."

'But you are just avoiding your father all this time. Now, your enemies use this opportunity to hurt you. Will you just let them do as they please?' My subconscious mind commented, giving me rational arguments instead of sassing. 

"That's right," I whispered, raising my head as I took a deep breath. "Maybe, this will turn out good." 

I recomposed myself and gathered my thoughts. For a moment there, I nearly forgot about the intruder and the person who led me to this place. I should stop avoiding visiting my father's grave and face him. 

"I may not be proud of what his daughter had become, but..." I paused deliberately as I marched my way towards the back of the house. "I will accept his silent scolding."

A weak smile appeared on my lips as I walked silently, taking my precious time. Just then, I halted as I heard a noise inside the bungalow.

'Someone is inside?' I wondered, taking a few steps back as I gazed at the entrance of the bungalow. 'But I couldn't feel someone's presence.'

If there was a person inside, I would've felt it. However, the second I came in here, there was nothing. If there was, I wouldn't even have the time to absorb the sadness this place offered me.

I bit my lower lip, walking towards the door, and stopped in front of it. The last time I was here, Sam and I shared our first kiss. It was lovely. 

'I should check...' Just as I was about to open it, my brows furrowed. It was opened. That alone made me raise my guard up, looking around to see if someone was watching me. There was none. 

There was a part of me that wanted to bring forth Lakresha, but that would startle whoever was inside. I couldn't assume it was an enemy, after all. If it was the enemy, I would have felt it. So, there was a possibility that it was just a cat... or someone who snuck inside to do whatever.

It suddenly reminded me how Sam and I snuck inside this place back then.

With extra caution, I pushed the door slightly open and peeked inside. It was dark and I could only see where the light from the gap of the door reached. To see better, I carefully opened the door and stealthily intruded inside. 

However, just as I took a step inside, someone suddenly grabbed my wrist in, pulling me inside, and slammed the door shut. He pinned my wrist against the door, face first, while he stood behind me. 

Everything happened so fast and I didn't even feel his presence until he grabbed me inside. Once realization struck me, my eyes dilated as I ground my teeth.

"The audacity..." I scoffed under my breath, my front fusing against the door as I felt him go closer. My eyes sharpened, letting him grip my wrist tightly against the door while I spread my fingers. 

I smirked, breathing in and out, gazing at the hand who held me. "You are not them... who are you?"

Suddenly, I felt him go closer and my back against his body. That instant, I froze. As soon as I felt his body against my back, that faint warmth... and this scent that wafted through my nostrils, my heart suddenly pounded against my chest. It made my mind buzz as I felt all my senses suddenly failing one after another.

'No, Lilou,' I told myself, almost choking, as it felt so real. 'You shouldn't fall for such a cheap trick! Don't let them used your husband and insult him further!' That was what I screamed inside my head immediately. But when I was almost, ALMOST convinced that was the case, I felt the apex of his nose brush my nape, making me shiver.

His breath caressed my nape, sliding his hand from my wrist to the gaps of my fingers. His palm felt gentle... and very familiar.

"I missed you," he spoke, and I felt the entire world stopped that very moment. "Love."