The Duke's Passion

It didn't take long when we reach the street for that arm-wrestling event. Unlike earlier, there were more men trying to get that huge prize money and occupied the street. 

I looked at Sam and spoke when he gazed back. "Will you really participate?"

"Hmm. Yes. You?" 

"Sam." I cast him a knowing look, and he rocked his head. Sam then glanced at the two and smiled innocently. 

"Let's go," he said, not explaining why he asked me if I was going to take part as well. I was trying to be modest here, so taking part in this arm-wrestling would mind-boggle these two young boys. This wasn't the capital, nor Grimsbanne, after all.

The five of us, Charlotte, included who was still following us, squeeze ourselves into the crowd. There were still small gaps in between the crowd, so it was easy for Law and Adam, while we, the adults, struggled a little.

Good gracious... how could we do this to the emperor?

When we reached the front, my eyes instantly caught the buff topless guy already taking up the challenger. The crowds cheered while I noticed some who were already betting. 

How smart, I thought. If one couldn't challenge that guy, they would rather gain a little money by betting. Should I bet too?

I leaned towards Sam's side since Law and Adam stood in front of us. Sam raised a brow as he lowered his head.

"My husband, can you lend me money?" I asked and noticed his brows wiggle in confusion. "I will bet everything on you and double the money."

"My wife, are you trying to scam these poor people?"

I nearly choked at how he worded it. "Of course not! How can you say that to me? This is a bet, so of course, it's a win or lose."

"But you already know the outcome," Sam argued back knowingly, raising his brows while looking at me as if judging me. 

"No? Who knows if this guy has some superpowers and beats you?" I blurted out, just getting out whatever argument I could, no matter how lame it sounded. "You can just refuse if you don't want to lend me money."

"I don't have to lend you." I frowned when I heard his response, but it was soon replaced with astonishment a second later. "Half of the money I earned in trades here in the south is under your name and the other half is for Law. You can spend yours in a single night and I won't mind."

"Really?" My eyes twinkled while he sported a helpless look.

"Do you like it that much?"

I nodded profusely, moved by my husband's generosity. I started liking money back when I was managing the duchy; it gave me a lot of privileges, after all. 

"You're the best, you know that?" I stood on my toes to whisper in his ear, winking as I drew back. But Sam raised a brow and narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Because of my money?"

"No. Because you're planning for our son's future." The side of my lips stretched as my initial plan to bet disappeared into my head. How could I bet my husband's hard-earned money now? 

WOOOH!

Suddenly, a loud cheer from the crowd snapped me back to the current lapse. Sam and I turned our gaze to the two men arm-wrestling. The champion stood victorious, standing up from his seat while raising both his fists up. Meanwhile, the challenger winced from the pain of defeat.

I clapped my hands and smiled weakly, watching the champion cheer until his spit was flying out of his mouth and clung onto his untrimmed beard. He looked happy and only then did I hear this was the fifth time he won in a matter of an hour. 

To get the prize money, one must defeat ten challengers. It felt like a scam, since who would have the energy to arm wrestle ten consecutive rounds in a row? Not to mention, that champion was already a challenge.

"So cool..." Law muttered in amusement, making me gaze down at him. "I want to be just as strong as him."

"You should eat a lot, Law. I think the bigger you are, the stronger a man becomes."

My son and Adam seemed to admire the strength of that man, which was cute. Now that I thought about it, my son seemed to be hungry for strength. It made me wonder if it was because of Adam's situation? I was once a child and a helpless adult, so I sort of understood my son, if that was the case.

"Who's next?" asked the host of the event while looking at the crowd. He kept talking while the men gathered looked at each other, and then at the champion. I noticed how their enthusiastic eyes dimmed with reluctance. 

Who would go after that man, after all? The last challenger didn't seem too weak as he held his ground for quite some time. It was just that the champion was stronger.

Was he a vampire? I wondered, staring at him longer than I realized it. It seemed that in the land of Minowa, that question doesn't even cross many people. It could be a good thing since vampires and humans seemed to co-exist, or it was just that Jaime made sure the people should fear him more than races.

"Me." I was brought back from my thoughts when I heard Sam's voice. I looked at him and saw him raising a hand.

"I'll challenge him." His expression was the same, it lacked interest. He glanced at me and then at the two boys, but said nothing. 

"Father, you will really do it?" Law inquired with genuine surprise in his voice. Didn't he trust his father that much? Considering that Charlotte told me Sam stayed out of trouble, it would shock Law if he saw his father do things he 'never did' before.

"Don't you want me to?" Sam raised a brow before marching towards the open space surrounded by people. He looked up at the champion while the latter snickered.

"Pretty boy, are you sure about this?" asked the muscular champion, but Sam just looked up at him without a word.

"Mother…" 

My son suddenly turned around and faced me with worry dominating his face. Even Adam looked at me the same way. Law asked his father and now that Sam listened to him, my son was worried. 

"It's alright," I said with a smile, squatting down to meet them at eye level. "Your father will be fine, alright? Trust him."

I darted my eyes from Law to Adam, chuckling as I held their small hands before standing up. "Just watch."