The Duke's Passion

We idled in the plaza for quite some time before deciding to go home before night falls. Adam, the young Earl, had to go back home. But because of Law's reluctant gaze, Sam and I ended up inviting the young Earl to our humble estate. Obviously, this should be a problem... but Jaime Malum wouldn't apprehend my husband, would he?

"Father, is the emperor just like what that narrator said? Do you think he is as great as the people believed?" 

Suddenly, on our way home while we were inside the carriage, my son raised a question. Law was sitting beside me and across from us were Sam and Adam. Sam's brows rose as his eyes fell on our son. 

"That storytelling is about the emperor?" my husband inquired with little interest.

"Yes. We were listening to the Great Emperor of the empire and how he unified the land," Law explained while rocking his head. "It's mostly the story of his reign and how great of a man he is."

Sam cast me a look and when we broke our eye contact, he gazed back at Law and then at Adam. The curious young boys waited for Sam to confirm if the emperor was what the narrator described.

I bit my lower lip, knowing Sam agreeing with them was just another way of bragging. Well, it was the truth, though.

"Well, how do you consider a man great?" to my surprise, Sam cocked his head with a misplaced puzzlement plastered on his face. "I don't know the details of the story, but I'm very sure it is all sugarcoated to hide his tyranny."

"So, the emperor is not as what they said he is?" A frown dominated Law's face as he looked down. "Well, that makes sense." 

Sam arched a brow, baffled at the reaction of his son. "My son, were you disappointed?"

"Yes, Father. I thought if the emperor is as just as what the narrator said, maybe he can help Adam. But thinking that the south doesn't apply the laws of the capital, maybe it isn't true." Law pressed his lips in a thin line and cast the timid young Earl an apologetic look. He fidgeted with his fingers and let out another deep sigh.

"Father, can you just adopt Adam?"

"Law!" Adam called as his breath hitched, face flushed from my son's straightforwardness. He lowered his head when Sam patted it gently. 

"My son, I understand you are friends with his lordship. However, we are still commoners who simply had enough money to live in luxury. How dare we even think about adopting his lordship when we should be bowing to him?" Sam looked at his son with a knowing look, arms crossed. 

Law glanced up and bit his lower lip before shifting his eyes to me. My heart instantly ached for him, knowing that he truly wanted to help the young earl. 

'My kind child...' My thoughts trailed off when Sam suddenly spoke.

"My son, please don't use your mother like that." I frowned at Sam's remarks and looked at him with a dead expression. Sam was shaking his head slightly.

"Also, we shouldn't be talking about this since his lordship isn't even speaking."

I wanted to tell him to reconsider, but he was right. My eyes fell on Adam, who had his head hung low. Right now, we weren't La Crox, but we're Roux. Even though Sam had the power to adopt this young Earl, it would be more complicated than that. Instead of helping him, this might result in a more tricky situation.

"But... why?" asked Law but Adam raised his head this time. 

"Sir Roux is right, Law. We shouldn't be talking about this. I'm already happy that I get to spend time with you. I can't ruin Sir Roux and Jaime's good relationship." The young Earl offered my son a kind smile, but my son replied with a deep sigh. 

"Father," Law called after a moment of silence, raising his chin up. He waited for Sam's full attention before he spoke.

"I want to become a knight," He announced solemnly. "Once I come of age, I will go to the capital and apply to become a knight."

"Oh? Really?"

"I will come to face the emperor and tell him about the situation in the south."

Sam's mouth fell open as he nodded. "Right..."

"So, I want to train now and..."

Law continued to speak about his plans to prepare himself to become a knight. We could only listen to him helplessly, biting my lower lip while staring at Sam. My husband seemed to be rendered speechless. This was the downside of hiding his son's origin.

"... and then, I will challenge the military general. I need to become so strong so that I can also protect mother and father and Adam."

"Law..." I called softly while patting his head. I felt moved by his last remarks. For this child to think of protecting us was quite touching. 

"You will protect us?" Sam inquired while arching his brow. "You?"

"Yes. I will not let anyone look down on us again," the young child murmured. "Or let anyone take advantage of you again because of me. They said becoming a knight will give us a noble title, too. People don't respect you, Father. They respect your fortune."

Sam stared at Law in silence while the latter looked down. A weak smile appeared on my lips while rubbing my son's back before gazing up at Sam. I knew he was trying to be a good father to Law and protect him in his own way, but my son was still too emotional to understand. That sometimes. not fighting back wasn't called cowardice.

"I'm sure you will become a skilled knight, Law," I said, making Law look up at me. "Once you grow older, please protect us. But right now, let us protect you, alright?"

Law pressed his lips together and nodded. He moved closer to me until there was no more gap between us, making me chuckle. 

"You should rest first," I motioned for him to lay his head on my lap, which he did. 

After that conversation, we traveled back in silence. I stroked my son's hair until he fell asleep with his head on my lap. Adam, on the other hand, just kept quiet beside Sam. 

"Aren't you tired as well, my lord?" I asked Adam, breaking the silence inside the carriage. 

"No, Madam Roux. Thank you." His polite smile warmed my heart. This poor boy was so kind that I understood why Law was so into protecting him. 

As silence enveloped the ride home, I gazed at Sam. He was still in the same stance; his leg resting over the other with his arms crossed. His eyes were fixed on our son on my lap, as if deep in thoughts.

"Sam," I called, and he snapped his eyes at me. "It's alright. Our son will come to understand you once he grows older. We shouldn't worry for now about this. Instead, we should focus on his upcoming birthday."

"Right... " A weak smile appeared on his lips and I swear I wanted to make him feel better. I knew he didn't want to worry our son, but this situation was very tricky.

Surely, having a child wasn't that easy, and Law was slowly having ambition. I wouldn't deny that I was alarmed for my son and what he had said previously. 

"Law is doing all this because of me..." suddenly, the young Lord's weak voice caressed our ears. "I'm sorry, Madam and Sir Roux. If only I am more... powerful."

"Boy, it's not your fault. My son will choose his own path of his own accord." Sam planted his palm on Adam's head and offered a kind smile. "And I will protect you both. Jaime will not harm you anymore, I won't let him."