The Duke's Passion

"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."

Adam gazed at Sam blankly. I could not help but smile at seeing the young Lord's expression. 

"I can't adopt you, but I will always be behind you, my lord. I know you will become a great Earl." Sam affirmed that touched my heart and Adam's. The corner of the young earl's eyes welled up as he bit his lower lip. 

"Sir Roux...."

'Goodness, Sam... you truly had changed and I can't help but be mesmerized by you even more.' I shook my head lightly, proud of what my husband had become.

Sam used to address Claude, little crumb or a lot of names and even teased the young royalty like a child. To see him reassuring a child in such a gentle manner made him appear more like a father figure.

"Thank you, Sir Roux," Adam expressed, and I smiled while staring at them.

Soon, the carriage reached the Roux Estate. As soon as the door opened, my eyes brighten up seeing the person standing outside.

"Fabian?" I gasped in relief, smiling brightly as soon as I saw his signature eerily polite smile.

"My lady." Fabian placed his palm across his chest and bowed. "It's so good to see you again."

"I will say the same, Fabian. I'm so relieved to see you well."

His smile remained as his eyes fell on the boy sleeping on my lap. "I will carry the young master to his room and..." Fabian trailed off as his eyes veered towards Adam sitting beside Sam.

"Welcome to the humble Roux Estate, my Lord."

"Uh..." Adam smiled and panicked a bit. 

"Is this your first time to enter our estate, my lord?" I queried, out of plain curiosity.

"Uh, yes, Madam Roux," he answered while clutching his hands in his lap. 

"Please feel free at home, my Lord. I will assist you and..."

"Mhm..." Suddenly, Law grunted while opening his eyes. "Mother..."

Law pushed himself up with my help. His eyes still squinting while rubbing it adorably. 

"Mister Fabian?" he called and Fabian smiled. "You're back?"

"It's good to see you again, young master. Yes, I had returned."

Law ignored Fabian and darted his eyes from me to Sam and then to Adam. My husband cleared his throat and spoke.

"Fabian, take Law and his lordship to rest or in the garden to play." Sam ordered, which Fabian answered with a polite 'yes, master', and then proceeded to assist the boys inside the mansion. 

After that, Sam hitched outside. He offered me his hand like a gentleman when I was about to get out of the carriage.

"I can't let a lady get down on her own, can I?" the side of his lips curled up into a charming smile. I rolled my eyes as my husband didn't cease to charm me today.

"Thank you, husband," I said before taking his hand.

Sam didn't let go of my hand even when I stepped out of the carriage. Instead, he held it, slowly slipping his fingers in between mine. 

"My husband is the sweetest," I humored, treading carefully while we took the step up to the front door of the mansion.

"I'm sure I am." He shrugged confidently as the side of his lips stretched even wider. Sam then raised our hands to his lips, planting a soft yet sensual peck. 

His eyes glinted as he looked at me. "Later," he whispered and my back instantly froze. 

'Later?' I looked at him, wide-eyed, but he just smirked. I swallowed down a mouthful of saliva as the thumb that was brushing the back of my hand was like giving me a signal. 

"How naughty," I murmured and bit my lower lip, blushing at the thought.

My thoughts were cut short as soon as we stood by the entrance of the mansion. Maids and butlers were lined up on the side while bowing, making a pathway for us.

"Welcome back, Master, my Lady," they greeted in unison.

I scanned them momentarily, then gazed up at Sam. These people weren't the people back in Grimsbanne. It was the first time I saw their faces. He only shrugged in response to my silent inquiry.

'So, he only kept a few people and hired new ones, huh?' I nodded at this conclusion, as that made more sense. If Sam wanted to start over, he had to replace everyone. But since he was still an emperor, he had to keep a few people who knew about it. 

"We had prepared a meal for Master and Milady. Shall we prepare the table for you?" A middle-aged butler approached Sam's side to announce their preparation. He glanced at me but averted his eyes away. His gaze looked weird, but considering they knew I was in a coma for a long time, it was a normal reaction.

"Are you hungry, wife?" Sam turned his head to me and I pondered for a moment. 

"I will go wash up first and see the kids." 

He nodded in understanding. "Then, I will be in my study. Just drop by if you need anything."

"Alright." I smiled and watched him motion his hand to the maids to assist me. 

As the maid promptly raised their head and approached my side, Sam bent over and whispered in my ear. "If you don't come to me, I will."

"I will clean myself in advance," I whispered back, teasing him while biting my lower lip as I drew my head back. Sam narrowed his eyes and licked his lip. 

"Don't tease me like that." I chuckled when he warned.

"Go. I will come to your office once I checked in with Law." 

Sam and I stared at each other for a while before he nodded. I watched his back as he walked away, with the old butler following his trails. 

'This feels strange,' I thought, holding my hand in front of me. 

"Madam, we will escort you to bathe." One maidservant snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked at her and smiled. 

"Please, do," I said and followed them, taking the opposite direction from where my husband left. Right... this truly felt strange.