The Duke's Passion

The journey to the mainland wasn't easy as it sounded. But Samael promised he would do everything and not give up on Lilou. So, even though he was caught as soon as he landed on the said land of vampires and nearly got executed, he didn't falter. 

Fortunately, Tilly was always watching. So when she arrived, she managed to save Samael and his family and entered the mainland as Tilly's guest. Who would go against Mathilda Grimsbanne? No one on the mainland wanted that woman to make a move. So, her guests, who were also her kin, were welcomed — although there were still prejudiced against these outsiders at first.

Samael cocked his head to the side, accompanying his auntie to the library after their afternoon picnic. Tilly picked up the cup of tea with her eyes on the book she was reading. 

"Tilly, I know I owe you my life for bringing my wife back from the dead. But how can you live in such a secluded place for years? Didn't you want to explore the world?" he asked, watching Tilly from across the small table between them. What Tilly performed on Lilou required a huge sacrifice. Thus, Samael sacrificed a lot of things just to get his wife back. 

However, what intrigued him was Tilly. When they first came into this place, it wasn't an exaggeration to call it some haunted mansion. Fabian and Samael, together with Law, joined forces to clean their new home while waiting for Lilou to wake up. 

If they didn't clean the house until it would look like one, Tilly would never do it. Also, that ringing bell tied around her hair was a bit annoying, but they couldn't complain since she was the master of this house. 

"I do." Tilly raised her gaze over the book and blinked. 

"If you want to roam the world, why didn't you do it?"

Tilly didn't speak for a minute, pondering whether she should entertain his questions or continue reading. She still chose the former, since Samael might stop writing stories she liked.

"I get tired easily," she answered in the same weak tone. 

"Ah..." Samael rocked his head, already used at Tilly's simple reasoning for caging herself in this mansion. 

"Also, I am waiting for Soran."

"Soran is dead."

"I know."

"If you know, why are you still waiting for him?"

"Because it gives me a reason to stay inside." Her answer was quick as if she had all the answers in the world — just throw her a question and her answer was prepared. "Also, he returned... his kin did. He even brought my sister's son and his wife and son. Now you have a daughter. Tilly is happy."

Samael let out a faint chuckle as he shook his head. Tilly said she was happy, but her expression remained the same. At this point, though, he knew she meant it. 

He leaned back, resting his leg over the other. "I'm already working on the last volume of that book."

"Really?"

"Really. Did you like it?" he asked and Tilly nodded. Actually, Samael just rewrote the books he already wrote and left in the Heart's Empire. He did it to kill time after they diligently cleaned the entire mansion. He needed to do anything because Lilou might or might not wake up during that time, since there was also the risk of calling a different soul.

Fortunately, the person who woke up eight months later was his wife, Lilou. Still, Samael continued writing and painting as this had become his source of living on this mainland. He had to do something unless they wanted to eat eggs for the rest of their lives. 

How he managed to adjust, even though he was considered an outsider at first, wasn't easy. Samael was just motivated to feed his family and strong enough to protect himself outside the forbidden forest. With his persistence by selling arts and books on the street, his talent was soon recognized. 

Now, three years later, he was a renowned writer and painter. He didn't need to sell on the street as his books were already sold out even before he produced a few copies, and nobles sought him to do their portraits. One of the biggest works he did in this land was to paint a portrait of the king a year ago.

"You adjusted well in here." She pointed out, peeling her eyes away from him to the open book on her lap. "You're just like Amara. You two are talented in arts. She used to write poems and songs too before she snuck out with the other children her age to find Soran."

Samael quirked a brow as this was the first time Tilly mentioned his mother. The side of his lips curled up as he rocked his head. 

"She's the one who told me to pursue what I love," he shared with the same gentle smile. "I'm glad I listened to her. Having my passion as my main source of living isn't as tiring as being a duke and a king. Simple, as people call it, but if I get to choose between being the emperor, duke, or an artist. I will keep choosing the third option for many lifetimes."

"Good. Write twenty books in a year."

A chuckle slipped past his lips as Tilly was someone he could talk to, but also someone he couldn't. It was interesting in a way for him. Even though most of her reply was short or out of topic, he would still talk to her. 

"I will try. After all, the house still needs lots of repairs." Samael nodded as he pressed his lips into a thin line, raising a brow as he recalled a question he often forgot to ask her. "By the way, I saw this family portrait in one of the rooms when I was cleaning. I wonder why it is kept there."

This time, Tilly paused as she gazed back at him. She blinked twice before her lips parted.

"You saw it?" she asked with both her brows elevated. 

"Mhm. Am I not allowed to see it?" he asked while tilting his head to the side. The space between his brows wrinkled at Tilly's next words. 

"I want to see it."