The Duke's Passion

The breakfast ended after that as Stefan excused himself and walked away with dignity. When the king left, the other princes and princesses also excused themselves until there was only Sam, Silvia, Yul, Dominique, and me. 

"Are you done?" Sam asked. "We should head back."

"Ye…" I trailed off and raised my gaze when Dominique suddenly spoke. "Sister, what are your plans now?"

My plans? "I have nothing on my schedule today," I answered after recalling that Sam cleared my schedule today.

"I don't mean that." Dominique cocked his head to the side. He didn't mean that? Then what was he talking about? "I heard you and Yul had a spar last night."

"Dominique," Yul muttered as he faced Dominique squarely.

"Yes, it's my fault," I said before the two fight. "I overstepped and nearly did something unforgivable."

"Nearly?" Dominique laughed out loud, as if he heard the funniest joke in his life. "Nearly, huh?" He repeated as his sharp gaze fell on me.

I gulped and clutched my skirt tightly. Dominique seemed angry.

"My wife." I moved my gaze to Sam as he picked up a bread knife. "Don't you remember nearly killing Hanz?" 

What? My mind buzzed momentarily and blurted out, "I did?" I hung my head low when I realized how pleased I sounded.

"Yes. With a knife a bit smaller with this size." Sam waved the knife bread and smirked. "You have funny humor."

"It'll be funnier if the weapon that will kill him is only an inch long," Yul commented, shaking his head in disappointment as he gazed at the bread knife.

"Why use an inch size blade?" Silvia chimed in. "A needle will suffice."

My face twitched hearing their casual comments as if they were merely talking about what's for lunch. Did I really try to dispose of Hanz? 

'That be nice…' I secretly thought as I cleared my throat. My memory last night ended when Fabian came to stop me from harming Yul.

"Killing him right now is not important," Sam said as he glanced at me. "Since watching him tread on thin ice is fun to watch."

The smirk on Sam's lips sent a shiver down my spine. I'm aware that these people, although called siblings, putting each other in despair was normal. And now, I'm also part of this family.

'A family…' I whispered internally as the thought of having a family didn't feel as fulfilling as thought it'd be.

They discussed for a moment while my thoughts drifted elsewhere until we finally retire back to our quarters.

***

On our way back, Sam invited me to take a stroll in the garden to get the food down, to which I agreed without hesitation. But we didn't head towards Avolire garden, but somewhere else.

"Why is Mister Fabian turning over the garden?" I inquired and glanced at Sam, who stood beside me. There was just this unsettling feeling whenever I see Fabian working in the garden.

The garden was larger than the Avolire garden, but it seemed it was under tilling. I gaze around, only to realize Fabian was the only one working. 

"Yes, he needs to clear his thoughts."

"Was this some kind of punishment?" I asked with a frown.

Sam furrowed his brows as he cocked his head to me. "No. Hanz helped him redecorate last night, but it didn't work out."

Fabian and Hanz? "What do you mean it didn't work??"

"They didn't get along, that's all." He shrugged as he set his eyes on Fabian's figure. 

Sam had been acting strange since this morning. Even during breakfast, his action might be a little frustrating, but it was milder than usual. 

"Sam, are you alright?" My question made him face me squarely. "You've been acting rather strange. Is there something wrong?"

He didn't speak for a long time and just stared at me. His stare unconsciously made me bit my lip, raising my brows while waiting for his response.

When his lips parted, words I didn't expect caressed my ears. "I'm pondering whether the anger I'm containing is jealousy or simply my desire for destruction."

"It's probably the latter!" I exclaimed and patted his chest continuously. "You're doing great in behaving yourself."

I'm proud of him. There's no reason for him to get jealous unless his jealousy means he disliked how others had a chance to kill me aside from him.

"You're the only one who can kill… me." I trailed off and raised my gaze when he grabbed my wrist to stop me from patting his chest. "Sam?"

"Your negativity is quite amusing, wife." His smile didn't reach his ear. "But I believed it's the former."

"Your jealousy…" I gulped, wanting to clarify the meaning of jealousy in his head. "You don't mean you're jealous because others want to kill me, right?"

Sam bent down, bobbing his face. "I mean the thought of you, having a lover before me, infuriates me, wife."

Huh? I blinked as I parsed his words. Me? Having a lover before him? I frowned at the thought. 

"That's nonsense… ah." I winced as he suddenly tightened his grip around my wrist. "You'll break… my wrist."

"Oh." Sam loosened his grip, realizing it, but didn't let go. "Since we're married now, remember, you're my wife and mine only. And if you…"

Before he could spout more nonsense, I grabbed his collar and pulled it down so our eyes were leveled. 

"Did you marry me so you can possess me?" I fumed as I snapped my tongue in annoyance. "I'm your wife, not an object or a pet. If you keep acting like this…"

My breath suddenly hitched as my breath build up in my throat. He's been acting strange and spouting nonsense. It was hard to ignore it. I felt like marrying him didn't put us closer, but just built another thick wall between us. 

"I don't know why you're spewing all that nonsense, but this jealousy will just drain you and me. Whether I had a man before you or don't, it doesn't matter because I'm your wife now." I paused and took a deep breath. 

"I will do my duties as your wife because I love you. But to do that, you have to be my husband first, not my owner."