The Duke's Passion

Sam was not originally a villainous character, nor was he cruel who treats people's lives as insects. He used to be warm and kind, shielding his younger siblings, knowing what hell awaits them if he didn't. 

However, shielding his younger siblings also provoked the king's authority. As a result, the fair amount of punishments he was already receiving increased over time to the point it put his life in danger on several occasions. 

According to Yul and Silvia, despite all that, Sam never told them about it and just smiled and pat their heads. Sam was a figure they looked up to. With his firm, reliable back facing them, they did their best to please their father so Sam wouldn't suffer anymore.

Even so, with a large family, as the late king had 20 children from different women, Sam's torturous years lasted for what seems to be an eternity. Some even treated him unkindly, just so he could stop, but he didn't.

Until one day, they punished… tortured him to the point he was on a brink of death. His injuries were so grave that he could barely move a finger and swallow his food down. As he recuperated back to his health, an unfortunate event happened.

The late king killed his youngest son in a fit of rage. Whatever the details, no one knew what crime did the youngest do to deserve such judgment. But Sam only heard about it after he recovered.

Years of protecting his younger siblings and yet, Sam blamed himself for being weak. If only he was strong enough, that innocent young boy wouldn't have to lose his life at the hands of their cruel father.

Lost in rage, Sam stormed into the throne room with the presence of every noble clan and challenged the king. For vampires to challenge a superior was akin to declaring whose authority takes precedence. With all the witnesses present, the late king accepted.

A decisive battle that would tell them whether they would welcome a new king, or hail the current king for defending his seat, took place. They said the duel lasted for nine days and ten nights.

On the tenth night, while everyone waits for who would return; was it the bold and stubborn third prince? Or the king they all feared? But reality far exceeded their expectations. 

Came to the throne room were the two of them. One was being dragged to the floor and already at death's door, while the other… who was said to have hair as black as a coal, returned with dull silver hair signifying he had reached the peak.

His crimson orbs that glowed brighter than ever were said to appear as if the devil himself were staring at them. The new king had appeared… or so what they all thought.

They would proclaim Sam as the new king if he killed his father, but he didn't. May it be an act of mockery or mercy, the result was the same either way. Humiliation.

The late king's words drastically lost its authority while his son ran rampant whenever he pleased. The warm and kind-hearted third prince never had the same warmth, and he didn't intend to protect anyone anymore. 

Instead, he sought destruction, indulging in nothing but violence and bloodshed. It came to the point a group of nobles and royalties had to come together just so they could stop the monster running wild in the Capital.

They failed and succeeded. They failed to seize him even though they outnumbered him, but they succeeded because Sam came with them in his own volition. After that, for reasons unknown, Sam had a slight change of tactic.

Instead of mass slaughter, he would openly and shamelessly disobey the late king, torturing him in ways without a need for bloodshed. Until a royal decree of the third prince's banishment was released, Sam fled after throwing a large banquet in the Capital.

The rest of the story was when he returned to the Capital which I already heard. How he refused the crown, and how Sam claimed Grimsbanne as his territory.

"Your Highness!" Lena's voice startled me back to the current lapse, as I've been lost in thought since the tea time ended. "What are you thinking so deeply you've been in a trance?"

Her expression was full of worry, frowning as she crouched down, with her fingers hooked on the rims of the bathtub. If I'd tell her I was merely thinking about Sam, she'd feel even more sorry for me. I couldn't blame her, as my husband hadn't returned for three weeks.

"It's nothing, Lena." I smiled and shook my head. "I'm just a little tired from my training."

"Your highness, you trained so much you might strain your body." Lena frowned, her tone laced with genuine concern.

"Well, I had to. My husband's request." I humored, putting on a much lighter tone to ease her worry. That was true, though. Sam asked me to train with Lakresha alone before he went missing for three weeks. 

Since I had nothing else to do, I trained and tried to tame Lakresha. Perhaps it was because I was alone that Lakresha didn't act out. So it was easier to get used to it.

Lena pouted, huffing in disbelief. "His highness, the third prince, should treat your highness better! How can he just desert your highness the day after your wedding?!"

"Lena," I cajoled, chuckling as I appreciated she was getting angry in my stead. "I'm sure there's a reason…"

My words were abruptly cut off as I raised my gaze to Sam, who was leaning on the jamb as he said, "You're right. How can I, the third prince, and the Duke of Grimsbanne, desert my wife the day after our wedding?"

"Your Highness!" Lena sprung back on her feet, blanched at his sudden arrival. "I didn't mean it like that. Please forgive…"

"Go out," Sam commanded coldly, before he added, "before I change my mind and snap your neck in front of my neglected wife."

"Ye — yes, your highness." Her tone was muffled as she glanced at me apologetically before she scurried away. Poor Lena, I thought. But there's nothing else I could do.

I scooped a handful of water and rinsed my shoulders after Lena left, not paying attention to my husband. "I'll finish this quick, your highness. Please wait…" I trailed off when I sensed him perched on the tub's rib, looking up only to see how exhausted he appeared.

"I understand the cold treatment, I can ex...plain."

"Do you want to wash up?" I asked before he could continue. He didn't need to explain, because just by looking at him, I could tell he had a good reason. 

Sam narrowed his eyes as his gaze fell on my collarbones and upper chest. "Hmm… tempting."