The Duke's Passion

"My apologies, your grace. My labyrinth just gets too excited with your presence." Ramin hissed, and I heard his bone cracking under Sam's grip. Sam also broke the arrow in between his fingers, and I watched it burned into nothingness before it hit the ground. 

"It's alright. I understand." Sam smiled and snapped Ramin's wrist that made the latter gnash his teeth. "Did that make you feel better?" His tone was light as he let Ramin go before cocking his eyes towards Charlotte.

I didn't know how did Rufus got there, but he restrained Charlotte by wielding a sword on her throat. I recoiled slightly when Sam clapped and exclaimed, "My wife's colleagues are fascinating. No wonder she likes it here!" 

Sam faced our direction while Ramin stepped aside, holding his wrist carefully.

"Although it amused me," he said, shifting his eyes towards Kristina. "How the hell did you do it? I mean, fight your weapon's thirst?" Sam tilted his head to the side, his eyes glinting with bafflement. 

"My will is my weapons will, your grace." Kristina's chest moved heavily in and out, struggling with her breathing. "Not the other way around," she added under her breath.

"Kristina…" I whispered. Although her tone sounded almost muffled, I felt her resolve in her voice. It was as if there was pain she wasn't talking about.

"Interesting." Sam nodded, making me furrow my brows as he briefly exchanged gazes with Rufus. "So, you lot are training?" he changed the subject, raising his brows as he gazed at everyone.

I ignored Sam as I turned to Kristina, holding her arms as she seemed vulnerable. "Kristina, are you alright?" she was breaking out in sweats, slowly growing pale as she weakly locked her gaze with me.

"I am, it's just…" she trailed off as she gulped down. "I need to take a rest early." Kristina squeezed my arm and offered a weak smile. 

"Let me help…" I couldn't finish my offer when she shook her head lightly. 

"I'm alright," Kristina reassured. "It just happens when I don't follow Mace's instincts," she explained with a smile. Mace was her divine weapon's name. As a fellow bearer of the Divine Order, I'm aware that our weapons had their own soul and desires. Wielding them also means coming to terms with our weapons.

I stared at her worriedly until Rufus suddenly came to our side and offered, "Kristina, let me escort you back." Kristina glanced at Rufus and nodded. I failed to notice the glint that flickered across Rufus' eyes. 

"Take a rest," I said under my breath and watched the two leave. Rufus didn't hold Kristina as they walked side by side, although he at least walked slower than usual.  What did I expect from him?

A sigh slipped past my lips before I turned my head around at Charlotte's sudden yelling. My eyes instantly caught her assaulting Sam, which he easily dodged.

"Girl, is that the best you can do?" Sam clicked his tongue in disappointment, purposely taunting Charlotte as she bolted towards him with a wooden sword. 

"Oh, my goodness!" he yelled, grabbing the wooden sword's body, which instantly broke under his grip. "This is fucking disappointing!" I cringed when I heard his last remarks. He added, "I was in denial that you lot are weak! But the more I see it, the more I'm terrified for my wife's safety!" 

His snide remarks not only angered Charlotte and Ramin, but it annoyed me as well. Did he come here because he had enough insulting everyone in the inner palace? Was he trying to find a new target he could insult?

I shook my head, kicking the wooden sword on the ground, and it flew up a little. I hooked it by the back of my boots, kicking it up, and caught it midair. Sam continued on rambling how pathetic we were in the background, while I traced the wooden sword by my fingers.

'This is enough,' I thought, as it was still in a good shape. My eyes landed on Sam, his back was facing me while he lectured the two in a ridiculing tone.

"Who said..." I took a deep breath, holding the sword back, "I need protection?" I shot it straight at Sam's head. The wooden sword flew at an amazing speed. I watched it, unblinking as it made me wonder if it would hit my husband.

As expected, Sam stopped speaking as he docked his head when the sword came closed. The wooden sword hit the closest tree, shattering into many pieces due to force.

"That was close." Sam turned around, facing me squarely, grinning. "My wife, I didn't realize you've improved this much! Don't let Fabian see you or he will snatch you away from me!" For someone who had a butler that could snatch away his wife, Sam surely sounded enthusiastic about it.

My eyes instinctively moved at Ramin, then to Charlotte. They looked surprised. Well, I threw that sword with an intention to kill Sam… so it was stronger than my usual strength. Of course, they figured that out, that's why they were shocked. Not that I really wanted to kill Sam, I just knew that wouldn't kill him.

"Husband, your grace, please stop teasing my colleagues. We're still in the truce," I said with a deep sigh, walking towards Sam and stopped several steps away from him. "Why are you here?" I asked, not beating around the bush.

"To check on you!" he answered, but I frowned, all my emotions in my eyes fading away.

"Alright!" he rolled his eyes as he clicked his tongue. "I'm here for an inspection and an announcement since I'm your boss' boss."

I remained silent as I waited for whatever he would say. As I did, I dodge the arrows coming in our direction as Charlotte kept shooting at Sam, until I had enough and hopped back, leaving Sam dodging the arrows all by himself. I was not surprised that Ramin behaved himself with that injury on his wrist.

"Sir, what is your announcement?" I asked when I couldn't wait anymore.

Sam only cast me a look before he turned in Ramin's direction, still dodging Charlotte's continuous attacks. "I figured out the Undead's base. We will launch a counterattack soon."

The arrows stopped from coming as Charlotte, Ramin, and I stared at him in shock. He… found out the base of the undead? My heart suddenly raced anxiously.

He added, "The inspection is to check if you children qualify for the future plans, but you disappoint me, greatly." A sigh slipped past his lips, shaking his head. "Fret not! Your Grace Samael is here to help you resolve your problem!" 

Did he really have to sound like he was promoting a business?

"You and you," Sam pointed at Ramin and Charlotte and then turned to me and said, "You as well, will train under me. Goodness, I'm so kind to teach the people who will hamper my plans from tearing this kingdom apart." His confidence made my brows twitched.

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