The Duke's Passion

"I hope sprout roots grow on me and still me in this spot… better yet, if I slowly just become a flower, that's better." I chuckled at my own remarks as I closed my eyes, feeling the pattering of rain on me.

'Was the sky crying in my stead?' I wondered as I felt like crying out of exhaustion, but couldn't. 

Never in my life, I imagined myself caught up in this silent power strife. Or rather, if Stefan didn't erase my memories and just straight up left me, finding revenge would probably tire me out somehow and I would live in seclusion. Who knows? I might wander to other countries if that was what happened.

'But Lexx is selfish." My jaw tightened as I gritted my teeth. 'And so were my husband and my clan.' 

A shallow breath slipped past my lips as mulling about everything was frying every bit of my brain cells. I didn't even know which was the dominant emotion I had in my heart right now. 

"Lakresha, do you understand your master?" I murmured with my eyes closed and my heart heavy. "Father… is this what you mean when you told me that things will go back to their rightful place?"

A light scoff escaped my lips as I whispered, "the throne is not my rightful place."

It was not my seat nor the Bloodfang's. But no matter how I complained, the problem remained, and my words merely drifted away along with the sound of the rain.

'I'm already tired just thinking about it.'

I remained in my position, not moving a muscle, and hoped that it would rain so much it would cause a flood in the palace. If heaven was so kind, please just drown everyone in this palace. 

"Fuck…" I cursed under my breath, lifting my arm to shield my shut eyes. "Selfish fucking people."

The more I thought about it, the more I had to question myself if any of them had ever thought about my feelings about everything. It was frustrating so much so I didn't know what to feel it was numbing. 

Just then, I sensed someone's presence approaching me. He didn't speak until he was beside me. 

"What a beautiful mess you are." Sam clipped his fingers on my sleeve and lifted it away from my eyes. I slowly opened my eyes, only to see his pair of gentle crimson orbs hovering over me.

"Tell me who made my wife cry?" he asked with a subtle smile, cocking his head to the side.

"I'm not crying," I affirmed. Even if I wanted to, I just couldn't cry for reasons unknown and it was adding to my frustration.

Sam shook his head lightly, closed-lipped. "You're not, but inside, here." He tapped my chest lightly, shifting his gaze back at me. "Who made your heart cry?"

My breath hitched as the building frustration in my throat increased. How could he tell that? 

I stared at him in silence while he looked back at me. I thought he would press on the matter, but Sam only raised his shoulders. The next second, he plopped his butt down beside me and collapsed on his back.

"It's tiring, isn't it?" Sam murmured as he stared at the sky and welcomed the rain dripping down on him.

I only watched his side profile, making my eyes soften. "Why are you here, husband? As a good husband, wouldn't you tell me to go inside or at least give me an umbrella? That would be romantic."

"Haha. Is it?" Sam turned his head to me, smirking playfully. "Too bad your husband is neither good nor bad."

"You're right." I let out a low chuckle, shifting my gaze back to the sky. "My husband is neither good nor bad, he is anything but those two."

"That sounds like an insult, wife," He complained, making me chuckle until I felt his gaze away from me. "But if our situation is switched, will you give me an umbrella and tell me to go inside?"

I pursed my lips into a thin line and kept silent for a moment. "I think I would, probably."

"Probably?"

"Imagining yourself in a situation and being in that situation, in reality, is a lot more different than we think. So, I'm not sure." I explained. 

I felt him glance at me for a while before saying, "You're right."

The corner of my lips curled up into a subtle smile. Would I feel warm about his understanding? Or question if everything he had shown me until now was real?

"So, why are you getting soaked in here?" he asked. 

I bat my eyes ever so slowly before I answered in a low tone. "Because I would like to enjoy the rain, feel the cry and screams of nature… as that reminded me that even nature had to scream sometimes."

"Is that so?" 

"Mhmm. My time to ask, why are you here getting soaked in the rain with me?" I turned my head to him, seeing him cast me a quick look before closing his eyes while the corner of his lips curled up a little.

"Because I feel like this is the only thing I can do for you," Sam muttered in a low tone as his eyes slowly opened. "Instead of telling my wife to go in, or scold her for not thinking she might catch a cold, I'd rather get soaked in the rain and be that silent company she needed. A cold can be cured easily, but mending a broken heart takes time and patience."

Silence befell us as I averted my gaze, teeth clenched. I thought I couldn't cry no matter what, but just hearing his words, I felt my eyes sting. I covered my eyes with my arm once again, my hand clenched. 

"Just stay there." A muffled request escaped my lips. "Just… stay there."

"You don't have to say it. Even if you push me away, I won't budge. The theme of this marriage is ride or die, wife." Sam replied under his breath, but his words were clearer than ever. "You're right when you said your husband is anything but good and bad. He is just selfish, I'm sorry."

*****

While Samael and Lilou remained on their spot in the middle of the garden, Stefan was staring at them from the distance. He couldn't hear what they were muttering about due to the pouring rain.

"Why am I even here?" he muttered, grinding his teeth with his hand balled into a fist. "This will be over soon." 

Stefan punched the wall, leaving cracks on it before he turned around and left. His eyes glinted menacingly as he walked away.

"That's right... just a little longer and she will come back to me soon."