The Duke's Passion

"Your Majesty, have mercy on us!" 

Sam didn't have a change of reaction, but Jaime's expression turned paler. The knights had already acknowledged Sam after what they had realized. 

"Really... so disappointing," Ramin commented with a sigh. I glanced at him while he looked at the unconscious Earl in his arms. 

I could understand where Ramin came from, as the Bearers of the Order were like knights. The royal knights and the Bearers of the Divine Order may have different purposes, but they were people who would die with dignity. These knights in the Earldom, on the other hand, were different. They switched sides when they knew the other party was far stronger. 

They were just a bunch of cowards wearing their suits. What a shame. 

"It's disappointing, indeed," I mumbled, gazing down at the knight's kowtowing, then raising my gaze at Sam. Jaime had also accepted his defeat as he voluntarily slammed his forehead on the floor. 

"I have offended His Majesty! Please have mercy on me, Your Majesty!" Jaime chanted desperately, which was even more disappointing. 

Did I say he was a big fish in a small pond? He acted as king in the south, and when the people from the capital had now stood before him, he was no better than a clown. No. This place was an entire circus.

Sam sported a bored look, tapping the tip of his fingernails against the armrest. He glanced at Jaime and then at the knights.

"If you give me the head of the knight who hurt my son, I will reconsider," his request beckoned the knights to raise their heads and looked at him in aghast. Seeing the disinterest in Sam's eyes as if their lives didn't matter to him, the knights turned their heads at the knight whom Sam was referring to. 

The knight who restrained me earlier and hurt Law shook his head and mumbled, "No."

In a blink of an eye, he tried to escape from his colleague, but to no avail. All those knights, he thought his brothers chased him. He couldn't even escape because someone wielded his sword and slashed his back.

It didn't even take that long when the knight's head came rolling on the ground. The sight of these knights ganging up on a sole knight was vicious, making me recall how this empire was truly like.

This empire... was never flowers and butterflies. This place was all about blood and death.

"I feel sad for the young Earl Crowell." Sam sighed as he didn't look pleased even when the knights executed his orders. But he didn't dwell on it and turned his head to Charlotte. 

"Charlie, take the young Earl and my son to a nice bed."

Charlotte nodded as she pushed herself up from Jaime's back and then walked to his side. Sam passed his son to her, but she only carried her in between her side and arms.

Sam ruffled his son's hair lightly before Charlotte dashed towards Ramin. She was like a bolt and lightning, appearing and disappearing in a blink of an eye. While Ramin passed the young Earl, Adam, to her, Charlotte turned her head in my direction and grinned.

"Lilou, my queen~! Is that really you?!"

"Charlie..."

I jumped slightly when Charlotte suddenly appeared in front of me while carrying two boys. Her eyes twinkled as she leaned in, standing on her toes. As if seeing me up close was not enough, she walked around me and assessed me. 

"Charlie," I called under my breath, and she stopped in front of me once again. "What are you doing?"

"Your Majesty, is this safe?" she didn't answer me but asked Sam with a raised voice instead. Her eyes were still on me and I frowned. 

"What safe?" I inquired.

"Take her with you. I still have some business with the Viscount." 

I gazed at Sam and caught him staring at me. There was something in his eyes that I couldn't pinpoint, but it told me not to be stubborn.

"We will talk later, Lilou. Follow Charlotte for now," he said in the same cold tone, making me purse my lips.

"Let's go, Your Majesty." Charlotte snatched my attention as she smiled brightly. I nodded in agreement and followed her tracks. 

As we left the throne hall, I glanced at Sam for the last time. He wasn't looking in my direction and just gazing down at Jaime. Even though the sit he was sitting on wasn't as appealing as that in the imperial palace, I couldn't deny that his demeanor, aura, and just everything was befitting for an emperor. 

'Did he really become the emperor?' I wondered as we departed the throne hall. 

Charlotte and I waltzed through the hallway of the Earl's estate. I didn't know the place, so I only followed her to wherever she was going.

"Is he really the current emperor, Charlie?" I asked, breaking the prolonged silence between us. She looked back at me and kept her smile.

"Yes!" her answer was full of conviction and there was no shadow of a doubt she was lying. "I am the emperor's right-hand man~! Hehehe!" 

She sounded so happy; I thought. "How did he become one?" 

Charlotte hummed a long tune before stopping in front of the door. My eyes lingered on her as she gazed at the door.

"I'll get it," I proposed and before she could reply, I already opened the door. I knew she would kick the door open, but having a broken door where these boys would rest was not a good idea. 

"Thank you, Your Majesty~!" Charlotte grinned as she immediately entered and walked directly towards the bed. I watched her from the door as she carefully laid the boys on it. 

I slowly closed the door and stepped in, but I just leaned on the wall beside it. I had a lot of questions, and I knew Charlotte had avoided my previous query. I would wait for her to tuck these boys in.

Just as Charlotte pushed herself away from the bed, Law, Sam's son, grunted as he opened his eyes.

"Hmm?" he rubbed his eyes and tried to move, but winced as if a sudden pain struck him.

"Young master, you should rest first." Charlotte planted her hand on the little boy's shoulder. 

"How about mother and father?" asked the child in a coarse voice, clearly worried about his parents.

"Don't worry, young master. The master had settled it already. They were safe." 

The young boy stared at Charlotte before he nodded. His eyes still welled up, though, and his muffled voice came in.

"I'm so glad..." 

My chest tightened as soon as I heard his remarks.