The Duke's Passion

"The well is a bit far, and everyone in here has too many things to do because of the upcoming festival. If you do not mind, you can fetch for them, Madam."

Wow... I thought. 'The audacity of these people, even in front of the guests.'

And then realizations struck me.

Even though we were the guest of the Earl, the Roux Family we go by had no noble status. These servants probably believed that Jaime Malum let us stay for the night because my son was friends with the Earl.

Were they trying to give me a hard time so we won't come back again? Hah... how silly and pathetic. I truly felt bad for the young Lord in this place. Just what sort of person were they trying to create by maltreating this innocent boy? It reminded me of the sad childhood of the La Crox siblings.

"This is the cleanest, huh?" I glanced at the two boys and smiled at them weakly. "I'll fetch you some waters myself."

Law's frown grew grimmer, reluctant for me to leave. So I smiled and placed my hand on his head.

"I will come back. This will be quick, hmm?"

"Alright." He nodded reluctantly. Of course, I also ruffled Adam's hair and returned his apologetic expression with a smile before facing the maids. 

"You can take these back." I cocked my head to the ewers and basin. The head maid stared at me straight in the eye and then signaled the younger servants to pick them up again. 

A pleased smile appeared on my lips as I watched the servants carry the ewers filled with filthy water. As they took careful steps back, I looked back at the head maid. 

"Can you give me the direction where I can fetch fresh water?" I inquired in a kind tone. A brief smirk appeared on her lips and a glint flickered her eyes, but I ignored it. 

"Yes. Follow me, Madam Roux."

I nodded in satisfaction and followed them. As I did, I glanced at the two young boys for a moment and gave them a gentle smile. They smiled back weakly. When I peeled my eyes away and set them on the head maid's back, my eyes sharpened as a malicious glint flashed across my eyes. 

As soon as we left the room, the maids who were holding the containers didn't idle and went away. While they leave, the head maid faced me with her chin up. She appeared to be looking down on me, and only under her gaze did I understand why Sam detested people looking down on him. Especially by someone who didn't have the shred of redeemable traits. 

"Madam Roux, there is a well in the estate that you fetch water with. You can --" 

She couldn't finish her sentence as I grabbed the lower half of her face without a sweat. Before she could realize what just happened, her feet had already left the floor with her eyes dilating in shock. This old maid held onto my sleeve and struggled, but I didn't budge. 

Instead, I looked at her coldly. "Since you liked looking down on people to make yourself feel superior, isn't this view better?" I tilted my head to the side; my countenance emotionless.

She flung her feet and let out a protesting moan. The sight of her brought this thrill within me, but I squashed it down as soon as I realized how I indulged in watching her struggle under my grip. 

"Servant, I don't care if you are acting like this to please the Viscount Malum, but you don't try to treat my son or his friend like that." I cautioned, staring at her straight in the eye. "Be thankful to those children because I would've crushed your skull if I don't worry that it will make a mess in here. I don't want to scare them with the sight of your filthy blood."

I tightened my grip across her jaw, but not tight enough to crush it. If only those two boys won't use this path later, I wouldn't have a problem silencing this person. But those boys would surely wonder what happened, and I didn't have the heart to lie to them.

"Don't die just because of water," I said, letting her go as she instantly collapsed on her knees. She slowly raised her head at me, revealing her pale complexion and shaking eyes. 

"Fetch them clean water to wash their faces and prepare a proper change of clothes. If you don't do properly this time..." I paused while squatting down to her eye level. "... you better hang yourself because you don't want to know what I will do to you before you speak your greetings to Satan."

I heard her gulp while I kept my eye contact. "Understood?"

The head maid, who was initially looking down coldly at me with eyes full of contempt, now looked back at me with fear and panic. Ramin was correct when he said the people in here were disappointing. The enemies we had faced so far wouldn't look this desperate. Even before death, no one would give up this easily. 

I could say I abhorred our enemies, but at the same time, I respected them. It just so happened we were fighting for different things.

"Go." I jerked my chin to the side lightly. "Don't make us wait."

"Ye — yes..." the head maid tried to stand, but all she could do was crawl away before she recovered her strength. I watched her stagger, clinging to the wall as she stood.

"People in here are just arrogant without substance," I mumbled and let out a deep exhale, shaking my head in disappointment. "All they know is pick on the weak and I can't stand it."

Just when I was about to go back inside the room, I glanced at the window almost in front of me. I marched towards it out of instinct, planting my palm against the glass. 

I first looked at what was outside and I could see some knights walking from the pathway. It didn't seem like there was anything out of the ordinary. So, I thought of going back to the children. But when I was about to peel my eyes away, I noticed my reflection. 

I stared at my reflection in the transparent glass until my eyes focused on me. My eyes slowly widened as soon as I caught the slight smirk that appeared on my lips and the vicious glint in my eyes.

"Who… are you…?"