The Duke's Passion

Although Adam, Law, Charlotte, and I didn't need to act suspicious to sneak out of the estate, it was fun this way. Also, it would raise questions about why Jaime was being so considerate towards us. The least I wanted now was to be bombarded with questions when I had a plethora of unanswered inquiries. 

So, we snuck through the garden where Adam had this secret passage he hid in a bush whenever he was sneaking out to meet Law. The one he had created before was sealed, but this young Lord was also sneaky and smart to create another one, just in case. 

Sadly, the secret passage was too small for adults to fit. Law and Adam could go through without a problem, but Charlotte and I wouldn't — no matter how small her frame and how thin I was. The two youngsters looked up at me in worry, holding both my hands while I gazed down at them.

A subtle smile resurfaced on my lips. "It's alright. I think I will be jumping off the fence."

They gave me this baffled look before they both gazed at the wall. I also looked up and winced, realizing how high it was.

"Uh.. how do I explain this?" I cleared my throat and squatted down, holding both their hands and squeezing them to get their attention. 

"Mother, how can you jump over the wall?" asked Law curiously, and Adam looked at me the same way.

"Actually..."

"Madam used to be a thief. That's why..." I glared at Charlotte as her help wasn't helping! What did she mean by a thief? I was a vigilante, but not a thief... that sounded even worse.

"Don't listen to her. Actually, I used to be, uhm... I used to have an inkling in the circus. Do you know the magic shows? I tried learning one of their tricks." I lied and the two young boys didn't seem to buy it!

'Of course, they won't! They're smart, silly!' my mind scolded, making me sigh helplessly.

"Madam Roux, can you show us your magic tricks later?" 

To my surprise, Adam's eyes twinkled and when I gazed at Law, his eyes had also lit up. I bit my tongue, pondering whether if this was a blessing or I was simply shooting my own foot.

Still, I sported a smile and nodded. "Of course, but before that, you should go now. I will be on the other side when you come out."

"Really?" Law inquired with doubt.

I smiled, nodding reassuringly at them. "That's the first magic trick."

Law pressed his lips while staring intently at me. "Alright."

Adam seemed to doubt my words as fear filled his eyes, but Law turned and faced him. The latter said nothing aside from, 'Let's go!' while tugging at the young Earl's sleeve. 

Law went in first, and Adam glanced back at me before crawling to the small passage. I waved at them with a smile and watched how adorable they looked while sneaking out.

"My lady, they didn't need to crawl their way out, you know?" As I watched the two, Charlotte leaned to my side and whispered. "We can just carry them and hop over the wall."

"I know, but they look mischievous and cute, don't you think?" I crossed my arms and cast her a knowing look. "What time will my husband say he will pick me up?"

"Hmmm. I'm not sure since his Majesty was normally working in your room all day."

"Knowing him, he will surely try his best to finish his duties as fast as he could." I gazed up at the wall, calculating that Law would soon reach the other side of it. "So, we should act fast before we get caught by him."

"Madam, since when did you become..."

I didn't hear the rest of Charlotte's sentence as I bent my knees and launched a high jump. I planted my palm on the flat top surface of the wall, raising my legs up over it, before landing smoothly on the other side. Just as my feet touch the concrete, I heard another 'thud' behind me because Charlotte also jumped right after me.

"What were you saying?" I asked, turning my head behind.

"His Majesty will surely scold me for this. He told me to stop you from doing something reckless," she murmured helplessly, casting me a despondent frown.

"Don't worry, Charlie. We are doing this so I can build my relationship with my son and make the young earl happy." I patted her shoulder and chuckled playfully. "Besides, I've been in slumber for years. How do you expect me to stay inside when I was born in the street?"

"Mother?!" 

Charlotte and I turned our heads to the small hole in the lower part of this wall. My eyes instantly fell on Law's small head. He was looking up at me in surprise before crawling out. Adam followed behind and bore the same surprise look on his face.

"See? Magic," I bragged proudly, and Adam awed while clapping.

I squatted down in front of my Law to dust off the little dirt and leaf that were on his clothes. It still felt awkward that he was my son, but I was always good with children. So, I only needed to do what I used to do. After dusting off Law's clothes, I motioned for Adam to come close and did the same. 

After I was certain these boys were clean, I turned my head back to Charlotte. "Charlie, where is the carriage you prepared?"

"My lady, how did you know?" she frowned while the corner of my lips just stretched into a wide grin. "It's waiting in the corner of the street."

"Great!" I exclaimed, facing the two once again while holding their sleeves excitedly. "Let's go?" 

My enthusiasm seemed to rub in them as they smiled brightly before nodding. And with that, the four of us, including Charlotte, roam the street of Minowa to have a family day out.

******

Meanwhile, in the borders of Minowa, Samael stood on top of the watchtowers, eyes on the fort where all sorts of trade usually happened. Ramin, who just arrived and stood behind him, observed the emperor's back.

"Your Majesty, are you sure Her Majesty will be fine?" asked Ramin when he couldn't take the prolonged silence anymore. "I don't want to overstep, but it seemed Her Majesty still had that person in her."

Silence still reigned between them. Ramin let out a sigh as his eyes flickered with bitterness. The Lilou they had been meeting for the past five years was vicious as if she was born out of pure evilness. Although the Lilou now was the same Lilou they had known, Ramin couldn't shrug off the faint aura that 'bad Lilou' was still within her.

"Ramin, does that matter?" Samael inquired in a low, solemn tone, catching Fabian's figure step out of the ship. "You need to understand that extremely bright, kind, and loving people have their own dark sides... which is just as extreme."

He paused as he turned around to face him. Ramin looked back at him with worry, sighing deeply as his king had been through a lot for the past five years.

"She had loved the selfish and conceited Hell..." Samael spoke, recalling how Lilou loved him regardless of his selfishness.. "How dare I not accept a part of her that even her heart couldn't acknowledge? I had gone this far and I will not give up on my wife and the mother of my son, Ramin."