The Duke's Passion

Meanwhile, Samael knocked on the door, which was Adam's room. Although Adam used to sleep in Law's room, Samael had prepared a separate room for him, so he didn't feel he was squatting on the estate. 

"Adam, I'm coming in," he announced before pushing the door open. His face instantly distorted as soon as his eyes landed on Fabian. The latter raised his gaze at the door and stood straight after placing the tea on the small table.

"Fabian, please tell me you haven't imparted your wisdom to Adam."

Fabian smiled and explained. "My master, I am simply serving the Earl some snacks to make himself feel better."

"Is that so?" Samael narrowed his eyes suspiciously. It didn't seem Fabian was lying. Well, not that Fabian was the type to lie. He might leave out some details, but Fabian rarely lied. Or rather, Samael couldn't remember any time that Fabian lied. 

"The young master refused to have snacks," Fabian added, placing his palm across his chest as he bowed at Adam. He then faced Samael and did the same before excusing himself. 

Samael kept his mouth shut, glancing at Fabian nonchalantly before strutting towards Adam. The young Earl kept his head down, lifting it up when Samael sat down beside him. 

"Sir Roux..."

"Father," Samael corrected, leaning his back against the armrest with his arms crossed. "I told you to call me Father."

Adam bit his lower lip while clutching his hand in his lap. "But Law hates me now and the other children said I will never be your son."

"So you don't want me to be your father now because they said all those unintelligent slurs?" Samael's brow quirked while tilting his head to the side. 

"No. It's because Law... hates me now. He thinks I'm a pushover. You only let me in here because Law asked you. But now that he hates me, there's no reason..."

"So dumb," Samael muttered before Adam could finish his disappointing assumptions. The young Earl pressed his lips into a thin line, suppressing the tears from escaping his eyes. 

"Adam, I want you to call me father because I want you to be my son. Law and Lilou had nothing to do with this. However, no matter what I do, I can't put you inside my wife's womb."

Adam felt conflicted about Samael's word of choice and his nonchalant demeanor. He had been in this estate, and he already figured that Samael was a little strange. Actually, there was something in Samael's air that felt different. If only Adam didn't know what this man was like with his wife and son, the young earl would be wary of him.

"What I'm saying is, even if my foolish son asks me to sever my ties with you, I won't. I already decided to make you my son. Although I cannot legally adopt you. That doesn't change my feelings regarding this."

"But... why? Is it because I am the earl of Minowa?"

"Haha! How cute." Samael burst out in laughter, and he tapped Adam's head lightly. "That is because... you remind me of someone."

Adam raised his brows while staring at Samael. He saw how this man's eyes softened briefly as a subtle smile resurfaced on his lips.

"Adam, my son sees your timid and kind personality as weakness, but that is because he is too young. In this world we live in, my son's instinct surely got it from my blood. But you are not weak. Law is too young to understand that." Samael ruffled the young Earl's hair lightly before he withdrew his hand. "You are stronger than what you think you are, son."

"Stronger than what I think...?"

Samael nodded, closed-lipped. "It takes a lot of courage to choose to be kind in this cruel world. The Malum did you wrong, but you never thought of getting back at them."

"But that is because... I am weak." Adam gazed down and frowned. Although revenge never crossed him, he was already convinced that it was futile to even think about it. 

"No, Adam. The reason revenge never crossed you is that... that will only prove that you are not any different from those people." Samael batted his eyes ever so slowly, waiting for Adam to raise his head at him again. "You want to be different, right? To prove that you are not like them."

Adam pressed his lips and averted his eyes. "Is it foolish to think like that, Fa — Father?"

"Of course not." Samael shook his head lightly. "As I mentioned, Adam had his own strength and weaknesses. But surely, your attitude and personality is not a weakness."

A sigh slipped past his lips as Adam looked at him with teary eyes. This young one was so emotional; the complete opposite of Law. But that was the reason Adam and Law got along so well. 

"My son always thinks putting people in their place through brute force is the only way to make people listen. He is not wrong, but there were other means," he continued in a kind tone while Adam listened to him. "I'm not saying you have to forget about taking up a sword. What I'm saying is, there were times you have to wield a sword."

"But... I don't want to hurt anyone. I don't want to be the caused of someone else's pain."

"Wielding a sword is not only for slashing people. It can also block attacks and save you in critical times." Samael smiled as he nodded encouragingly. "Adam, do you know why I want you to return to that damn estate despite knowing the pain it brought you?"

Adam shook his head, and Samael let out a chuckle. The young Earl already thought it was because it was his home and he should be there. Was there another reason?

"It is because there are many things to learn in the south, son. For example, compare to the north, the south had a stronger border that protected its people from all outside and inland attacks. The south wasn't really good in offense, but do you know where it was good at? Defense." The side of his lips curled up into a smirk, casting Adam with eyes full of excitement. "Even the previous emperor didn't touch the Earldom in the past, despite that your father refused to send troops. The southerners are annoying to deal with, after all."

Samael paused as he chuckled, bending down to his eye level. "The south had this impregnable defense line and attacking it is exhausting and a waste of time. I want you to learn all this and make the south greater than it already was."

"If you don't want to wield a sword to hurt others, wield it to protect the people you care about and your land," Samael added with a smile. "Do you understand?"

Adam didn't reply immediately but raised a question instead. "Can I really do it? Someone like me... can I really protect others?"

"You won't know that unless you try, right?" Samael grinned as he ruffled the boy's hair. "With a goal and reasons, I'm sure you can."

"Really...?"

Samael nodded as he shrugged. "Really. You are my son, after all." He watched Adam's eyes well up, making him chuckle.

Suddenly, a knock from the door was heard. Samael and Adam turned their heads to it, seeing Lilou, who was holding Law's hand, enter the room.

"Well," she spoke while the side of her lips curl up into a smile. "Did we come in at the perfect time?"

"Not as perfect as you, but yes," Samael smirked as he cocked his head, gesturing them to come in.