The Duke's Passion

Jaime Malum's birthday finally came, and I still hadn't heard from Sam. The news about the war had been known to the public, so everyone in the south was distressed. The viscount's banquet came at the perfect time to calm the people down. Lady Hazel made the celebration open to the public so even commoners could attend. By doing this, everyone would feel reassured and the word would spread fast, not just in high society.

"Madam, are you sure you don't want me to accompany you?" Fabian inquired as he stood outside the carriage, staring at me through the window. 

"Fabi, checking the fort will come first. Also, Bey and Glory are with us. Don't worry," I reassured with a smile. Apparently, there was a slight discrepancy in Sam's business. So I asked Fabian to check on it since I couldn't go because I promised Lady Hazel to come. 

Fabian let out a shallow breath, nodding reluctantly. "Alright. Please take care. I will come if you ever needed my help, Madam."

"Thank you." I smiled, watching Fabian take a step back and tell the coachman to start moving. My eyes remained on him until the carriage set off, peeling my gaze away and setting them to Bey sitting across from me. Beside me was Law and Glory was outside with the coachman. 

"Madam, are you alright?" asked Bey once we departed the mansion. "Lady Hazel will understand if you can't come. She is a reasonable lady — the only reasonable lady in the House Malum."

I shook my head lightly. "It's fine, Bey. I'm alright. I need to move and do something or else, I will just worry about my husband."

"Mother, Father will be fine." I gazed down when Law chimed in, forcing a smile. My heart relaxed as I patted his head lovingly.

"My baby, Mother is alright, really. I know your father will be fine, but I will still naturally worry since he is my husband." 

I had been trying to reassure Law not to worry about me, as he had been trying to make me feel better. But he didn't need to do anything since seeing him made all bad things go away. Even so, I would naturally worry about Sam because he was my beloved husband. 

Law pressed his lips while the corner of it turned up, nodding in understanding. A shallow breath slipped past my lips as I glanced at Bey on instinct. She smiled back at me before we traveled in silence. On our way to the House Malum banquet, I set my eyes towards the window. 

Right now, the street of Minowa felt different from the last time we were here. Probably because of the news from the east and west. Although the reaction from the public was calmer than expected because they trusted the emperor's power, everyone was still worried. 

'I had this bad gut feeling,' I thought, letting out a weak sigh. 'Maybe... I'm just thinking too much.'

This gut feeling was something I couldn't pinpoint. But what I knew was that it was something I would usually fear before a tragedy. Deep down, I wished it was nothing. I caressed my necklace, which I started wearing recently.

"Mother, that necklace is pretty, but it doesn't match your dress." I peeled my eyes away from the window to Law. "You've been wearing it and that earring too, although it's not noticeable since you cover it with your hair."

A light chuckle escaped my mouth. "They make me feel closer to your father," I explained, keeping it short and simple. 

Honestly, I just wanted to be prepared just in case. I told Sam that I would protect Minowa and our son. Of course, I wished I wouldn't have to use Lakresha and Catharsis, but it was better to be prepared at all times. Some people were trying to shake the empire and anything could happen.

"Father gave them to you?" His nose scrunched up, glancing at my necklace. "Father surely had a bad eye for accessories."

"Haha. No, this necklace came from someone else... it's more like a family heirloom. While this earring was originally your father," I paused, caressing my necklace with my thumb. "He didn't give it to me. I just picked it up when he dropped it, then it became mine."

"Hmm?" Law tilted his head, but I just smiled and ruffled his hair once again. I didn't give him details because it would be a long story if I explained it to him. Moreover, that doesn't matter now. How I obtained these accessories... it didn't matter now. 

Things were different and there was a high chance I didn't need to use them for their real purpose. I hoped... I wouldn't need to. From the bottom of my heart. Because if I wield Lakresha and Catharsis, that only meant Minowa was in danger.

'I don't want Law to see me wielding them... as much as possible, I wanted to keep him away from that.'

******

Meanwhile, in the fort of Minowa, Fabian had settled the minor problem that occurred. It was nothing serious, but there was this part of him that made him feel so restless. He stood in the middle of the fort, seeing that it was still as busy as ever. 

'I can't shake this feeling away.' He stretched his neck in a circular motion, taking deep breaths as his eyes were sharp. This feeling... he disliked it. He had been cautious ever since Sam left the estate, and he didn't know why. 

"I wonder what is happening now in the Capital?" he muttered, holding his hand behind him while watching the crowd of the busy fort. "The lack of letter is understandable since all eyes were on the emperor right now."

Fabian nodded, thinking that if Samael send a letter in the south, those who were watching his every movement would wonder who was the recipient. Since his trusted and capable people were surely preoccupied with the war, he wouldn't have anyone else to stand as a messenger.

"But..." Fabian's thoughts trailed off when he caught a blind person from the corner of his eyes. His eyes veered in its direction, but he saw nothing but the passing crowd. 

He went silent, caressing the skull ring around his finger. "My maleficent is aroused.... not good."