The Duke's Passion

What am I seeing?

I blinked my eyes countless of times, closing my mouth. Alas, no matter how I blinked, his work didn't change.

"Was that me?" Out of shock, I blurted out.

"Yes." Sam answered flatly, as if what he was putting on his canvass was something I'm merely over-reacting with.

"Goodness…" I gasped, leaning in to see it clearer. "And I'm naked?!"

Finally, Sam's hand stopped, raising his head to see my appalled expression.

"It's… art." With his same flat tone, Sam explained.

I took a step back, gazing at him from head to toe. The first canvass turned out incomparable.

But this one, although it was beautiful. Why am I naked? What if other people see it?

"Is it bad?" Sam pressed his lips together, furrowing his brows, seeing my reaction.

"Definitely, not!" I instantly denied. "It's beautiful, my lord. But, don't you think it's… indecent?"

"Is it?" Confused, Sam gazed back at the half-finished painting he's working on.

"How? I clearly drew your breast just like how perfect they are." 

He added, tilting his head to the side. I gasped at his lack of understanding. 

"What if other people see it?" I asked, biting my lower lip. "I don't…"

I trailed off, clearing my throat as I looked away. My next words came out as muffled.

"I don't want anyone seeing me except you."

How could he not understand that? My fingers fiddled against each other, gazing down on the floor.

Although I'm certain no one would take interest of a woman's naked painting. Still, it'd be very uncomfortable knowing people had seen what lies beneath this dress.

"Heh," Sam chuckled briefly, catching my attention. "Why would I let anyone see this? It's mine; mine only. If anyone set their eyes on it, even by accident, I'll gouge their eyes out, mash their brains, and crush every bone they had."

Huh? Now, it was not only indecent but also a deadly weapon?

"Come here, silly." Sam extended his arm, asking me to come closer. "Fret not. I'm kidding."

After seconds of hesitation, I still trudged towards him. Sam pivoted on his seat, pointing at me to sit on his lap.

I did. I perched on his thigh, my legs in between his legs, my hands on my lap.

Once I looked up, I saw him evade his hand so not to taint my dress. Not that I mind, I used to live wearing clothes filled with mud.

"Are you really joking?" I asked, not dwelling on his actions.

Sam's eyes moved to the side and nodded. "Yes…"

Lies.

How could he lie without even trying to make it seem believable? I felt helpless, losing words to reason out.

"But, I'll keep it in a safe place. I just want to paint every angle of you." Sam reassured, resting his head on my shoulders, smiling genuinely.

A sigh left my lips as I glanced at the unfinished work. It looked amazing, though.

"Don't get mad, come on." Sam urged sweetly, fluttering his eyelashes coquettishly. "You still love me, right?"

"Obviously." I gasped at the last question he dropped. "A naked painting of me wouldn't change my feelings. They're not that shallow."

"Hehe." He giggled, raising his hand, and then wiped his forefinger on my forehead.

Even without seeing it, I knew he left a mark of the charcoal on my forehead. I didn't care, though. Why would a peasant get mad having dirt on them if we were born and raised covered with soil?

Still, I pursed my lips in a thin line. "My lord, did you know a peasant is immune to any dirt?"

"I know." Sam replied, but his furrowed brows told me my words puzzled him.

"So, why are you evading your hands from me?" I felt like shrinking down at my query.

His eyes fastened with amusement. Slowly, the corner of his lips stretched into a smile. His other hand in the air carefully rested on my back.

"I don't know too." Sam humored, followed by a chuckle.

Silly. But I could not hide the smile resurfacing on my lips.

"Do you want to join me, love?" Sam inquired, tilting his head to meet my gaze.

"Join you? Paint?"

Sam nodded without a word. I hesitated. I didn't know how to paint and I might just waste resources.

"Silly. Just be yourself in front of the canvass." Sam shook his head with his smile plastered on his lips.

"Wait, I'll set up your materials." 

Upon saying so, I stood up from his lap and watched him prepare a seat and a canvass right next to him. Sam asked Fabian to set his materials for him. But now, Sam was personally setting mine himself. It may be small, but I find it sweet.

"Sit here, my muse." Sam beckoned, pointing his chin towards the stool right next to him.

As instructed, I did what I was told. I observed him picking up a variety of brushes and paints.

"I didn't use brushes in some of my paintings, only if I need minor details. You can use brush or your fingers to have a feel of the canvass…" Sam explained as he kept putting a small portion of colors on the oil paint palette.

I listened to him carefully. My eyes never left him as he explained how to paint. He made it sound easy, easing my worries.

"Here. Try it." After a while, Sam offered me the color palette. "Come on."

I nodded and took it. Sam then explained a bit of the basics. Could I make it?

"Silly. Why do you look so nervous?" In the middle of his explanation, Sam chuckled. "Painting is simply expressing yourself. We're not competing. I just want your work alongside mine."

Sam grinned, pinching my cheek that left a charcoal stain on it. With his enthusiasm, I took a leap of faith and put the first color on my canvass.

Mysteriously, that first color gave me a sense of glee. Before I know it, I added more colors, thinking of making a gigantic and colorful daisy.

In the middle of our work, I glanced at Sam. I ignored the naked woman on his canvass and focused on him.

Biting my lip, I raised my brush and stroke his cheek to get his attention. It worked.

Sam furrowed his brows and turned his head to me. I hid my urge to giggle seeing his expression and pointed at my canvass using my brush.

"Look, Sam. I made a giant flower."