The Duke's Passion

When I followed Fabian, Sam remained with the Remington. I kept tilting my head from side to side, glancing at Fabian's back constantly.

My lips parted, but no words came out. I'd ask Sam instead.

Soon, we reached outside the mansion. Wow… the Remington's mansion was twice as huge as Sam's. 

The knights were already outside, and so was our carriage. As we approached them, I thought about something.

"Mister Fabian?" I called out, furrowing my brows.

Fabian looked back at me. "Yes, my lady?"

"Now that I think about it, why did Sir Rufus left behind in Grimsbanne? Shouldn't he supposed to escort his grace?" I asked.

We stopped in front of the carriage's door. Slowly, Fabian faced me with his usual smile.

That's right. I forgot to ask this question yesterday. But now that I saw the knights waiting for us outside the mansion, I remembered this question.

"Because he needed to watch over Grimsbanne while the Duke is not around." 

"Oh…" I nodded in understanding. The last time Sam went to the Capital, schemes had put Grimsbanne in peril. Doing precautionary measures now just made sense.

"So you came to escort the duke instead?" I perked up, throwing another question at him.

Although I didn't want to judge Fabian, but wasn't he a butler? How would he protect the Duke?

"No, my lady. I came with you as your personal attendant." Fabian reminded me.

Right. He already told me that. How could I forget?

"The Duke will soon follow us. Please wait for him inside, my lady." Fabian beckoned.

I glanced back at the mansion for the last time. As I looked at its beautiful structure, a sigh slipped past my lips.

This mansion and the Duke's mansion might not appear the same from the outside. However, both mansions emanated gloom if one stared at it.

"I guess wealth is not enough to fill the emptiness in a vampire, huh?" I mumbled, without realizing it.

"No material things can't fill that void in a vampire's world, my lady." Only I realized I spoke my thoughts aloud when Fabian answered.

But well, I could tell anything to Fabian, and he wouldn't judge it.

"So, why are the vampires fighting for material things if it won't fill that void?" I queried once again.

The King had done everything to secure his throne. The Remington gathered their wealth despite the sufferings of their people. Most vampires I've seen indulged themselves in luxury; expensive dresses, jewelries, and lavish lifestyle.

I thought those were their ultimate goal in life to maintain their lifestyle. But now, with a different perspective, it didn't look like it.

"Because we're all slaves into something which drives us to live, my lady." Fabian answered me politely. "I'm not a noble vampire, but to what I see it, it is their only means to fill that void."

"Slaves into something…"

"Lord Anton's method was to be the wealthiest man in the Heart's Kingdom. But to maintain that wealth, he had to exploit more. And that keeps him busy for hundreds of years." Fabian elaborated for me to understand.

He didn't need to. I already understood his point.

But what was interesting was how Fabian worded his previous remarks. We're just slaves.

And this quick journey in Whistlebird had proved that argument. And for that reason, everyone was just pitiful. 

"I guess there's only a few nobles in this kingdom." I smiled and shifted my gaze to Fabian.

He smiled back and chuckled. "You're one of them, my lady."

"No, I'm not." I shook my head lightly as I pivoted on my heel, facing the carriage's door. "I'm also a slave. The happiest and the willing slave of the Duke of Grimsbanne."

I shot Fabian a grin. He replied with a brighter smile before assisting me inside the carriage.

It didn't take long when Sam and Noah exited the mansion. Sam was walking ahead of Noah. I watched them through the window as the two approached. 

When they reached the carriage, Sam faced Noah. "Don't worry about the King. I'll tell him about what happened here."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Noah placed his palm on his chest and bowed.

Sam nodded before he turned around and trudged towards the carriage. However, just as he opened the door of the carriage, I heard Noah exclaim.

"Your highness!" Sam turned around, raising his brow upon Noah's call. "The Remington will support you if you plan to…"

"No." Sam halted Noah's words. "I only meddled in this town's affair because of my good friend Alfie. What you plan to do in Whistlebird hereafter is none of my business."

Sam remarked solemnly. He then hitched inside.

When Sam entered the carriage, I stared at him in silence. 

"What?" He asked, finding his comfort position on his seat.

Slowly, the corner of my lips stretched into a smile. My eyelashes fluttered rapidly.

  And the carriage started moving.

"What?" Still puzzled, Sam leaned back as he gazed at me in disbelief.

"Nothing." I shook my head, but I couldn't hide the grin on my lips. 

Sam put his finger up in front of him and said, "My love, that expression of yours tells me it's not nothing. And it's quite terrifying, Lilove."

My traitorous chuckle escaped my lips. I then pursed my lips in a thin line and cleared my throat.

"So what is it?" He asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"I just realize I'm a slave." I confessed.

"Well, that doesn't sound like a good news, Love."

"It's not?" I asked. "How could that be?"

Sam scratched his temple in distress. Why would he look so distressed about what something I'm happy about?

"You're starting to worry me, love." Sam mumbled with a sigh. 

I chuckled, cupping my cheek in delight. "I love you."

Sam flinched, which made me happy even more. His expression told me he didn't expect to hear that right now.

"What did Fabian tell you?" Yet Sam remained suspicious.

But I ignored it. Although being a slave truly was terrible, I didn't mind if my master was him.

"Nothing." I chuckled as I shook my head. "Care to share what happened to the Remington, master?"

I said that to divert his attention from me. However, Sam's cheek suddenly reddened.

"Master?" He gasped, fanning himself. "Darling, be careful with your words. Goodness… we're still in the mansion's vicinity and we might stay for a little while if you continue this."

"Hehehe…"

"I feel so sensitive. Goodness. Am I pregnant?" Sam mumbled as he opened the window for some air.