The Duke's Passion

Samael returned with Fabian and a few servants carrying towels and bowl of water. After putting everything in place, Samael ordered them to leave.

He then started wiping my ankle with a damp and cold small cloth. The light touches made me wince in pain, and I instinctively withdrew my foot, but he held on it.

"Stay still. It'll hurt a little, but it'll relieve the pain, eventually." Without glancing at me, Samael uttered.

I pursed my lips in a thin line, watching him damp my ankle gently. I darted my gaze from his hands on my ankle to his solemn countenance.

"I'm sorry I got carried away and led to this."

I expressed, believing I was giving him unnecessary worries and chore. Although he volunteered to tend to my sprained ankle, I still felt shamed.

I couldn't truly blame him. He didn't ask me to jump on the bed, nor I should have done it since I was merely a guest.

I failed to conduct myself properly and got excited like a kid.

After dropping my apologies, Samael didn't reply. He kept silent, so I shut my mouth as well.

Was he mad? Obviously, he would be. Was he regretting his decisions now?

Not that it would change anything whether he changed his mind. Still, a part of me felt disappointed at myself.

I had all reasons to fear him. He's not just a vampire, but a pure-blooded one. But he never truly harmed me since day one.

Now that I was thinking thoroughly about it, I realized he was more lenient than Rufus. Samael never truly looked down on me, although he was way too blunt.

I bit my lower lip again. My hands on my lap clasped my dress tightly.

"Are you angry, milord?" fre𝙚𝓌𝒆𝚋noѵel.c𝚘m

I asked, peeking at him who was still occupied relieving the pain in my ankle. He was successful as the pain subsided and my ankle felt numb.

His caring and gentle hands did magic. I never thought he could relieve the pain of a sprained ankle in a brief span of time.

"Yes," Still had his attention on my ankle, he answered.

"I won't do it again." I replied under my breath.

I was used to seeing him do whatever he wanted. And I've also witnessed how he carried himself with dignity in front of his people.

But I've never seen him this mad. Although it was not like what I had expected, his silence was enough for me to reflect on my action.

"I'm not mad that you jumped on the bed and sprained your ankle. Knowing you, it would be more odd if you didn't do what you did."

Suddenly, Samael spoke again and clarified. I raised my gaze to him, furrowing my brows.

He's not angry because of that?

Samael slowly raised his head, and his gaze immediately locked with mine. With his arm over his knee, he sighed.

"I'm just worried what could have happened if I didn't come and check on you." He explained with a sigh.

I kept silent, dropping my gaze to my knuckles.

"Also, you're on a vampire's turf, Lil. If I didn't catch you and you bled, that is akin to inciting their hunger."

He added, enlightening me of the fact I have forgotten to consider.

"Will they kill me?" Before I knew it, I already asked as I raised my gaze again.

"No?" Samael arched his right brow. "But I don't like them lusting over you."

"Huh?"

Upon hearing his last remarks, I blinked my eyes as if it would help my hearing. Did I hear him correct or my ears were deceiving me?

"People here don't drink human blood. But, the scent of something spectacular is hard to resist." Samael uttered, shaking his head lightly.

"You don't know how refreshing and inciting your blood smells like, Lil."

"But, you don't…" I cleared my throat as I pursed my lips. "You had a taste of it, but still alright."

I expressed. My eyes skimmed through his countenance.

Not that I didn't believe his claims per se. It was just that I've inflicted countless of minor injuries in the past.

However, I was never targeted by a vampire. I often thought how miraculous it was to survive at this age without encountering those monsters.

"That's because I chose you over blood." Samael shrugged. He was staring dead in the eye.

Chose me over blood…?

After uttering his last remarks, Samael shook his head once again. He then continued on tending on my ankle while neither of us spoke again.

When Samael finished bandaging my ankle, he told me to take a rest, and he left. Upon opening the door, two maidservants was already standing outside.

I heard him instruct them to change my clothes before he left. Just like they were told, the maidservants helped me change my attire to a comfortable night dress.

The maidservants then told me if I needed help, they were just outside before they left me alone. Laying on the bed, I stared at the ceiling with myriads of thoughts in my mind.

"Chose me over blood?" I whispered.

Was it truly hard to understand a sentence? Obviously, it was not.

But… I didn't want to have a misconception of everything. While I was aware of Samael's plan, my heart was slowly beating in the wrong rhythm.

I didn't want to take everything to the heart. I've been doing a good job of denying what my heart was telling me.

However, the more he showed me kindness… the more it was getting harder to keep myself clear-headed.

"Don't, Lilou. Don't even think about it." I whispered, slapping my cheek lightly to get a hold of myself.

I did everything I could to throw all the thoughts in the back of my head. Tossing my body from side to side until I eventually fell asleep.

*

Hours after Lilou fell asleep, Samael was back at the bedchambers. He perched on the edge of the mattress, his palm on the soft surface of the bed.

Staring at Lilou's sleeping visage, Samael chuckled as she was sleeping like a log. His hand brushed the strand of hair falling on her face, smiling subtly.

"You worry me too much, silly."