The Duke's Passion

"Now this is music, Quentin. Perfect."

Zero's smile faded, glancing at the orchestra playing. He then turned his head when Lilou walked past him, smirking at him. He watched her take up the stairs to where Samael was standing, wrapping her arms around Samael's neck coquettishly. "I thought you won't come," Lilou said flirtatiously as if she hadn't seen him in a while. "Why the hell did you think I won't?" Samael humored, snaking his arm around her slim waist. "I made sure I wouldn't get late this time."

"I missed you."

"I swear Quentin doesn't have any idea of what would make this banquet perfect." Samael rolled his eyes and glared at Zero in disappointment. "Quentin, whenever you host a banquet, inviting a gorgeous lady like my wife, you should've prepared a room. In that case, you don't need to take a long journey before ripping out her clothes."

Samael huffed, shaking his head. "But whatever. I don't think you will even have the time to host an event. I'm wasting my breath on giving helpful advice." A sigh slipped past his lips, pulling Lilou closer to his body. "Darling, I don't think that is even helpful." Lilou laughed, paying with the tip of Samael's hair. "At least, not for anyone."

"Are you saying I am perverted to have such ideas?"

"I didn't say that. You did."

"Well, I'm sorry, my love. It's just so hard to resist your beauty." Samael let out a deep breath and again gazed down at Zero's vantage point. "I'm so disappointed in you."

Watching Samael complain whilst flirting with his wife, Zero's expression remained hard. But a second later, his lips curled up. As soon as his expression changed, the music also changed.

"I commend you, Samael," mused Zero, raising his hand while moving his fingers as if he was controlling something from the tip of his fingers. "I mean, you really did a great job of luring Theodore to your side."

"It's interesting, watching an insolent like you, my dearest bride, your damned son, that pale woman who looked like she needed immediate medical help, the unstable twisted earl, and the normal man in your group, sneak around my territory like rats," he continued, the music in sync with his fingers' movements. "I enjoyed watching what you people had in store for me."

Quentin's brows then rose. "Oh! I didn't see that butler, but well, I'm not expecting to watch his movements. I already guessed he was the only person who can go in and out of my territory unnoticed. Or did he even come? I heard your daughter was left on the mainland."

"Well, anyway, it was a fun two months, and I especially enjoyed your planning," he added as his lips stretched from ear to ear. "One thing I can tell you, Samael, is that your taste in music is awful. How insufferable!" "Fuck you." Samael nearly rolled his eyes, throwing his hand in disbelief. "Even your favorite composer will disagree. Stop this nonsense, Quentin. We all know you are simply going with the flow to fit the nobility, but you're no noble. Don't pretend."

Quentin laughed. "I don't pretend. I am rich!"

"You are — well, make sense." Samael nodded in agreement. "But you still have a bad taste in music — but on second thought, it's fine. I killed your favorite composer to stop his delusions, and I will kill you."

"That makes me angry." Zero's face stiffened as his tone dropped.

"You can't blame me. He was bad, and I simply did the world a favor!"

Lilou couldn't help but roll her eyes as this conversation definitely drifted to an unexpected turn. What did she expect from her husband, though? Samael wasn't the type to take things seriously in a long run. There would always be an out-of-place discussion or sudden thought in between. As the two argued about which music taste was horrible, Samael and Lilou's eyes suddenly sharpened. In a blink, Samael pulled her closer, barely dodging the arrow coming at Lilou. "That is not nice." Samael shook his head, watching a few strands of her hair fall onto the ground. But before he could say anything, red threads that were amassed to create large red threads suddenly appeared on their back. Each tip was sharp, aiming directly at Samael.

"Lakresha!" was the only thing that Samael heard before a piercing pang resonated in his ear. Samael glanced over his shoulder, catching Lilou blocking the large and sharp threads with her scythe, Lakresha. "Thank you, my love." He expressed with his hand across his chest.

"Sam, can you please focus?" Lilou rolled her eyes, pushing the large thread away with all her might. "Goodness, that was heavy! I swear, Sam, I will kill you if you keep up with that music talk!"

Samael cringed and faced Zero. "She's not sweet all the time. Don't misunderstand and take it as a sign of marriage crumbling down."

"I have accepted that to have her, I should kill you first." Zero smiled until his eyes were squinting. "Fret not. I will take care of her and make sure she will forget you, your son, and that little daughter of yours."

"Catharsis."

The moment Samael called forth his heavy sword, a surge of power filled the greenhouse. Some glasses shattered at the inbound current that circled around inside. When Samael held his sword, multiple people and guests surrounded Zero in a protective stance. "Oh, my…" Samael clicked his tongue while shaking his head in disappointment. "What a baby!" PANG!

Another loud clash was heard with Samael jumping from the terrace, only to clash against multiple people at once. In a second, multiple thuds and painful grunts were heard, crashing against the floor, which created cracks and hollow holes in it. Smoke ascended from each person who tried to stop Samael, only to fall on the floor. As the smoke thinned out, Samael's figure came into sight. "They said if people had gathered to take you down, that means you are powerful," Zero mused, not a bit surprised Samael finished a few of his people in one blow. "I'll take this as a compliment."

"Whatever makes you happy, Quentin," Samael smirked as his eyes shone a sinister glint. "Although I can say I'm simply in a hurry. So come forth and let me earn your hatred."

The corner of Zero's lips curled up and within a blink of an eye, another loud clash exploded in the air. This time, all the glasses had shattered as the fight broke out with Samael against Zero, while Lilou made sure no one would interfere. In other words, she fought the rest.

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