The Duke's Passion

Chapter 469 - I Kid. I Kid.

I conversed with Fabian a little longer until he had to excuse himself. After he left, I enjoyed the hot chocolate while in Sam's embrace. I thought the reason I didn't feel tired despite the exhausting exercise last night was that I had been in slumber.

I arched a brow when Sam moved after some time, watching his long eyelashes flutter. The side of my lips curled up as his eyes shifted to me.

"Good morning, my husband," I greeted softly while planting a kiss on his cheek. Sam grunted, tightening his embrace.

"So warm," he murmured while brushing the apex of his nose against my shoulder. "It feels good."

"Sam." My eyes softened as he looked like a clingy child at the moment. "Law is awake by now. We should hurry before he sees us like this."

Sam frowned as he let out a sigh. "I will lock the door."

"Sam."

"But I missed you so much," he argued in a quiet voice, hugging me even tighter. I could not help but chuckle. My husband had always been dashing and everything but adorable. So, seeing this side of him warmed up my heart.

"Sam, I'd like to help with our son's birthday preparation. Can I do that?"

"Mhm. Sure."

"But I still need your help." It did not surprise me how quickly he agreed, but I needed his guidance. It was the first time I would take part in a child's birthday party, so I didn't have any idea what to do.

"Sure." Sam planted a quick peck on my shoulder. "Fabian will also transfer the matters of the estate to you. Whenever you are ready, just tell him."

I pressed my lips into a thin line. Fabian had mentioned this earlier, but I told him to take it slowly.

"Are we inviting our family?" I inquired after a brief silence, keeping my focus on the original subject. He kept quiet for a while and turned his head to me with his cheek on my shoulder.

"I planned to."

I nodded with a smile. "Had they been attending Law's birthday in the past?"

"Silvia and Yul had visited the south before, so Law knows about them."

"That's great then."

"You look like you're relieved." Sam pointed out without taking his pair of lazy eyes away. "Those two will stop at nothing to meet their nephew. It's not like I can hide them if they suddenly show up in here."

A chuckle slipped past my lips, imaging that Yul and Silvia were those types of people. It was impossible that they would allow their existence to be a secret from our son.

"Goodness... I missed them," I blurted out, only to wince as he suddenly bit my shoulder. A frown instantly appeared on my face as I glared at him. Sam feigned innocent and kissed the area he bit.

"I'm jealous. You miss everyone, but you run away from me the moment you wake up," he mumbled dejectedly, making me let out a deep exhale.

"You know the reason."

"Even so, I'm thinking of changing my mind." Sam buried his face in my shoulder and embraced me securely. "I'll just keep you all for myself."

A sigh slipped past my lips as I leaned forward to kiss him. "There, there. I love you, my husband."

"You always do this to me." His frown grew worse, but he looked more accepting.

"My husband, I appreciate your affection but we have many things to do." I giggled as I kissed him for the fifth time. "Law will be displeased if we don't join in for breakfast."

Sam remained silent. He rested his forehead on my shoulder while brushing my shoulder with his knuckles. When he broke his silence, my brows rose.

"I'll have to return to the capital after Law's birthday," he said solemnly, lifting his head up and setting his eyes on me. "Is that alright with you?"

For a moment, I lost my voice to answer. He was going back to the capital? I shouldn't be surprised about this since he was the emperor. However, I felt a little... disheartened by the thought of separating from him.

"I was thinking of taking you and Law to the capital, but..."

"Alright." I didn't let him finish and sported a smile. "You worry that the people in the capital will mess with Law, right? I understand, Sam. Don't worry. I will wait for you."

Sam and I looked at each other for a moment before he sighed. He buried his face in my shoulder once again, tightening his embrace before loosening it a little.

"I don't want to go, though," he confessed in a quiet voice. "But the people in the capital are starting to annoy me with their request to see me prepare for the world summit."

"World summit?"

"It's a... well, a gathering between monarchs from across the world that happens every ten years. It's mostly to talk about peace and all none sense," Sam explained nonchalantly as if it wasn't as important as what it sounded like. "I don't want to go."

"Sam." I looked at him solemnly. "You're the emperor now. You have to do as much as this, don't you think?"

"But once it started, I'll be away for months."

"And we will wait for you." I smiled as I wrapped my arms around him. "You've worked hard to bring peace in this empire. Hence, you don't have to worry."

"Can't help it."

"Come on, love. It won't be that bad, right?" I shook him lightly, making the both of us sway. "I'll become very busy and work hard to manage the estate."

Sam cast me a dead look. "You won't be busy managing the estate, Lilou."

"Fabian told me about the invitations you've been receiving from the noble houses. Although the Roux Family didn't have a noble status, we still need friendly relations in the high society, don't you think?" my brow arched as the side of my lips curled into a smirk. Sam narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"You don't... socialize, Lilou," he stated a fact and I let out a dry cough. "The only time you socialized has all ended in a massacre."

"My husband, you change... at least, trying. How can you be so judgemental?" I gasped in disbelief while he chortled in response. "I can always learn, alright? It's not like this is the capital."

"Alright, alright. If that is what you say. Just take Fabian so he can clean up the bodies — ack!"

I didn't let him finish his joke as I bit his shoulder like an angry dog before slapping it. "How could you?"

"I kid. I kid."

"Just you watch Samael. Our son will not feel ashamed not having a noble status," I asserted with a determined heart, glaring daggers at him.

Sam chuckled as he rocked his head, still looking unconvinced, which only fueled my determination.. We spent an hour just us talking about random things without knowing our little one was already busy digging his father's grave in the back garden.