The Duke's Passion

'It seems I found myself a wife.'

The side of my lips stretched even broader when she froze, turning her head in my direction. The light from the match died, but she didn't speak a word. She didn't need to, as the horror on her face already told me many things. Well, that didn't matter. I already decided, so whether or not she liked it, I'll be her husband.

"Aren't you going to light that? I've seen them use it at home, it's quite interesting how they work." I broke my long silence to bring her back from wherever her mind was drifting to. She said nothing, but she still lit up the match and the lamp.

"What an interesting invention!" I exclaimed to cheer her up, but she just looked at me, wide-eyed. So I asked her, "you looked frightened. Why?"

She was still staring as her lower lip trembled as they parted. "If you're going to kill me, just get it over with already."

"Hmm?" — what the hell was this woman thinking right now? I felt more terrified at her thoughts at the moment since I wouldn't be able to defend myself if she just let that head of hers work on its own. It would go into overdrive and her brain would die! She couldn't die like that!

"Aren't you here to kill me?" she asked in a shaking voice.

"What gave you that impression?" I leaned forward, resting my arms on the edge of the table. "I came here because it's peaceful. My house is rather bustling and I prefer quiet places."

Lies. I came here to award her for accompanying me, but I changed my mind. I would reward her with my body. I mean, marrying me would also give her a luxurious life and she would gain the title of the duchess. Gaining a husband wasn't a bad idea as well. She wouldn't refuse that, would she?

"I… I see."

A sigh slipped past my lips while staring at her. Well, I guessed I had to tell her I planned to change her life, so she stopped shaking in fear and replaced it with happiness. She would surely embrace me while thanking me repeatedly. I laughed at the thought.

"Of course, I came here for a reason." I chuckled as I prepared myself to confess. But just as I did, this woman suddenly sprinted away. Good lord! Did she think she could outrun a vampire? Come on... I could already imagine her being on the last page while I was simply on the first. Why won't she listen to me first?

I rolled my eyes as I dragged myself up. Fine. If she didn't want to listen, I would also cut the formalities and just do the goddamn hell I wanted. Goodness... this little lamb. What a piece of work. I picked up the lamp she dropped as it would cause a fire. Rufus and Fabian would kill me if they assume I started it.

In a blink, I bolted towards her figure and caught her wrist, spinning her around to face me. The side of my lips curled up, sizing her up close. God damn it. I want to undress her right here and now and take her right away.

I was drawn to her the first time I laid my eyes on her. The more I looked at her, the more this feeling grew in me. An atrocious desire I never felt before. It had been a while when I desired something and I never fancied someone, so I didn't know what to do with it. But what I was certain of was, if I let this woman go tonight, this kingdom would pay a huge price.

I already knew this woman's effect on me was dangerous. I already knew she would hold a power that would make me go down on my knees. But I still wanted her. This dark desire was growing by the second every time her pulse on her wrist pulsate.

I wanted her; I repeated in my head. Nothing but this woman. And that... was when this dark desire mutated, as I also thought I would make her want me to the point she wouldn't mind my rotting body lying next to her.

"Why are you running, silly? Will you marry me?"

'You are mine, Lilou.' — were the words I meant by that proposal.

But what I didn't know was she was more than the dangers she carried. Lilou would be someone I would trade my life for, the woman who I will love in this long life and all other lifetimes, and the person who would love me just as intensely — just as passionately.

What I didn't know while writing this entry years ago was... Lilou would become the passion my heart would follow and pursue.

The Duke's Passion.

The Emperor's only empress.

The mother of my children.

And Samael's dearest wife.

God... I love her. And I will admit, again and again, I am one lucky man to love and get loved back by this woman.

**

My eyes softened as I read the additions he wrote years later. My hand brushed the title he gave me, 'Samael's dearest wife.' All noble titles I carried: the duchess of Grimsbanne, a member of the Divine Order, the bearer of Lakresha, the empire's only moon, paled compared to this one.

"That is my favorite title, Sam," I whispered gently. "Samael's dearest wife."

"Love?" I turned my head in the door's direction, catching Sam standing by the door with a confused expression plastered across his face. When his eyes fell on the book on my lap, they dilated as he hastily approached me.

"Love!" he gasped, squatting down in front of me while darting his eyes from the book to my face. "How can you --"

He didn't finish his sentence as I suddenly wrapped my limbs around his neck. "I love you, Sam," I whispered with a smile, feeling his back freeze for a moment.

"Will you marry me?" I proposed with the same tone. "In case you don't know what I mean by that, that means... you are mine, Samael."

"Goodness..." Sam carefully planted his palm on my back as he rested his forehead on top of my head. "Yes..." he breathed out, pulling my body closer to him.

"I will marry you, as many times as you want, at any time of the day, and at any place you want."

"Mhm." My eyes softened as I leaned the side of my head against him. "Then, that's settled."

We embraced each other like that; me slumping on the floor with Sam crouching. But I never felt so comfortable.

This man was my home. The calm I needed.

He was the Duke, a peasant adored.

The emperor, a housewife, was thankful for.

The father of my wonderful children.

And Lilou's beloved husband.

We had a long, chaotic story, but I was glad that in the end, we were still together. I loved him more than a second ago, and I knew he would beat that, as he loved me more than a millisecond ago.

"God, I'm lucky," I whispered in his ears. "Thank you for loving me, Sam. I look forward to many millennia with you."

"Don't get tired of me."

"Never."

Sam drew back and narrowed his eyes. "Sure?" his lips curled evilly, and I knew what he suddenly wanted.

"Uhh... hey!" I squealed a second later because Sam suddenly lifted me up and swiftly carried me in his arms. I clutched his chest on instinct, looking up at him, wide-eyed.

Sam gazed down at me with a smug grin. "We should do our best, so Sunny and Law will have more playmates." He chuckled evilly, carrying me out of the office while I slapped his chest, telling him it was too early for that. But he didn't stop. Instead, he bent his head over and claimed my lips, shutting me up.

I glared at him before and bit his lower lip, circling my arms around his neck and indulging in the scalding heat of his love.

It was a long journey full of twists and turns, heartaches and laughter, good and bad memories, discoveries, and unanswered questions. Even so, it was worth it.

The hell we went through, I would go through that again just to be with him. Because... Sam, my husband, my friend, my ally, my partner in crime, the father of my children, my one and only love, was worth it.

He was worth fighting for. Sam was worth dying for. And I don't have regrets about loving him.

"Ah... bloody hell..." I flinched when I heard Yul's voice before us. Sam and I looked ahead, seeing Yulis standing in the same hallway. Staring at us with a dead expression.

"This is too early for that!" He clicked his tongue and stormed away grumpily. "God, my eyes!"

I gazed at Sam, and he looked back at me with the same expression I bore. After a second, we both laughed and resumed kissing each other, resigning to our room early today.

"I somehow feel bad for him," he whispered into my mouth and I giggled against his lips.

"Your fault. You can't wait."

"Well, whatever." Sam grinned, brushing his nose against mine. "We're married forever."

"Oh, Sam...!"

Sam continued to carry me back to our room, kissing me in between while I kissed him back.

We may face many challenges in the future, but as long as we were alive, we would face them together head-on. And, like usual, we would come out of those problems as stronger individuals with a stronger love for each other.

Until then… this would be our little happy ending for now.

-- THE END --?

Hello everyone! Phew! I actually don't know what to say. I'm still tearing up while writing the end of The Duke's Passion. For nine continuous months I was writing TDP, it also grew on me. Writing TDP had become a part of my daily life and writing THE END gave me mixed emotions.

Of course, I was satisfied to finish a story, but... it's hard to let it go. Every day, I look forward to writing each chapter and use every bit of my brain cells for the story to make sense. It taught me a lot, especially discipline as a person and as a writer, it made me want to grow more.

As I read the initial chapters of The Duke's Passion, I really appreciated that YOU made it to the end, regardless of the errors. It was a rollercoaster story and definitely not the perfect one out there, but here you are, with me. Thank you for supporting The Duke's Passion until the end and supporting my work.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

You don't know how your supports means a lot to me, really. It was a pleasant journey with you all — a memorable journey, for sure. *smiles* I hope to see you all in my other works as well. ^^

AUTHOR's OTHER WORKS:

Villainess for the Devil - under-revision (The first volume completed)

True Alpha's Chosen Mate - ongoing

The Tyrant's Pet - ongoing

A Merchant in Trouble - ongoing (Male Genre)

PS. EPILOGUE AND SIDE STORIES WILL STILL BE RELEASED AFTER THIS.. SO, DON'T WORRY. ;)