The Duke's Passion

Chapter 699  I can take you to heaven

Lilou didn't know how bad the border was until they reached it. Scattered around the border of the land of Karo were soldiers. Under the blazing sun, sand formed a fog.

"Lilou," Samael called, offering his hand to her as he stood beside the horse.

"Uh, ye —" she coughed even before she could finish a sentence, holding her breath as she clasped his hand. As soon as she jumped and landed on the ground, she fanned in front of her to breathe a little. The dust was too much since everyone was just running or jogging, ambling up the dirt road without a care for others. But then again, the soldiers would just jump so high to the top of the borders, so they wouldn't need to care. Everyone was capable vampires — no care for a human visitor like her.

"Uh… wait." Her brows rose, watching him take off his cloak, which he draped over the horse. Samael then took off the shawl around his neck and then sniffed it, checking the smell meticulously.

'What is he doing?' she wondered, watching him think about it before returning her gaze.

"Smell it and see if you can take the smell." He handed the shawl, making her brows raise. "I forgot that this land is unlike the mainland and the heart's kingdom."

Lilou furrowed her brows and darted her eyes between him and the shawl in his hand. She knew what he wanted her to do with it, but it was strange for him to think its smell would bother her.

"If you know me that well, you'd understand I am a peasant." She accepted the shawl and smell it, looking back at him. 'It smells good… just like him.'

"I know, but it's not about you but me. I have a woman to impress." He shrugged before he offered, "let me help you."

"It's fine. I can — " She couldn't finish her sentence because he had already taken the shawl from her and stood in front of her.

"I know you can, but I enjoy doing things like things like this," came out a low voice, laying the shawl open and then placing it over her head. He clipped his thumb and index on its corner and then pulled it across her lower face, tucking it behind her ears.

Lilou gazed at him as he left this gap for her to see, studying his solemn expression. As she did so, her heart kept pounding against her chest and it was growing louder by the second. She was lucky the shawl was covering her face, so she didn't need to hide her flustered face.

'I'm afraid I will have a heart attack if he keeps doing things that make my heart flutter.' She flinched when he set his eyes back to her and smiled. She panicked internally. 'My heart…! Stop it!'

"Better?" he asked with a satisfied smile. "Mhm?"

She lowered her eyes and nodded. "Better."

"Then, shall we go?" he offered his hand to her, tipping his head towards the border. Lilou gazed at his eyes and that charming smile before her eyes fell on his hand.

'Why does it feel like… everything feels so familiar?' she wondered, reaching her hand to hold his hand hesitatingly. Watching his slender fingers carefully wrap around her hand made her hold him back, raising her eyes back to him.

His lips stretched even broader before guiding her with him, walking a step ahead of her while her eyes remained on his back. She was aware this place was dangerous, but looking at his back, she felt at ease.

'He has a very reliable back,' she thought and smiled, squeezing his hand before skipping a step to keep a safe distance from him. 'I feel like I'm on a date.' From the time they were riding a horse until now, Lilou had always recognized the familiarity of his presence. Knowing of the regression, she was aware they probably had done it in the past. Hence, the awareness. But even so, it made her a little giddy. But this exhilarating emotion was short-lived when Lilou and Samael stood in front of the border.

She looked up at the towering border and caught a few soldiers jumping up to it and down. She swallowed a mouthful of saliva, wondering how she would get over there.

"Was there a ladder?" she blurted out because there was no way she could jump that high.

"For?" she looked at Samael, who was standing beside her, holding her hand safely.

"For that, obviously." Lilou pointed up. "Or are we going to pass the gates? Didn't you say it's dangerous outside?"

"It is, but using a ladder is exhausting." He blinked almost innocently, tilting his head to the side.

"Then do you think I can jump that high?"

"Of course." Samael bit his tongue and averted his eyes, having this idea in mind.

She scrunched her nose up in disbelief and faced the border. "This high? Has it ever occurred to you I am — kya!" a loud squeal escaped her mouth as Samael abruptly swept her off of her feet and before she knew it, he was carrying her in a bridal style. Lilou clutched his shoulder on instinct, wide-eyed.

"I can just carry you." He smiled innocently until his eyes were squinting. "See? I had tons of services to offer. If you married me, you'll not only get a husband but also a servant."

Her eyes widened even more, as she couldn't believe he was promoting himself right now. "Wait, I —"

"Hold tight, Lilove. We'll jump… I can jump really, really high and take you to heaven." He winked, and before she could even process the hidden meaning of his words, Samael looked up and bent his knees down. Without a moment's notice, he jumped while she hid her face in his neck, holding him as if holding onto her lifeline.

THUD!

The second she felt they landed, Lilou kept her eyes shut and face buried in his neck. When she felt no movement around, she mustered enough courage to pull her head away, only to see multiple blades aimed at them.

"How dare you show yourself in here?" came a voice from ahead of them and when she turned her head to see who it was, Lilou instantly recognized those dreamy eyes.

Heliot.