The Duke's Passion

Chapter 625  A word of advice

"Are you new here? It's the first time I've seen such a beautiful lady and a handsome man in Monarey."

Penny gazed at her new friends named Lala and Sammy. Since these guests in the pub were friendly, it didn't take long when Penny and the two started talking as if they were friends for a long time already. "We're visiting his brother and nephew." Lilou pointed at Samael while keeping her eyes on Penny. She was still sandwiched between Samael and Penny.

"Oh..." Penny rocked her head as her lips formed an o-shape. Her eyes veered at Samael, who shrugged his shoulder.

"It's more like her brother and nephew since they care more about her than me." He rolled his eyes while taking Peter's attention behind the bar counter for another glass. "Not that I really care."

"No wonder you don't look like locals here." Lilou chuckled as Penny was too honest and always spoke her mind. "So, let me guess, you're from the capital?"

"Well... yes." Lilou smiled, cupping her cheek with her palm. "And you? Are you a local here?"

"Err... you can say that. Ha ha."

"She's not." Penny froze when Samael commented before taking a drink. But he nearly choked when Lilou suddenly elbowed his side a bit hard. "My love, I'm just saying what I think!" he coughed, wiping his lips with the back of his fist. "It's not like — ah! Alright. I'm sorry, I'm wrong."

Lilou smiled after elbowing Samael once again and then shifted her attention to Penny. "Sorry about that. My husband is a bit carefree and blunt."

"Hehe. It's fine, Miss Lala. It's not like Sir Sammy is lying. I'm not born in this place, but I've been staying here for a while now." Penny waved both her hands as she didn't want these two to argue because of her. "It's not like I am not planning to leave Monarey once opportunity strikes."

Penny's eyes lowered, eyes glinting with bitterness. Lilou and Samael had noticed the conflict in her eyes, raising both their brows.

"Why would you leave?" when he couldn't contain himself anymore, Samael probed. This time, Lilou didn't stop him because she was also curious. To them, although Penny didn't say she owned the pub and was leading a group of people, they already knew a thing or two about them. With their brief interaction with Penny, they could confidently say she was a good person. Not pure, but she had a big heart. Claude would be sad if they left Monarey. "Well... because that's just how it is." Penny shrugged and raised her eyes at the two of them, closed-lipped. "I'm... actually following someone because he had a debt he must pay. I'm struggling now because I was left broke because of it."

"Hah. That's weird. If he already ran away, that means your money is already gone and he will not return it." Samael pivoted on his stool to face his wife. Meanwhile, Lilou straightened her back so Samael could see Penny eye to eye. "You're just exhausting yourself. I'm not the person to talk about this. But in my experience, I'd rather use that energy to gain what I lost than chase after the person who took it," he continued in the same nonchalant tone, keeping everything within the topic but could also apply in other situations. "Unless it's worth the time and energy. Then, by all means, chase after it to the ends of the world."

The side of Lilou's lips curled up as she glanced at him, seeing Samael winked at her. Meanwhile, Penny lowered her gaze for a bit to contemplate his words.

"Unless it is worth it, huh?" she muttered, relating his words to what kept her awake last night. "Penny, correct?" she lifted her head at Samael's question. "I don't know you, but if someone stole my money, clothes, accessories, I don't care. I can earn them back. Even when someone spilled a drink all over me, or spews an insult right in front of my face, I'll just shrug it off. They're not worth my attention, much less my time."

He paused, cupping his cheek while his eyes were on Lilou. He raised a hand, tucking her hazel hair behind her ear that made Lilou look at him. "But if someone stole my wife or insult her, I do not mind burning the world." His eyes suddenly pooled with love and affection before shifting it to Penny. "Because for me, she's more than worth fighting and dying for."

"Oh, Sam..." Lilou smiled gently, eyelashes fluttering. He smiled and winked and then looked at Penny. "Was the thing he stole from you is something you cannot give up? Making decisions, especially big ones, is never easy. Sometimes, you even have to sacrifice a piece of your heart. You just got to live with it for the rest of your life."

Penny stared at Samael in silence before a weary smile turned up on her face. For her, Samael and Lilou felt like normal vampires. But the more he looked at Samael, she couldn't shrug off this feeling that he was more than what meets the eyes. Was a normal vampire could be this intimidating even without trying? Either way, Penny didn't dwell on the thought that long. Her mind lingered more on the words he spewed. Was it worth it? She asked herself. Could she give up the fine life this guild had led just to deal with what happened in the past?

"Penny," Lilou called, reaching for Penny's hand and holding them gently. "I'm sure whatever decision you will come up with, whether or not to chase after that thief, you will be fine. I think you're an amazing young lady. How I wish I have a sister like you."

"Miss Lala." Penny breathed out, darting her eyes between these two lovebirds. Both of them looked so in love with each other, but more than that, they looked so peaceful. How she longed to have such peaceful eyes. "Thank you, Sir Sammy and Miss Lala." She smiled brightly as her muddled thoughts cleared up. "Do you want more drinks? It's on me." "Well, free things are always the best. Give me ten glasses of whiskey, please."

"Sam, have some shame, will you?" Lilou glared at him before smiling at Penny helplessly. "Sorry about that. He always acts like a walking joke, but he's not always like this."

Penny chuckled while staring at her. "Miss Lala, you don't seem very convince about that."