The Duke's Passion

693  What a dangerous game

"Sorry..."

Lilou ground her teeth and kicked the stand in the hallway. She nearly choked and immediately hunched in pain when pain crawled from her pinky toe to the very root of her scalp.

"Goodness!" she hissed, limping with one foot as she held on to the wall to keep herself from falling. "That... duke...!"

Her face was already red in anger because the more she thought about Samael's apology, the more her blood continued to boil. Of course, Lilou understood why he was apologizing. However, he kissed her without asking for permission!

Shouldn't he take responsibility for it aside from saying sorry? It was disappointing!

"Had he not thought of the effects it will do to the other person before doing whatever he wants?" she grumbled in distress before her brow arched. Lilou limped towards the window, checking the people who were there outside.

It was Tilly and Fabian.

"What are they doing there?" she wondered as Tilly was simply following Fabian while keeping a meter distance from him. Meanwhile, Fabian was carrying tools to clean the garden. It doesn't look like he was aware Tilly was following him.

"Are they lovers or what?" she mumbled and sighed deeply, biting her lower lip out of habit. Her face crumpled as she could still feel the heat of Samael's lips on her lips and how tender they were. Even the sweet taste of his tongue lingered in her mouth.

"Is this even normal?" she muttered while covering her lips, looking around to make sure no one was seeing her flustered state. "It's my first kiss, and he is acting like I'm the only one who likes it."

Bitterness filled her eyes as her frown grew uglier. Lilou shook her head as Samael's apologetic face crossed her head.

"Get a grip, Lilou!" she slapped her already flustered cheeks to clear her head. "It's not that special! That's right."

She swallowed a mouthful of saliva to stop her racing heart whenever she would think about the feeling of being kissed. Lilou raised her chin, keeping this false bravado to hide her distress.

"It's nothing special..." She nodded, convincing herself she was simply flustered because of the surprise. Nothing more, nothing less. "That's right. That's right."

Lilou took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. When she reopened her eyes, determination twinkled in her pair of emerald eyes. She balled her hand into a fist and huffed, marching through the hallway engulfed by an invisible fire.

Lilou didn't stop walking until she reached Stefan's room. As soon as she stood in front of the chancery where Stefan would usually spend most of his time, Lilou knocked on it as loud as she could.

"Lexx!" she yelled, knocking on the door hurriedly. "I'm coming in, alright?!"

She didn't even wait for him to answer as she had already barged inside. Her eyes searched the room only to catch Stefan sitting behind the desk, unfazed by her loud knockings and intrusion.

"Lexx!" she yelled once more, rushing towards the desk while he raised his head ever so slowly. She slammed her palms on the desk, watching him leisurely lean back against the chair.

"What is it that you want from me now?" he asked with a cool voice, not surprised by her explosive moods anymore.

"Kiss me." His face stiffened as her eyes blazed with determination. "Now."

Stefan coughed weakly, and he took a moment to register her abrupt and outrageous request. He raised his eyes at her and sighed quietly, seeing her flustered face.

"You want me to kiss you?" he asked, and she immediately nodded, so he raised a follow-up question. "Where?"

Her breath hitched as her mouth opened and closed like a fish. Lilou had to clear her throat with force before she straightened her back, standing straight in front of the desk.

"Here." She pointed at her lips, chin up. "Can you do it?"

"I can." His answer was quick as he leaned forward, arms on the edge. "But do you want it?"

"Yes! That's why I am asking you!"

"For?"

"Lexx! Why are you asking me such a thing?! Can you just do it?" she gasped in dismay, only to frown when he laughed weakly.

Stefan sized her up and shook his head. "Lilou, just because my brother kissed you, you will use me to confirm if it should be felt that way?" He sighed while reclining comfortably.

"Since that is the case, pay me at least ten gold bars. It's cheap, but since we've been together for months, ten golds are fine," he added with a nod.

"What?!"

"Sweetheart, you're asking for something I preserved for a long time. I can't just give my chastity for free." He arched a brow and tilted his head to the side, biting his tongue to suppress his laughter at seeing the ugly frown plastered on her face.

"I didn't even earn 1 gold coin for getting my first kiss stolen! And you're asking me ten?!" she harrumphed, even more furious at Samael, since she didn't know she could earn from it. "Lexx! Seriously?!"

"Seriously." Stefan nodded solemnly. "Give me ten golds and I will kiss you for as long as you want. But without it..." he waved his fingers with a devious smirk on his face.

"Try asking others. They might give it to you since our guests are always bored," he advised, smiling kindly to hide the mischievous glint across his eyes.

Lilou smacked her lips and huffed. "Alright!" she nodded as she remembered their guest claimed to have lived with her. That means they were close, right?

"I can't believe you put a price on your lips when I'm asking for your help." She clicked her tongue and glared daggers at him. "Tch!"

With that being said, Lilou huffed and stomped her way out while Stefan chuckled. When the door shut closed, he shook his head lightly. A deep exhale slipped past his lips before he cocked his head back, unable to focus on what he was doing before she came in.

"I would've done it if you truly want it. What a dangerous game she's playing."

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