The Duke's Passion

Chapter 696 Striking up a deal

"Your Grace!"

Lilou ran towards the vestibule of the mansion to catch up to Samael standing under the foyer. Samael looked back, lifting his brows at this misplaced excitement in her eyes. He leaned back a bit when she perked up in front of him, knitting his brows when she opened her palm between them.

"Hundred gold!" Lilou exclaimed while he tilted his head to the side. "For stealing my precious first kiss."

"A hundred gold…?"

Her excitement and resolve waned. "Was it too much…?" she asked awkwardly. "What about fifty?"

Samael blinked almost innocently, processing her words and these abrupt demands. But to her, she perceived his silence as something like a client having second thoughts. Fabian and Tilly were asking for years of her life and the other one was her organs, so fifty golds shouldn't be that much, right?

'Wait… Lexx only asked for ten, though,' she thought and bit her lip out of habit. "Twenty?"

"Lilou, you are asking for a hundred gold as repayment for that kiss?" he asked just to be clear.

She nodded, raising her chin proudly. "It's for the damages and the sort. I'm a virtuous maiden and think I should be compensated, to say the least." She then cleared her throat and laid her palm open once again.

"You're rich, so it shouldn't be a big deal for you, correct?"

"Correct." Samael rocked his head, fluttering his eyelashes ever so tenderly, taking a step forward.

"Wait —" Lilou took a step back when he took another step, panicking. "Wait. Why are you…"

Slam.

Lilou swallowed a mouthful of saliva when he slammed his palms on either side of her as her back hit the wall beside the entrance. She felt like shrinking under his gaze, looking to the side to avoid his eyes.

"What — what are you doing?" she stuttered nervously. "Haha… Your Grace, do you think intimidating me is enough to get away from your responsibility? Why you —"

"A hundred gold for a ten-second kiss. That will be six hundred golds for a minute," he calculated under his breath, lips falling slightly apart. "I hadn't counted the amount I had on the mainland and in the duchy. But it should be worth a lot — I'll give them to you."

Her eyes dilated, looking back up at him in horror. "What?"

"Although I never thought you'd ask for money for a kiss, it doesn't matter. Let me strike up a deal. I'll give you all the money and jewelry you want — even half of my lifespan or my organs — without questions asked." His eyes narrowed as he bent over until his face was only a palm length away from hers. "Just let me hold you, feel you, kiss you, and love you."

"Wait —" her breath hitched as she placed her hand on his chest to stop him from leaning closer. She could feel her heart thudding against her chest and echoing in her ear. Her eyes were shaking as she gazed back at him, pursing her lips into a thin line.

Why was he saying all this? She came to collect a debt, but she didn't expect him to offer her a deal!

Lilou studied him and saw him raise his brows, waiting for whatever she would say patiently.

"I'm not a whore…" she lowered her eyes. "I just came here to get paid for the damages…"

"And that damages are?"

She snuck a look at him and then looked away almost immediately. "For the brain… and the heart."

"Lilou." He let out a quiet sigh as his jaw tightened. "Do I disgust you enough for you to feel like earning from it would make you feel better?"

"No… I mean…" Lilou fidgeted with her fingers nervously, unable to give him the proper answer. How could she tell him it was she didn't know if liking the kiss was normal or if she should feel something else? That would kill her yet to bloom business.

She bit her lower lip, eyes teary when she gazed at him, as she felt scared of him. "It's because you didn't ask for my permission and I don't know what to do."

"Lilou…" his heart softened seeing she was on the verge of tears. The innocence she carried, which he hadn't seen for years, only tugged his conscience. Samael got used to stealing kisses from her and seducing her in broad daylight, and he forgot she wasn't as wild as when they were back on the mainland.

Lilou liked being asked. Even during their first kiss, he needed her permission to not scare her.

"I'm sorry," he expressed as he straightened his back and wrapped his hand around her. "I didn't mean to violate your personal space. I forgot where I stand. Forgive me."

But unlike his intention to soothe her before she cry, Lilou stiffened in his embrace. Her face was beet-red, seeing circles at the intimacy. Her heart was also racing at the heat enveloping her, and if he wouldn't let her go now, her head would totally explode.

Fortunately, Samael didn't hug her that long as he let her go several seconds later. Holding her bicep, he flashed her stiffed face a smile.

"Lilou, I…" his brows furrowed upon noticing her flustered face while she was looking in a different direction. "Are you… alright?"

"Hah… yes… ahah!" Lilou laughed awkwardly, standing froze on her spot, clutching her chest as her heart was breaking her ribcage. "Today is very nice. Haha. Great weather, isn't it?!"

The side of his lips curled up, biting his lower lip. She was silly. She couldn't even hide her awkwardness at the situation.

"I don't know who gave you this idea, but do you want to come with me?" he asked. "I am planning to go to the borders where Heliot was. It's dangerous, but I'm with you, so you'll be fine."

Lilou looked back at him and blinked twice. "The border?"

"Mhm. That's where our enemies are. I will go there to give Heliot some help since I am the one who brought them here anyway," he explained and then smiled. "Do you want to? To get some things off of your mind?"

Lilou hesitated for a second before she nodded. "Alright."

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