In the end, the Duke solved my dilemma on his own. He stayed with me, in the bed, and he couldn’t help but take the opportunity to embrace me tightly.

He dragged me in his arms. To keep me warm, he said. However, he didn’t take advantage of his strength to force himself on me: he just slept with his head on my shoulder.

His hands did wander on my body until he found a comfortable position. Yet, his touch was gentle and careful, nothing to do with the sensual caresses of a while before.

I fell asleep late in the night when I got used to the Duke’s presence. So, I wasn’t surprised when I woke up alone in bed.

What surprised me the most, though, was that the Duke didn’t leave the room. He was standing near the chimney, lighting a fire.

I turned in the bed and decided to sleep some more. I closed my eyes and cuddled under the covers.

When I open my eyes for the second time, the Duke is still there. He’s sitting on the sofa, drinking my morning tea once again. This time, though, there is a second cup and honey on the table and some cookies.

I get up and reach him, considering how close to the Duke to sit. In the end, I lay my bottom on the sofa, far enough to be sure that any part of my body won’t brush against the Duke by chance.

«Good morning, Alexander,» I greet him. I call him by name since the Duke was so obedient last night. Also, I managed to rest well for the first time since I moved here, and I suspect it’s because I didn’t suffer from the cold. This man does have many dark sides, but his body temperature makes up from some of them.

«Good morning, Theodora,» he replies, smiling tenderly.

This gives me an idea. If my husband’s mood is influenced so much by me calling his name, can I try to train him with my tricks? Other than making the Duke fall in love with me, isn’t it a good idea to show him what he gains when he’s well behaved?

«Thank you for last night,» I whisper and kiss his cheek. «You were very understanding with me.»

At first, he doesn’t show any reaction. He stares at me, considering my words and expression. I try to look as sincere as I can. It’s less challenging than expected because I’m sincerely glad that he didn’t stubbornly continue with his intentions.

Then, he relaxes on the sofa and crooks his mouth, probably looking for a way to make me act like this again.

In the end, he sighs and grabs a cookie from the table.

«Eat something,» he orders and offers me the cookie.

I bite the sweet and crunch for a while, not moving my eyes from him.

«Next week, I won’t throw a tantrum like this,» I promise.

In the end, I can’t avoid him forever, or he’ll look for other women.

«My Duchess can throw as many tantrums as she wants, as long as she doesn’t endanger her health.»

I knew it. The Duke doesn’t care if I’m spoiled or a vixen, he just wants me to stay by his side.

«You shouldn’t be so tolerant,» I point out.

«Is my Duchess asking for punishment for her harsh rejections?»

«I’m not asking for anything. I just remind you that you’re a Duke and an older cousin of the Emperor. You can’t let people treat you the way I do.»

«Don’t worry, my dear. You’re the only one allowed to treat me in that way. Anyone else would have his head rolling by now.»

I gulp surprised.

«Is it a threat?» I inquire, confused. This is so different from what I was expecting.

«Oh, no. Not to you, Theodora. I already told you that you can play with me the way you want. I won’t break my promise.»

The problem is that punishment doesn’t look too bad, right now. As long as it doesn’t require my head rolling.

I swallow, trying to hide my complicated state of mind.

I’ve never felt this way, in all my life. I’m so confused that I’m starting to mix my feelings altogether.

Maybe, it’s my sense of guilt for messing with a person’s feelings. No matter what he did to me, are my actions really justified?

I bite my lip and look at the teacup. I stretch out my hand and take a sip. The liquid is warm, so I drink in silence, trying to decipher my reactions.

«I was wondering,» the Duke continues, smiling at my lost expression, «does my Duchess know some exotic language?»

«What language in particular?» I utter, surprised. Why this question, so suddenly?

I follow the Duke’s gaze, and I find the paper I wrote a few days ago. My plans for the future are all there. My intention of transforming the Duke into my puppet, the escape route to use in case of necessity… There is so much compromising material on that single piece of paper!

I stop breathing for a while, before remembering that no one in the whole world can read that. Not even my brother. That is my own personal language.

«I was trying to remember the signs people use in the far north, but it’s rather difficult. I haven’t learned them, so I don’t know how they work,» I shrug.

«This looks like a structured text. Are you sure you don’t remember?»

«I saw it somewhere, and I tried to copy it from my memories.»

«Where?»

«The picture of a rock…» I say. The northern populations use to write on big stones, it’s some kind of ritual. They have shamans, rather than priests, that perform magic. It was so interesting for the nine-year-old me. I couldn’t make sense of those scribbles, but I took inspiration.

With some luck, the Duke knows less than me about those.

«Oh, and was a table on that rock as well?»

I widen my eyes.

«A table?» I ask, cursing myself for being so stupid.

«Sure, look here!» he points at the centre. «Doesn’t it look like a double-entry table to you, my Duchess?»

I follow his finger and nod, pretending to be noticing it right now.

Damn it, how can a person be so smart? Maybe, I should reconsider transforming him into my puppet. It would take too much work from my side.

If he can see the pattern in an unknown alphabet, then he will find out my intentions in no time.

«You’re right, my Duke. I always thought that they had a strange way to align symbols, and it turns out there’s a reason for it!»

I smile at him, and when he smiles back, I finally relax on the sofa.