The Duke considers Kate’s words and walks to the maid who’s cleaning the carpet. He stops gazing at me in search of answers, maybe understanding that it was all a ploy.

«Were you the one that collected the food from the kitchen?» he asks in a cold tone.

The young girl lifts her head and stares at the Duke, frightened and trembling. Her eyes are wide opened and her fingers clenched on the rag she’s using to clean up the mess. I can imagine the thoughts that are passing in her mind. I felt like her a couple of times until I suddenly realised that the Duke doesn’t have ill intentions towards me.

It has been just a few days from the last time I thought I was going to die.

«I was one of the maids that did so, your grace,» she mutters, in a voice so low that I almost don’t hear her.

«Did you get it directly from the cook?»

«No, your grace. The Duchess’s handmaid gave it to us,» she continues, glancing at me in search of help. «She said that her grace has to eat the best food, not just any random dish from the kitchen.»

«Handmaid?» the Duke repeats, dumbfounded. It can’t be Kate, since she doesn’t even know where the kitchens are. I didn’t let her wander around, in fear she would end up in trouble.

«It was Patricia,» I understand. «She’s the one that spiced the pie.»

The Duke walks back to me, and he crouches at my feet. He holds my hands and kisses my fingers.

«Do you still feel ill?» he inquires.

His eyes don’t move from me, waiting for a reply. I recognise the worry I’ve already seen in his expression when I showed him the bruise for the first time. I also remember his reaction back then.

Before he has time to get up and run in search of a doctor, I tighten the clench on his hands and look at him.

«I don’t feel ill,» I say. «I’d like to change clothes, though.»

Kate moves a step in our direction, still pale but already ready for work. She’s bringing a wet towel and a new nightgown.

Alexander stops her, and he nurses me by himself. I have no energy to protest, so I let him do it. He passes me the towel and observes as I clean myself with care. Then, he takes the nightgown off and helps me wear the new one. He even ties the ribbon for me.

Once I’m clean and changed, he carries me out of the chamber.

«For tonight, you should sleep in my room,» he offers.

He turns to the girl that is still rubbing the carpet.

«Ventilate the room and finish cleaning,» he orders the maid.

She nods desperately, and, for a moment, I feel sorry for her.

«Wait,» I mumble, clenching the Duke’s shirt.

«What is it?» he asks, worried.

I turn to the young girl.

«Don’t do it yourself,» I tell her. «Call Patricia. Tell her that the Duchess needs her.»

The maid nods, secretly relieved that she doesn’t have to take care of this mess anymore.

I surround my husband’s shoulder with my arms, and I lean my head on him. He carries me to his chamber without further words.

He’s clearly pondering on what happened. When he almost fell in the trap, he didn’t look suspicious at me. It’s weird, but he at first believed that I lied about my monthlies. He didn’t consider that I could have betrayed him.

After entering his room, Alexander leans me on the bed, delicately. He tucks the covers and makes sure I’m warm. Only then, he walks to the chimney and lights a fire.

I’m a bit hungry, now that I’ve calmed down.

When Alexander sits on the bed, I crawl out of the blanket and hug him tightly. Oh my, he’s so warm!

At first, he straightens his back out of surprise. After a few seconds, though, he starts to rub my back delicately. His hands’ movements are calming him more than me, and that’s what I was aiming at.

«Is there anything left to eat?» I mutter, after a while.

«I’ll go look for something,» he sighs. «Let’s see who dares to give me something that was tampered with…»

He can’t go look for food by himself. What would the court think?

«I’m so tired,» I confess, half unintentionally.

«Resist a few days more,» the Duke replies, caressing my hair and covering my shoulders with the blanket. He pecks my forehead and tries to get up, but I stop him by clinging on his clothes.

«Don’t leave me alone,» I mutter, pouting my lips and looking at him with wet eyes. «What if someone comes in while you’re away?»

«Are you that scared?» he says, suspiciously looking at me.

I nod, even though I know very well that no one would dare to come to trouble me in the Duke’s room. Still, if I let the Duke go in search of food for me, I’ll just aliment the rumours. They already think that I’m a witch, there’s no need to deliver them any confirmation to their suspicions.

«What are you thinking about?» he continues, evidently understanding my mood.

I blink innocently and pull the Duke’s arm. He sits more comfortably in bed and leans his back on the headboard. When I’m sure he’s settled, I cuddle in his arms like a kitten.

Fortunately, he didn’t pay too much attention to the way I treated Patricia. That woman has done her best to make things difficult without expressively breaking any rule. Even if she’s a maid in the Palace, under the Emperor’s command, she’s not someone I need to fear.

I already have to accept that the man that hit me will pass unscathed. If even the servants are allowed to look down on me, then I clearly don’t have a place here. I have to be careful, though, because she was personally chosen by the Duke. I can’t afford to offend him by picking on one of his servants.

«I will ask the Emperor to throw out the maids that stood and watched while you were in danger,» Alexander says. Our thoughts are incredibly in synchrony, even though he swears he can’t read minds.

«No need,» I stop him.

He really shouldn’t put himself under the stern gaze of a spoiled teenager. I’m glad enough that he won’t retaliate if I treat Patricia harshly.

«Princess Lyland’s maid has been very professional, and now Kate is here. I don’t need anyone else. As long as you let me stay with just two people…» I continue, rubbing my cheek on his chest. He’s so warm and still that I think I can stay like this forever.

«I won’t force the presence of anyone else on you,» he sighs. «And I’ll introduce you to the knight that will protect you when I’m not around. He will follow you every time you get out of your chambers.»

«Don’t you feel bad for wasting a soldier on me?» I ask, smiling ironically.

«Thea, don’t start messing with me.»

«You said I could.»

«You still can, but I’m asking you not to. I’m tired, and I worry about you. I’m not telling you to feel grateful, but at least don’t make me notice how much it annoys you, all right?»

«It doesn’t annoy me,» I reveal, «but if I don’t have a knight, then you will be forced to stay with me for the whole time…»

Alexander looks at me, uncertain. Then, he kisses my forehead.

«I’ll pretend to believe you,» he sentences.

I pout my lips and move on the bed. I reach the border and dare to lean my feet on the ground. There’s a thick carpet, this time, so I don’t shiver at the contact with the stone.

«Are you hungry?» the Duke inquires, observing how indecisive I am. I’m pondering whether to get up or go back to bed. It’s a hell of a choice, especially since the latter option is now warmer. The Duke is still sitting where I left him, so the sheets are soaked in his body’s temperature.

I roll back and hug him again. I sigh when the Duke’s hot arms surround me, and I remember that I was looking for food, less than a minute ago.

«I am hungry, indeed,» I nod. I’d like to eat something. Well, something not poisonous.

«Will you let me go, then? At least, let me open the door and order some food…»

«I don’t know,» I voice. «What if you trick me and run away?»

«I won’t. Just a minute, my dear…»

In the end, I move aside and let him walk to the door. I stay under the covers and wait for the Duke to come back with a platter. He leans it on the bedside table and sits back at his place. He takes the food only when he’s sure I’m comfortable.

He’s spoiling me a bit too much. Doesn’t he know how to keep a naughty wife in check?