There is a quartet in the corner, playing a slow melody. The music is soft enough to let people talk with an acceptable tone of voice.

Everyone is already at their place, sitting and drinking wine leisurely. The hall is noisy. Some dancers are performing their choreographies in front of the Emperor.

We walk to the main table, and Alexander sits on the right of the Emperor. I sit next to my husband and move my eyes in the hall.

It looks like the whole court is present. Good.

The Emperor nods, and the party can officially begin.

The servants bring the food, and I have to look away not to start to drool. Everything has such a mouthwatering scent. Also, there are a lot of different colours on the table, making this banquet really worthy of a king.

Oh, now that I think about it, we spared money like this. The Emperor paid for the wedding.

In the end, citizens from the Empire paid taxes that finance the court. Still, it’s better this way. No one will blame my Duke for living in luxury while they barely survive. The cost has been divided among thousands… No, Ethiro is really vast. Among millions of people!

Alexander has already read my mind, so he pours some meat on a plate and cuts it for me. I smile gratefully, already smelling the steam that comes out from the dish.

«A toast,» the Emperor declares, and everyone sips from their cup. «To the new Duchess of Kyre!»

Should I really drink after a toast for me? Whatever! I just wet my lips in the liquid as Alexander instructed me. When I turn in his direction, though, I notice that he emptied the cup in a few gulps.

Wait, are you sure you can handle so much alcohol?

He doesn’t look influenced by the wine, but maybe it’s too soon to see the effects.

When he bows over to peck my temple, I can’t help but snort. He said not to get drunk! He’s obviously having a lot of fun, so I don’t need to complain about it.

Just when I consider relaxing, the first notable event of the evening happens. And it’s not on my list of things to expect.

George slams the doors and walks in the hall. He’s dragging one leg, and he has a black eye.

The music in the hall stops, and the dancers run away to let him pass. He’s now alone in the centre, throwing daggers from his eyes.

«Your majesty, I’m here to ask for help and right a wrong!» he starts shouting.

«It’s not the right time,» the Emperor states. He moves his eyes on the Marquise without interest, and then he leans back on the chair.

Woah, I didn’t know this teenager could make such a cold face.

«We’re celebrating a wedding, as you can see. You should wait for tomorrow.»

«It will be too late, your majesty!»

«You should have talked about it earlier, then. Today is a special day.»

«Yesterday the misdeed hadn’t happened, your majesty.»

«What misdeed?»

«I was attacked in the woods during the hunt.»

«By some wild animal?»

«No, but by Duke Kyre!»

Oh, is this the present Alexander was talking about? I look at him questioningly, but he’s just sitting at his place and eating without worries. He didn’t even stop to look at the show.

«What are you talking about? You need proof, Marquise Lindell. You’re accusing Duke Kyre of a grave crime, what more on the day of his wedding. Are you certain that you’re telling the truth?»

«I saw him with my own eyes! He firstly shot an arrow in my direction, but he missed me. Then, he attacked me and hit me until I was left motionless on the ground!»

Now that I think about it, just two of the wolves were hit by arrows. Did my Duke bring so few? He is crazy, but not so much to leave unarmed… Also, Alexander didn’t centre the Marquise. He purposely missed and then finished the work with his fists. Did he pick the blueberries just to cover the bruises on his hands?

«I am one of your majesty’s right hands! Hitting me is like committing treason!» George continues.

He’s getting on my nerves. I was planning to get him in a scandal, but this is making everything more difficult. He’s attacking my Duke now, and that can’t pass as unpunished as hitting me.

«Is it true?» I ask Alexander. Everyone is staring at us, so it’s better if I behave like I have no clue about the truth.

«My dear, you’re doubting me so easily!» he comments.

«When did the attack happen?» the Emperor asks, interrupting my and my Duke’s exchange.

«At midday.»

«Oh,» I murmur. «But you were here at midday, my Duke!»

Alexander crosses his arms and pretends to be offended by my mistrust. I’d like to know how he managed to get here on time.

He got three wolves, then he hunted for George. He beat him up and ran back to create an alibi.

In the end, he’s really a skilled player. When the Duke arrived, noon had passed. Yet, the noblewomen won’t contradict my story. We stayed in the garden for quite a while, so they won’t be sure about the times. Humans aren’t that precise about time. It’s especially true if they’re not used to look at the hour.

«See,» Alexander replies. «I’m totally innocent!»

Once he has said that, he continues to eat as nothing happened. I can’t help but smile at him. In the end, he didn’t leave me without justice.

«Your majesty, is it now possible to attack noblemen in the royal woods? What will happen after this? Do we need to have someone killed before disciplining the attacker?»

«Marquise Landell, you’re so ready to strike. Yet, I haven’t seen proof,» Princess Lyland intrudes. She leans on an armrest and looks at him from tip to toe. «How can I be sure you didn’t do that by yourself?»

Some whispers fill the room while I bite my cheeks not to grin.

«I think you just tripped by yourself,» the Princess continues.

«I’m sure it was the Duke!»

«And how? Did you see his face?»

«I’m sure he shot an arrow at me. Also, he was the only one around.»

«Marquise,» the Emperor sighs. «You’re telling me that you interrupted this banquet without proof? We have to believe in your word alone?»

«It’s all because of that slut!» George shouts.

Oh, no. This time I didn’t do anything. I was innocent even when I first met this person, yet he seems to always blame me for anything that happens. It’s become troubling.

At least, no one pays attention to that anymore. It’s like listening to a madman yelling about demons and witches.

«Now it was you, my dear,» the Duke comments. «You were the one to hit him!»

I can’t help but chuckle. Even though I’m not happy to be called slut.

«You’re all protecting her for who knows what reason!»

«It’s the second time you’re attacking my sister-in-law,» the Princess continues. She’s dead-set on defending me. «No, actually the third. What’s the problem, exactly?»

«She’s a foreigner and a prisoner.»

«Mhm, I think you’re just upset because you didn’t get your hands on her first. But Duke Kyre has indeed earned the privilege with his efforts. He was the one that conquered Polis.»

«Your highness, your heart is too pure to understand politics.»

«But I can hire a man to beat you up until you beg for mercy,» she exclaims. «It was funny, actually. Also, the way you twitched while being hit was really amusing. Makes me want to do it again!»

Her face has the expression of a little, naughty demon. It’s as if she really was the one hitting the Marquise.

«Martia!» the Emperor voices. «Was it you?»

«What if it was? Will I be punished?»

«You’re the imperial Princess,» he sighs. «I can’t punish you for something so vain.»

George opens his mouth to complain, but he realises that he’s annoying the Emperor. He bows his head and walks out with his fists clenched and an angry grimace.

He’s now feeling the same way I did when I heard that he would pass unscathed after hitting me.

«It looks like you were innocent too,» the Duke shrugs. «Who could have guessed that the real culprit was her imperial highness?»

We have just finished the first course, yet the mood is already so complicated.

«Let’s dance while waiting for the next course,» the Duke proposes. As a perfect wife, I can’t refuse.

We walk to the centre where a few couples are already in line.

Ethirians don’t touch each other while dancing. There must be a thin layer of air between them at any moment. It’s the first rule of room-dance.

I’ve never danced in the last years, but I learnt about it in my early childhood. I can perfectly mirror the Duke’s movements, but he doesn’t seem surprised.

I’ve rejected all the requests for dances from when I turned fourteen. Maybe even thirteen. How can Alexander know that I’m actually proficient?

It’s one of the mysteries I won’t resolve so smoothly.

My Duke knows what I think, what I want, what I need… Sometimes, he even knows something about me that I, myself, forgot.