The end of the dance is near, and I swirl slowly and pass my eyes in the whole hall.

I spot George in a corner, looking at me with hatred. He didn’t retreat. He just pretended to have accepted his injustice.

I turn to my Duke, and I see that he noticed the man in the corner as well. The music ends, and Alexander automatically finds my hand.

«Let’s go back,» he mutters. «I’m feeling a bit thirsty now…»

This doesn’t sound too good. How much is Alexander planning to drink?

«Are you trying to forget something, or you’re so happy that you want to drink more?» I inquire.

«I love it when you pretend to be a nagging wife. It reminds me that we’re married,» he whispers.

I close my mouth in a huff, surprised by his remark. I’m not nagging, I’m worried. I need a proper Duke at my side, just for a bit more.

«I won’t bother you again,» I whisper, bowing my head and pouting my lips. «I didn’t want to be annoying.»

Alexander tilts his head and surrounds my waist with his arm.

«No worries, my dear. You can bother me as much as you wish,» my husband whispers to my ear. «It’s just unfair, isn’t it? It makes me think that you care about me.»

«I do care about you, my Duke.» At least, for the part that concerns my survival. Right now, he’s the only reason I’m here, and the only reason I’m alive. He’s my executioner and my saviour at the same time.

I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him, but I have no guarantees that my life would have been better without Alexander. I could have lost the war to anyone else, and what would have become of my city, then?

«That’s not a lie, Alexander. I’m not as heartless as you like to think of me.»

«I know that, already.»

«Of course you do.»

«I can’t wait to show the north to you! There are so many things I’m sure you’ll like.»

«One thing at a time. First, we have to survive the banquet…»

And judging from the Marquise’s glares, it won’t be such an easy deal.

«You don’t have to fear him. I won’t let him get close to you.»

«I know. Still, the Marquise is patiently waiting for something. Shall we bait him out?»

«No, we shall not. Just be pretty and enjoy the food, Thea. Sooner or later, they’ll make their move. Only then, we will follow the thread to the source.»

«Do you have any suspects?»

He shrugs, trying to convince me that he doesn’t have a clue. Yet, his eyes are too calm. He simply doesn’t want to tell me.

We sit at our places while the celebrations continue. The noise of the crowd shouting, laughing or singing covers every word one would speak.

When the Emperor gets up, all the hall shuts up all of a sudden. They turn to him and bow their heads. Everyone gets up while he walks out.

«I wish you a happy marriage, dear cousin,» he says, at the door. «I have to fulfil imperial duties, but I hope your other guests will continue with the celebrations. I especially hope our new Duchess will like our way of partying.»

He turns to the closest of the functionaries next to him, and he whispers something.

«I greet you all, now, but don’t let my absence stop your joy. Today is a day when the history of our Empire is being written. Let’s hope we’ll be on the right side of that strict judge.»

When the door is closed, everyone relaxes. The nobles look at each other, ready to return to the celebrations. One even waves at the quartet to continue playing, but the musicians notice that George is back in attack.

«You shouldn’t be that happy, Duke Kyre,» he starts.

Alexander snorts and rolls his eyes.

«Here we go again…» he mutters, but his voice is so low that I’m the only one hearing him.

Princess Lyland moves the Emperor’s chair back and drags her to Alexander’s side. She couldn’t simply sit on the imperial chair, so she just tossed it away. She’s awesome.

«I can check your bride if you go duelling,» she comments to her brother. «Just don’t get hurt on the face, or I might lose my new sister-in-law.»

«You’re saying that my biggest asset is my face?» he pouts.

These couple of siblings aren’t paying any attention to the tension in the room.

«You can ask your wife.»

«I like the title as well,» I shrug. «Once I’ve seen the territories, I’ll probably update my preferences.»

«So, you don’t like my face that much!» he replies. He’s even more offended than before.

When George clears his throat, his eyes turn icy as he prepares to bring me down. Too bad I’m ready, this time.

«How can you accept to share your woman with someone else?» he asks. «I wouldn’t…»

«Wait,» Princess Lyland interrupts him. She lifts her head abruptly as if she’s heard something weird. «If you wouldn’t accept to share a woman, you can’t be my sister’s lover!»

«I mean…» George chokes. «I mean I wouldn’t share a wife. Also, a woman is either pure and faithful or a total slut. She didn’t just let me hold her. I have proof for this claim, though.»

A young boy comes over. He slowly walks forward, uncertain. He looks at me with a weird glance, as if he was looking at a piece of trash.

Their acting skills are horrible.

Alexander leans back on the chair. He gestures to Pericle to bring something, and the aide disappears behind the corner.

«You’ve overstepped any boundary, Marquise Lindell. I’ve let you go, the first time, but I can’t play deaf twice. If you say a single word about my wife, I’ll be forced to challenge you to a duel.»

«Are you perhaps afraid of the truth, Duke Kyre?»

«You don’t have any proof. It’s your word against my wife’s. Who do you think I’ll believe?»

Oh, those are the words I was waiting for. If this doesn’t trigger my trap, then nothing will.

However, I have to make sure Alexander doesn’t challenge anyone for tonight. He’s almost drunk, and he could kill someone or get hurt. I’m not even sure what option is worse for me.

«Tell us, Carl, about the detail that you noticed.»

The boy nods and then glares at me for the umpteenth time.

«The Duchess has a beauty mark on her left shoulder,» he says. He’s confident like only children and idiots can be.

Alexander turns to me with an indecipherable expression.

«Wife, do you have a beauty mark on your shoulder? Where?»

If there is someone that knows about the marks on my body, then that is my Duke. Yet, for a brief moment, I really think that he’s doubting me. He notices my look and reaches out for my left sleeve.

I stop him, and half of the hall keeps their breath. The other half is secretly giggling and imagining my head rolling on the red carpet under the table.

«We’re in a public place, my Duke. This Duchess doesn’t want to let everyone see my skin. That’s exclusive to you!» I voice, tilting my head playfully.

Now, they’re lowering their guard, thinking that I’m already dead. I can’t wait to expose them, but I can’t hurry. I shouldn’t ruin this right now!

«This Duchess does have a beauty mark on her shoulder, my Duke,» I continue. «But it’s on the right shoulder, not on the left!»

He seems to be thinking about it. In the end, he simply nods.

The audience now has such a funny face. People are thinking that my Duke is stupidly accepting my words. However, he can check later if I’m lying, right? Are they all tipsy by any chance?

«I haven’t paid enough attention to your shoulders,» Alexander nods. «Tonight, I’ll be particularly attentive!»

I can feel my cheeks burning and the blood rushing to my face. My Duke’s words are so naughty and so public. Couldn’t he stop his mouth from blabbering?

«But I know about your beauty marks in other, less exposed spots…»

Oh my, I should have insisted more when I asked him to drink less. I shouldn’t have stopped just because he told me I was nagging.

«And there’s a little scar I’m sure no one else has a clue of.»

He’s talking about the scar on my inner thigh, isn’t he? It’s difficult to spot, and it’s so small that I thought he didn’t see it.

Still, there’s no way the maids could have noticed that! I didn’t let them stay too close while bathing, and that was practically the only time I was naked in front of them.

Any sign on the torso and arms is easy for them to see. This morning I drew a brown dot on my left shoulder, right next to a bite of the Duke. It was so tempting to show everyone the mark together with the ‘delicate caresses’ I’m used to. It would question everything my Duke said.

I’ve already cleaned that dot, so now the only mark on my shoulder is the one my husband left. However, there’s no way this Duchess will show her skin just to anyone. I don’t care about their stares and questions.

It’s their problem, not mine.