«I'll bring you dinner,» I mutter while getting up. I stroll to the door and open it. As soon as I get my feet out, though, the world starts spinning.

I try to sustain myself on the door frame, but I miss the wood and fall on the floor. Bit by bit, my vision turns dark. I open my eyes wide, fearing this sudden blindness.

Then, my body betrays me, and I fall in a light-less pit.

When I open my eyes again, I'm lying in my bed. The fire is burning in the chimney, and the blanket is warming my body.

I turn on my back and realise that I'm not alone. Of course, where could a convalescent Duke be?

He's reading my reports with interest, at the light of the lantern.

«You forgot to eat once again,» he mutters. «You really were busy looking for information in my office.»

«I was trying to help you!» I exclaim. However, I am weak, so my voice sounds more feeble than I desire.

«Mhm, I already know that,» he nods. «You want to help, and you're incredibly curious. It's a pity that I don't keep the kind of things you're interested in written anywhere. It's all in my head, my dear. If you want to find out about it, the only method is to interrogate me.»

His words hurt me, especially after I took care of him for the whole day. I should have left him to suffer alone, this moron.

I turn away to hide the tears in my eyes, but Alexander notices my expression.

«Why are you crying now?»

I don't know. It's not like Alexander said anything that wasn't true.

«I'm not crying!» I exclaim with a broken voice.

«Hey, don't take my words to heart,» he whispers. «I know you were here all the time, Thea. I also know you found the time to take a look at my secrets, but it's not that important... I'm just worried because you fainted. You didn't eat because of me, right?»

I shrug, uninterested in his apologies. He was so fast at doubting me.

«I'm also unhappy that you stayed by my side,» he continues.

Is that so?

I get out of bed and storm towards the door. If he doesn't want me close, then I'll simply leave.

«Where are you going?» he asks. «Theodora!»

He jumps up and follows me.

«Theodora!» he repeats.

I just ignore him and continue on my way. He reaches me when I'm already in the waiting room. My right hand is on the handle of the outer door, while the left is squeezed by Alexander's powerful grip.

«Come back to bed, Theodora. Let's eat, all right?»

I stare at our joined hands, and then at his bare feet.

«Get back in bed immediately,» I whisper coldly. «You haven't yet recovered.»

«Only if you come with me,» he murmurs. His desperate expression is so sweet that I almost forget what I was upset about. Almost.

«You don't want me by your side, Alexander. You said that yourself.»

«I didn't mean it that way,» he sighs. «But you took care of me while I was febrile. What if it was contagious?»

«It wasn't,» I point out. «You were soaked in rain, and that's what happens if you don't change clothes immediately.»

«You couldn't be sure of that.»

«It was highly probable. And also, I can't survive you.»

«Don't say things like that,» he breathes while dragging me in his arms. «Never again! Do you think I haven't prepared for such an occurrence? I wouldn't let them hurt you even after my death...»

Now, now... I thought he would be happy to hear that I don't want to live without him. Because of the reasons he just revealed, true, but it's something he should be content about.

«I hoped you would be a bit more grateful,» I reply. «I've taken care of you for the whole afternoon, even though you were so out of it that you said so many weird things. However, I stayed by your side. Isn't this what you wanted, a faithful wife?»

«I'd prefer a healthy, selfish one,» he chuckles, and we get back in the bedroom. «I wouldn't have left you so easily, Thea. You didn't need to worry so much.»

«I wasn't worried,» I point out. As if I cared. I just didn't want to get in trouble because of Alexander's stupid death.

«Still, you didn't leave my side, right? Were you trying to take advantage of me while I was unconscious?»

What? I was the one unconscious, here. He was perfectly able to fight back, even in that state. I, on the other side, couldn't. After all, I fainted.

And my Duke is most likely the one that would try taking advantage of me, not the other way around.

«You can touch me when you want, by the way,» he continues, revealing his real face. «I won't stop you. There's no need to wait for me to be bedridden to do so.»

«I was trying to cool you down,» I whisper. We sit on the bed, and the Duke reaches out for a platter with some food.

«Mhm, it had the opposite effect, apparently.»

«No, it worked! You're fine now.»

«Is it thanks to your love?»

«What love? I've been caring, that's why you're better. It's my hard work.»

«Mhm, all right. Now you should eat,» my Duke nods and starts eating. I follow his example and bite the bread.

«And you should drink,» I point out.

It's as if we're a couple of old geezers. We're both bedridden, for a reason or the other. At least, we're not alone.

«What did I say that was so weird?» Alexander asks while stealing some ribs from my plate.

«Uh, I don't remember clearly. You blabbered for some time, and it was cringy. You also called me Queen.»

«Did I?»

«Twice, actually,» I sigh. Once today, and once in the carriage after our departure. Alexander was drunk, that other time.

«I hope you didn't get offended,» he voices.

I turn to him, surprised.

«I think you were trying to flirt with me,» I confess. «You were so afraid I would leave that you hugged me and didn't let go until you fell asleep.»

«I hope it won't happen again,» he says while dropping his shoulders. «I apologise.»

«No need,» I shrug. «You can hold your wife whenever you want. You don't need a reason to. So, if you want me to stay by your side, you can order me to. It's how it works in Ethiro, right?»

«We're in Kyre, now. The Lord can't cling on the Lady and claim her presence just because of a whim.»

«It was cute,» I reveal, giggling. «You were just like a child.»

«Wasn't it awkward for you?»

«Just a bit. But it looks like I'll have to get used to that.»

«I don't plan on getting ill often, Duchess.»

«No, but you'll drink from time to time. You're awkward every time you're not fully sober.»

«I'm sorry,» he repeats and looks down.

I offer him the rest of my meat, and he lifts his eyes.

«Are you all right, Duchess? You're always so possessive of your food...»

What am I, some kind of wild animal?

Still, he accepts the offer and finishes everything in a few bites. I guess he's healed if he can eat like this.

«I wanted to introduce your lady in waiting today, Duchess,» Alexander continues, oblivious to my complex mood. «I'll let you meet her as soon as we get better.»

«I'm not ill.»

«No, but I am. And I want my wife to help me heal,» he states.

«What?»

«If you stay by my side, I'll heal faster.»

«Sure,» I mutter sarcastically. As if. «And what am I supposed to do to help?»

«Hmm... Nothing,» he decides after thorough consideration. «Do you know how to play cards?»

«You tell me if I know,» I challenge him, crossing my arms.

«You don't have a clue,» my Duke decides. «I'll teach you.»

«You don't have anything to do, right now? Like, sleeping...»

«No,» he chuckles. «I slept all day.»

Oh, right. But I haven't slept enough. I'm tired.

«I'll teach you. So that you can engage in one of the activities nobles enjoy so much.»

Uh, is it so popular?

«You can avoid hurting your delicate fingers with embroidery if you play cards,» he continues, and my face becomes red with embarrassment.

All of a sudden, the choice of pattern doesn't seem all that smart anymore. I've tried to make my Duke's initial over and over again, and he noticed.

«I wanted to surprise you,» I confess. «You weren't supposed to find out so soon.»

«Oh, but you can continue to write my name anywhere you want,» he murmurs. Now, he seems in a dilemma.

On one side, he can teach his wife how to play cards. On the other, he can have something she made with her hands.

A hell of a choice.

«I've never had time to learn how to play cards,» I whisper. «Is it funny?»

«It depends on the players,» Alexander shrugs.

Well, I guess he's a difficult one. He must be looking forward to beating me in a table game.