After a couple of sips, Alexander seizes the wine from my hand and selfishly decides to finish it all by himself.

I pout for a second, but there's no need to make a fuss out of it. I'll find other wine if I turn and look for it. Too bad that my eyes are locked on my husband.

I've been admiring him for a few minutes already, but I can't move my glance away. However, he must have done something weird, because he's never been this handsome...

I got it: it's the wine!

Drinking wine makes one handsome!

I hope it helps women too, though, because I've had plenty. However, my Duke isn't looking at me with more interest than usual, so it probably isn't the case. What a pity, I wanted to be handsome as well.

If wine doesn't work on girls, then I should try with aquavit. If not, there is always beer.

«What is my Duchess thinking about?» Alexander inquires with his devilishly handsome grin.

I swallow before finding the wits to answer.

«About how to become handsome,» I confess straightforwardly.

Not only that he's more handsome, now he has another power: taking out the truth from naughty wives! He doesn't even need to trouble himself to read my mind like this! He's invincible.

«And why would you do that?»

«To look more like you,» I stutter, and my cheek blush.

«Mhm, that's not a wise idea, my Duchess. I prefer the way you already are. Handsome or not.»

«But am I at least a bit?» I inquire. I tilt my head and blink seductively.

«Not even a bit,» the Duke replies with a smirk. «But you've become prettier, all of a sudden.»

Oh, my! The wine does work! Except that girls don't become handsome, but pretty! It's a bit of a discrimination, though, but it's better than nothing.

I'll tell my mind to the god of wine if I ever meet him.

«We can go home now, I'm a bit tired,» Alexander whispers. «What do you think?»

He seems a bit cautious. Is he afraid I'll refuse? I'm an obedient wife, and I take care of him wholeheartedly. I wouldn't ever ask to stay longer once he says he's tired.

I inhale deeply, filling my lungs with air. My chest moves up, and my shoulder's get straight. I'm ready to tell Alexander my mind when I realise that maybe he doesn't want to hear it.

I let the air out in a long suspire, and I just nod.

«I'm not that tired, though,» I point out. Just so he knows it.

«We'll use the carriage, regardless,» he states, and I just nod.

I wasn't referring to horse riding when I said I wasn't tired. Isn't it obvious, Alexander?

«All right,» I chuckle. «Just let me greet the horse. He's been such a sweetheart on the way here. I don't want him to think that I don't like him anymore!»

«All right. But don't get too much time, or I'll get jealous.»

«And what would you do in such a case?» I whisper while a thrill of excitement passes through my spine.

«I'd get rid of the horse.»

«Oh,» I moan and reach the paddock, a bit dejected.

I find the horse as soon as I step in, and I edge nearer. On the way, I grab an apple from a nearby basket.

The horses are all in here, but they're not tied. The Duke's horses are all obedient and well-trained. They don't need to be restrained, and they don't get nervous after wearing a saddle for whole days.

I know it's difficult to find such good horses, so I don't blame Alexander for not having found one for me yet. Even though he could assign one of his to me. He has so many!

He's kind of stingy on the matter.

I lift an arm and offer the apple to the horse. Instead of taking a step and sniffing the fruit with curiosity, the horse moves a step back.

I move forward, confused by his unusual behaviour.

He's breathing heavily. Maybe, it's because of the tight space. Should I take it out for a walk? He seems so unhappy to be in here...

I take another step, and the horse neighs.

«It's me,» I speak. «Don't you remember, already?»

Before I have time to recognise what's happening, the horse rears up and neighs again, this time loudly.

I let out a scream and protect my face with my arms. The apple falls from my hands and rolls under the hooves. It's soon crushed, and I wonder if I'll suffer the same fate.

I move a foot back, but the other horses are now nervous as well. They're all stomping in place.

The stable starts spinning, and I fall on my butt. My mouth is open, while I observe the events without understanding them.

I start crying, more offended that the horse hasn't recognised me than scared for my fate.

«I thought we were friends!» I accuse him, but that doesn't seem to have any effect.

His whinnies are annoying the other horses more and more with each moment, and some soon start walking around.

The Duke's horses are still somehow calm, but those that are not his are throwing tantrums. At least, the latter group is restrained and can't reach me. It would be bad if I were hit.

People usually die after falling under a horse.

When this realisation strikes me, I suddenly become aware of the situation I am in. My fingers start shaking, and my lips tremble.

I should get out of here, now. I'm in no shape to cope with a bunch of nervous horses.

«Calm and trained my ass,» I murmur while getting up.

My dress is now dirty, what a pity. I'm moving slower than what I'd like, but I'm conscious enough to understand that I ought to get out of here.

I turn my back to the horse and start reaching the door when another wailing neigh startles me and causes me to stumble. I fall down again, this time on my knees and hands. I shout out in surprise and stop the fall with my arms, scratching my hands on the dirty floor.

I'm too scared to turn and check the situation behind me, but I hear the horse approaching. I just close my eyes and wait for the end.

Just like the other times, Alexander appears out of nowhere.

He pulls me up by the arms and drags me on his chest. He circles my waist and knees, and he carries me out.

«I knew it was a bad idea,» he breathes.

«I'm sorry, I made the horse angry,» I stutter. «I thought he was my friend, but it's not the case. He doesn't like me...»

I start crying again, and I sob in Alexander's arms like a child.

«Why does everyone hate me?» I gasp. «What have I done wrong?»

«Nothing, Thea. You're just drunk.»

«I'm not. I'm ugly and useless.»

«All right,» he sighs. «It seems you're not wounded.»

«My heart is wounded.»

«The horse won't hurt you anymore, my dear,» he whispers, and I blink, confused.

«What are you implying?»

«You don't need to worry about it, just show me your hands. You got hurt again, didn't you?»

I turn my palms up and wince when Alexander frowns.

«I'm sorry,» I whisper.

«Tell me what happened,» he orders, and I shiver in his arms.

«I just wanted to feed the horse an apple, I didn't know he doesn't like apples.»

«That's not the case, in fact.»

«So, I walked to the horse. I proceeded slowly, and I lifted my hand a few steps before I could reach it. I also looked at him carefully, but the horse continued to neigh and stomp.»

«Neigh and stomp? When did it start, exactly?»

«He was already like that when I arrived. Poor guy, he shouldn't have been closed inside. He wanted to breathe a bit of fresh air, Alexander!»

«Don't get distracted from the main point!»

«All right... Well, the other horses started behaving nervously, so I decided to get out of there.»

«Good grace, why didn't you get out immediately, Thea?»

«Because I hadn't delivered the apple yet.»

«You tripped on the way, didn't you?»

I nod and clench Alexander's clothes. Then, I realise that my hands are dirty and let go.

«Sorry,» I mumble. Now, the shirt is stained.

«It's not your fault, something was off from before you went in, Thea. I shouldn't have let you go in there alone. Not when you're so frail.»

«I'm not frail, hubby,» I voice.

He stops talking for a second and stares at me in silence.

«What?» I inquire.

«What did you just say?»

«I'm not frail,» I repeat, patiently.

He's saved me again, so I ought to be gentle and patient.

«Not that, the other thing.»

«Mhm... I don't remember.»

«You do remember, little demon. Think more carefully.»

«I really don't remember,» I repeat.

I widen my eyes, and tears start falling down for the umpteenth time.

I refrain from wiping them away because my hands are now a mixture of black and red. I don't want this stuff on my face.

What did I say that was so important but I can't remember now?