A three-year-old boy is staring at me with his little head bent backwards and his beautiful blue eyes wide open. His arms are lifted in a request, and my heart melts when he stands on tiptoe.

I bend down and pick him up, while his short arms surround my neck.

«You ran away from your lessons again,» this voice says in a vain attempt to sound stern.

«I wanted to see mother,» the little boy replies.

«I'd like to see her too, but she's working.»

«She is always so busy,» he complains.

Oh, what kind of mother would leave such a cute thing alone? His dark hair makes a contrast with his eyes. A little nose covers his thin heart-shaped lips, and his rosy cheeks are round like apples. I'd pinch them if only I could move these hands.

Unfortunately, this is only a dream.

When I wake up, I'm resting in my bed. Oh, good. Someone thought of bringing me here.

I've over-exhausted myself, these last few days. The main reason is that I worked hard not to let my husband notice what I was planning.

If only I had his complicity or even just permission... I would have been way less tired.

Now that the killer is out of the scene, I can finally sleep like normal people!

I sit on the bed, and my muscles complain of the movement. I'll be useless for the rest of the day.

At least, I've done what I wanted to do. Oh, a moment... There's something that I forgot... Oh, the ladies!

I asked my friends to come here to be able to stay alone for a few minutes! Then, I fainted. I couldn't welcome them. I hope they won't feel offended.

I look in the room, in search of the figure that hadn't left my surroundings for days... No, for weeks!

It has been a weird period. It all seems to have happened in a few days, even now that it's over. However, the calendar month has already changed.

The lack of sleep has influenced my abilities to perceive time. I've lost myself in these cloudy periods, and now returning to real life feels like waking up from a long, long dream. A nightmare.

The first face that welcomes me is Alexander's. He's frowning, and I can't help but think how handsome he is today.

«Hello,» I purr while turning on the side. I hug the pillow while looking at him.

I've never imagined that one day I'd enjoy looking at an unhappy person. His gloomy figure is in contrast with my bright smile. It's as if the room was divided in two: one side is dark and cold, while the other is sunny.

«Why don't you come here and explain in detail what you're unhappy about?» I stretch my hand out as if wanting to reach my Duke like this.

«You murdered someone in your working room,» he spits out.

«I've also ruined the ancient wooden desk with ink. You can keep half of my allowance until the whole amount spent on the cleaning is paid.»

It won't take that long, with the amounts I receive every year.

«I'm not complaining about the costs. Nor the splattered blood. It's the place where you will be working, not I.»

«Then why are you in such a bad mood?» I inquire while sitting up on the bed.

«You asked Katerina to retrieve some poison. You orchestrated a trap and used yourself as bait. You placed a bet on whether the assassin would fall in it, and you chose the office as a location so that the knights couldn't get in your way. You ruined the furniture just to make the maid walk away. How long have you planned this for?»

«I couldn't live in distress anymore,» I shrug. «I need my spaces, and also to sleep.»

«I had a single condition right from the start, Thea. You weren't supposed to put yourself in danger.»

«I was in danger already, I didn't cause havoc just for the sake of it.»

«That was an assassin, Thea! Not a dumb maid from the palace or a lady from another family.»

«I always finish the most difficult task first.»

«What if she didn't wait to hear your lies? You would be dead.»

Ah, I can't get out of this without some tricks. I was so happy to have won, just a second ago...

«Can't you just praise your wife, for once?» I ask while tears fill my eyes and a couple slip down my face.

«Not when she goes on a rampage.»

«I did it for you!» I lie.

«It's even worse if that's true. I don't need you to get revenge for me.»

«What does that mean?»

«I can do that myself, Thea. I don't need my wife to protect me. I should be the one taking care of this kind of matters.»

«What? Are you serious? You should thank me that I removed a threat, not scold me like a naughty child. I'm an adult.»

«You don't act like one. Not to mention that you lied to me for days.»

«Oh, is lying to you a crime?»

«What if it is?»

«Then imprison me, if you dare!» I spit out and get up.

Then, I drop my shoulders and realise that this is not what I was planning to do. I should be soothing my merciless Duke, not challenging him more.

«Sorry.»

Uh? What? I wasn't the one to talk.

«I was so worried when you fainted, but Katerina swore the poison couldn't come in contact with you. Also, indeed, you couldn't sleep.»

Oh, this is better.

«Where are my friends?» I ask. I can't afford to lose the two people that accepted to deal with me.

«I sent them back.»

«With which words?» He didn't tell them that I used their existence as an excuse to set a trap in my office. Also, I hope the death of the assassin won't get out of Stoneyard. Ah, it's too late for that... Damn it! I should have waited before taking a nap!

«The Lady was so busy with killing that she's now too tired to meet with people.»

«Ah, seriously? They won't come here again, now!»

My eyes fill with tears again, this time sincerely.

Alexander chuckles, and a heavy stone falls down from my heart. This moron was joking.

«I just told them that you overworked yourself and fainted. They were worried and wanted to wait to see if it was all right, but I convinced them to go back home. You were going to sleep for hours regardless of their presence.»

«What time is it?» I inquire, looking at the clock.

Oh, half past eight.

«Where is dinner?» I'm starving. Plotting takes much energy.

«You mean breakfast, perhaps.»

«What? Oh, I can't have slept for sixteen straight hours, come on!»

«You pretty much did. Even though I'm not certain that it can be considered sleeping. You were unconscious, rather than sleeping.»

«I feel refreshed. And ready to plan the next murder,» I chuckle while reaching Alexander on the sofa. «Weren't you worried about your wife?»

«It's natural to be tired after overworking oneself. Especially after weeks of bad sleep.»

«So, you always have things under control. Will I ever see you anxious?»

«You already have seen me like that, but you didn't recognise it. There's no need to plot anything just for fun.»

«Oh, Alexander,» I exclaim after sitting next to him. «I'm so happy that we're now free!»

I hug him tightly, with the hidden intention to listen to his heartbeat. It was the sound that calmed me during my sleepless nights, so much that I'm now used to it.

«Next time, I'll tell you before endangering myself,» I whisper. «Even though I'm planning to stay safe from now on.»

«Good,» he approves.

His right arm circles me, and I close my eyes and inhale his scent.

«Thank you for worrying about me. I really appreciate it.»

«You should show your appreciation instead of stubbornly ignoring my warnings.»

«You can scold me tonight, now we have to get to business. Have you perhaps looked over the transaction I showed you?» I mutter. «Do you think it's an embezzlement?»

«I've seen many techniques to steal money, but this is a first.»

«You have been used to dealing with new swindlers, Alexander. These people have had their way from the time when your father was in charge. They're also cautious. Nothing I showed you can be considered proof of a misdeed.»

«Well, I can organise a surprise inspection.»

«It'll work if they're not alerted beforehand.»

«They won't be.»

«Good. Now, I also think you're too stern with middle-tier nobles. While you can do what you want to those under the title of count, it's dangerous to treat those that have a name too harshly. You should let them get away with their misdeeds from time to time.»

«I can't watch how they break the law...»

«I know,» I sigh. «But they could unite against you. Look into the situation case by case, and ask yourself if your meddling will actually change anything. Act only if the answer is a clear, motivated yes.»

«I see you're back in shape,» he chuckles and pecks my temple. «Any other suggestion for this poor, inexperienced Duke?»