After a session of duty-fulfilling, followed by another one of love-making, I start to feel a bit hungry.

«This Duchess is going to eat,» I exclaim while wearing my nightgown back. I slip out of bed and walk to the table, followed by my Duke's gaze.

«I could join you,» he comments. «Shall I order something else, though? It must be all cold.»

«I don't want to wait, I'll do with this for now,» I mutter while lifting the lid from the central plate.

A chicken! Wait, where are the legs?

«Alexander, you ate the drumsticks!» I accuse him, pointing a finger in his direction. «You cruel man. I take back my last bit of benevolence!»

«Wife, your plate. Please, look in your plate.»

«Mhm?»

Oh, there's a lid there too... I lift it and, in the centre of the plate, I find a couple of drumsticks, decorated with fresh salad. Where did he find some salad in the middle of winter?

«You were planning to soothe me with food,» I note. «You're such a manipulator.»

«You're not required to fall in the trap, my Duchess. Just eat the food and continue sulking.»

«Come here, I'll bone some meat for you too. You deserved it.»

«Are you teasing me?» he replies while getting dressed.

Luckily, none of our clothes ended up torn. Apart from my underwear, which isn't all that necessary while having dinner.

«Your hand is still bandaged. Also, I can't finish a whole chicken alone.»

«I wouldn't bet on it.»

While placing some meat on his plate, I make sure to arrange some vegetables as well. I keep the salad for me, of course, but the pickles are all for Alexander.

«Focus on the food, rather than blabbing.»

My Duke starts eating without hurry, but he soon realises he's hungry. His moves become slightly faster, but I can tell the difference. He finishes everything that ends in his plate, no matter the amount or the type of food.

«This Duchess really exhausted you,» I giggle proudly.

«Not yet,» he says, but he doesn't stop eating. «But I was worried and couldn't eat much at lunch.»

That's true. He just nibbled something in a hurry and was lost in his thoughts for the whole time. I was too busy fuming to remind him to eat.

«What's the matter? Have you found yet another swindle? Are the baronets embezzling again?»

«I wasn't worried about my work.»

Oh, he was worried about me. He even came up with the idea to feed me some chicken to make me forgive him.

Does he think that the path to a woman's heart passes through her stomach?

«I want lemon cookies,» I state.

«Lemon cookies?»

«Yes, I'd eat them so much right now.»

«Wife, stop teasing...»

What teasing? He's trying to win me over with food, isn't he?

«All right,» he sighs. «But you've never liked lemon cookies.»

«That's not true,» I reply before biting my second drumstick.

I like the other type more, so I prefer to eat those and leave the lemon flavoured ones for later. However, right now, I want lemon cookies. What's the problem with that?

Alexander rolls up his left sleeve and straightens his back.

«Your husband is going to look for your cookies,» he states before crossing the door.

Strangely, I haven't asked for apple cookies.

I like apple cookies way way more. Mhm, should I recall the Duke and ask him both, just in case?

When he comes back, half an hour later and with a plate of steaming cookies, I start feeling slightly guilty for making him go all the way to the kitchen.

Ah, he's been fast!

«Lemon cookies and milk for my wife,» he states, bringing the food to me on the sofa.

I can't avoid smiling, so he sighs relieved and sits next to me.

«This doesn't mean I've forgiven you,» I remind him before digging in.

I'm not going to forgive him anytime soon if it means having my husband bring me food like this.

I would have never imagined that lemon and butter could taste good together. Yet, I like the combination. Maybe, it's because it's all still hot.

«You've been quite busy, recently...» my Duke starts, distracting me from the cookies for just a single second.

«Not really.» I shrug. «I've visited Albios and sent people around to collect information in the villages.»

«Are you going to personally open the schools?»

«It would be fun. And they'll remember who brought education to their children...»

«I can come with you,» he proposes.

«You'd steal the scene, Alexander. I want to be the centre of all the attention, for once.»

«I can't steal the scene from you, my dear. It's just your impression.»

«Ah, well, you do attract my attention when you're around,» I whisper, turning to the table to prevent the Duke from reading my lips.

I leave the plate there and lean back on the sofa.

«I'm also waiting for a letter from Ambassador Zolokis. Please, don't burn it before letting me read the content. It's important, and nothing that can bring you harm. I'm not going to run away with my uncle. We're both people with positions to maintain.»

«And what is your position, wife?» he inquires, narrowing his eyes.

I'm still too annoyed to concede and flatter him. Or to admit that I'm his wife. I won't say it at least for today. Maybe, tomorrow.

«I'm going to become a businesswoman, don't you know?» I reply, cold and professional. «I'm opening a printing house in Albios. And soon, I'll create a guild.»

«Is it all in preparation for the future?» he mutters, now displeased.

Ah, it's exhausting.

«Maybe.»

«You won't need to work even after you leave me.»

After, not if?

«I might stay a bit longer than planned,» I say, and his attention shifts to these words.

He forgets everything about working, living off a divorced husband or divorcing at all. He just clings on the hope that I'll stay even after my obligations are fulfilled.

It would be cute if only he wasn't the mighty Lord of Kyre.

«You can make me stay,» I point out. A signed agreement is nothing against all the power he holds here.

I don't even think that his name and reputation would suffer if he walked back on his word. After all, who am I?

«I'll do everything in my power to do so,» he replies.

I could misunderstand his words. He really thinks too fast before blabbering out. But I know what he means.

He won't force me to stay, but he'll try his best to convince me. His power isn't the power of a Duke, but that of a doting husband.

«And how do you plan to do that?»

«I'll show you what you lose if you leave,» he shrugs.

«What do I lose? You said you will provide for me. I can bring my children with me. Really, what do I lose?»

His smirk is kind of painful. It shows me that he doesn't know how to answer but won't give up.

«There must be something in this husband of yours that you like enough to make you consider to stay.»

Oh, that's right. I'll miss our moments of intimacy.

Is it very, very bad if we meet from time to time even after the divorce? Unless he finds himself another wife, of course.

«It's not something we need to think of right now. We have time,» I realise.

I want a boy and a girl. That would be just the perfect combination!

«We can talk about it another time, Alexander. I won't leave tomorrow.»

«By the way...» he starts. «If you change your mind and want to come back, my door is always open for you.»

«I haven't left yet.»

«But you're certain you will, one day. You're not doubting it, which means you're furious with me. I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to make you completely accept me.»

«With the agreement signed, you'll have to keep in mind that I'm free. You better work hard every day, my dear,» I exclaim.

He bows over and pecks my lips. Just a moment, and then he's back in his place.

«You don't think that this is enough, do you?»

«Oh, of course not! My wife is very needy, a single kiss can't satisfy her.»

Needy?

«Alexander!»

«What's the matter, Theodora?»

«Stop teasing me.»

«I don't want to. So, what now?»

Nothing. What can I do?

«You're cruel.»

«I clearly remember my wife saying that she likes a cruel Duke. She also demanded a kiss right after saying it.»

«Which means that your wife was biased when she said that!»

«She looked sincere to me. I also remember that time when she asked me to tie her...»

«I didn't ask!»

«Oh, you did. Not with words, that's right.»

«It was the opposite! I was asking to tie you.»

«That's asking for trouble, my dear.»

«Alexander!»

«Why don't you try again?»

«No way.»

I can't afford to end up like that while I'm angry.