Stoneyard is the castle where the Lord of Kyre resides. It's not as big as the court in the capital, but it's still imposing. It was built on top of a hill, in a time when the barbaric tribes raided the Empire on a weekly basis. Kyre was then the northern border of Ethiro, and the Lord was responsible for keeping the central capital safe.

When the Empire enlarged its domains, the Duke of Kyre expanded his territories altogether. Since the Lords had defended the Empire from threats coming from the north, then the crown gave them the right to hold more fiefs, and they continued to guard the borders.

Now, any invasion from the north would take weeks to reach Stoneyard, since the actual borders are miles and miles away. It takes a couple of days of travel just to arrive, let alone to move an army.

Alexander jumps off the carriage and offers me his hand. I follow him, but my legs are numb from sitting for so long.

I cling on his arm, but it doesn't help my stability. I can't move my legs, and the muscles start to teem.

«Just a moment,» I whisper, and the Duke turns to me.

He surrounds my waist with an arm, and I lean on him with a relieved sigh. Then, he also passes his other arm behind my knees and carries me towards the entrance of the building.

«What are you doing?» I inquire, clenching his shirt in the fear that he lets me down.

«I'm carrying you inside, as per Kyre's tradition. For generations, brides had been carried inside by their husbands. One isn't fit to be the Lord of the North if he can't even lift his spouse.»

«Are you making up things?»

«No, I'm serious.»

«Well, I guess we have to honour the traditions,» I shrug. And also, it's comfortable.

«If you fear heights, you can cling on me,» he affirms while stepping on the first stair of a long perron that finishes almost at the top of a tower.

«Why this way?»

«It wouldn't be such a challenge if it was to just carry you in, right?»

«So, we're going up?»

«Correct.»

«How many stairs are there?»

«I haven't counted them, Duchess. You can do it for me.»

«I was just asking. It looks like a long process.»

«It's not that long,» he chuckles. «And we're already at a good point.»

In fact, he's carrying me without fatigue. So much that I didn't even notice how we reached half of the height.

«You could have warned me,» I complain. Talking is the only thing I can do. That, or focus on the muscles under the Duke's shirt.

«You would have complained more.»

«But I would have eventually conceded...»

«Really?»

«Of course,» I nod.

Traditions are traditions.

«Are you hungry?» I continue, trying to fuel the conversation.

«I am.»

«I am too.»

«That's good. It means you're healthy.»

«Or that you're starving me.»

«It would have been a pity to eat a cold dinner, Thea. You'll have a banquet in a while, isn't that better?»

«I don't know... I'm so hungry that I won't even notice the taste of the food.»

«Then you can eat a sandwich while I have my roasted chicken.»

«Roasted chicken?» I repeat, my eyes are full of hope. «Can I have the drumstick?»

«Two of them, my dear.»

«You won't eat the other one?»

«No, you like it more.»

Oh, is it even legal to be this selfless? I wouldn't have renounced my drumstick, in his place.

«You don't have to look at me like that,» he chuckles. «You're making me believe your feelings for me are real.»

«But I am really grateful now.»

«If I knew that some chicken was enough...»

I'm so happy that I surround his neck with my arms and rub my face on his.

«You're the best husband in the world!»

When we reach the top, we pass through a small door, and Alexander lets me stand on my feet. Now, I can walk. I've gained my legs' sensibility back.

«Where to?» I ask, already thinking about the chicken.

«The master chambers are in the east wing.»

Is that where we'll have our meal?

I take a step in the direction he told, but Alexander doesn't move.

I turn to him and observe his face for a while, trying to figure out the problem. In the end, I hold his hand and drag him with me.

This time, he doesn't resist and follows behind.

«In the meantime, you should order your servants to prepare the water for a bath. I can't look forward to it.»

«They're not my servants.»

«Our,» I correct myself with a sigh. «Satisfied?»

«Not until you get used to it.»

«I'll work hard. Now let's go find our chicken.»

We stroll in silence until we reach a giant carved door.

«This is it,» he states, even though it was rather obvious.

The handle is gold plated, and the mahogany seems so old.

Since Alexander doesn't move, I open the door myself and walk inside.

The first surprise is that the waiting room has three doors, not just two.

«In the front, there are the Duchess's private chambers. On the right, the Duke's.»

«And what's behind the left door?»

«Another waiting room, and then the bedroom.»

«Whose bedroom?» I inquire.

«Ours,» he grins.

Oh, I should have figured.

«Does it mean that we'll sleep together every night?»

«That's the case.»

«You should have warned me!» I say, for the second time in a short while.

«The bath is already ready. They saw us coming, and I sent a messenger to warn them about my wife's preferences.»

«Oh. That's a tough choice,» I sigh. On one side, I really need a bath. I've travelled for more than a week. And we left after a messy wedding celebration. However, the chicken will cool down...

Can't I eat while bathing?

In the end, Alexander drags me to the table, and we eat.

The chicken is exquisite. I can't think of another way to describe it because I'm too hungry. I eat fast and then realise that the second drumstick would be too much even for me.

I want to bathe, so I have to settle for a light dinner.

At least, I'm not starving anymore.

I can now analyse the master bedroom.

It's big, and it has two separate wardrobes, one on each side of the room.

The canopy bed stands in the centre, and it had dark red curtains. Red?

I glance at my Duke, and he doesn't seem to notice anything amiss.

The maids had prepared the bath, and they left just when we started to eat.

The only thing I can't guess is: where is the Duke's bathtub? There's only one tub, next to the fire.

Oh, maybe he's planning to use the same water. I have to be quick, then, or he'll find it cold.

Yes, because I have no intention of going second. Alexander should have asked for two bathtubs!

«Are you finished?» he asks while cleaning his hands.

«I am,» I nod.

I patiently anticipate for him to tell me to go bathe.

I wait in vain.

«That's good,» he exclaims and gets up. «Now it's time to bathe.»

He unfastens the first few buttons of his shirt under my dumbfounded stare. Is he really going first?

Where is my tender Duke?

«What are you waiting for?» he asks, turning back to me.

Uh? I tilt my head and reach him. Is he going to help me clean my back? Is that why he took off his shirt?

When he starts unfastening his trousers, I turn my head to the side, embarrassed. He's definitely not going to help me rub my back.

I return to look at him only after he's soaked in the bathtub.

«Thea, what are you waiting for?» he asks.

What am I waiting for? Who got in my bath, ah? He also made me believe he was letting me go first, this cruel Duke!

I crook my mouth, and he leans his back on the side. He closes his eyes and seems ready to stay like that forever.

«Can you hurry up a bit?» I ask, my voice low yet sweet. «I like warm water more.»

«You can get in now,» he replies without even opening his eyes.

«You are already in,» I point out.

«So what? The tub is large enough for both of us.»

Indeed, it's one of the hugest tubs I've seen in my life.

Still, bathing... together? Is that even legit?

«What are you being shy about, now?»

«I'll wait,» I shrug, and I turn my back to him, intending to walk back to the table and eat some more.

«I won't get out of here until the water becomes icy,» he exclaims. «And dirty. Oh, how dirty will it be? Can you imagine, Duchess?»

I drop my shoulders and realise that I've never stood a chance against such a manipulator.

«At least, close your eyes,» I whisper while walking back to him like a well-trained puppy.