The couch in the Lady's office is way more comfortable during the day. At night, it's as hard as the floor.

At least, Kate and the other maid managed to bring it closer to the fire.

Kate hasn't left my side for a single moment, and she's stared at the other maid for the whole time.

At first, when the girl walked into the room with a few soft cushions, Kate and I glared at her suspiciously.

«My Lord asked me to bring the Lady to him,» she confessed. «But I can't do that. I can't risk hurting my Lady, so I can't follow his order. I'm the one entitled to protect my Lady, not to force her to do something she isn't willing to.»

She also brought wood for the fire.

I'm still confused about her way of choosing which orders to ignore. Maybe, she just does what she wants while finding legitimate reasons for her behaviour. I wonder if she passes unscathed every time, or is it only when I'm involved?

Regardless, she said she won't hurt me. I can't believe her just yet, but I can't even live in a cage for months.

I return the food that is always delivered untouched, even though I make sure Kate checks it thoroughly. I want to know if I'm really in danger.

Till now, everything was clear. No poison or unidentified substances. No weird attempts to lure me out.

Nothing.

Ah, maybe my Duke won't hurt my baby just because he wasn't planning to have one.

I have to talk with him about this, but he won't listen or, even worse, he won't speak. First of all, he needs a cold bed for a couple of nights.

Which means sleeping on the couch for as much too.

«I was starting to feel at home,» I confess to Kate.

I've just finished updating the accounts. I've also prepared a draft of the school program. I had time, so I read a couple of books regarding children's education.

«Maybe it's not home,» my friend replies while cleaning the cups with a cloth. «But this place is still yours.»

«It was odd at first, but I finally got used to living in a castle. I thought they existed only in fairytales and savage lands.»

«You can't say Kyre isn't savage.»

«It's rather calm, Kate. There aren't many threats, except for those coming from the far capital. There aren't bandits and criminals as much as in other places.»

«All thanks to the law enforcement forces. I've talked with some soldiers... Their habits are the same as in Polis,» she chuckles. «I guess that the army works the same everywhere.»

«There are many similarities with Polis, aren't there?» I note. «It must be the reason why I adapted easily here.»

«Duke Kyre has always disliked crowded environments. He has always kept just a few servants. There wasn't a sudden change when you arrived, you know?»

«There wasn't even time for that, Kate. The Emperor ordered the marriage out of nowhere. Even my husband didn't hear of it much before it happened.»

«Was he surprised?»

«Oh, he wasn't,» I chuckle. «Almost everything was ready when I arrived. There was a room just for me, and clothes, jewels and makeup.»

«Are you absolutely sure he didn't ask for the marriage to the Emperor? It's too much, my Queen... Everything ready?»

«Not quite everything. Almost. For example, the maids were all from the Palace.»

«I was also worried about the absence of a room here for you, but this also seems a normal occurrence. There were never separate rooms in Kyre.»

«I know, Kate. Alexander told me about Kyre's traditions.»

«Also, the Lady keeps her title for life. Even if the Lord dies before her, she doesn't become dowager.»

«What about the wife of the heir, then?»

«There are simply two Ladies,» she shrugs. «It's quite confusing, and it didn't happen very often. The last Lord died together with his second wife, and the previous one survived his Lady by a few months. There aren't any servants that remember about before, it was too much time ago.»

«How have you adapted, though? I see you get along with the rest of the servants.»

«A castle is indeed funny, my Queen. There are many secret passages, not just the servant hallways. At first, I was afraid to get lost, but there are so many ways to get in and out... It's like one of the labyrinths in gardens.»

«Which reminds me, are there any other ways out of here?»

«Just the passage. And the door, obviously.»

«It would have been easier to catch the assassin if we knew earlier about the secrets of this place. Do the guards patrol there?»

«No, they don't even know of the existence of such hallways.»

«Which reminds me, I need to meet with the teacher by the end of this month. I have to get out of here.»

«You can use the door, my Queen.»

«It won't be that easy. You don't know how stubborn my Duke can be.»

«If I were him, I would have barged in here and dragged you out.»

«He won't hurt me.»

«Then why are you hiding?»

«Because he won't hurt me. I can't be sure about the baby. If there is a baby.»

«I think there is,» Kate shrugs.

Of course, there is. It's growing inside me, asking for energy and love. I feel its presence every day more.

«You've gained some weight,» she adds, grinning mischievously. «It's either because you eat more or lack of exercise.»

Well, both...

I'll have to find a way to keep the Duke in check even while being round like a ball. Oh, how much space will I need in a few months?

Also, how much will it hurt to deliver the baby?

A knock on the door makes me startle.

Who can it be, now? It's probably my Duke looking for peace.

«What do you want?» I ask when the door is open. I step back, just to make sure he won't grab me and drag me out.

This room is safe, he won't cross the door without permission.

«Can we talk?» Alexander asks.

«I'm not in the mood, now.»

«Then, later?»

«I don't know,» I utter. I look to the side, uninterested and bored.

«I'll come back and ask you again,» he states.

As if knowing it will change anything.

«You don't have to. I'll look for you when I'm ready to talk. For now, I want to stay far from you. Far and safe.»

«I won't hurt you, Theodora. How can you think like that?»

«How could I not? You don't want this child. What stops you from getting rid of it?»

«I've never said I don't want it! I was just surprised.»

«What do your words mean, then? Impossible, not supposed to end like this... How can I interpret without thinking of the worst?»

«I was just shocked, Thea. Don't cling on every single word.»

I slam the door and walk away in a huff.

«Theodora!» he shouts through the wood.

Kate giggles in a corner, trying to hide her grin from me. She's having fun.

«We weren't even alone when he said that,» I inform her.

Countess de Ruis was there. And the servants.

Everyone must already know about what happened.

«You should have seen his face, Kate. He was so scared.»

«Maybe, it's because his mother died while giving birth to him,» Kate proposes. «It would be understandable.»

Except that it would have been so easy to explain.

«If that was true, he would have simply told me. He can't think of an excuse, which means it's worse than what I imagined. He really wants total control. Just that.»

«Your husband doesn't seem that crazy to me. He's a bit overprotective, but you were in danger quite a few times. It's understandable.»

«This amount of danger is nothing, Kate. No need to freak out just because of that. I survived ten years of war.»

«He did too,» she whispers.

«He wasn't engaged in a war for the whole time.»

He was dealing with other matters when it all started.

«I'm just concerned because I'm not alone anymore. I have to protect another being, not just myself. Until now, Alexander's controlling nature didn't bother me more than necessary. It has always been for good reasons.»

«Maybe, it's the same now. He's worried because it's the wrong time to have a child. The Emperor is still young, and he doesn't have heirs. Your child would be the second in line for the throne, which is indeed a difficult position.»

«Kate, it's always the same: Alexander would have told me if that was the case. It's something else, but I can't grasp if he's angry, scared or disappointed.»

It could be just because he wanted to enjoy the perks of having a young wife. With a child on the way, we can't share the bed like before.

It can't be that! Ah, it would be so immature from his side.

I mean, he's not the only one that'll suffer for it. I also have my needs!

«Men are so complicated,» I complain to Kate.

She simply shrugs. She seems convinced that the time for her to understand how men work won't come soon.