After playing for the whole morning, Alexander and I get up just in time for lunch. I comb my hair and wear a simple dress while he chooses the clothes for the day.

«See you in a few minutes,» I murmur before reaching the Lady's chamber.

A maid is already waiting for me, so we can immediately start working on my hairstyle. I keep it simple but of impact. Just like the makeup: I draw one tiny black line on my eyelids and apply a rose lip paint. It's barely noticeable, but it makes me look fresh and healthy.

The maid finishes braiding my hair and rolls the braids around my head. I just need a flower, and I'd look exactly like one of those villager girls.

Although, a jewel hair accessory is enough to remind everyone that I'm the Lady of Kyre.

«I'm ready,» I say while walking to Alexander in the waiting room.

He's sitting in front of the nanny, talking to her to spend some time. When his eyes land on me, his smile becomes brighter, and he jumps up. He pecks my cheek because I turn my face to the side before he can ruin the makeup on my lips.

I've spent so much time getting ready, I can't let him ruin it now. Or we'll be even more late, which isn't in the plans. I'd prefer to show our good relationship to Elisabeth as soon as possible.

The faster she realises there's no point in meddling in, the sooner she'll abandon our battle.

We reach the hall a few minutes late, so we find everything ready.

The dining table is already set, and our guests are waiting. Count Grahm is sitting next to my empty chair; his daughter is next to him on the other side.

I won't be able to look at her this way.

Countess de Ruis is at her usual place, in front of me, and Pericle is next to her. My lady in waiting isn't present, as expected.

The rest of the Count's delegations sit at our same table, so the lunch is rather crowded.

While the other end of the table is noisy and chatting, where we are placed is silent and odd.

I don't have anything to say; my Duke is eating his meat without paying much attention to anything. Count Grahm is waiting for us to start a conversation, while Elisabeth is probably itching to find an argument that would attract some attention to her.

If she's here, she wants to show that she would do a better job than me as Duchess Kyre. Too bad that these people don't need a duchess but a Lady.

First of all, if she's a fine lady, she won't eat much. That will contrast with my appetite. The news about my pregnancy hasn't got out of Stoneyard, so she'll try pointing out that I eat too much.

Or my Duke will say I eat too little. Let's see what happens first.

«Are you feeling all right?» Alexander murmurs when I put down the knife.

«No,» I pout. «But the meat is too difficult...»

«I'll do it,» he chuckles and moves my plate closer to him to have a better hold.

His right hand's fingers keep the food while he uses his knife to cut it. His gloved left hand has no problem handling the blade. The wound has almost healed, yet he keeps the glove on for some reason.

I've been the one cutting his food recently, but today I need his doting attitude for my advantage. He'll be the one to cut my food and worry for me this time. Alexander knows what I'm trying to do, so he'll be collaborative.

Once done, he washes his right hand in the bowl with warm, scented water.

It was so difficult, at first, to get used to eating without a fork. Yet, now it's normal. I just needed something to happen to understand how easy it has been to adapt to Kyre. I, who never left my city, managed to feel at home in such a cold place.

Not even the Countess's annoyed stare is as bothersome anymore.

It all feels like a part of my life.

«Thank you,» I reply when Alexander returns my plate back to me. Even if I'm sitting a couple of seats to the left of a potential love rival, I don't feel any urge to show Alexander's affection to me.

I was planning to, in the beginning, but then I got distracted. I don't have the panic of the first times, that fear of being left alone. I know he'll stay even if I don't act the way he wants.

Before realising what I'm doing, I squeeze the gloved hand and smile at Alexander. He turns his palm up and holds mine as well.

Even his cunning grins have changed after telling me his story. It's as if every wall between us has shattered, leaving space only for talk and understanding.

«I was hoping to hear some suggestions, Duke Kyre,» Grahm says after our show is over. «How should I approach the northern border? Are there some peculiar aspects to take into account?»

«The barbarians haven't attacked in a century or so,» Alexander replies, not paying attention to the way the Count called him. «There won't be problems.»

«I hope to be at par with your previous work, even though it looks tough. The legendary Lord of Kyre isn't easy to replace.»

Indeed, that's right. It would be a pity if something went wrong just while the Count is entitled to manage the northern border...

Mhm, that could be a fast way to deal with him.

«How important is the northern border?» I inquire. «His majesty made me believe it was just a line drawn on the maps, but I guess it's not that smooth...»

«It's the most stable among Ethiro's borders, so people tend to believe it's easy to manage.» My husband shrugs while answering and bites some bread soon after.

Interesting. The stablest border.

«Is that so?» I chuckle. «You're too humble, my dear. You should have pointed out your struggles...»

«There weren't big struggles, actually.»

«Oh, but you shouldn't let anyone underestimate your work.»

«All right, I won't,» he accepts.

«Am I right, Count Grahm?» I ask the man to my right.

«Indeed,» he mutters, uneasy. He wasn't expecting me to directly talk with him without anyone interpellating me.

He knows that I'm doing it on purpose, with the intention to show my role. But his daughter doesn't. She's too naive. First of all, because she tagged along hoping to have a chance to replace me.

In the end, she'll stay a few months in the cold north and then leave for her honeymoon.

«How are things in the capital?» I inquire, showing some interest in what they have to say.

Alexander isn't even glancing at them if they don't talk to him, so I'll have to carry on a polite conversation.

We don't want a voice of how savage people in the north are to reach the rest of the Empire, do we?

«We haven't heard almost anything since we returned to Kyre. How is his majesty doing? Is his health good? Are his speeches as dashing as always?»

While Count Grahm starts reporting to me about the last events, Elisabeth stares with a gloomy look in her eyes. She would like to do something, but she's powerless here, in my territory.

Even with the Count in between, I can sense her glare. Too bad I don't care enough to reply.

I'll tell her later to learn how to hide her thoughts, for not everyone is as tolerant as I am. Where she is going, no one will care for her. No one will tell her how to behave.

Somehow, I can relate. I was in a similar situation in the beginning.

Or at least, I thought I was. In the end, I had a supportive husband on my side, while Elisabeth will be completely alone.

She won't be able to reach the positions her family dreams of. She doesn't have the qualities to be an Empress.

I haven't ever been to Asteria, and all I knew was from gossip and my mother's talk. Their court is even more complicated than Ethiro's.

Men can have several wives other than the official one.

They're more like concubines than legal wives, to be precise. Their children don't have the same rights as those of the lady of the house. But they can dream of changing their status over time. The first wife isn't the first to arrive but the one who the husband cherishes more.

My mother was happy to have wed out of Asteria. She preferred being the only one for her other half, being it my father or the man she married after that.

Not that she feared concurrence, but she just enjoyed the stable position it gave her.

I, too, am glad we're not in Asteria. Just the thought of sharing my husband makes me crook my mouth.

Thank goodness Alexander has grown up with the teaching that marriage vows are sacred.