Crazy Duke and Fallen Queen

«Oh no, my Lady,» the maid exclaims. «The first Lady has her own portrait.»

Of course she does, I'm looking at her.

There is a small painting next to the huge one with the last Lord and Lady. There's a woman alone in it. It's a half-length portrait.

Her hands are joined in the front, showing a beautiful emerald ring. Her fingers are tiny and long, elegant like only a princess can be. Her black hair is straight and loose on her shoulders, while a little smile lingers on her lips.

What attracts all the attention, though, are her eyes. Blue like the purest of the gems.

The exact same shade as the eyes in my dreams. I've seen them many times before finally seeing the child whom they belonged to.

«This is my husband's mother?» I mumble, even though it's rather clear. I can see the similarities in the shape of their eyes, even if the colours are so different.

«Yes, it is, my Lady.»

«Are there similar portraits anywhere else in the castle? I feel like I've seen her already somewhere...» I whisper, but it would be too simple if that was true.

Nothing regarding my husband has been simple till now. I won't find out where I've seen her eyes using logic alone.

The colour really is beautiful. It's not weird that I used it for my dreams. But how could I choose just the same shade without seeing it first?

I'm just as crazy as my Duke.

Ah, no. There must be a reason. Maybe, I've seen some portrait and liked the colour, so I subconsciously used it for my dreams...

«This is the only painting which the Lady posed for. She gave birth to the Lord soon after,» the maid says, ruining all my potential explanations.

So, I am crazy.

«Let's go back,» I whisper and turn to the door. It's better to return before my Duke finishes his tasks and realises I'm out of the office.

In the afternoon, I get ready to meet with the teacher. He's waiting for me in the classroom, so I need to get there quickly and unnoticed.

As soon as I open the door, I find Alexander standing there with his arms crossed.

«You need to get out to meet that person,» he spits out.

«What? Are you jealous of the teacher now?»

«No, but I'm envious. He has the privilege to talk with my wife. He's a lucky man.»

«You won't get away with a couple of words, Alexander. I want a sincere explanation.»

I close the door and step back.

«He won't barge in here,» I say to Kate. «Let's go.»

She opens the secret passage, and we venture in the dark hallways of Stoneyard.

«It's cold here,» I shiver. I move the shawl to cover my neck and shoulders, and we accelerate our steps.

We end just in front of the classroom, in an empty hallway.

«Wonderful,» I giggle. It all went smoothly.

I can't believe that Alexander doesn't know about the passages, though. He must be distracted, right now.

«How has it been so far?» I ask the teacher.

«The children aren't as hard to deal with as I thought they would be,» he confesses in a whisper.

«I bet their parents warned them to behave,» I chuckle. «And what about the educational programme? I'd sent you a draft, but you can arrange it as you see fit. Also, it might be good to adapt to children's talents. Your job is to obtain the most out of them.»

«Yes, my Lady. Some are very diligent. Like the little one in the corner. He's working very hard to learn how to write.»

I turn in the direction pointed by the teacher, and I see a focused Olly writing letters. His eyes are on the paper, and his lips are pursed. His cheeks look so round that I'd pinch them.

«That's good,» I nod. «This one will become one of my aides when he grows up.»

It's a bit of a long-term bet, but he'll surely do well if he keeps working.

Feeling our stares, Olly lifts his head and smiles brightly when he recognises me.

«My Lady,» he shouts while running to me. «Look!»

Three letters are on the paper: Oly.

«You forgot an L,» I point out.

«It's here!» he says, pointing in the middle. «L.»

«Olly has two Ls.»

«Oh, really?» he pouts. «It's wrong...»

«It's not wrong,» I correct him while patting his head. «It's just a bit imprecise. You can add the L, and it will be just all right.»

«Oh, I can correct it,» he nods.

«Right.»

Is that a new word or something?

«My Lady, I'm working hard to learn,» he confesses. «I don't want my Lady to send me away.»

«Why would I send you away, Olly? You're such a good child!»

«Because my Lady will have a baby,» he whispers, while his eyes fill with tears. «Olly won't be needed, then...»

«Oh, my! Do you really think that I'm keeping you here because I like having children around?» I chuckle. Well, it's part of the truth, but I won't chase away anyone because I got a baby...

«It's not like that?»

«No,» I reply, shaking my head and crouching down. «You are you, Olly. Not the replacement of a child.»

«I won't be sent back to the village?»

«Of course not. Do you really think that of me? That I'm a villainous Lady that throws away the people she doesn't need? Not to mention that I'll need you. You have to help me, so now just focus on learning how.»

Wait a moment, how does he know about the baby?

«Is it already public knowledge?» I mumble.

«What is that?»

«Does everyone know that I'm with child?»

«Yes, my Lady,» he nods. «Everyone is happy. I am too now!»

Could it be Countess de Ruis? I don't think so. She doesn't have any reason to talk around. Especially after the half-argument Alexander and I had in front of her.

No, if news got out, then Alexander is the one that at least allowed. If he isn't the one behind the leak of information.

Now that everyone knows about it, he can't hurt me. It's kind of insurance he's offering me.

«I have to go now,» I say while getting up. I eye Kate in a corner and nod to her.

«Are we going back?» she inquires, moving her weight from a foot to the other.

«Yes, but not through the secret passage. I'll use the normal doors.»

«Aren't you afraid your husband will see you?»

«No, I'm not afraid.» I smile, and Kate relaxes her shoulders. «I can't continue to hide like this. Nine months is a long period. I will get distracted, or I'll make some mistake. This has to be solved at the root of the problem.»

«Are you going to kill the Lord?» she frowns.

«No, I'm not,» I chuckle. «I won't kill him. After all, I like him. I'll just explain how I feel, and I'll give him enough reasons to love this child.»

She follows me closely, but she doesn't add anything.

When we cross the door to the private chambers, she disappears in the servants' corridor.

The nanny has already gone home, and the maids are nowhere to be seen. It's just Alexander and me.

I open the door to the bedroom, but I don't find him anywhere.

It must be early for sleeping, indeed.

I walk back to the office, and I find him there.

He's sitting on the exact same spot where I left him, and he's staring at his hands on his lap.

His head is bowed, and his shoulders are drooping.

«Alexander,» I call him in a whisper, and he jumps on the chair.

He gets up and looks at me with his eyes wide open.

«Thea,» he replies, realising a second too late that he used my nickname without permission.

Then, he rubs his hair with his sound hand, and he sighs dejected.

«I mean, Theodora.»

«We're going to have a child soon. You can call me Thea if that makes you so happy,» I concede.

He lifts his brows and opens his mouth, but he doesn't say a thing. He's just dazing at me.

«We need to talk,» I say, more to wake him up than for any real reason. «Alone and with calm.»

«Yes, of course!»

«I'll reach you in the bedroom in a minute or two. You can go ahead.»

He's thinking that I'm lying just to find a way to reach the office, but I do have the intention to clear this misunderstanding. I don't have enough energy to continue like this.

It's pointless, unhealthy and tiring.

«I just need something from the office, I'll be there soon,» I repeat.

«I'll be waiting,» he mutters while crossing the door.

He waited for me for the whole afternoon, I have no doubts that he will do the same for a little more.

«I know,» I shrug. I can afford to act as the one that can predict everything for once, can't I?