Crazy Duke and Fallen Queen

The sun wakes me up before the maids dare to barge in here.

Luckily, for it would be difficult to understand why the Lord and his wife are sleeping in another room.

The servants don't know anything about the divorce yet, so they might have assumed we argued. And now, that we have made peace.

But who knows what they'll think after I don't move back to the Lord's apartment?

Oh, maybe they'll assume I moved just to be closer to my baby. That would be a simple explanation for all the strange things that are happening.

This room was prepared in a hurry, so there isn't a clock. I'll have to ask a maid what time it is.

Lavinia is still sleeping, so it can't be too late.

During the journey, she took the habit of waking up around seven for her meal. She's getting heavier, so I can't carry her around for too long without getting tired now.

Oh, the journey exhausted us. Alexander is sleeping soundly, snoring lightly.

I reach out for his jaw and close his mouth. The snoring stops, but he complains about something in his dreams. He even frowns.

The arm firmly surrounding me tightens the grip, and I'm dragged on his chest. A few seconds more, and the snoring returns.

Ah, he's so tired as well.

When I can, I slip out of bed and call the maid to bring some hot water. I change in the waiting room to avoid disturbing the sleeping Lord.

Once in my daily clothes, comfortable and relaxed, I ask for the time.

«It's almost eight o'clock, my Lady.»

Eight... Already?

«And Lavinia didn't wake up?»

«The young miss is still sleeping. She must be tired from the journey,» the maid replies. Her cheeks are rosy, her eyes shining content.

Is my daughter already stealing hearts?

«Oh, well, I guess you're right,» I sigh.

But what about the older child? Is Alexander going to wake up soon?

I ask for breakfast and sit on the sofa, wondering whether waking up the Lord of Kyre or his first daughter is as big as a crime.

I don't have the title of Lady protecting me anymore.

The first one to wake up is the daughter. She's hungry.

After finishing her meal, she returns to sleep in Kate's arms.

Maybe, it's time to disturb Alexander. If it goes on like last time, he'll wake up at midday.

A knock at the door further convinces me to interrupt Alexander's slumber.

«My Lady, there are people waiting for the Lord,» a maid whispers, bowing her head with red cheeks.

«Who? The local lords? The administrators?»

«Some people from outside. They said some weir had problems, and the rains will start soon...»

«Ah, the weir again,» I mumble while walking in the room.

I have no other choice now.

As soon as my fingers reach his shoulder, Alexander opens his eyes and drags me under him. He immobilises me on the bed and glares with his dark eyes.

«Oh, it's you,» he realises. He lets me go a bit too soon for my perverted self, but there are indeed more urgent matters to settle.

«You have to check on the weir,» I say. «Some people came looking for you.»

«All right,» he accepts while searching his clothes.

«There is a clean set of clothes in the wardrobe,» I inform him.

I'm very provident. I thought about it in advance.

«And also some water to clean up, even if it is not hot anymore.»

It's urgent. Next time, we can even have a bath together in the morning. I'll have to wake him up earlier so that we're done in time for Lavinia to have her meal.

«I will bring your daughter to you when you're done. Send someone to inform me about your schedule for this afternoon.»

«All right,» he moans, wishing to complain but too in a hurry for that.

His eyes are barely open, and he yawns every two or three actions.

«I also have something to talk about with you. If you have time.»

«I will always have time for you,» he replies. «Let's have tea together.»

«We don't have to let Lavinia suffer for this, right?» I murmur.

I glance at him from under my eyelashes, and Alexander grins happily while looking at me.

«I will try,» he says.

«And also, remember this is an illicit affair.» I fix the collar of his shirt and fasten the last button for him. Then, I peck his lips and look at his tired expression.

«Don't worry too much,» he says.

I walk with him to the door. I open it and wait for him to get out. A smile is always on my lips, making it too clear that there is no argument going on.

«We can also let the nanny see Lavinia,» I remember.

The old granny didn't see her yet.

«As soon as Vinnie recovers from the journey. I didn't hear her cry today,» Alexander chuckles.

«You didn't hear her because you were sleeping like a bear.»

«Oh, that's it. I'm relieved.» He bows over and lands a peck on my forehead before walking out in the cold hallway.

Illicit relationship? Keeping it a secret?

I don't know if he just forgot about it. Maybe, he just doesn't know how secrets are kept...

I rest for the whole morning, have lunch with Kate, and converse with lady Lyana after so many months apart.

She doesn't ask about this new accommodation, and I don't say anything about the topic. There are way more urgent matters.

«Let's reduce the budget for the schools for the time being,» I say.

I can't use Kyre's money as if I was the Lady. But I can't stop all the projects I started. At least, I have some savings to invest in some of them.

Not that anyone will complain, I'm still doing it for the whole region's well-being. But first, I'll have to regularise my position in some way. Being an employee with a symbolic salary should be all right, I guess. And only if this isn't solved earlier.

After all, I don't plan on staying divorced for long.

«How are our printing houses doing?»

During my absence, two other laboratories were added to the circle. Now, I'm the owner of three printing houses. I have contracts with the principal booksellers to expose our newspapers as well.

Lady Lyana had the idea to employ at least one person in every big city and add a sheet with local news on the pages. It doesn't have to be a high-quality edition, for now. Just filling four pages will do.

Right now, I have about twenty reporters working for me. Soon, there will be a hundred if I keep this pace.

With the money I earned in the capital, I can build a business out of this little hobby. And there will be enough left to buy something for Lavinia and Alexander.

«I brought this from the capital for you, lady Lyana,» I say, offering her a small box. I give it to her directly, without leaning it on the table.

I don't need any protocol for this informal situation, right?

«For me?» lady Lyana repeats. Her eyes widen, and she bites her lips to contain a smile.

  «Correct. I hope you like it.»

She undoes the ribbon and opens the box. She observes the set of jewels inside with astonishment.

«This is too much for me...» she starts, but I stop her with a movement of my arm.

«Please, don't say you don't deserve it. You helped Kyre during my stay in the capital. And you expanded my business like a professional. I would be an ingrate if I didn't acknowledge your worth, lady Lyana. More than a lady in waiting, you're my assistant. The first aide I have in Stoneyard.»

«I'm honoured, my Lady.»

I'll have to correct everyone when they say my Lady, won't I?

But now there is something more urgent. Like checking that nothing went wrong while we were away.

«Let me see the finances for these last few months. Have you prepared a detailed report already, by any chance?»

«I have the monthly reports ready for my Lady. I can deliver the seasonal accounts and reports by tomorrow if it's urgent.»

«It's not actually urgent, but I prefer to have it by the end of the morning. At most early afternoon. Can you do it?»

  «I can try,» she murmurs, conflicted.

«Nothing will happen if you fail,» I reassure her. «The monthly reports are all right, after all...»

«Oh, no! I'll try, at least!»

She greets me and hurries to the office. She comes back just in time with the document. It's full of small mistakes, but the overall numbers are correct, and the rates were computed with care.

She had everything ready and just needed to write it down.

«Awesome,» I exclaim. «With this, I'll have one more chance!»

I pack everything in my pouch and walk into Lavinia's room.

«It's time to visit your dad,» I say to her. She wakes up just in time and grimaces at me.

Her black eyes shine just like Alexander's. It makes me love her even more every time I remember how similar they are.