Crazy Duke and Fallen Queen

It's been six months since Alexander left.

He spent this time in the capital, helping the Emperor administering and fighting tax evasion. He sent me letters almost every week, and I had to reply because I was starting to feel guilty if I ignored them.

The first was embarrassing to write, but then I got used to it. Now, I can do it without blushing like a peach.

However, this week, no missive came from the capital.

Maybe, something happened to the messenger. Maybe he fell from the horse or was attacked!

Oh, I don't want to think about the shameless words in the hands of some bandits. Oh, no. It would be too much.

I sigh while moving the accounts to the side and starting the only job that can help my mood: the schools.

I've opened quite a few, starting something similar to a system here in Kyre. Also, I made it so that even little girls were welcome. It wasn't easy, but it was definitely worth it!

At least at the early stages, it's useless to divide boys and girls. They don't even see each other as different. And they learn basic knowledge that will be of use to both.

The headteacher reports to me monthly, and I've started to see the full potential of this project. If I make it work here, I'll send the plans to the capital for the Emperor to take inspiration.

«My Lady, the headteacher is here,» Pericle says from the door. «Do I let him in?»

«Yes, sure,» I reply.

Alexander left his most trusted aide here, which made me realise the reason why my husband seems to always be jobless.

Pericle does most of the work. And what Pericle can't do, I finish.

My husband just leeches off other people's sweat and efforts. But he does it so naturally that he's handsome even if he's lazy.

The headteacher is around thirty years old. A little more, but I'm not sure how much. I asked, and then I forgot.

He's tall. Not as much as Alexander, but more than the average man in the Empire. Also, he has the typical physique of intellectuals: he's thin, not as muscular as a warrior, but enough to let people know he does exercise.

From what Martia says in her letters, this is the trend now in the capital. If I let him go there, he might not come back.

«Please, sit down, Johan.» I point at the chair in front of me, and he sits like every single time I've listened to his reports or requests.

«I brought the budget, my Lady,» he starts. «This month we had lower costs because children prefer playing outdoors when the weather is this hot. No one is willing to focus with the sun shining outside, so most of the schools had one or no attendees.»

«I understand,» I sigh. «I was expecting something like this. We can't make school mandatory, and we can't grant privileges to those who attend. I should have talked with my husband before he left... Now, we can't do anything on our own.»

«When will the Lord return?»

«I'm not sure...»

In truth, I do have the sigil and enough documents to act in Alexander's place. However, I prefer not to use them. We didn't advertise this to everyone, so it might come in handy to have a hidden ace in my sleeve if things get out of control.

However, approving new laws or funds for the schools isn't worth it.

Also, children don't need to go to school the whole year either. It's enough if they attend during winter, and it's easy to make that happen since schools are kept warm and welcoming.

«Let's suspend the lessons for now. Let the teachers have a couple of weeks of holiday. We'll come up with a solution in this amount of time.»

I'd still prefer it if we solved it without using baits nor imperatives.

«I've been locked in here for the whole day. Let's take a walk together,» I say. «It might help us think of something.»

«Yes, my Lady!» he exclaims. He jumps up and opens the door for me.

He's always this fired up. Every time we move from one place to the other. One can see how he likes his job.

It's not just that the salary is good, but I also did my best to build a constructive work environment.

Lady Lyana calls it friendly. She says no one is scared to tell me if there are problems. Indeed, they all run to me every time.

So, it ends up that I'm the one going to Alexander to inform and ask him to solve the issues.

Most of the problems are related to him, anyway.

Why do people come to me, I will never understand.

«Today, it's a bit windy, my Lady. You shouldn't get out without a jacket.»

«Oh, don't worry,» I chuckle. «I won't break.»

As we walk and chat, I hear the main gates opening. Someone important is here.

They don't open the main gate every time, so I guess it's either a big delegation or some noble Alexander likes.

Or, maybe... Oh, what day is it today?

These damn dreams never help me when time is involved! I know what we're supposed to do, but not in what order.

«Let's go see who's here,» I say.

«Yes, my Lady,» the headteacher replies. He offers me his hand, and I accept it out of habit.

A Lady shouldn't walk alone, someone once said. Since people are always afraid something will happen to me at every single step, I started following Kyre's traditions. It's simpler, and I waste less time than trying to change them.

At the gate, no carriage is present.

Ah?

I can see the caravan not far from us, but isn't it a bit early to open the gates? They'll be here in a few hours at least.

Then, I can spot it. A dark shadow, riding the wind.

Both the horse and the knight are black, and one can't decide which one wants to get here sooner.

While the guards and the servants get ready for the return of their Lord, I walk towards the gate and stand there, in a position where he will surely see me.

After all, Alexander never fails at locating me. No matter how chaotic the environment, how crowded the room, he always knows where I am.

I wait for the horse to arrive, and the time feels so long. I know the speed is the limit for the animal, and I know that it's already too much for Alexander's safety.

Yet, it feels so long.

When he finally arrives, the wind stops blowing for a few seconds. I don't hear anything; I don't see anyone else. Only my husband, getting off his horse.

He entrusts the animal to the squires, and then he stretches his back.

Has he seen me? May it be that I can surprise him for once? If I walk behind, he won't know until...

Oh, what a dumb thought.

He turns in my direction the second after I started considering he might have missed me. His grin tells me he knew from the moment he crossed the gate. Or maybe even before.