Chapter 61: You’re a woman of few words.

Felix lay sprawled out across the bed, his hands folded behind his back, his gaze fixed to the ceiling as he counted.

"Leto, the physician from the capital. No wonder those scum were stalking you. Who wouldn’t with those new faces and leather cases. Both of them. And they sure looked expensive, proper stitching and brass fittings. And his cloak. Whatever material that thing was made of, sure didn’t look cheap."

He blinked once, "Capital physicians don’t come cheap. The guy is probably wearing more silver right now than I have seen the entire season. Probably gold too."

He turned on his side, forming the scheme in his mind.

"Two nights. Two breakfasts, two dinners, a roof over his head, and even now I have been very generous giving away the room for free. Tomorrow, prices go up. In an offhand manner. ’Hard times, you know how it is.’ Never ask directly. Amateur move.

And then the second thought hit him, and he grinned to himself.

"And the way he kept looking at Dune, soft, attentive, without wanting to be caught in it. This is not nothing. Guests like that do not say no when a beautiful girl asks for something from the market. Little detour tomorrow morning, let her choose something, watch him squirm trying to be polite."

He nodded once in satisfaction with the scheme, and turned on his back, already halfway sleeping. "Three days until Darnay. Many roads will be ahead of him if I do everything properly. Tomorrow’s breakfast is going to be the best one in my house."

He closed his eyes, already feeling the extra silver in his pockets.

Leto emerged from his own room and continued to tuck in the collar of his shirt, finding that Dune was already seated at the dining table downstairs, meticulously placing plates one after another with utmost caution. It was as if a certain tension in his shoulders had been loosened when he noticed her; it seemed almost involuntary on his part.

"Good morning." He walked over to the table. "How were you sleeping?"

"Good."

"That’s good, good." He sat down across from her. "It’s a nice day today. There seems to be some sun today for once."

"Yes."

He waited for her to say something else but failed to get any reply, causing him to chuckle. "You’re a woman of few words."

"Yes."

Felix came in a while later holding a wide pan filled with food, placing it on the table as he did before, slices of bread baked to perfection along with eggs that were cooked perfectly in their centers, slices of cured meat that were browned just right, and a bowl of honeyed berries neatly arranged.

"Food’s ready." Felix settled down in his seat, reaching out for a plate.

Leto’s eyebrows lifted at this. "This looks great. Did you make all this?"

"Of course, I made it." Felix waved his hand as he said that, being modest about it. "Just basic stuff. Just know how to cook."

"This isn’t basic stuff." Leto took a bite of his food and made an appreciative sound. "Delicious, really."

"I’m glad you think so." Felix smiled, with a mouthful of food himself.

They ate in pleasant silence until Felix leaned back and adopted a more casual demeanor. "I’ve heard some weird things going around. Apparently, quite a few people have been traveling toward the capital. Is anything happening there?"

"Ah, yes." Leto chewed more slowly. "Large...festival preparations. It’s very busy this time of year."

"Hmm." Felix nodded thoughtfully. "It sounds pretty strange, considering that, that you would be going the opposite direction when something like that is taking place."

"It has been ten years since I’ve seen my parents." Leto put down his fork. "Thought this would be a good time to make my decision. Anyway, I’ll be able to decide later whether or not to return home for the festival. The truth is, there are better physicians at the capital these days. I wouldn’t miss them much."

"You’re undervaluing yourself here."

"Maybe." Leto shrugged, and then his eyes shifted between Felix and Dune, with a strange look appearing on his face. "Can I ask you something? You’re awfully young to be married. I’m almost thirty, and I’m still not married yet. Honestly, a little envious of your situation."

Felix cleared his throat, trying to sound casual and getting it right for the most part. "Yeah, well, our whole marriage has been an accident to be honest. Neither of us really knew what was happening a month ago. We’re still learning it as we go."

"Is that so." Leto’s eyes traveled to Dune and showed warmth that he made a half-assed attempt to keep neutral.

"She’s a great listener. That part is very easy for her." Felix lightly poked Dune’s arm.

"Yeah, I’m a good listener." Dune stated it frankly, nodding just once.

Leto chuckled softly, and there was something a little bit too fond about his laughter. "That’s a great trait to have in a partner."

"Well, yeah, don’t say it to her too often." Felix grabbed another piece of bread. "She’ll want compliments every day."

"I already expect them," Dune said.

Felix stopped mid-reach. "This is exactly the problem I’m trying to avoid."

The afternoon sunlight filtered into the room through the window in Dune’s room, where Felix sat with his legs crossed in front of her, his hands up with his palms open.

"Now listen, just focus this time, small pull, nothing big all at once." Felix gestured towards her chest. "Now feel where it is, right there, and draw a thread from there, slowly."

Dune’s brow furrowed as she focused. The air started to buzz with power, and Dune’s collar bones glowed with an intensity that spread rapidly upwards to her jawline.

"Whoa, ease up—"

Too late. An intense burst of the raw power of the Numen escaped, knocking Felix to the floor with a surprised gasp as he was jolted with its intensity.

"Ouch." Felix groaned as he looked up towards the ceiling. "Okay, that was definitely too much."

"I’m very sorry." Dune lowered her hands and rested them in her lap, her skin still buzzing with power.

"No, don’t worry about it. We’re getting there." He rubbed his shoulder as he got to his feet. "Try again. This time smaller. Think of it like pouring out of a cup, not dumping the whole thing out."

In the hallway, Leto passed with his head bowed, mulling over something in his mind, without even knowing why, he slowed as he approached her door. The faint sounds came from behind the closed door, barely audible, his hand clenched into a fist at his side, a long-forgotten instinct tightening in his chest.

Then an alarmed voice sounded out from behind the door.

He was already on his feet before he thought about it, opening the door hastily. "Dune, are you alright?"

"Yeah, yeah, we’re fine." Felix was already scrambling to his feet, brushing himself off and raising a hand. "Just doing some training. It’s nothing major."

His eyes bypassed Felix’s, fixing immediately on Dune. The faintest light traced lines of blue along her neck, emanating steadily beneath her skin, and then, as she turned her head toward him, had spread, radiating upward to her jaw, across one cheek, along toward her temple, as though veins that glowed from beneath her skin.

Leto’s breath stuttered, and he reeled backward half a step.

"This—"