The Duke's Passion

The day had passed just like that, and it was already nighttime. Once I returned to my husband's quarters, Mildred was there to welcome me. 

"It's been a while, Mildred," I said as I plopped down to the divan, lifting my legs over the other as I leaned back. "How have you been?"

My eyes fell on her, who stood before me. Since that time I punished her, I kept giving menial tasks to Mildred just because I didn't want to see her. 

"I'm doing better, Your Grace. Thank you for your concern." Mildred hung her head low.

Mildred and I knew I wasn't concerned about her. Still, her obedience redeemed herself a little. I had tasked Yul to figure out what Mildred had been to lately, and he told me she was living as quiet as a mouse.

"Mildred, can I really trust you now?" I cocked my head, watching her raise her head to meet my gaze.

"This servant had learned her lesson. I will never betray you, Your Grace."

"That's not what I had asked, Mildred." I scratched my templed. While Lena wasn't here, I should use this opportunity to get Mildred on my side. 

Mildred pursed her lips as she clutched her skirt. "No, Your Grace."

"Oh? Why?"

"My blood never lies, Your Grace." Mildred took a deep breath as her eyes studied my expression, hoping I would understand her good intentions. "I am physically weak and if by chance, someone wanted to extract information from me, they can easily know everything. So, I don't think Your Grace can trust me, but what I can assure you is I will never betray you… purposely."

I nodded my head in understanding as her answer hit the bullseye. Not that I was planning to put my complete trust in her, but I need more people on my side. People I handpicked, and not the people my clan had picked for me. 

"I can't tell if they were trying to spoil me, really," I murmured with that thought crossing my head.

"Pardon?" 

I snapped back from my thoughts and refocused my eyes on her. "Nothing. I like your answer. So, can you deliver a letter to someone?"

"A letter?" 

"Yes." My hand grabbed the armrest and assisted me up. "I would like to send someone a letter, but don't tell anyone about it especially, to my husband and Lena."

"Lena?" her voice laced with confusion but still agreed. "Yes, Your Grace."

I walked towards the desk while Mildred remained standing behind me. I grabbed a parchment, smoothening it out while she prepared my quill and ink. 

"You haven't been on my side for a long time, so you don't know what's happening," I said as I prepared on writing a letter. "But since your performance gained a bit of my trust, I'll try to see you in a different light."

"Thank you, Your Grace."

"As such, keep what I speak to you to your grave." I glanced at her and saw her hung her head low.

"Yes, I will."

I nodded in satisfaction. "Don't trust Lena or Sam… no, don't trust anyone."

"Your Grace, I will do everything as you ordered. But, may I know the reason you had to keep His Grace in the dark?"

My hand that was holding the quill paused. I stared at the blank parchment until a drop of ink dripped on it.

'Why am I keeping Sam in the dark? I don't think I was keeping him in the dark. Sam is smart. Even if he doesn't tell me, I knew that he already figured out I retrieved my memories. So, it was not me who was keeping him in the dark, it was the opposite.' But I didn't tell her that.

"Don't trust him, but don't betray him as well," I said as I started inking the parchment with my letter. "Someday, Mildred, when you can protect yourself from harm, I will tell you everything you need."

"I will keep that in mind, Your Grace."

Silence enveloped the room as I wrote. When I finished the letter, I wrapped the letter but stopped when I was about to seal it. Until now, I never sent a letter to anyone. 

"Your Grace?" Mildred called out in confusion as I stopped before I could seal it with the duke's seal.

A deep exhale escaped my lips, tossing the stamp of my husband, and used my thumb instead. Gasps from Mildred caressed my ear, but I endured the heat of the wax before withdrawing my thumb.

"Your Grace, why did you…" Mildred rushed to my side in worry, staring at my thumb.

"That's my seal, for now, Mildred." I waved nonchalantly before picking up the letter and handed it to her. "Send this to the king of Spade kingdom in secret."

"Your Grace? The king of…"

"Just do it, Mildred." I urged firmly. "Don't let anyone know about it. Make sure, not a single would will know about it." 

Mildred stared into my eyes for a moment before she accepted the letter. "You can count on me, my lady."

"Do it now."

"Yes." 

Just as Mildred turned around and walked away, she halted when I called her. Mildred turned her head around.

"Mildred, be careful." 

A weak smile resurfaced on her lips as she nodded. "I will return with a response, my lady."

"You don't have to. Just return in one piece." 

"Yes." And so, Mildred left the room while I remained seated in the chair for as long as I could remember, staring outside the window.

"Sam… please bear with me just for a little while," I whispered as Fabian's words from the other night hovered over my head. "I won't let you do what you are planning… it won't happen, my love."

*****

Meanwhile, in the east wing of the palace, Zero chuckled as he read the letter in his hand and a glass of wine on the other.

"Oh, dear, does she really hate the idea of marrying me that much?" he chuckled, tossing the letter in the fireplace and watched it burn into ashes. "She and that little duke… those two really know how to annoy me."

"Did she threaten you, Your Majesty?" Tristan inquired as he stood motionless behind Zero.

Zero turned around with a smile. "No, she is... seducing me."

(A/N: THE LIST OF THE LA CROX FAMILY IN THE AUTHOR'S NOTE.)