Crazy Duke and Fallen Queen

Chapter 13: His Duchess

«Don't talk like that,» the Duke whispers in what sounds more like a request than an order.

His voice is so desperate that I turn my head and openly look at him. His eyes are not glaring anymore, and he looks exactly like a puppy that was scolded by its owner.

«Don't think of yourself as a prisoner, and don't be so polite to me...» he continues.

I startle when he stretches out his hand, but I don't step back when he moves the hair from my shoulder.

«And don't be so afraid. I won't hurt you.»

His hand slips down and caresses my back slowly. He drags me into his arms, and I can't oppose him because I don't want to die. I'm not doing it on purpose. I'd like not to be afraid, but how can I?

When I calm down my breathing, I press my palm on the Duke's chest, and I move it up, slowly.

«I'm sorry,» I mutter, and I lift my gaze on him. «I won't do it again...»

Even though I'm not sure what angered the Duke.

I press my lips on the corner of his mouth, and I wait for any kind of reaction. He doesn't chase me away, nor he presses me down on the mattress. He just stays there, with me in his arms.

«What are you sorry for?» he asks in a rather cold tone.

I smile and surround his neck with my arms, firmly set on avoiding the interrogatory. I kiss his neck the same way he did with me a week ago. Even though so much time passed, I still remember his caresses and the way he called my name.

Since he's not moving, I press him down, and I sit astride on his lap.

If he doesn't want to turn a blind eye, I'll remind him that I still have some utility to him, a pleasant utility at that.

After the decision to accept the truce was taken, I've passed on the second part of the plan for Polis' survival: training a hundred of young, beautiful spies. I was positive I would die, back then, but I wanted those prisoners to live the best they could.

My closest aid found a prostitute with a renowned name, and we asked her to teach the future hostages how to please a person.

I wasn't required to follow that process so closely, but I was curious about something I was so convinced I would never have. I've had the time to learn a thing or two, even though I didn't think I could really use that knowledge.

Thanks to that, now I stand a chance to survive.

I try to lift the Duke's shirt, but he stops my hands and arches his brows, surprised.

«Where did you learn this?» he asks, rather calmly. He doesn't look bothered that his wife just did something as bold as to sit on his lap. He's more curious about where I took the idea from.

I freeze in place, and my blood stops circulating. Without thinking, I've pointed the end of a sharp blade to my throat. No matter how calm a man is, he can't like the thought that his wife had an idea that a virgin shouldn't be able to conceive. Ethirian women aren't allowed to engage in bed activities before marriage, so I should have predicted that the Duke wouldn't just let me play this card. At least, I haven't done anything too lewd. I still can save myself from here.

«I don't understand,» I utter without moving from the Duke's lap. «What is your grace concerned about?»

I wouldn't have thought about doing something like this if I didn't hear the prostitute's explanations first. Still, I can try to act as if it's my true nature.

Does it mean that I'll have to act like this for the rest of my life, not to let the Duke realise that I'm just a shy little girl and not an actual temptress? As long as I have a life to pretend, it's all right! I'll even pretend to like it!