'I don't see you threatening enough'

Aside from being the Duke of House Clement, Alexander's known for his other alias—the Rebel Duke.

From the moment he took the position after his father succumbed to an illness seven years ago, Alexander Clement made it his life mission to rebel against the empire every chance he got.

He barely attended the Gathering and even ignored some orders made by the emperor himself. But since he's bringing in a lot of businesses and goods—in short, money—for the empire, the emperor and his council tolerated him. If he wasn't such a capable duke, his House would've fallen too. Thus far, the punishments he received were of mere monetary value, so rumors started that the emperor's advisors purposely gave out demands they knew the duke would turn down so they could punish him.

The day before the Gathering, Duke Clement received an invitation that he planned to ignore. But some kind of hidden force pushed him to do otherwise. Typically, the invitation arrived with a list of topics that needed deciding in the Gathering. Alexander always sent his secretary with his reply, but the invitation this time only stated the urgent need of his attendance because House Florence was attending.

'House Florence, huh?' He thought.

Aside from a select few, no one saw the duchess since the incident happened some years ago. The late Duke and Duchess of House Florence barely introduced her to society when she was younger too. Security was one reason they hid her from the public, but it was excessive to the point that Amelia grew up with little connection, which was especially important for a ruler.

When House Florence fell some years ago, Alexander had just been duke for a couple of months. House Florence was as old as the royal family — though some supporters claimed they were even older. With this, they hold no obligation to the emperor. They could have taken the throne for themselves, but they chose not to. So, among the aristocrats and nobles, it's given to only be in the good graces of House Florence.

The incident shook the entire empire. Even Alexander had the matter investigated since Osmea was a neighboring duchy, and if that happened to the family of an old House, it could happen to anybody else.

"Symon," Alexander placed the invitation in one of his drawers. "Call the inn. We're going to the capital in two days. Tell them to prepare the usual and add some gifts too."

"Yes, your grace."

"Oh, and we're taking the route along the shore since it's faster. Have them prepare my horse." Symon bowed his head and left.

The number of treasuries that House Florence has was barely half of House Clement's wealth. Though they're not very wealthy, considering their status, the family was very influential and had a lot of supporters. Despite this, Osmea flourished again under the rule of Amelia with her unconventional but practical innovations.

House Florence has the people, and his House has the wealth—it's not a bad match for the both.

**********

Alexander clearly remembered how he arrived expectantly a little after House Robina did and how annoyed he was at all the eager parents. They eyed him like a prized stallion—a prospective son-in-law. They talked about how smart, kind, and beautiful their daughters were, but chasing some lowly skirts was not on his agenda.

"I wonder if she's gotten prettier," he whispered as his eyes swept across the hall.

He traveled from the far end of the empire to see the rumored duchess; not do idle talks with people he doesn't even care about. He was getting annoyed. The time he spent pretending to be interested in the conversations they forced him to take part in was far too much. Symon caught his master glaring at his poor soul more than a dozen times, demanding that he get the duke out of the bothersome situation.

By the time the knights announced House Florence and House Mulford's entrance, heads turned immediately. They exchanged whispers and stares as the first-ever woman to rule over a duchy crossed the threshold. But Alexander already used his much-reserved energy and chose to stay at one of the balconies far from the crowd.

From the balcony, the duke followed her every move. From the moment she confidently strode in to greet the emperor to her fluttering cape and long silver hair held back by a red ribbon that swayed as she took her seat. Her indifferent expression and seemingly bored eyes caught his attention.

When the greeting finished, the emperor announced the reason for such a gathering, and an audience started. And much to the worry of his poor secretary, Alexander handed all concerns regarding Thuenia to Symon. But the number of people asking for an audience hasn't even lessened when a commotion initiated by the foolish Earl Levi, who just didn't know when to stop, ruined the emperor's mood.

There was a rumor floating around for months that he tried to whore his daughter to a Marquis, hoping to land it big. But little did he know, the Marquis left for a foreign country for diplomatic obligations and has yet to return. Alexander also knew the mountain of marriage proposals that left his mansion almost every week.

"May I know your name again, sir?" he heard the duchess casually ask, pretending to be the naïve young duchess everyone saw her as.

Duke Clement couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

'Ah, this is getting fun,' he thought. His eyes remained fixated on the statuesque beauty from across the hall.

Standing beside the bear-like duke of House Mulford, the duchess stood only a tad shorter, and Alexander hasn't seen such a tall lady of her age before.

A few more touches of sarcasm went back and forth, and as the duke scanned the hall, he noticed the same fixated gaze the emperor gave the duchess. And as if he read the emperor's mind, his gaze narrowed at Amelia, and he inhaled sharply before making his way in front of the crowd.

"There's no need for that. Tonight, I have decided that the Duchess is the most suitable lady to be the next Emp—"

'Not tonight, your highness, oh great Dragon of the empire,' he sarcastically thought as he took significant steps across the room towards the stunned duchess. 'Not tonight.'

He did what he thought would make things easier on the moment's spur, and everything was history. It wasn't one of his proudest moments, not only as a duke but also as a man.

Though the night ended with the duchess fainting, Alexander brushed what he did as nothing but an easy solution to what Earl Levi was pestering Amelia about. His ears couldn't take any more of his scruffy voice that one more minute long and he'd probably sent a fist or two—call it a nice save.

The young duke just saw the duchess again, and all he heard was talks about marriage and more arrangements. Amelia just became a duchess—motivated, young, and…

But as soon as he left for Thuenia, he realized that what happened wasn't short of being critical—or easier. His secretary nagged him nonstop on their way home; how it would look for his House and his already brandished image of a scandalous duke. Angering the emperor, too, was not something he could sweep under the rug this time.

As always, Alexander hardly showed any remorse for what he did. He knew his duchy was an essential part of the empire, that if he closed his borders, no one would have access to the ports. Without access to the ports, business all over the empire will suffer—the duke exactly knew how to take advantage of such information.

But that's for the emperor to rack his brain on.

What lingered in Alexander's mind were the lips he took that night. How the softness of it lingered on his lips that no matter who or how he was kissed since then, no one compared equally to it. His thoughts and his nights were all full of Amelia's face, her gestures, the way she talked, and the way her crystal blue eyes widened in surprise with his kiss.

For goodness' sake, not even sex with his most attractive and most skilled little kitten, Adrianna, took his mind off her.

He wanted to visit Osmea for days since he came back from the imperial palace. But he had to delay because the weather wasn't good for riding. So, he spent his days buying gifts to send to House Florence instead. He was so engrossed with it; he neglected his lovers for a week and amassed three carriages full of it.

But Alexander felt like he's missing something, something that would definitely make the duchess happy.

"I'm going out," he said as he grabbed his coat from his chair.

"B-b-but you still have a lot—"

"I said, I'm going out."

His secretary could almost see his poor overworked soul slowly creeping out of him again.

**********

Alexander went to see the famous blacksmith hiding in one of the back alleys in his town.

"Gollan," he called when he entered the shop. "Make me a small dagger from black iron. And I need it in a week." He demanded. He recalled how it struck him odd that throughout her dealing with Earl Levi, the duchess rarely took her hand away from her sword, yet she didn't exude an aura of wanting to kill anyone with it.

"Black Iron? And in a week? That's impossible, your grace."

"I'll double your labor."

"But black iron is—"

Alexander glared at the man. He's known as a great blacksmith, but he's a little cunning too.

"You will accept my order, or I will take that little rat of yours that always scampered to the black market at who knows where to procure your supply of black iron and other illegal materials."

Gollan dared to glare at the duke with clenched fists, but he wasn't expecting that he would already be staring at him too. There was a moment's silence in the workshop, with Alexander's vibe oozing with the intent to wreck everything if he didn't get what he wanted when he wanted it.

"Okay, okay. I accept, but at least give me two weeks." Gollan placed his hands on the counter.

"Do I look like I have two weeks to spare?"

The blacksmith wiped his sweat with his arm as his eyes shifted from side to side. In the end, he couldn't do anything but nod his head.

"Good. My men will come again in a week." With that, Alexander left the shabby store and went to roam around town with his hood on.

A week went by too slowly for the duke. To pass the time, he held audience longer than he usually did. He spent the rest of the day reading documents, and at night he went to Gardenia to let off some steam, but every time he did, he'd lost interest in the middle—much to the frustration of his dear kittens.

"Your grace, Gollan sent his regards along with this box." His secretary held a long red box outlined with gold. The duke beamed and clapped his hands at the sight of it.

"Perfect! It will take at least two days at most to cross the border to Osmea. Have the carriages leave by sun up tomorrow and double the guards. I don't want any mishaps to happen along the way. I will ride my horse and follow you once I'm finished here."

Alexander was held back for a day after the carriages left. He needed to personally look into some more pressing issues, so he took the mountain route and went through the forest border of Osmea. As he thought, no one was surveying the forests surrounding the duchy. It would be easy for anyone to lie in wait and ambush unsuspecting hunters or researchers.

He will have to investigate this matter when he formally lay out his proposal to the duchess.

**********

Though the duke took his time to survey a portion of the forest of Osmea on his way to House Florence's castle, Alexander arrived just in time and saw his servants bringing in the gifts. He expected that they'd already dispatched everything by the time he came. But looking at the lot in the courtyard, the duke could think of two things that possibly happened; either they took it slowly with the transport or had some resistance with whoever received them.

'Must be some resistance with that old man,' he thought as he saw the stern face of the old Vance Thomson.

"It hurts me that you think of my gifts that way, my love," he said as he dismounted his horse and gave the reigns to a nearby knight.

He walked through the crowd of House Florence's servants, and he could sense the ill-intent of some of them as he approached closer, though some swooned at his sweet endearment.

Of course, the only expression that mattered to Alexander was not of the servants but of House Florence's duchess, who seemed to have taken residence in the corner of his mind.

When he finally reached the duchess, he looked at her face devoid of any expression he could discern, "I've been aching to see you, Duchess Florence." Alexander bowed his head and placed his palm against his chest.

When there was no response, he reached for the duchess' hand and smiled at the tension she placed. But he's not one to embarrass himself in front of his knights and secretary, especially her people. So, despite the force Amelia set on her hand, he brought her hand to his lips.

Intense eyes bore a hole in his back.

He felt the duchess flinch, and he smiled wider after Amelia pulled her hand abruptly, "How are you these past few weeks? I hope you had a lot of time to think about me."

Alexander could hear her servants' whispers, so he turned around to face them.

He lightly bowed and said, "I will be in your good graces during my stay. Please be kind to me and my men," once again, he flashed his perfected dukely smile, and the younger maidservants blushed. The men were not so welcoming. He looked over the side of the duchess and saw her ladies-in-waiting; one, Lady Constance Rosewall, he was already familiar with, didn't seem to look the least happy of his sudden appearance. The other one looked displeased too, but the other stared at him with a stifled giggle, so he smiled extra charmingly.

"Can we, perhaps, talk inside?" Symon Costen interrupted.

It was nearing noon, and the sun was exceptionally harsh after hiding away for days.

"I-I apologize. How rude of me." Vance bowed deeply and gestured his hand inside. "Prepare the rooms for our guests. Lead the horses to the stable, feed and water them properly." He ordered with a deep and clear voice, and the servants quickly scampered out of the way.

Amelia, who has yet to utter a single word, followed her guardian along with her ladies-in-waiting; then Symon Costen, and finally the duke of House Clement.

"Lia," Vance called, "Ah, pardon. I mean, Duchess, why don't you have a private word with the duke? After all, he came all the way here and brought you a wonderful gift."

Alexander gave the advisor a curt smile. Though he sounded considerate, he seemed to force the word out of his mouth. It was not as if he didn't trust the duke; there was no reason not to trust him after all that he has helped before.

"Ah, ye-yes… Of course," Like a kid who suddenly got ordered around, Amelia clumsily held together her broken composure.

She called a servant over and ordered her something before she bowed her head and fled. The duchess also asked Lady Constance to help her advisor keep Symon company as her secretary.

When Amelia readied herself to leave, her other ladies-in-waiting stood up before her and straightened their dresses.

"No." the duchess said, and the two exchanged confused looks. "I'd like to talk privately with the duke. Stay here and learn as much as you can from Vance and Constance. Either of you might stand in as my secretary in times that Constance is unavailable."

A little hesitant, the ladies-in-waiting curtsied and said in unison, "As you wish, your grace."

The other three stood up and bowed their heads as the duchess led the way for the duke.

**********

Alexander followed behind the duchess at a considerable distance until they reached the inner garden at what seemed to be the center of the castle. It was expansive with its high glass ceiling and wide windows overlooking the training grounds close to the east wing's courtyard. He's said that it's the late duchess' favorite place since she could watch the late duke during training.

"Aren't you too lenient with your security?" Alexander said when he noticed how he's only seen not even a handful of souls in the hallways and they're mostly servants to boot! With what happened before, he thought they'd be swarming with guards. Naturally, any high-ranking noble would have at least six guards on standby and about two or three personal knights, but there's just him—and her!

"If I am by myself, I'm more than enough." came the quick reply.

The duke paused, and a small smile surfaced, 'Ah, so the Dancing Rose must be real,' the duke thought. It's a nickname he heard of the duchess. Though he hadn't seen it himself, some of his spies had a feast talking about it some years ago, so her skills must be something.

His smile turned into a smirk as his hand, as fast as light, grabbed Amelia's wrist and pulled her towards him, clutching her waist with his other arm.

He stayed alive after slithering his arm around her body with so many able knights present and in front of the emperor nonetheless, but he couldn't savor how her body felt against him then. He was so nervous at that time, and he didn't even know what kind of spirit possessed him when he suddenly kissed the duchess. He had his ears full of scolding from his secretary and some of his council members who came to speak with him about it. Even his notorious Shadow Knights said that his bold gesture took a few years off their lives.

"I doubt otherwise," Alexander whispered. His face inches away from the duchess.

Amelia was taken aback. She forgot how to breathe — would it be rude to breathe when someone's too close? Men surrounded her every day for two years at House Mulford's training grounds, and some were even comfortable enough to change in front of her. They never saw her like a lady— 'Oh, that's why.' Amelia realized.

On a daily basis, while she was under Duke Mulford's care, no one treated her like a lady. They treated her as a fellow knight-in-training. She bared some skin, and no one really cared—maybe except the horrified look of the servants looking after her when they found out, but Duke Mulford just brushed it off laughing.

"Shouldn't the famous Dancing Rose be getting away from this?" Alexander's voice almost cracked. He expected the duchess to scream or have broken at least a rib or two. But she remained wrapped in his arms; the duke barely kept himself sane.

The feel of her body against his was enticing. Her sweet smell. Her strong wrist he's held for quite some time now. Her soft but supple skin was underneath his palm. The feel of her mounds against his chest. Her silver hair that she let loose. Her mesmerizing crystal blue eyes. Her neck, her well-defined clavicle, and broad shoulders; her narrow waist. And how could he forget her lips?

"I…" Alexander fixated on the mouth that moved in front of him, "I don't see you threatening enough."

Alexander froze and blinked. Did he hear her right?

In the heat of the moment, Alexander laughed and threw his hands in the air.

"I give up," he said after. He massaged his neck and sat by the table prepared for them. He watched the duchess recollect herself and straighten her dress as she walked towards him, and he blushed at her flushed look.

'Of course, I'm not trying to kill her or anything,' he reasoned to himself, 'but I thought what I did was threatening enough for a lady.'

Alexander shook his head. He needed to get how she felt against him out of his head if he's to make any sound decision at all. It was not him to be so hung up on a woman. He thought of calling one of his lovers to Gardenia, but he also found himself asking if anyone would quench his thirst enough for him to forget the duchess even for a short while.

**********

Amelia quietly served Alexander some tea and even cut the pastry and handed it over. When she finished, it dawned on her that she was wearing light indoor clothes because she wasn't expecting any visitors—and no one really came past her palace gates without being stopped a meter away.

"The tea will get cold," she noted as her fingers tucked some stray hairs behind her ear. She always wanted to cut her hair short because it kept getting in her way of training, but both sons of Duke Mulford and her ladies-in-waiting vehemently opposed it, saying that it's the only thing that made her look like an actual lady.

"Ah, yes. Thank you." Alexander couldn't find the right words to respond. He took a sip, stared at the cup, and looked at Amelia with a somewhat conflicted look.

"Would you rather have coffee instead, Duke Clement?" she asked as she brought the cup to her lips.

"Ah… no, this is fine. Thank you."

On the other end of the table, Amelia stole glances of the duke, who quietly and openly received the tea and pastry. She thought that, as much as she didn't see him as a threat, he must also deem her harmless. She could have easily slipped something in the tea, but he just took it and sipped when she told him.

Amelia stifled a chuckle, but she wasn't able to hold back the smile.

"Do I amuse you, my love?" the duchess blushed at the endearment but cleared her throat to rid of any unnecessary emotions. She needs to focus right now, not dilly-dally with the playful duke.