Part LI

In the evening the whole pub was around Joel's table, many people tried their luck and Joel's pouch doubled its size. Joel was a bit tipsy, it was time to finish. He won a lot so he could afford some treats.

"One round of beer for everyone." He called while stopping the game.

"No man don't stop." A thin merchant opposed.

" You already lost a few coins, it's enough for today. Let's drink." Joel suggested.

Joel set the bill and stepped out of the pub, he paid the boy and took the reins back.

"Did you have enough fun?" Joel noticed the duke standing in the shadow next to the barber's. "Are you leaving again? Just like that?"

"Why? Can't I go out? Am I supposed to sit in female clothes in the room and wait for the mighty duke to come back from his reunion with that fucker?" Joel drank enough not to care who he was talking to.

The duke sighted and came closer to Joel.

"Joel, you had too much. Let's go back." The duke took his arm and pulled him closer.

"Don't treat me like a woman, I'm a man." Joel wanted to say something more, but he felt nauseous and yeah he threw up straight on the duke's shoes. Fuck, was his final thought before he blacked out.

The morning came along with the headache. Joel woke up in the duke's bed. He was alone again. There was a glass of some herbal tea next to him. Joel got up only to notice he had no clothes either on himself or to wear. He forced himself to drink that tea and then went back to bed. His head was still spinning a bit and he felt really awful.

At noon he was woken up by Michael personally.

"Joel baby, you need to eat something, here have some soup." He helped Joel up.

Joel sat down and looked with abhorrence at the soup, still he started eating it.

"How do you feel?"

"Lousy."

"I think we need to talk."

Joel was silent. Yesterday was awkward. He remembered the fact that he barfed on Michaels shoes.

"Joel,do you want to leave me?"

Joel took another spoon filled with soup into his mouth, what should he say? His head was throbbing. He knew he should answer the question but he honestly didn't know what to say.

"Joel, talk to me." Michael's voice became quieter.

"Your grace, what do you want us to become?" Joel put the bowl aside.

"I want us to stay close forever." The duke was sitting now on the bed next to Joel.

"As who?"

"Lovers, partners, friends." The duke was stroking Joel's hand.

"Why do you want me to wear female clothes?" Joel looked the duke in the eyes. The duke lowered his head and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"The thing is I like you wearing dresses. It's exciting that only I know that you are a man. It looks so sexy on you, the other thing is you know I'm a duke and right now I'm single. My advisers and other lords keep bothering me with marriage expectations. If they see a young fine woman at my side they will stop and I can be with you all the time without problem. A female mistress is simply acceptable." For a moment the duke lowered his gaze.

"So me, as a man by your side is a problem?" Joel inquired further.

The duke sighted.

"It's not easy to be a duke Joel, this discussion is not going in the right direction. Let's talk it over when you are better."

The duke stood up and was about to leave.

"Michael, where are my clothes?"

"Just stay in bed today and rest. You really need that."

"That's not the answer to my question. Where are my clothes? I want to go out."

The silence was becoming awkward.

"Can I go out if I wear a dress?" Joel asked again.

The duke without a single word took out of the closed a green dress that was instantly handed to Joel.

"Thank you, your grace."

The duke stopped for a moment, looked at Joel as if he wanted to say something but changed his mind and then left.

Joel was pissed. He stood up and put on the dress. The duke wanted him but as a woman at his side. Joel pinned part of his hair and left the room without looking in the mirror again. He needed some fresh air. He was happy to manage to get out of the main house without bumping into any known servant.

Joel went straight to the garden he needed to think things over. The garden was empty, Joel was strolling around like a fine lady he was pretending to be. Was he willing to spend the rest of his life pretending to be a woman? No. That could be fun for a moment, or maybe dress up to turn Michael on but not as a permanent obligation. The lord was a crazy scary person but he was honest with his preferences. He didn't hide, he probably didn't care about other people's thoughts. The duke knew all the crazy stuff about the lord still they got along. They were childhood friends, Joel was a fresh lover.

Jooel closed his eyes and felt the sun on his skin, there was a light wind and it felt so good. He heard some birds and sounds of people rushing to their daily chores. They all had something to do except for him. He was just to sit and look pretty. That was a blow for Joel's pride.

"I must admit I didn't expect to see you again, especially dressed like that." Joel heard a familiar voice. The peaceful moment was over, now he will have to deal with an annoying person.

" Gerd, so happy to meet you again. Did you miss me?" Joel looked at Gerd and smiled, crooking his head a bit.