A Fulfilling Morning

Leonard insisted on feeding Vivian, despite the fact that she could clearly handle it herself. Every time he brought the spoon to her lips, irritation bubbled beneath the surface. Her fingers itched to take the utensils from him, to reclaim her independence.

It wasn't about the act itself, it was the memories it dragged to the surface. She could still feel the sterile hospital sheets beneath her fingers, the taste of bland food spooned into her mouth by familiar strangers. Back then, she'd needed help to do the simplest of things, and it had left a scar on her pride.

And yet, sitting here now, in this quiet room far from that past, she couldn't deny the strange warmth blooming in her chest. It was subtle but undeniable, as if her heart couldn't decide whether to rebel or surrender. Perhaps it was the lingering attachment from the original owner of this body, whose feelings for Leonard were buried deep within her. Or maybe it was her own walls cracking just a little.

After all, Leonard wasn't just anyone.

He was Leonard, the male lead of the duke's passionate love novel, the man who had never served anyone in his life, not even the female lead of the original novel, and yet here he was, devotedly attending to her as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. The Duke of Valerion, feared and revered, was now spoon-feeding her with patient hands and a gaze soft enough to melt steel.

Leonard wasn't the first man to feed her. Arthur, her fiancé back on Earth, had done the same, but only when she was at her weakest, lying helpless in a hospital bed. He knew how much she hated being fed, and how it made her feel small and vulnerable. To soothe her frustration, Arthur would always murmur softly, "You know this is normal between couples, right?" trying to make the situation feel less like an obligation and more like an act of love.

After breakfast, Leonard rose and returned with a small glass vial. The liquid inside shimmered faintly under the morning light.

"I brought you a potion," he said, kneeling at her bedside like it was the most natural thing in the world. His voice was low, gentle. "It should ease the pain."

He hesitated for a heartbeat, then added with a directness that made her heart race, "I'm sorry for behaving like a beast last night. But you make it hard for me to control myself, especially when you moan like that."

Vivian froze. The shamelessness in his words hit her like a slap. She had thought Arthur had no filter, but Leonard… Leonard shattered all expectations. His face remained calm, eyes sincere, as though he hadn't just said something utterly indecent without batting an eye.

Flustered beyond measure, Vivian yanked the blanket over her head, desperate to hide from him and from her own racing heart.

She muttered under her breath, voice barely audible even to herself, "Good thing you know you're a beast."

Unfortunately, Leonard's honed senses caught her words with ease. His smirk was audible in his next words.

"And what was that, my lady?" His voice was smooth, dangerously so.

Vivian clutched the blanket tighter, but it was no match for him. Leonard effortlessly peeled it away, revealing her red face and wide, startled eyes. His strength, compared to her resistance, made her feel delicate, even fragile. He leaned in, so close their noses almost brushed, his breath warm against her skin.

Vivian swallowed hard, feeling like a cornered animal. "N-Nothing, I said nothing, my lord," she stammered, heart hammering in her chest.

Leonard's smirk deepened as he studied her. The proud and sharp-tongued Vivian was reduced to a blushing, stuttering mess, it thrilled him. She reminded him of a rabbit cornered by a wolf, but instead of fear, it was an embarrassment and flustered defiance that filled her eyes.

"You're sure?" he teased, tracing a playful finger along her cheek.

"You must've heard wrong," she said quickly, trying to regain her composure but failing miserably.

Leonard chuckled under his breath. "If you say so."

Before she could escape further, he shifted and pulled her gently into his arms. His touch was surprisingly tender, as though he feared she might shatter if he wasn't careful. He brought the potion to her lips, watching her with steady eyes.

"This will ease the soreness," he murmured. "I'd wish to give you an energizing potion instead, but your body needs proper rest to recover. For now, let's let nature do its work."

She drank the potion obediently under his gaze, still too flustered to protest.

Leonard pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, the affection in the gesture making her heart skip. "Shall we sleep, my lady?"

But Vivian never got the chance to reply. The potion worked quickly, and between the warmth of his embrace and the exhaustion still lingering in her body, sleep overtook her almost instantly.

Leonard watched her sleep in silence, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear as if afraid even the breeze might disturb her. His heart ached with the urge to stay beside her, to abandon his duties just for today. But duty, and responsibility, they were things he could never set aside.

As the Duke of Valerion and head of the Magic Tower, countless responsibilities rested on his shoulders. His family, his people, and his tower, all demanded his attention. Yet none felt as important as the woman now breathing softly in his arms.

He sighed quietly, carefully sliding out from beneath her without waking her. Wrapping her securely in the blankets, he kissed her once more on the crown of her head.

Then, reluctantly, he made his way to the desk across the room, where documents and letters awaited him. His hand reached for his quill, but his eyes flickered back to Vivian, still curled beneath the blankets.

If he wanted to keep her safe, to provide her the life she deserved, he'd have to work harder than ever.