Chapter 46 - Moonlight Confessions and Lingering Shadows

The glow of the bedroom's lone candelabra flickered, its golden light dancing over the silk sheets and the carved headboard. Verbena sat cross-legged on the bed, her nightgown slightly askew from how carelessly she had thrown it on. Despite her exhaustion from the banquet, her mind was far from quiet.

The image of Estella's smug smile haunted her thoughts. That woman had the audacity to show up at the palace garden as if she belonged there — as if her presence could shake Verbena's place beside Theodore. And the worst part? It worked. Even now, insecurity gnawed at the edges of her heart.

The door creaked open, and Theodore stepped in, already in his robe, his hair slightly damp from a quick rinse. His eyes found hers immediately, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

"You're still awake," he said softly, walking toward her with slow, deliberate steps.

"So are you," she countered, trying to smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

Theodore sat at the edge of the bed, close enough that his warmth radiated toward her. "Is it because of Estella?"

Verbena frowned. "She's... annoying, yes. But it's not just her. I mean, look at us." She gestured vaguely between them. "We've come a long way from that cold, awkward couple who couldn't even sit in the same room without tension."

Theodore's lips curved into a faint smile. "I suppose we have."

"But…" Verbena's voice softened, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on the sheets. "Sometimes I wonder if you still see her when you look at me. Not Estella — but the old Verbena. The one you married, the one who clung to you like a leech and made your life miserable."

Theodore's gaze darkened, and before she could flinch away, he reached out and cupped her face. His palm was warm, his thumb tracing her cheekbone tenderly.

"I don't see her," he said firmly. "I see you. The woman who argues with me over breakfast jams. The woman who makes sarcastic comments at royal banquets to keep herself entertained. The woman who stood up to Estella without hesitation tonight."

Verbena's breath caught in her throat. "I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult."

"It's both," Theodore said, his smile deepening. "And it's exactly why I find myself thinking about you even when I shouldn't."

Her heart skipped. "When shouldn't you?"

"When I'm supposed to be handling estate matters. When I'm in meetings with the knights. When I'm alone in my office, and I realize I'd rather be here… with you."

Heat crept up her neck, and she quickly looked away. "That's dangerous, Your Grace. Falling for your own wife."

"Too late," he murmured, voice lower, rougher. "I already have."

Verbena's heart stuttered so violently, she was sure he could hear it. This was no longer playful banter, no longer the surface-level teasing they had danced around for weeks. This was real. He was serious.

"You…" Her voice faltered, and she shook her head. "You can't say things like that when I'm still trying to figure out if I belong here."

"You do," he said instantly. "Even if you don't believe it, I do."

Verbena swallowed hard. "You married me because of duty. I get that. But I never expected you to actually—"

"Fall for you?" he finished. "Neither did I. But here we are."

The silence between them stretched, thick and charged. Outside, the moonlight poured through the windows, painting them both in silver. It was as if the whole world had narrowed down to just the two of them — no nobles, no gossip, no Estella.

Slowly, Theodore leaned in. His hand slid from her face to her neck, his fingers tracing the line of her jaw. Verbena's breath hitched, but she didn't pull away. Her heart hammered so loudly, it drowned out everything else.

"Tell me to stop," he whispered, his lips barely a breath away from hers.

She didn't.

Instead, her hands found his robe, gripping the fabric as if he was the only thing anchoring her. His lips met hers in a kiss so soft, so achingly tender, it almost brought tears to her eyes. There was no rush, no urgency — only the slow, patient exploration of two people learning each other all over again.

Her fingers slipped into his hair, and he deepened the kiss, his other hand settling on her waist, drawing her closer until her body was pressed against his. Heat bloomed between them, tangled with the sweet ache of longing they'd both tried to ignore for too long.

When they finally pulled apart, both slightly breathless, Verbena rested her forehead against his.

"This… this isn't how I planned things," she admitted, voice shaking slightly.

"Neither did I," he said, thumb tracing her lower lip. "But plans change."

She couldn't argue with that.

They stayed like that for a moment — skin against skin, heartbeats syncing in the quiet night. But reality had a cruel way of creeping back in.

"What about Estella?" Verbena asked softly. "She's not going to stop, is she?"

Theodore's expression darkened. "No. But I'll handle her."

Verbena tilted her head. "Let me handle her instead."

His brow lifted. "That sounds dangerous."

"It will be," she said, a mischievous gleam in her eye. "But I'm your duchess, remember? And no one messes with what's mine."

The possessiveness in her voice sent a thrill through him, and he couldn't help but pull her closer again. "And what exactly is yours, Verbena?"

"You," she whispered, brushing her lips against his again. "Even if I'm still figuring out what that means."

His hand slid down her back, fingers tracing the delicate curve of her spine through her nightgown. "Take your time. I'm not going anywhere."

For the first time, Verbena believed him.

They spent the rest of the night curled together — talking, kissing, falling asleep only when the first light of dawn brushed the sky. And for the first time, Verbena didn't dream of divorce plans or escape routes. Instead, she dreamt of staying — with him.

Even if the road ahead was filled with noble scandals, obsessive ex-suitors, and the chaos of her fake amnesia web… for this moment, she belonged.

And that, perhaps, was the scariest thing of all.

End of chapter