The stakes

We strutted along the path. The smell of fresh hay lingered in my nose as we walked. The air was fresh. Despite this, I tried to ask Alaric what his mother meant by 'arrangements', but he said that she meant the consummation arrangement, which I strikingly doubted. But who was I to argue with the duke?

I only remained silent. 

 "I think that we should meet all over again. What do you say?" he asked me with the same charming voice that engulfed me back in Western. It was no secret between us that we knew each other. 

 "Yes, I agree, your grace," I said. 

 "What was your idea of the duke when you were told about me?" he asked as we paused, planted on our spot.

 "Very… handsome. Golden hair, golden eyes, good wits, strong demeanor, an explorer… and reserved," I sarcastically said.

 "I see. That does describe me, Duchess. I am impressed. Did you read about me or did Fletcher say too much?"

 "That is because... I know you, Duke Alaric," I chinned up as my voice dropped, but he remained silent.

 He stared at me deeply without a word. He looked to his left and right and instructed the footmen.

 "Leave us."

They bowed to us and stood a distance from us.

 "How did you get here?" he asked.

 "How did I get here? Is that a question for me to answer, your grace?!" I scoffed. "So… you do remember me then. I did not think that you had a whiff all this time because you chose to pretend. What would the city think of their Duke? A bloody liar with no integrity?" I stated firmly despite his title. 

 "Keep your voice low, Ava," he interjected firmly.

 "Oh, now it is 'Ava'?" I scoffed and looked away. "I thought you did not know my name?" I snapped as I remained composed. 

 "You have to understand that some things cannot escalate just like that. How did Fletcher find you? Did he know that we have a past?" he asked with interest.

 "Why? Are you scared now, your grace?" I fired at him. 

He looked around and kept a tight smile instead.

 "No one can find out that we have made acquaintances in the past—"

 "So, I'm just an acquaintance, Alaric? Being intimate is more than making acquaintances, your grace. I am carrying your child—"

 "There you are," we both heard Athena's voice as the rest of my words hung. We were wearing a faint smile, but she split her curious gaze between us as if she had noticed that Alaric and I had been arguing.

 "Did… did I interrupt something, your graces?" she asked.

 "Not quite, Athena." Alaric forced a small smile, turning to me. I gave an almost invisible smile. "Duchess Ava and I were just… reflecting about us. We have a lot in common, like hunting and exploration," he said. 

 "Beautiful, cousin. I am glad. Her grace is stunning and strong," Athena said, although she wasn't fully convinced.

 "Okay. I shall let you then, I have to visit the… the Modiste. I have eyes for the newest designs," she said, and we both nodded.

 "Good idea. Make haste then, Athena." Alaric dismissed her as she bent before leaving. When she was far off, Alaric spoke up.

 "You say that you are with a child. Whose child?"

 "Are you not aware of the conditions? I hear that you are infertile—that you cannot sire a son. How true?" I asked calmly.

 "It is complicated."

 "Yet, I have become a part of that complication. I am… lost. First, the duke is unable to sire a son, which is bluntly a lie. Secondly, I am forcefully initiated into a dark cult of the family. Thirdly, the duke pretends to not know me. Fourthly, I carry his child, and he thinks that he is not responsible."

 "Duchess, you cannot utter such words in such a crowd," he quickly interrupted.

 "Which part? The cult or the fake infertility or the fact that I am pregnant with your child?" I confidently asked as he scoffed. 

 "When it is time, you shall find out why I have pretended and kept it a secret, but not... not now…" he said as if trying to convince me.

 "All right. Anything you say is fine, you are the duke after all," I indignantly, and he scoffed lightly again. 

 "Of course, I am the Duke, which makes you my duchess, Duchess of Vy." he seemed pissed off.

 "I am sorry, I did not mean to upset you, your grace," I coldly said. I didn't know what else to say or do. 

 "It is not with you that I am upset with, I am burdened and exhausted—"

 "I shall help to ease your burden. It is my duty as wife and duchess" I said.

 "What happened to the wild Ava?" he tried to mock me. 

 "I have a child to take care of. I shall not spend the rest of my lonely days making the wrong decisions," I explained. 

 "I see," he took my hand and gave it a gentle rub. "I will sire your child, I will," he assured me and I nodded lightly. The child is mine now. Did he not believe that the building was ours? I debated in my mind.

 "Can I ask you something?" I asked. 

 "Anything within my strength." 

 "The initiation, what did it mean?"

 "It is not my place to tell you, it is my mother's place to do that. She's the dowager duchess, it is only normal and a part of tradition that she does. Meanwhile, Athena will make sure that your questions are answered…"

While he was speaking, he vanished and reappeared behind me.

I felt his icy fingers tuck some strands of my hair behind my ear.

He placed a tender kiss on my earlobe and whispered.

 "I have not forgotten you, Ava. I smell you wherever I find myself. I had to do what I did…"

He left a feather-like kiss on my neck before he walked away.

Before I could make a handful of sense of his cold words, he had gone a distance. A guard approached and bowed.

 "You grace? The dowager duchess has invited you to join her for tea," he said.

 "Of course," I snapped as I walked ahead to the carriage that was only a minute long to find.

…

By the time we arrived at the castle, the salutations were toppling.

It was 'your grace, your grace' in every cranny, every step that I took.

Mrs. Lenore fell in step next to me when I entered the hall that had large paintings on the walls.

 "Your grace—"

 "Heavens, that is the only thing I've heard a day. Can I not hear something different?!" I complained and she gave a small smile. 

 "I am sorry, but that is your position now. Well deserved," she said. 

 "I will not press on that." I snapped.

 "Well, Lord Fletcher and the dowager duchess await you in the family's study.

 "Lord Fletcher?" I asked. I was shocked because I hadn't seen him in days, I told myself.

 "Yes, ma'am," she said. 

The door was opened for me while they bowed. I walked in. My uncle and mother-in-law were already chattering.

 "She must not know about it, Fletcher, it is final. If the grand council also finds out about everything, I tell you, we are done for. That is certain. To keep your title, my title, and that of my son's, you will keep your mouth shut," the dowager duchess said to my uncle. She was stern and firm in her words, but I was interested in knowing everything.

My uncle, who was constantly full of words, was now silent. It was clear that something was at stake.

 "What should I not know?" I asked, as they instantly turned to me. My gaze split between them. "Mother? Lord Fletcher?"

 "What should I not know?" I asked again.