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Chapter 75 - Chestnuts

I thought the Duke was joking, but he doesn't touch me again for the rest of the journey.

He does lend me his body to warm myself and stay comfortable, but he doesn't ask anything in return. He uses to sit in a corner, and I place my head on his chest and sleep without worries.

He pecks my forehead so many times, and he embraces me often. Still, nothing more than that.

I don't know if it's normal for a man and a woman to stay so close for so long and not fall in temptation, but I'm not going to guess. After all, my husband said he's tired.

I don't know what he's tired about, by the way, since I was the one that did everything.

However, I observe the scenery greedily as often as I can. Some days I stay hours looking out.

I haven't travelled, ever. I have seen the simple villages around Polis, somewhen back in my childhood, but this is the first time I see so many. It turns out that the world is made by forests and small settlements, with a city here and there.

I already knew all of that, but seeing is totally different.

Those people that live simple lives and work for their bare survival don't have a clue of the ill strategies of the court. They don't really care, in my opinion. All they ask is to have enough to eat and something to wear, along with safety.

The nobles in the Empire seem to have forgotten their purpose: they are responsible for helping these people and not the opposite.

They attend luxurious events and tax their citizens, and they use strength when the poor rebel. I hope my Duke isn't like that, but he's been different from the rest right from the start.

I look at his sleeping face, innocently leaning on my lap. In the end, I couldn't see him sleep in a sitting position, and I've convinced him to lie down. Even though the carriage doesn't let him stay comfortable.

I move his hair away from his forehead, and I notice a little scar on his temple. Who knows what's the story behind it. After all, he's been in war. It's not so weird that he has scars. However, it's a pity for such a beautiful face.

We're crossing woods at this moment.

We entered Kyre territories early this morning, and the road indeed is better. The guards haven't complained about the pace of the journey, and I feel sorry for them. Still, from when we crossed the invisible line dividing Kyre from the rest of the Empire, their mood improved. Their energy returned as if they didn't travel for almost a week without rest.

My Duke doesn't look like the type able to stay in a carriage for so long. Still, he stayed with me, probably not to make me feel abandoned. I caught his craving gaze a couple of times: Alexander would rather be riding like the rest of the guards. Too bad he's a Duke and not a guard.

I move the curtain from the window and look for the closest knight.

?Can we stop for a while?? I ask.

Alexander is still sleeping, so I'm not sure they'll listen to me. However, it was worth a try.

Contrarily to my expectations, the carriage stops as soon as we reach a suitable place. My husband opens his eyes and stares at me with a sweet smile.

?I've asked for a break,? I explain, while he catches my hand and kisses my fingers. He's still slumberous, so his reflexes are a bit slow.

?We can stay here for the night. It's easier than looking for an inn that can host so many people,? he proposes.

?Good,? I nod. ?But I thought you were in a hurry...?

?I still am, especially since I've promised a night of love to my Duchess.?

?I was talking seriously.?

?I'm serious too.?

I scoff and try to move his head away to get up. My Duke chuckles and doesn't move an inch. He even turns on his back and looks at me from below.

I stare back at his dark eyes, and I lose the determination to make him move. He didn't complain of my weight while I slept, so I can't bring myself to disturb him.

Seeing my surrender, the Duke grins even more amused, and he sits up. He reaches out for my hand and drags me out.

?Let's go for a walk,? he exclaims, and I sigh relieved.

The weather out is chilly. A cold breeze makes me shiver, and I wrap myself in the cloak.

There are a lot of pointy husks on the ground. They've fallen from the trees nearby. I look up, wondering how bad would it be if one of them fell on us by chance.

My Duke widens his eyes and bows down to pick one of the husks, and I automatically grab his sleeve.

?Be careful,? I mutter, only later realising that he's an adult. He knows that the pointy things are dangerous, doesn't he?

?These are chestnuts,? he says while picking only the brown fruit inside the husk. ?They're edible if cooked.?

He collects some more, happy like a child. Does he like picking up fruits so much?

?Come, I want to show my Duchess how they're cooked!?

We sit next to a fire, and the Duke carves the nuts on one side. He then disposes them on a camp pan, and we wait a few minutes until he deems they're ready.

He opens the first and checks that it's cooked, and then he offers it to me after removing the shell.

?Are you going to poison me with that?? I inquire, and the Duke bites half before feeding me the rest.

Even though it's called chestnut, it doesn't taste like nuts. I haven't tried something similar before, but I like the flavour. Also, being cooked on the fire, they're a bit crunchy.

?Does my Duchess like it??

I nod, and I open my mouth to accept the second chestnut the Duke peeled for me. I observe how he rubs his fingers together, probably burnt by the temperature. In fact, he's taking the nuts directly from the fire!

I grab his hand and turn the palm up. He's so tough to take care of, for goodness!

?You should be more careful, Alexander.?

?I wanted to show you...?

?You've burnt yourself!? I stop him. ?And it's even worse if you did it for me. You could have waited a few minutes for them to cool down, right??

?Maybe I wanted to see you worry about me,? he whispers with a wily grin.

?No, you didn't,? I sigh. ?You were so excited to show me something new that you didn't think of the consequences.?

He grins even more widely, not bothered that I read through him. I believe he's actually pleased that I'm starting to understand him.

?So?? he inquires.

?So don't get burnt again!?

?I was referring to chestnuts. Do you like them??

?I do, but I can wait a few minutes. And I can peel them off by myself.?

?Your skin is too delicate for that.?

I sigh, coming to terms with his shamelessness. I bring his hand to my lips and peck his fingers' tips.

?Does it hurt?? I ask, even though I already know what he's going to say.

?Not anymore,? he smirks, happy like a child. ?Will you do this every time I get burnt??

?No, I won't. Don't get used to it. And also, don't burn yourself. I like a whole Duke more.?

?Noted,? he chuckles.

?We've almost there, aren't we??

?Correct. A couple of days, and we'll arrive at the castle. You better take advantage of this break, because we won't stop anymore. My men are tired, and they're looking forward to reuniting with their families.?

?Is that the reason for this hurry??

?In part,? the Duke nods. ?Also, I'm looking forward to finally showing you your new home. I hope you'll like it. It's not as lavish as the court or your palace in Polis, but it has its charm.?

?Is your castle cold??

?Not my, ours.?

?Well, is it cold??

?It can be, but the servants will make sure that the chambers you use are always warm. Also, I'll be there for you during the night, so you don't need to worry.?

?I wasn't worrying.?

After eating some more of these weird fruits, we get ready to resume the journey. As the Duke warned me, we don't stop anymore for longer than a few minutes.

It takes us two whole days of travel, but we finally arrive at my Duke's home. It's already past dusk when we see the castle from afar, and night comes by the time we reach it.

The carriage stops in a smaller court, and I rub my tired eyes, trying to wake up. Alexander smiles at me while I give him back his mantle that I used to cover myself for sleep.

?Welcome at Stoneyard,? he mutters.