<h4>Chapter 22 - The Duke''s Favourite Victim</h4>


    When I wake up, I feel my feet cold. I open my eyes, and I notice that I''ve slept on an armchair. There''s an empty ss next to me and an almost full bottle next to it. If not for this second detail, I''d feel like an old boozer.


    I hide the bottle and rinse the ss from the traces of wine, and I walk back to the bed.


    I cuddle under the covers, hoping that I won''t get up soon. I''m more tired than usual, and it''s not like anyone will need me. The fire died down, and now the room is quite chilly.


    I''d take another cover, but there isn''t one in this room. I''ve already wrapped myself in two nkets, and I have to wait until my body warms up on its own.


    How did I even manage to fall asleep before? It was probably thanks to the fire.


    I close my eyes and focus on the image of a hot desert, but Patricia opens the doors and storms in. She moves the curtains, and the room is filled with the first rays of the day.


    Damn it, why did I insist on waking up at dawn? Now, if I don''t, the maids will immediately report to the Duke, and he wille to check what''s happening.


    I get out of bed and walk towards the mirror-like a ghost.


    ?Get me something to eat,? I mutter, feeling my head spinning.


    I sit down and observe my pale reflex. I had this same look when I ran out of ideas to defend Polis. The only difference is that now, no lives depend on me. Not even mine does.


    ?No, wait!? I stop the maid running to find me breakfast. ?Never mind, I''m not hungry.?


    ?His grace, the Duke, said that you can use the study in the afternoon. He said that you should write on a table, so he''ll be able to read your poems,? Patricia starts, resuming my schedule in a few words. Well, at least now there is something on it.


    ?It was not my poem,? I reply, annoyed.


    ?Shall I report your words to his grace??


    ?No, there''s no need. I''m sure the Duke will figure it out on his own.?


    And there''s some irony in letting him believe that Iposed something especially for him.


    What should I do, till then, though?


    ?Also, there is a letter for you, your grace,? Patricia continues, delivering me an envelope.


    I observe the stamp on it for a while, before finally opening the letter. It looks like it''s from Duchess Prim. If she uses the same symbols as her husband, which is highly probable given how well they get along, then I can now recognise the stem of house Prim.


    The Duchess is polite and kind, in her letter, and she invites me to have tea together tomorrow afternoon. It will be just the two of us, so I have no reason to refuse. It won''t be a social event, and I won''t need to defend myself from a bunch of lions.


    ?I''ll write the response in the afternoon,? I say. ?Let the Duke know that I''ve used pen and paper, but don''t tell him who the recipient is. I''d like it if he asks in person.?


    Patricia nods, showing me that she understood my intentions. As if I craved an excuse to talk with my husband. I only want him to hope he will receive another paper from me.


    ?Just tell him that the Duchess wrote for the whole afternoon with a focused expression,? I finish, smiling maliciously to the mirror.


    I''ll wear a dark blue dress today. This way, if I stain it with ink, no one will notice.


    I pass the morning in the garden, trying to warm up with the light of the sun. At least, there''s no wind.


    I greet Princess Lnd with a movement of my head, but I don''t approach her. After all, she''s the one that caused this turmoil. She betrayed her brother, now that I think about it. I would have never done that, in her ce. I''d always be on my brother''s side, no matter how wicked or unjust. I''d tell him if I thought that he''s making a mistake, but I would defend him from the others.


    This Princess seems to be taking some kind of revenge. She''s not on my side, rather than against the Duke. I can''t trust her as an ally, so I''ll better avoid her for now.


    When the sun is high in the sky, it''s time for lunch. Still, the rays have just started to feel warm.


    ?I''m not hungry,? I say to Patricia. ?I''ll stay here some more. You can go. Come back to call me when the study is free to use.?


    The maid takes a few steps away, but I still feel her stare on me.


    Whatever, I''m not going to do anything. I''ll just absorb the light like a lizard.


    ?I''ve heard that you and my brother already made peace,? a young voice interrupts my rest.


    I open my eyes unwillingly.


    ?Your highness,? I mutter, not getting up. The Princess approached me, even though I clearly signalled her that I didn''t want to talk. I''ve been here alone, not even ncing at anyone.


    She sits down, holding her hands in herp.


    ?Whatever you think, right now, you should know that he won''t do any ill to you. When I was almost ten, and I was a candidate for a political marriage, my brother told me that I won''t need to be exchanging goods. He said that he would do it in my stead if needed. When I asked him how did he think of carrying out such a n, he said that he would marry a queen in a small city-state, somewhere south. It was the first time I heard of you, and it changed my views quite much.?


    ?Your brother didn''t marry any queen,? I reply.


    Still, I was a queen when the Emperor dered marriage. Another of the details that make me shiver.


    The Duke has nned everything to the smallest detail. He even waited for thest day, so that I would need to rely on him.


    He realised his youth dream, and at the same time maintained an advantageous position in this marriage. I have to admit that he has a talent for scheming. If I wasn''t his favourite victim, I might have liked this side of him.