"Can I… eat first before we do it?" Valerie's voice trembled slightly, barely louder than a whisper, yet clear enough to make Demian, who was now close enough for his breath to brush her skin, halt his movement.
Demian's brows lifted a little.
"You haven't eaten?" he asked, his tone shifting. It was no longer firm and pressing, but gentler, almost concerned.
Valerie lowered her gaze and shook her head. Her stomach had been empty for hours, but the tension and the closeness of Demian moments earlier had almost made her forget everything else.
Demian exhaled slowly. Without another word, he leaned forward and reached for the hem of her gown, adjusting it before Valerie hurriedly clasped it back in place, her cheeks burning.
"All right," he said softly. "I'll call the attendants."
Simple words, yet the warmth in his voice stirred something deep inside Valerie's chest, an unfamiliar sensation, considering she was still trying to understand this man and his shifting moods.
Demian walked to the door, opening and closing it quietly as he stepped out, leaving Valerie alone in the wide room. His footsteps faded, and a gentle silence settled over the space.
Not long after, the door opened again. Lira and Sera entered, carrying several plates and bowls. The scent of warm food filled the room instantly, making Valerie's stomach tighten with hunger.
"We'll place the food here, Lady," Sera said as she arranged the dishes on a small table near the bed.
Valerie watched them for a moment before asking, "Is the Duke not eating?"
Lira and Sera exchanged a brief glance before Lira answered politely, "The Duke went to dine with His Highness, the Crown Prince."
"Oh…" Valerie nodded slowly, trying not to reveal the strange pinch in her chest. It felt like a quiet sting, maybe jealousy, maybe disappointment, or simply exhaustion.
She sat down and began to eat, her movements calm, though her eyes drifted to the door from time to time, as if waiting for someone she wasn't sure she wanted to return so soon.
Bite after bite, warmth returned to her body, and in the silence Valerie realized something: That small gesture from Demian, as simple as making sure she ate , had shaken her heart far more than the physical closeness they shared moments before.
While Valerie ate quietly inside Demian's barrack, the atmosphere in the nobles' dining hall was very different.Demian sat across from Crown Prince Kaiser, his childhood friend, a man whose easy smile always looked like it hid far too many secrets.
They dined leisurely, roasted meat and warm bread laid neatly between them, while guards stood watch at a respectful distance.
"I heard you brought your woman with you," Kaiser began, leaning back in his chair, voice deliberately casual yet dripping with curiosity. "Why didn't you bring her along to join us?"
Demian set down his knife slowly, his movements calm, composed."There's no need. If I bring her here, everyone will stare, and the rumors will only get worse."
Kaiser raised an eyebrow."As if they're not gossiping already?" he said with a laugh. "Your soldiers… they gossip faster than wildfire. Their mouths move quicker than their swords."
Demian exhaled sharply, not quite a sigh, not quite irritation, something in between."They do. But no matter how much they talk, none of their words ever leave my territory. You know that."
Kaiser's lips curled into a mischievous grin."Of course I know. I planted spies around you, remember?" His tone was joking, but Demian could hear the truth beneath it.
Demian rolled his eyes, something he would only dare to do in front of this man."If you didn't, how else would you know what I'm doing every second of the day?" he replied dryly.
Kaiser burst into laughter. "Exactly! And besides, if I didn't keep an eye on you, you'd definitely do something unexpected, like smuggling a woman straight into your private quarters."
Demian didn't respond. He simply lifted his cup and drank, eyes narrowing slightly, irritation restrained and controlled.
But Kaiser was far from finished.
"I'm curious, you know," Kaiser continued, voice dipping into a softer, teasing tone. "What kind of woman would make you bring her here, directly? That's not your habit."
Demian turned his gaze away. His expression didn't change, but the slight tension in his jaw was answer enough.
Kaiser saw it and smiled wider.
"Ah… so she is special," he murmured, sounding entirely too satisfied. "Now I'm even more eager to meet her."
Demian released a slow breath."Don't get involved."
"Relax," Kaiser said with both hands raised, feigning surrender. "I'm only curious. You're my friend, Demian. Naturally, I want to know what, or who finally makes you act differently."
For the first time since the meal started, Demian looked at Kaiser with something sharp in his eyes, not hostility, but warning. A quiet, firm boundary.
"She's my concern," he said, voice low.
Kaiser didn't argue. He only laughed softly, this time not mocking but understanding. His gaze softened, surprisingly sincere.
"Very well," he said. "But if she truly matters to you… I'll judge for myself whether she's worthy of standing at your side."
Demian didn't respond, but his fingers tapped the table once, a clear signal that the discussion was over.
They continued eating in silence after that, though Kaiser still threw the occasional amused glance in Demian's direction.
Meanwhile, Demian…For the first time, he felt a strange, unwelcome tug of anxiety at the thought of Valerie being alone in his chambers.
It was absurd.
It was unfamiliar.
And it bothered him more than he cared to admit.
The calm atmosphere shattered in an instant.
The doors to the hall burst open, and a breathless guard stumbled inside.
"Your Grace, Duke!"
Demian and Kaiser both turned sharply toward the voice.
"What gives you the right to barge in so disrespectfully, Jean?!" Demian snapped, irritation flaring in his eyes. Jean had never once raised his voice like this, never once interrupted a royal meal.
Jean didn't even bow. His chest heaved as he shouted,
"Your barracks, it's on fire! Everything in that area is burning!"
For a split second, the entire hall went silent.
Demian froze.The color drained from his face, replaced by a cold, dangerous stillness.
Then-
"…Valerie?" he whispered, barely audible, as if even saying her name hurt to imagine the worst.
Jean took a step forward urgently."Your Grace, we must go now!"
That was all it took.
Demian surged to his feet, the chair crashing behind him, forgotten. He didn't spare Kaiser a glance, didn't bother with royal etiquette, he simply ran.
"Demian!" Kaiser called after him, rising from his seat. "I'm coming with-!"
But Demian was already gone, sprinting down the corridor at a speed no nobleman was expected to move with. Panic, real, raw panic, tightened his chest.
Kaiser watched him disappear, an unreadable look crossing his face.
"So her name is Valerie…"