By the next morning, the heat had completely died down, replaced by the exhaustion of the aftermath.

Julian’s lashes slowly fluttered until his eyes fully opened. Unlike how he recalled falling asleep—under the Duke—he was lying on his stomach, his face buried in a silk pillow.

When he tried to shift, a sharp protest flared from his hips and lower back. His muscles felt like they had been dismantled and reassembled by someone who didn’t quite follow the manual—every joint was heavy, and his waist felt utterly ’dead’ from movements his body had never even contemplated before.

He let out a low, involuntary groan, attempting to push himself up, but his arms gave way, and he slumped back into the pillow.

Then, a large, calloused hand reached out from beside him, fingers brushing Julian’s hair gently aside and grazing his jawline before settling softly against his cheek.

Julian froze and turned his head slowly, squinting against the morning sun, as he found Alaric watching him. The Duke hadn’t magically disappeared with the dawn; he was propped up on one elbow, his chest bare and marked with the faint red crescents Julian had left behind in his desperation.

Julian’s breath hitched. In the quiet of the morning, he couldn’t help but gaze up at the Duke’s affection level.

> [Target: Alaric Lucien Blackspire]

> [Affection Level: 93%]

> [Status: Satisfied, Deeply Enamored, Tranquil]

The jump from 90% sent a warm tingle through Julian’s chest that had nothing to do with the soreness. The predatory edge of the Duke was gone, replaced by a gaze so domestic and possessive it made Julian want to hide under the blankets.

"You’re awake," Alaric murmured, his voice even deeper and raspier than usual. "I was beginning to think I’d truly broken you."

"You... you nearly did," Julian croaked, his face flushing as memories of the ’siege’ flashed behind his eyes. The moans, the sounds their bodies made, the tear that rolled down his cheeks, and the sharp yet soft gaze in the Duke’s eyes.

He looked down at his own arms and chest, seeing the trail of dark red marks Alaric had left—a map of the Duke’s conquest. Literally.

And then, the Duke reached for him and pulled him over his body. The sudden movement startled Julian.

"You... What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" Alaric asked, his hand sliding up Julian’s body, and Julian immediately understood what he was up to.

"Lucien, I have to... I have to get up. I have to prepare for Lucius’s lesson." He said.

"The boy can wait," Alaric grumbled, pulling Julian back down into the heat of his side. "Besides, you only recovered yesterday; you can put off the lessons in the meantime," he said, lifting his own body so he could snuggle over Julian’s chest.

Julian just noticed that he was clean despite the mess they had made the previous night. It looked like the Duke made sure to clean him properly so he could sleep comfortably.

"Don’t overwork yourself just yet," Alaric whispered, quite ironic given the Duke was doing just that, overworking Julian’s poor body. "Spend some time with me as well."

Julian looked at the pleading eyes of this big man, begging for attention.

How can I refuse when he’s asking while looking at me like that?

"I am a tutor, not a decorative rug," Julian protested, though he didn’t fight the embrace. "But I guess I could also teach you a thing or two," he whispered, his hand brushing over Alaric’s ear.

Alaric smiled.

"I’m more than willing to learn from you," he said. "So, what will you teach me now... teacher?"

Julian pursed his lips, his body going rigid in the second. Maybe he was enjoying this way too much. He laughed.

"A lesson in patience," Julian whispered, though he quickly realized Alaric wasn’t a very diligent student in that particular subject.

Eventually, the reality of a functioning household won out over the warmth of the sheets. Julian managed to negotiate his way out of bed, though every step toward the washbasin felt like a reminder of the Duke’s ’strategic conquest.’

By the time they made it down to the dining hall, Julian was dressed in a high-collared, midnight blue coat—fastened all the way to the chin to hide all evidence left on his skin—while Alaric trailed behind him with a look of smug, predatory contentment that he didn’t even try to hide from the staff.

Julian could only wonder how many people had heard his moans the previous night. After trying to contain his moans, he lost himself and moaned without restraint.

Lucius was already at the table, his small legs swinging nervously as he picked at a plate of honey-drenched fruit.

The moment the doors opened, his head snapped up. His eyes darted from Julian’s slightly stiff gait to his father’s relaxed, broad shoulders.

Julian took his seat beside the boy, offering a soft, reassuring smile. "Good morning, Lucius. I hope you slept well?"

Lucius nodded vigorously, but then he twisted his lips, tilting his head as he tried to figure something out.

Julian’s smile stiffened. Did he notice? Did he hear anything last night? Why does he look curious? He tried to stay composed and sip his tea.

The maid brought over his slate, and he quickly scribbled on it, holding it up to show Julian: [GOOD MORNING, MASTER! MASTER LOOKS TIRED. DID FATHER MAKE YOU WORK ALL NIGHT?]

Julian nearly choked on his tea. Alaric, sitting at the head of the table, let out a low, dark chuckle and reached for the silver coffee pot.

"In a manner of speaking, Lucius," the Duke replied, his eyes dancing with a wickedly amused light. "Your Master is very dedicated to his... research."

"Eat your fruit, Lucius," Julian interrupted, his cheeks burning a bright shade of crimson as he pushed a bowl of yogurt toward the boy. "I am perfectly fine."

The boy tilted his head again, scratching as he began to scribble again: [MASTER, YOUR FACE IS RED. ARE YOU OKAY? ARE YOU UNWELL?]

Julian cleared his throat. "The... the morning air is just a bit warm today, Lucius. Don’t worry about me. I’m healthy." But the boy did not look convinced, so Julian decided to change the topic. "In fact, I was thinking we could skip the heavy theory today and spend some time in the library looking at the old maps of the Continent. Would you like that?"