Alina woke to pale morning light filtering through the curtains, tangled in Austin’s arms. Her cheeks were pressed against his chest while one of his hands was lost in her hair.

She smiled unconsciously, staying like that, and listening to his heartbeat.

Austin stirred. His arm tightened around her waist as he slowly opened his eyes and caught her staring at him. A sleepy smile touched his lips.

"You’re smiling," he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.

"So are you," she replied.

He buried his face in her neck and pressed lazy kisses along her shoulder, making her laugh.

His mouth then moved to her forehead to her nose and finally to her lips.

"We should get up," she said after their fifth or sixth kiss. They had lost count.

"We should," Austin agreed but his mouth was still on her.

"You’re going to be late for your meeting," she teased him, tracing a finger down his chest.

"Let them wait," he replied, nipping at her lower lip. "This is more important."

The sewing circle was already buzzing when Alina arrived there later in the morning.

"You’re late," Marguerite said as Alina took her seat.

"Got busy," she replied.

Marguerite set her needle down and looked at her carefully.

"You look different," she said.

"Different? How? Is there something on my face?" Alina asked, brushing her fingers on her cheek.

"Your cheeks are pink," Lady Brennan added.

Alina touched her face in horror while everyone laughed loudly.

"Should we thank the duke for this miraculous glow on your face?"

"Marguerite!"

"Oh, now she’s blushing even harder."

Alina buried her face in her hands, embarrassed.

While the sewing circle women teased Alina, the atmosphere in the meeting room was tensed.

"Harrington said you wanted to discuss something urgent. What is it?" Austin asked, entering the room already irritated.

"First of all, Your Grace, we are relieved you and and Lady Alina returned safely after everything that happened in Arcasedia," one of them began.

Austin nodded, acknowledging them.

"We also wish to say we really appreciate Lady Alina," another one said. "We respect her a lot after how she handled herself and the situation in Arcasedia."

Austin didn’t say anything. He had a feeling something big was coming soon.

"But the truth is she failed," the noble said. "Unfortunately, the reason doesn’t matter. She returned without getting the acknowledgement from Arcasedian court," he paused to check Austin’s reaction but Austin was calm.

"The king’s deadline is just two months away and he will not change his mind. And you, Your Grace, cannot go back on your words."

"If you’re here to convince me to marry Princess Audrey, then you can stop wasting your time and leave," he said politely.

"Your Grace..."

"I’m not marrying Audrey."

One older noble sighed.

"With respect, Your Grace, this is no longer only about your personal wishes," he said. "You are the Duke of Ravenmoor. Your choices affect thousands of people. Your ancestors built this duchy through sacrifice. You cannot throw everything away for love."

Before Austin could answer, another one spoke.

"We understand your love for Lady Alina. But there are... alternatives."

Austin furrowed his brows.

"What alternatives?"

The noble hesitated before speaking.

"You could marry Lady Audrey politically... while keeping Lady Alina close privately."

"Many powerful men keep unofficial companions..."

The moment the word ’companions’ left his mouth Austin punched him. The noble crashed sideways into the table while everyone else stood up in shock. Austin looked terrifying, his eyes burning with fury.

"Don’t ever speak about her like that again."

He grabbed the noble by his collar and shoved him back with full force.

"You think I would humiliate her like that?" his voice shook with rage. "You think I would turn the woman I love into something shameful?"

"Your Grace..."

"Get out."

Nobody tried to argue anymore.

"Get out," Austin roared. "All of you. And if any of you ever suggest me anything like this again...I won’t stop at just one punch."

The nobles hurried out immediately.

Alina learned about the fight from Evelyn almost an hour later.

"He punched a lord?" Alina repeated in disbelief.

Evelyn nodded looking horrified.

"Where is he now?" Alina asked

"At the training grounds."

She got up from her seat and went straight to the training grounds. Austin was sparring bare chested against a wooden post. Sweat glistened on his skin as he anger rolled off him violently.

He stopped the moment he saw her.

"Alina..."

She walked to him, her heart pounding.

"You punched a lord?"

"He deserved worse," he replied as he wiped sweat from his brow.

"Austin..."

"They asked me to make you my mistress."

His voice shook slightly when he said the word. Alina took a step forward and put her hand on his chest, feeling his racing heart.

"I don’t care what they call me," she whispered.

"But I do," he declared.

The intensity in his voice made her breath catch.

"I would burn this entire place down before I let them turn you into something like that."

Without another word, she pulled him down and kissed him hard and desperately. Austin kissed her back instantly with the same intensity. When they broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers.

"You make me lose my mind," he muttered.

"I’m honored," she replied.

In the evening, the mood in Alina’s room was much softer and calmer. They had silently agreed to stop talking about deadlines. It didn’t mean they had given up. But they were

tired of letting fear dominate their every moment. So instead of worrying about the future, they decided to simply enjoy their present together.

Alina sat on the bed reading a romance novel aloud while Austin rested his head in her lap comfortably, his eyes half-closed. One of her hands held the book while the other played with his hair.

"She loved him because when she looked at him..." Alina read dramatically, "she finally felt safe."

Austin snorted without opening his eyes.

"You changed that line."

"I did not."

"You did."

"Why would I do that?" she sounded offended.

"Because the hero of this book is an idiot."

She gasped.

"How dare you insult Prince Edwin?"

"Prince Edwin proposed to her after knowing her for only three days."

"That’s what you call romance."

"That’s what I call stupidity."

Alina laughed and softly smacked his shoulder with the book.

"You’re ruining the story."

"And you? Rewriting it?"

"I’m improving it."

Austin finally opened his one eye and looked up at her.

"Read the next line then."

Alina cleared her throat dramatically again.

"And she loved him because he never asked her to become someone else in order to deserve him."

Austin narrowed his eyes this tim.

"That is also not in the book."

"It is."

"You’re lying again."

"Maybe the version I have is different," she tried to convince him.

Austin laughed and brushed his fingers on her cheek.

"You can actually be a good writer," he muttered.

Alina smiled and looked back at the page.

"But..."

A sudden knock at the door interrupted them. Both of them looked towards the door.

"Who is it?" Austin asked, sitting up.

"Let me see."

Alina set the book aside and walked towards the door. When she opened it, she found Lady Talbot standing outside looking uneasy.

"Lady Talbot?" Alina frowned. "What happened?"

"Rosilyn is here," she said. "She wants to meet you immediately."

Behind her, Austin went still.