Rosaline’s scream died almost as quickly as it came.

Her hand flew to her chest while her wide green eyes remained fixed on the couch near the window...on the man lounging there with entirely too much ease for someone who had just nearly sent her soul out of her body.

Xandros looked annoyingly calm.

One arm was draped behind his head, his long legs crossed lazily at the ankle, his gray eyes watching her with quiet amusement.

It was the amusement that made her nervous.

Not the blood-soaked warrior from last night.

Not the terrifying Duke from Virellion Square.

This version.

This calm version.

This version smiled.

And somehow that felt more dangerous.

Rosaline swallowed.

Then, without even realizing what she was doing, she dragged the blanket upward and clutched it around herself like armor.

Slowly...very slowly...she shuffled backward across the mattress until her back nearly met the headboard.

Xandros noticed every movement.

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"You do realize," he said lazily, "that blanket will not protect you from me."

Rosaline tightened her grip on it anyway.

"I know."

"Then why are you hiding behind it?"

"I am not hiding."

"You are."

She glared at him weakly.

Then her expression softened.

Because despite everything...despite the teasing, despite the chaos of yesterday...there was still one thing she had been carrying all night.

Guilt.

Her fingers tightened over the blanket.

Her voice dropped.

"I’m sorry."

That caught his attention.

His expression changed...not much, but enough.

"For what?"

Rosaline looked down.

"For leaving the mansion."

Her voice was smaller now.

"For sneaking out."

"For causing trouble."

"For making you come after me."

Her throat tightened.

"And... for almost getting myself killed."

Silence.

The room suddenly felt very still.

Xandros slowly sat upright.

His gray eyes stayed on her face.

"And?"

Rosaline blinked.

"And?"

He leaned forward slightly.

"You said you were sorry. What comes after that?"

She stared at him in confusion.

Then realization dawned.

"Oh."

She sat straighter.

"I will never do it again."

He raised a brow.

"Again?"

She immediately nodded.

"Yes."

He kept staring.

Rosaline swallowed harder.

"I mean it."

His gaze lingered on her a few seconds longer...long enough to make her squirm...before he finally gave a small nod.

"Good."

Relief flooded her instantly.

Then, because relief always made her mouth move too quickly, she blurted:

"Why are you here?"

Xandros blinked once.

Then looked around the room.

Then looked back at her.

"This," he said slowly, "is our room."

Rosaline frowned.

"Our?"

"Yes."

"But the maid told me this room was mine."

He rose.

Rosaline immediately regretted asking.

Because now he was moving toward her.

Not quickly.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Each step measured.

Each step making her heartbeat louder.

She tightened the blanket instinctively.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Coming closer."

"I can see that."

"Good."

He stopped directly beside the bed.

Too close.

Far too close.

Rosaline looked up.

His face was calm.

His eyes were not.

They glittered.

And before she could react, his fingers reached out and pinched the edge of her blanket.

Rosaline’s eyes widened.

"What are you doing?"

He gently tugged.

The blanket lowered an inch.

She yanked it back up.

He tugged again.

She held tighter.

That amused him greatly.

"Rosaline."

"No."

"You are fully dressed."

"That is not the point."

"Then what is the point?"

She had no answer.

That was the problem.

Xandros leaned down until his face was near hers again.

The scent of him....cedar, steel, and something darker...wrapped around her.

"You hide from me too much," he murmured.

Rosaline’s breathing stuttered.

"I do not."

"You do."

Then his fingers moved.

Not to the blanket.

To her face.

His thumb brushed gently across her cheek.

Softly.

Slowly.

The warmth of his touch sent a strange spark straight down her spine.

Rosaline froze.

Her lips parted.

His hand moved upward, brushing a strand of white hair away from her forehead.

Then tucked it carefully behind her ear.

His knuckles traced her jaw.

And suddenly....

she remembered yesterday.

Seraphine.

Her hand in his.

Their closeness.

The sting returned immediately.

Rosaline slapped his hand away.

Xandros blinked.

She shoved the blanket aside, stood up too fast, and nearly tangled herself in it.

"I am taking a bath."

He stared.

She pointed dramatically toward the bathing chamber.

"And you are not allowed inside."

Then she marched away before her dignity could collapse any further.

The bathroom door slammed behind her.

Inside....

Rosaline pressed both hands over her face.

"Oh no."

Her cheeks were burning.

Her entire body felt too warm.

"What was that?"

She turned toward the bath basin.

Water was already prepared.

Steam rose in soft curls.

She stripped out of her nightdress quickly and stepped into the warmth, sinking into it until only her shoulders remained above the water.

It helped.

A little.

But not enough.

Because now she could still feel his fingers on her cheek.

His voice in her ear.

"You hide from me too much."

Rosaline sank lower.

"This is bad."

Very bad.

When she emerged nearly half an hour later, Lily was already inside the room.

Her maid turned immediately.

And froze.

"Your grace."

Rosaline jumped.

"Lily!"

"You’re red."

Rosaline stiffened.

"I am not."

"You are."

Lily crossed the room quickly and pressed the back of her hand to Rosaline’s forehead.

"No fever."

Rosaline swatted her away.

"I am fine."

Lily narrowed her eyes.

"That means something happened."

"Nothing happened."

"The Duke was here."

"Yes."

"You are red."

"Yes."

Lily gasped.

"Did he do something inappropriate?"

Rosaline choked.

"No!"

"Did he kiss you?"

"No!"

"Touch you?"

Rosaline went silent.

Lily’s eyes widened.

Rosaline’s entire face turned scarlet.

Lily screamed.

"He touched you!"

Rosaline clapped a hand over her maid’s mouth.

"Lower your voice!"

Lily pulled her hand away.

"Where?"

Rosaline stared at her in outrage.

"Lily!"

"What? I need details!"

"There are no details!"

"There are clearly details!"

Rosaline turned away and reached for her dress.

"It was nothing."

Lily folded her arms.

"You are blushing too much for it to be nothing."

"It was probably the cold."

Lily blinked.

"The cold?"

"Yes."

"In summer?"

Rosaline glared.

Lily sighed dramatically.

"Fine. I’ll bring a shawl."

By the time they reached the breakfast hall, Rosaline had recovered enough composure to attempt dignity.

Attempt.

She entered with her chin lifted.

Her gown was pale blue, her hair half pinned and flowing softly down her back, her face carefully neutral.

Then she saw him.

Already seated.

Already drinking tea.

Already watching the door as though he had been waiting for her.

Rosaline immediately remembered his fingers on her face.

And chose violence.

She walked to the table.

Sat down.

And ignored him.

Entirely.

A servant placed food before her.

She began eating with exaggerated concentration.

Xandros watched for a moment. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Then said, "Welcome, my lady."

Rosaline nodded without looking up.

"Mhm."

He raised a brow.

"That is all?"

"Yes."

"You are upset."

"No."

"You are."

"No."

He sipped his tea.

"Interesting."

Rosaline cut her fruit more aggressively.

"I am not upset."

"Then why are you stabbing breakfast?"

She froze.

Then placed the knife down with dignity.

"I am eating."

"Violently."

She inhaled sharply.

"Are you always like this in the morning?"

"Only when my wife pretends not to like me."

Rosaline nearly dropped her fork.

Wife.

That word again.

He said it too casually.

Too naturally.

Too....

She shook herself.

No.

Still angry.

Seraphine.

She remembered Seraphine.

And resumed her coldness.

"Perhaps," she said, finally looking at him, "your wife has good reason."

That got his attention.

His brows lifted.

But before he could ask, he leaned back and changed the subject.

"There is a ball tonight."

Rosaline blinked.

"A what?"

"A royal ball."

She stared.

"In the palace."

Her fork paused halfway to her mouth.

"You are attending."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Why?"

He looked almost offended.

"As my duchess."

Rosaline choked.

Actually choked.

She coughed violently, accidentally spitting half-chewed fruit back onto her plate.

"What?!"

Xandros calmly handed her water.

She snatched it.

Drank too fast.

Coughed again.

"You cannot be serious."

"I am."

"I just survived one near-death experience yesterday."

"Yes."

"And now you want me to survive nobles?"

"Yes."

"That is cruel."

"It is necessary."

Rosaline stared at him in disbelief.

"You truly enjoy making my life difficult."

He leaned forward slightly.

"No."

His voice softened.

"I enjoy watching you surprise yourself."

Her mouth closed.

Because...

for some reason...

that felt more intimate than teasing.

And she did not know what to do with that.

So instead, she pointed her fork at him.

"If your cousin is there...."

Xandros looked amused immediately.

"Ah."

"There it is."

"There what is?"

"Jealousy."

Rosaline’s face went red.

"I am not jealous."

"You are."

"I am not!"

"You are."

"I simply dislike her."

"Because?"

"She is rude."

"Only that?"

"Yes."

He smiled.

Rosaline wanted to throw bread at him.

Instead, she stood.

"I am leaving."

"You cannot."

"Why?"

"Because," Xandros said calmly, standing too, "we now have exactly one day to teach you how to survive a Dagon Imperial Ball."

Rosaline blinked.

"And if I refuse?"

He stepped closer.

Bent slightly.

And whispered beside her ear...

"You wouldn’t want to do that now, would you?"

She gasped.

Then narrowed her eyes.

"This is war."

He smiled.

"Good."

And suddenly...

Rosaline realized she was looking forward to tonight.