Fated Hearts: Reborn to be His Duchess

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: A Mistimed Awakening

And then she saw it anyway.

The daylight streaming through the windows was merciless.

Everything was painfully visible.

Everything.

Elysia froze.

Her mind went blank.

Heat rushed through her entire body, flooding her face, neck, and ears.

For several long seconds, she simply stared.

Then, in a tiny voice barely above a whisper, she asked:

"It... it really won’t burst?"

The words escaped before she could stop them.

The instant they did, she wished she could throw herself out the nearest window.

A low chuckle sounded from beside her.

Deep.

Hoarse.

As though someone had been suppressing laughter for a very long time and had finally failed.

Elysia stopped breathing.

She knew that voice.

Her heart knew that voice.

Slowly, very slowly, she turned her head.

Cassiel was awake.

His eyes were open.

And he was looking directly at her.

Elysia wished lightning would strike her on the spot.

From Cassiel’s perspective, the sight was unexpectedly charming.

The entire side of her face had turned crimson.

The blush spread from her cheeks all the way down her neck.

Even the tips of her ears were red.

She looked like someone who had accidentally wandered onto a battlefield completely unprepared.

Cassiel found it difficult not to smile.

If a single glance unsettles her this much...

How is she ever going to survive our wedding night?

The thought appeared before he could stop it.

Unfortunately, Cassiel wasn’t entirely comfortable himself.

Being stared at so intently by his wife was not helping his current situation.

Not at all.

His throat felt suspiciously dry.

After a moment, he cleared it.

"Water."

His voice emerged rougher than usual.

"I’m thirsty."

The words snapped Elysia back to reality.

"I’ll get it!"

She practically leapt off the bed.

Moments later, she was at the table pouring water with the concentration of someone handling explosive powder.

When she returned, Cassiel had already adjusted himself.

His robes were properly arranged.

The blankets had been restored.

Everything appeared perfectly respectable once more.

Which was probably for the best.

Elysia silently handed him the cup.

Cassiel accepted it and took a long sip.

Only after setting the cup down did he speak again.

"Were you trying to wash me?"

His tone was calm.

Completely neutral.

As though nothing unusual had happened.

Elysia clutched the damp cloth in both hands.

Her eyes fixed themselves firmly upon a distant section of wall.

"Yes."

Cassiel nodded thoughtfully.

"I seem to recall Bran usually handles that."

The blush immediately returned.

Elysia wanted to cry.

"Well..."

She stared even harder at the wall.

"The physician said stimulation might help you recover."

Cassiel nearly choked on his water.

Elysia continued earnestly.

"So I thought perhaps if I did it instead..."

Her voice grew smaller.

"It might work."

Silence.

Then she heard his voice again.

"A reasonable conclusion."

Elysia released a small breath of relief.

At least he wasn’t laughing anymore.

Unfortunately, Cassiel wasn’t finished.

He glanced down at his clothing.

Then back at her.

A curious expression appeared.

"Speaking of which..."

Elysia froze.

Cassiel’s gaze remained perfectly innocent.

"What happened to my robes?"

Elysia’s face burned anew. She wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole.

She could physically feel her soul attempting to leave her body.

She desperately searched for an answer.

Any answer.

Then inspiration struck.

The kind that only appears when someone is seconds away from complete humiliation.

"I don’t know."

Cassiel raised an eyebrow.

Elysia pressed forward.

"Maybe..."

She swallowed.

"...Bran did it?"

For a moment, complete silence filled the room.

Cassiel stared at her.

Elysia forced herself to maintain eye contact.

Barely.

"Perhaps he meant well," she added bravely.

"It would probably be best not to mention it to him lest it be awkward for both of you."

Another pause.

Finally, Cassiel nodded.

"I see."

His expression remained remarkably composed.

"You’re exceptionally considerate."

Elysia laughed nervously.

"Just doing my duty."

The Duke turned his face away.

Mostly because he didn’t entirely trust himself not to laugh.

A short while later, Elysia reached for the empty cup.

"Would you like more water?"

Cassiel handed it over.

As she leaned closer, his gaze lingered on her face.

The blush still hadn’t entirely disappeared.

Her skin was naturally fair.

When embarrassed, the color spread across her cheeks like the first light of dawn touching fresh snow.

Beautiful.

Dangerously beautiful.

A mischievous thought surfaced.

And Cassiel decided to indulge in it.

"When I first woke..."

Elysia immediately became suspicious.

"...yes?"

"I believe I heard you say something."

His eyes met hers.

"Something about bursting."

Elysia’s brain went entirely blank.

Cassiel watched with great interest as every trace of color vanished from her face.

Only to return twice as strong a heartbeat later.

Her mouth opened.

Closed.

Opened again.

No words emerged.

"You asked whether it would burst."

His voice remained perfectly calm.

"What exactly were you referring to?"

Elysia’s entire body turned scarlet.

She looked less like a Duchess and more like a cooked lobster.

Cassiel was finding this far more entertaining than he should have.

For several moments she struggled desperately.

Searching for an explanation.

Any explanation.

None came to her mind.

Finally, perhaps deciding mercy was appropriate, Cassiel relented.

"Perhaps I misheard."

The pardon was immediate.

Elysia visibly relaxed.

"Yes."

She nodded far too quickly.

"You definitely misheard."

Cassiel’s lips twitched.

When she returned with more water, her gaze landed on the washbasin once more.

A realization struck.

He still hadn’t been washed.

Before she could speak, Cassiel said:

"Have someone prepare hot water."

She blinked.

"Why?"

"I’m going to bathe."

The simple statement filled Elysia with immediate relief.

Excellent.

Wonderful.

Perfect.

Someone else could handle that.

"Of course."

Then another concern surfaced.

"Shouldn’t we summon the royal physician first?"

Cassiel shook his head.

"Not yet."

Elysia frowned.

"What if you collapse again?"

His expression remained calm.

"That depends."

"Depends on what?"

"Whether you’re available."

She stared.

"...Available?"

"If I’m alone and lose consciousness, that could become inconvenient."

His tone was perfectly reasonable.

"If I fall and hit my head, things might become even more troublesome."

Elysia immediately looked concerned.

Cassiel continued:

"If you’re nearby, however, I imagine everything will be fine."

The logic sounded flawless.

Possibly because it was.

Elysia bit her lip.

"I suppose that’s true."

Cassiel nodded.

Satisfied.

Then she added:

"Perhaps Bran and I can both help you."

The Duke closed his eyes.

Some battles, it seemed, were destined to take longer than others.

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