That night, Darwin had a dream.
"Darwin~"
Adeline slowly approached him, her voice like a gentle whisper. She climbed onto the bed and straddled him, her eyes locked on his. He pulled her toward him by the waist and pressed a soft kiss to her neck, then her jaw... then her lips.
The kiss started slow—tentative—but quickly deepened, growing more intense with every passing second.
He gently pushed her down onto the bed, their lips never parting. Their breaths mingled, warm and quick. Her arms wrapped around his neck as she looked up at him with eyes full of desire.
Darwin kissed her again, passionately. His hands roamed along the curves of her body, and the way she whispered—
"Your Grace... Your Grace..."
—sent shivers down his spine.
He liked the way she called his name. There was something thrilling about hearing her voice so breathless and intimate.
"Your Grace!"
Darwin's eyes snapped open.
Morning light spilled into the room. It had all been a dream.
"Are you alright?" Adeline's voice came again—soft, concerned.
He turned to see her seated at his bedside, worry written on her face.
His throat tightened as the vivid memory of the dream hit him all over again. He swallowed hard, his face flushing.
"I-I'm fine," he said quickly, glancing away. "Just... had a good dream."
Adeline raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She leaned in to place a hand on his forehead. The moment her skin touched his, Darwin's hand clenched around the bedsheet.
"It seems like your fever's gone already. That was fast," she said, pulling her hand back.
"W-well... it's mostly because of aura," he explained, forcing his tone to stay level.
"Aura can help with a fever?"
He nodded, grateful for the change in topic. "When someone learns to control their aura, they can regulate their body's temperature—almost like healing themselves."
"Wow, that's impressive," she said. "Then, can Dane do that too?"
"Not yet. He's still in the early stages of training," he said, starting to move—until he realized something wasn't right.
He froze when he noticed the issue under the covers. His eyes widened slightly, and he swiftly pulled the blanket up to conceal it, face reddening all over again.
"Lady Adeline," he said, reverting to his usual tone, "I need to bathe and get dressed. I'd appreciate some privacy."
Adeline, oblivious, simply nodded and stepped out of the room.
As the door clicked shut, Darwin shot out of bed and rushed into the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face.
"What the hell is wrong with me? Get a hold of yourself, Darwin!" he scolded himself mentally.
That day was particularly eventful—especially for the Duke. Comedically so.
He couldn't enjoy his breakfast. Every time he tried, his gaze would wander to Adeline—specifically to her lips as she ate, or the little pleased sounds she made when tasting something she liked. Unfortunately for him, it reminded him far too much of that dream.
"I'll excuse myself," Darwin muttered abruptly, rising from the table and leaving the dining hall.
Dane blinked in confusion, looking at Adeline. "Mom, Father didn't finish his meal. He usually does."
"Maybe your father doesn't have much of an appetite today," she offered, casually sipping her tea.
In his office, Darwin tried to lose himself in paperwork. But when Adeline walked in—as she often did—with a tray of snacks, everything inside him panicked again. Her smile, her voice, her presence—too much.
"I'm heading to the training grounds," he blurted to James, standing up a little too quickly. "Need to check on the knights."
And just like that, he bolted.
Adeline blinked in surprise as he brushed past her without a word.
James tilted his head. "Odd. He usually doesn't flee from snacks."
In the training grounds, Darwin threw himself into sparring. Again and again, he swung his sword, moving with uncharacteristic aggression. The knights exchanged tired glances—none dared question the Duke's sudden burst of chaotic energy.
Then Adeline arrived with a cheerful smile and a cart full of cookies.
"Who wants some cookies? I baked too many!" she called out. The knights instantly swarmed her, eager for the treat.
"Your Grace, would you like—?"
"No, thank you," Darwin cut her off, wiping sweat from his brow. "I'm returning to my office."
He dashed off before she could finish the sentence.
Adeline narrowed her eyes as she watched him disappear. Something is definitely off.
Later that afternoon, Darwin lay on the grass in the garden, trying to calm himself.
Get a grip. You can't avoid her forever.
"Your Grace! Surprised to see you here!"
He looked up and—of course—there was Adeline, sitting on a tree branch above him.
"Lady Adeline—" he began, already bracing for whatever nonsense she was about to—
"Catch!" she yelled, and jumped.
Without thinking, Darwin shot to his feet and caught her mid-air. She landed safely in his arms.
"Do you want another scolding from Dane?" he muttered, frowning.
She only laughed and patted his shoulder. "I knew you'd catch me. Nice reflexes," she added with a wink.
Darwin's heart skipped a beat.
He realized just how close they were—her arms still lightly on his shoulders, her face mere inches from his. He quickly set her down and turned to leave.
But she grabbed his arm.
"Hey! You're doing it again. Are you avoiding me?" she asked sharply. "Did I do something wrong last night?"
He paused, still not facing her. "You didn't."
"Then why are you running away from me like a criminal?" she demanded. "That's not like you. Normally, you'd find any excuse to get on my nerves."
"Well, it's..." He faltered. Words failed him. What am I supposed to say? I dreamed of kissing you breathless?
"I have to go," he muttered and tried to slip away.
"Oh, no, you don't!" she exclaimed, yanking him back and pushing him down to the grass. She quickly sat on top of him, pinning him with her weight.
"Explain yourself, or I'm not letting you up. You can't just avoid me forever. What would Dane think?" she said, arms crossed.
Darwin's breath caught in his throat.
This is worse than the dream. Her face was flushed from the sun, her smile teasing, her legs straddling him... and her scent—sweet and maddening.
She looked way too good like that.