Lenore gets her wish of a hot bath to wash away the fatigue of her long journey. While the medicine kept her motion sickness at bay, it wasn't able to alleviate the stress and exhaustion that come with traveling. Still, the scented oils added to the water by the townhouse's maids fill her lungs, and she closes her eyes, letting herself simply exist for the moment.
Of course, existing for more than a moment is difficult when she thinks about the fact that she'll be sharing a bed with Alaric, no matter how innocently. He gave her a chance to claim the bed for herself, but he's already done so much for her. Taking away his bed while they're in the capital seems too cruel. Besides, it's not like she hates the idea of being near him. She's just... not used to having that kind of closeness.
Lenore steps out of the bath, dries off, and dresses in her modest nightgown before her skin starts wrinkling or she falls asleep in the water. She double-checks her appearance in the mirror, wondering if she should sleep with a shawl over her shoulders too. Alaric has seen her in nightclothes before, but now that she's sharing a bed with him, she feels naked even in a gown with a high collar, long sleeves, and a long skirt.
"I'm just overthinking it," she tells herself, her voice no louder than a whisper. "He said it's for protection, and I don't know what kind of enemies he might have."
It's not something she's given much thought. Sure, she knows that nobles often have both allies and enemies, but she's never considered the impacts of those dynamics. However, it seems strange to her that somebody would target Alaric, the duke ruling a cursed land who has outlived everybody else in the empire several times over without showing any signs of age or ailments.
Then, realization hits her. Alaric said she'd be viewed as pitiful more than anything else, and it's true that there's not any point in trying to court her as a potential ally or make her into an enemy. Her greatest use would be as a pawn against Alaric or the imperial faction, the same way her uncle used her as a pawn against her family.
The thought settles in her stomach like a rock, giving her a sinking feeling. No wonder Alaric didn't say any of this outright. It's not easy to digest.
Alaric is already lounging in bed with his back against the headboard when she returns to the room, his hair damp and a dark robe over his nightclothes. "I used the bath of a guest room," he says, noticing the way she observes him.
He's on the side closer to the windows, so she finds herself crawling into the side of the bed that faces the wall with the door to the connected bathroom. To the foot of the bed is the door.
Normally, it would feel too early to go to bed, but they're both too tired for just a nap to be enough rest. Being in a carriage for so long is miserable, and she doesn't look forward to the return trip.
For the moment, she pushes her dread to the back of her mind. After all, they'll be in the capital for some time before returning. She gets a break from days spent on the road. So, she sinks into bed, pulling the blankets up and letting her head drop onto her pillow. She could put her arms out to the side without touching Alaric with the size of the bed.
"Are you uncomfortable at all?" Alaric asks.
"With the bed? Not at all." It might be due to the nights spent in inns and days spent in a carriage, but this is the softest bed Lenore's been in.
"Then, are you uncomfortable with anything aside from the bed?"
It's like he can read the nervous thoughts running through her head. "I'm a bit scared."
Alaric looks surprised at that, clearly not expecting her response. "Of what?"
Lenore tries to bury herself deeper in the blankets. "That you have to take precautions like this. I know that nobles are often at odds with each other, but it's sinking in that being at odds doesn't just mean arguing."
Alaric tilts his head back, looking at the dark fabric canopy of the bed above them. "If it helps, I don't expect anyone to target either one of us in this townhouse. They would need to consider how to get past the guards and complete their task without leaving behind evidence of their master. Then, you don't have a guarantee that we would be sleeping at any particular time. There are simply too many risks and not enough of a reward."
Lenore is slightly concerned at the thorough response, one spoken like he's had to plan such things in the past. If that's the case, then she doesn't want to know. "But you still want to take extra measures."
There are shadows in Alaric's eyes when he turns his head to look at her. "I don't want to make another mistake and have you pay for it this time."
Lenore doesn't know what he means, but she senses that this isn't the right time to ask either. Instead, she scoots closer to him and takes one of his hands in her own, offering the small amount of comfort she can. "Okay. We'll be extra careful the entire time we're in the capital."
Alaric almost smiles, lying down on his side to face her without removing his hand from her grasp. "You don't mind?"
"How could I?" Lenore asks. "It means that you care about me and my safety."
Alaric squeezes her hand. "I do. Care about you."
He says something else, but it's too quiet for Lenore to hear clearly. She's not sure that it's something she's meant to hear at all. However, if she's right, then he murmured, "More than you know."
And even though she closes her eyes after that to sleep, she finds it difficult to actually do so.
Because if that's what Alaric said, then maybe there's hope that her feelings aren't entirely one-sided.