Chapter 2: The Duke of Antarland

The duke was in his study, pouring over reports that had just came in. His eyebrows almost joining together with the frown that he had on his face as he concentrated on the reports. The duke desperately wished that he could take a break but he knew that if he delay the matters at hand then it would only pile up tomorrow. He sighed loudly.

It was then he heard the knock on the door. It was his butler, carrying important news. "The duchess, your grace. She was awake," he said. The duke then frowned even more. "What do you mean, was awake? She is not awake now?", he said in a deep voice. "I'm afraid she fainted shortly after waking up, your grace", said the butler.

This news startled the duke and made him stand up immediately. He decided the reports can wait after all. He strolled over to the couch, picked up his jacket and walked over to the door where the butler was. "I wish to see my wife. Lead the way, Mr Vans", he said curtly. The butler bowed, held the door open for the duke and walked with him to the Duchess Suite for the second time that day.

When they arrived at the door of the Duchess Suite, there were knights stationed at the door, and the door was open. The duke caught glimpse of the healer, Mr Lance, tending to the figure on the bed. He barely heard Mr Vans announce to the room that the duke has arrived, he strolled into the room and straight over to the bed, where his partner was lying down. He sat down at the edge of the bed and asked the healer, "How is she, Mr Lance?" Mr Lance replied, "She's currently sleeping, your grace. No anomalies detected, just like before".

Leonhart, the Duke of Antarland sighed after hearing the last sentence from his healer, "Just like before, huh?" He reached out his hand and touched the clasped hand of his sleeping wife. He then realised a piece of her hair was out of place and he absent-mindedly tucks it away from her face. Little did he realised his action had been witnessed by his healer and his butler, and they smiled at the rare affection that he showed them.

The duke stayed in the room of his partner for a while after that, and the rest of the staff decided to give him some time alone with his wife. They slowly moved out of the room and closed the door quietly behind them.

The duke couldn't stop staring at his sleeping partner's face. His finger gently caressing the side of her face. He longed to see her beautiful jade eyes staring back at him. He longed to see her smiling at him, laughing at his jokes, spending time at his study, pestering him to take a break. He missed her company. He missed her. He took her palm and kissed it gently, then he leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I missed you, Anastasia", he said. "Please wake up soon. I won't say no to a tea break ever again if you wake up," he said, his voice breaking at the end.

The duke stayed at the Duchess Suite that night. He slept on the chair that was facing the bed, holding his partner's hand. That was how the maid found him that morning when she went to the duchess suite the next morning.