Leonard left Olivia's room, his heart heavy with worry for her. He asked Amelia, Alfred's wife, to check on her.
Olivia had made it clear she didn't want to see the doctor, yet Amelia wasn't a doctor, just a wise old lady. so, she wouldn't be able to refuse Amelia's aid.
Leonard had to leave for a meeting with the diplomats and the crown prince, a task he disliked greatly. However, there was no choice.
Upon seeing him, the prince commented, "You look awful. What happened?"
"I had quite a night," Leonard responded briefly.
The prince chuckled, "I see, the little duchess wouldn't let you sleep."
Leonard didn't respond to the prince's insinuation, choosing to switch the subject. "I'm deep in work. I hope my presence is not required here anymore."
"Today is the last day you'II have to endure this. They will leave tomorrow morning, and you can go back to your normal life."
"I hope so, this is becoming tiresome," Leonard muttered.
"I know..."
After managing to endure the rest of the day with the diplomats, Leonard returned home after dinner. Telling Alfred to send Amelia to his study.
As soon as Alfred led Amelia to Leonard's study, Leonard asked, "How's my wife doing?"
Furious, Amelia chided, "The poor duchess won't be able to get out of bed for a week. And don't you dare touch her during that time."
"What happened?" Leonard asked, confusion evident in his voice.
"You ought to know better than I do, my lord. You were too rough on Lady Olivia; she can't even stand up now."
Feeling guilty, Leonard instructed, "Tell Alfred to summon the doctor immediately."
Seeing Leonard's reaction, Amelia said, "No need for that, my lord. The duchess needs rest more than anything. I've prepared a herbal tea to soothe her pain. As long as she rests, she should recover in a week. However, don't you dare touch her before that, and remember to be gentle with her."
Amelia, one of the few who could scold the duke freely, had taken care of him since he was a child, just like Alfred. She cared for him deeply and had no qualms about admonishing him when he did something she disapproved of.
After a good night's rest and reminding Leonard to treat Lady Olivia gently, Amelia left him alone in his study.
Leonard finished up the most urgent papers and went to check on Olivia, who was sound asleep. He sat by the bed, observing her as she slept. Her hair was a mess, and she was drooling. She looked so tiny and innocent sprawled over the large bed. Leonard felt terrible for brushing her petite frame. Pained, he gently smoothed a lock of hair off her face whispering, "I'm sorry for hurting you."
He kissed her forehead lightly and climbed into bed next to her.
That night Olivia didn't toss and turn as she usually did. By morning, Leonard was so exhausted that he fell asleep. When Olivia awoke, she found herself firmly wrapped in Leonard's strong arms. He slept soundly next to her, his face a picture of serenity. Was she dreaming? She found it hard to believe someone so beautiful could exist.
She reached out to touch his face, unable to believe what she was seeing. His skin was soft, and his long eyelashes seemed to glitter. She then touched his hair, finding the texture as soft as silk. Enjoying the sensation, she continued tracing her fingers through his hair for a pleasurable period until he eventually blinked his eyes open.
Olivia tried recoiling in shock, but his arms held her fast. "Don't move so abruptly; you'II hurt yourself," Leonard cautioned.
Olivia felt her cheeks heat up as she buried her face in Leonard's bare chest. However, that only escalade her embarrassment as her face made direct contact with Leonard's wide, muscular chest, heat rising to her cheeks.
Leonard had been awake from the moment Olivia touched his face, but he pretended to be asleep just to save her the embarrassment. When she continued threading her fingers through his hair, his desire for her rekindled. So, he opened his eyes before things could spiral out of control.
Now her face was subsumed in his sturdy chest turning scarlet with embarrassment. This made it even worse for Leonard, she was too adorable to resist. He wrapped her in a tighter embrace, as Olivia struggled for breath, punching his back to loosen his grip. He heeded her feeble protests and withdrew slightly from the exhausted Olivia who gulped in air.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. You're just too adorable," Leonard apologized.
Olivia found this amusing and couldn't help her laughter, "I'm okay my lord, don't worry."
"Hah! How many times do I have to tell you to call me by my name?" Leonard grumbled.
Recalling how he made her pronounce his name flushed Olivia's cheeks.
"I'm fine, Leonard," she reassured him, making him break into a contented smile as she thanked her with a passionate kiss.
"That's my girl."
He resumed his gentle caressing of her breasts as she whimpered his name, "Leonard!" He wished to devour her then and there, but he remembered Amelia's warning and reluctantly pulled away.
Resting his head on her shoulder, Leonard sighed heavily, "I guess I'II have to wait for you to get better."
Olivia found his resemblance to a child who had been denied his favorite dessert adorable and chuckled at the ridiculous comparison.
Leonard lifted his head hearing her chuckle, "Seems like you're finding my trouble amusing."
Caught off guard, Olivia worried her laughter might've offended him, "No, not at all. It's just that... you look cute."
Leonard leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her lips. "I don't mind you mocking me if that gets a smile on your face."
His gaze was tender, making Olivia's heart flutter. She never imagined she could enjoy such a moment with Leonard when they'd gotten married. The realization filled her heart with joy.
...
That morning, the Duke remained in bed with Olivia until noon when Amelia knocked on the door of their chamber. The Duke had fallen asleep on her lap again, and Olivia gently nudged his shoulder to wake him. He was half-asleep and clutched Olivia's waist too forcefully, causing her to yelp in pain.
"Ow!"
Hearing her cry out, Leonard quickly came to his senses and saw the pained expression on Olivia's face.
"Please stop, you're squeezing too hard."
Realizing why Olivia was in discomfort, he immediately let go and said.
"I'm sorry, I was half-asleep."
"It's okay."
Amelia knocked again, and eventually Leonard rose, got dressed, and opened the door. Upon seeing the Duke emerge from the room, Amelia gave him a reproachful look, which he completely ignored as he left. Amelia greeted Olivia as she entered.
"Good morning, my lady. How did you sleep?"
"Much better, thanks to you, Amelia."
"There is nothing to thank me for, my lady."
"Do you feel well enough to get up for breakfast, or would you prefer it in bed?"
"I'II try to get up."
Olivia was still in pain from her back and legs, and the Duke nearly crushing her moments ago didn't help her condition. Upon rising, Amelia and Mari, who was with her, supported Olivia, preventing her from falling and assisting her to a small sitting area with a table and two chairs, where they served breakfast-which was more like lunch, given that Duke had slept so late Olivia hadn't had the chance to eat earlier.
After she finished eating, they assisted her to the bathroom. As she was undressing, Amelia noticed new bruises around Olivia's waist and began berating the Duke.
"That damned fool, I told him yesterday to be gentle with you, but instead, he's covered you in bruises! If this continues, your skin will be completely ruined."
Amelia was visibly furious, but Olivia tried to calm her.
"The Duke didn't do it intentionally, Amelia; he was half-asleep."
"Even so, he ought to be more gentle. You're so slight and delicate; I fear he'II crush you with his arms one day."
"Amelia, don't you think you're overreacting just a little?"
"What bothers me is that he's too rough and never moderates his strength. That's all well and good on the battlefield, but not in bed."
At this comment, Olivia's face flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly submerged herself in the bath. That day, when the Duke returned home, Amelia forbade him from sleeping in the same bed as Olivia until after the upcoming situation persisted, Olivia wouldn't be able to attend-though she wasn't too bothered by that prospect.
During the week, as Olivia was forced to remain in bed, the Duke came home late from work and left early the next morning due to being backed up with work, thanks to the crown prince's affairs. As a result, and with Amelia's ban in effect, he couldn't see her much.
The following week, Olivia had recovered, thanks to Amelia's attentive care, and so she was returning to her dance lessons with Professor Wilson, which she didn't particularly enjoy as she kept stepping on his feet.
Olivia wished for the week to end as soon as possible because since her recovery she hadn't had a moment's peace. Every morning she reviewed her etiquette, in the afternoon she had dance lessons, and whenever she found a bit of free time, the maids would use it to apply facial masks, give her massages, or tend to her nails. Each night, Olivia would fall into bed utterly exhausted, not waking until the maids came to rouse her in the morning.
Before she knew it, the ball was only a day away, and Olivia was a bundle of nerves. During her dance lesson, she trod on Professor Wilson repeatedly, and at one point she tangled in her dress and pulled Professor Wilson to the ground. Several servants had to help him up; it appeared he had injured his back. Before the servants took him away, Olivia said.
"I'm so sorry!"
Professor Wilson seemed livid, but for some reason, he simply told her.
"Don't worry, my lady, it was an accident. Do not feel guilty."
After that incident with Professor Wilson, Olivia didn't feel like doing anything. Noticing her downtrodden mood, Amelia suggested she take a break, served her tea on the terrace, and brought her a tray of her favorite pastries. However, Olivia was so clumsy that day she spilled the tea on the table, birds attacked her trying to steal her treats, and she ended up falling off her chair.
Olivia had forgotten about her streak of bad luck since nothing had gone wrong for several days, but it seemed her misfortune had returned with a vengeance.
That night, she didn't want to have dinner and went straight to be to prevent anything else from going wrong. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and grew increasingly worried that she would embarrass the Duke at the ball. In the midst of her restless turning, she didn't notice the edge of the bed and tumbled onto the floor.
Frustrated, Olivia lay on the floor crying. Suddenly, the door to her room swung open, and there stood the Duke. Seeing her on the floor in tears, he asked.
"Olivia, are you all right? What happened?"
She couldn't stop crying, so he lifted her from the ground and sat her on his lap, where she clung to his chest and continued to cry like a little girl. Leonard didn't know what to do or say to calm her, so he simply held her and patted her head until her tears subsided.