The Duke's Bed Chapter 121: The Summon

Chapter 121: The Summon

Audrey sat at her desk and began to write. Her hand was steady, but her heart was thumping.

Her mind kept drifting back to dinner. She kept seeing how Austin had looked at Alina across the hall, how he had stood up and spoken against her, and how everyone had turned against her.

To His Majesty,

I write to you not as a daughter seeking favour, but as a loyal subject fulfilling her duty. There are certain matters at Ravenmoor that need your imdiate attention.

The Duke of Ravenmoor has involved himself with a foreign woman of unknown origin. Her influence over him has compromised his judgnt. He has put her above the alliance you arranged and has humiliated

publicly.

I request an inquiry into his conduct and her removal from his household.

Audrey

She read the letter once, then sealed it. She did not ntion Arcasedia. That card was too valuable to play yet. The petition was enough for now.

"Send it right now," she said to the servant waiting at the door.

He nodded and left.

The news arrived the next afternoon. Maren ca to Austin’s study, holding a letter sealed with the royal crest.

"A royal ssenger arrived an hour ago," she said. "The king has received a petition from Audrey against you and Alina. And he is not pleased with the situation."

Austin took the letter, and read it in silence. Alina watched him.

"What does it say?" she asked.

He handed her the letter instead.

To Austin Moore, the Duke of Ravenmoor,

I have received your fiancée’s account of recent events at your household. I am troubled by what I have read. She has accused you of allowing personal attachnts to interfere with title and duty. You are accused of putting a foreign woman above a royal alliance.

You are to present yourself before

within two weeks to explain yourself. Bring whatever evidence you have. Do not make

wait.

King of Aldre.

The king was furious. His daughter had been humiliated, his alliance was crumbling, and Austin was the reason.

"He’s giving you two weeks to explain yourself."

"He wants

to explain why I broke his daughter’s heart and chose a bed warr over a princess," he chuckled.

Maren cleared her throat.

"The court in the capital is already buzzing with this new gossip."

"Let them do that."

"Austin..." Maren said.

"That will be all, Maren."

She hesitated, then nodded and left.

"I knew this would happen," he said as soon as she left. "I knew she would retaliate."

"Do you regret it?" Alina asked.

"No," he replied imdiately. "I regret the timing and consequences. Because the risk is you...but not the choice."

Alina felt her chest tighten with a warm feeling. He wasn’t hesitating. She held the letter tighter and looked at him, her eyes full of love.

"You’re making this very hard for

to be reasonable," she said softly.

"Then don’t be," he replied. "I don’t want you to be reasonable. I just want you with ."

She smiled. Then returned to the real conversation.

"What are you going to do?"

He walked around the desk and stopped in front of her, holding her hands.

"I’ll go to the capital and will tell the king."

His words were ant to be reassuring but his body betrayed him. Alina could see the tension in his shoulders, and how much he was trying to keep himself steady when everything inside him was unravelling.

"To be honest, I’m terrified," he admitted. "I don’t know what will happen when I stand before the king. But I do know one thing...I’m not going to stop choosing you."

She smiled and gently cupped his face.

"I’m going with you."

"No," he replied instantly.

"Austin..."

"If you co with , you will beco visible to everyone. You won’t be a bed warr anymore. You’ll be the woman who broke a royal engagent. You’ll be judged and torn apart by everyone."

"Let them."

"Alina..."

"I’ve been torn apart before. But I’m still here...with you," she caressed his cheek. "I’m not hiding anymore. I will not stay behind while you face the king alone."

He looked at her with fear in his eyes.

"If the king decides to..."

"Whatever he decides, we’ll face it together."

He smiled and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her, and burying his face in her hair.

"I don’t deserve you," he said.

"Probably not. But you have no other option."

That made him laugh, the tension in his shoulders easing a little as he held her closer and kissed her head.

From the study, Austin went to see Maren to discuss further plans. He was in the corridor when he saw Audrey standing near the west gallery windows. She turned the mont she heard his footsteps.

"Did you receive it?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Good," she replied calmly. "You left

with no other option. Because apparently, you’re no longer capable of being a duke."

"And what do princesses do? Poison others?"

Her expression hardened.

"Be careful, Austin."

"No," he said, stepping closer. "You be careful. It’s you who crossed the line first."

She let out a short, breathless laugh.

"You chose her over ," her voice cracked. "You even humiliated

in front of everyone. After everything I’ve done for you... you still chose her."

She took a deep breath and spoke again.

"What about ? What do I get after three years of being your fiancée?"

For the first ti, Austin didn’t have anything to defend himself, only the weight of the guilt.

"I’m giving you freedom. I’m freeing you from a loveless political marriage," he said at last.

"I don’t want that," she shot back. "I want what was promised."

"It was never a promise. It was just a convenient arrangent for both of us."

"For both of us?" she repeated. "You think I did all of this for convenience?"

"For control," he replied.

She stared at him in disbelief. They had been friends since they were children, and yet, he still didn’t understand her at all.

"You think this was about control?" she said. "I stayed. I endured this... distance... because I thought it would an sothing eventually."

She then stepped back, putting distance between them as if it might help her breathe, and walked away before he could say sothing else to hurt her.

While Austin was with Audrey, Alina went to et Cecily and told her everything.

Cecily listened to her carefully.

"He must be terrified," she said when Alina finished.

Alina nodded.

"He admitted it."

Cecily shook her head.

"He is more scared of losing you than he is of losing everything else. He is risking his everything for you," she took Alina’s hand and squeezed it.

"Though I know he can manage this situation alone," Cecily said. "But don’t let him go alone. He will need you."

Alina squeezed her hand back and smiled.

"I will not. I’m never going to leave him alone now."