Chapter 85: Reunions
Kaiser chose a detour to avoid any unwanted attention. After a discreet crossing of the city, he stopped in front of a modest hotel. He booked a suite, settled in, then wrote a brief ssage. Once the letter was sealed, he called a driver and handed it to him. "Deliver it personally to Duchess Irene," he insisted in a low voice. "No one else must see it." The man bowed his head and left imdiately.
On her side, Irene was sitting in front of her mirror, the comb gliding slowly through her long hair. Since her son’s departure for the academy a few days earlier, the residence felt deserted. Kaiser’s absence, unexplained, made the atmosphere even more stifling.
Moreover, her husband, the duke, had not been the sa since his injury in the confrontation against the Spectrum. Recovery had left him impotent and distant; he now spent most of his ti away from the domain, avoiding prolonged contact.
Irene sotis envied her friend Dyana, who not only had an attentive man by her side but also a fulfilling job that structured her days. In comparison, Irene felt useless, confined to wandering the silent rooms of the castle, with no role to play or real occupation.
A discreet knock at her bedroom door pulled her from her thoughts. "Yes?" she replied without turning around.
"Forgive
for disturbing you, Your Grace," ca a servant’s voice through the wood. "A letter has just arrived for you."
Irene set down her comb. "From whom?"
"The sender is not indicated, madam."
She let out a slight sigh, stood, and walked to the door. Opening it, she took the letter the servant held out. As soon as she saw the fine, elegant handwriting on the envelope, her heart skipped a beat. It was Kaiser’s. Without another word, she abruptly closed the door, leaving the servant sowhat stunned on the other side.
"Is everything all right, Your Grace?" he asked worriedly through the door.
"Yes, perfectly," she replied, striving to keep her voice neutral. "You may go."
She heard him walk away, then focused on the letter. Her fingers trembled slightly as she broke the seal and unfolded the paper. The ssage was concise: he invited her to join him at the Le Prunier hotel, in the suite he had reserved. A wave of heat rose to her cheeks as her mind raced. Where had he been all this ti? Why had he vanished without a word, only to reappear suddenly with such a request? Questions crowded in, but none of it mattered. She folded the letter, clutching it in her palm.
After catching her breath, without wasting a mont, she opened her wardrobe doors and scanned the rows of dresses. Her choice finally fell on a blue silk gown, its fitted bodice accentuating the curve of her breasts and slim waist, while the bias-cut skirt hugged the roundness of her hips before flowing to the floor. Her chestnut hair, simply loose, cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves. She applied makeup: a discreet eyeliner stroke to elongate her gaze, a touch of pink lipstick on her plump lips.
She didn’t bother informing her husband. Truth be told, she wouldn’t have known where to find him. In recent weeks, he had been absent more and more often, absorbed in affairs he barely ntioned, and their exchanges were limited to cold notes left on the library desk.
She descended the main staircase, her fingers barely brushing the railing. In the entrance hall, she called the butler in a clear voice.
"Have the carriage prepared. I’m going out."
The man bowed without a word. A few minutes later, she climbed into the vehicle and gave the coachman the address of a shop near the Le Prunier hotel. The door closed with a light click, and the carriage set off.
Seated against the leather bench, she felt intense excitent rising within her. It had been years since she had felt this agitation. Since their first eting, Kaiser’s image kept haunting her thoughts, slipping into the most ordinary monts to tint them with desire.
The carriage stopped at the indicated address. Before stepping down, she ordered not to wait for her, then alighted, adjusted her hooded coat slightly, arranging it to partially veil her face without arousing suspicion.
After her carriage left, she waited a mont before heading to the discreet facade of the hotel. She entered, crossed the hall, deliberately ignored the receptionist’s gaze, and headed for the stairs. Her heels struck the marble steps with a rhythm she tried to keep calm. On the second floor, she stopped in front of the indicated door. She took a deep breath, raised a slightly trembling hand, and knocked three discreet tis.
"I’m coming," replied a deep, familiar voice from inside.
Her heart began to pound. I’m ridiculous, she thought, at my age, having the nerves of a girl on her first date. Does this an I’m really in love?
The door opened before she could pursue the thought. Kaiser stood there, wearing a simple white shirt with sleeves rolled up over his athletic forearms. A slight smile played on his lips.
"Well, Duchess, you’re punctual to...
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