It was very late when the King and the Duke finished their discussion. The King told Duke Larry to sleep over at the castle, rather than returning to his mansion, as it was too late and he had only brought a coachman with him.
Duke Larry agreed, but he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. He had locked Zilayefa in his chambers, and he had the keys. She hadn't eaten, and he knew he should be concerned, but he was determined to teach her a lesson.
He wanted her to know that he was in charge, that she belonged to him. As he settled into the grand chambers assigned to him by the King, he couldn't help but wonder how he would sleep without Zilayefa by his side.
But as he began to wash up, he caught a whiff of something familiar - Zilayefa's scent still lingered on him. He decided not to wash up further, opting instead to just wash his feet and climb into bed.
The next morning, Duke Larry woke up feeling calm and rested. He was shocked - had he finally overcome his insomnia?
Duke Larry made his way to the throne room, where the King was already seated, looking grave.
"Ah, Duke Larry, thank you for coming," the King said, his voice low and serious. "I've been thinking a great deal about our discussion last night, and I must admit, I'm growing increasingly concerned."
Duke Larry's eyes narrowed. "Concerned, Your Majesty? About what, precisely?"
The King leaned forward, his eyes locked on Duke Larry's. "About the eastern raids, of course. We need to put an end to them, and quickly."
Duke Larry nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I agree, Your Majesty. We can't let these raiders continue to terrorize our villages."
The King nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I want you to lead a team to scout out the raiders' movements and gather intelligence. We need to know where they're coming from, and how they're organizing their attacks."
Duke Larry nodded, his mind already racing with strategies. "I'll assemble a team immediately, Your Majesty. We'll get to the bottom of this and put an end to these raids once and for all."
The king invited Duke Larry for breakfast after their discussion, and Larry joined the king and his family for the meal. He showed courtesy to the king, engaging in polite conversation and enjoying the lavish spread.
As they finished eating, the Duke begged to take his leave, citing the late hour - it was almost noon. However, the king asked him to stay a little longer, explaining that some entertainers were scheduled to perform at the palace.
Duke Larry politely declined, stating that he had some personal matters to attend to at his mansion. The king inquired whether the issues were urgent, but the Duke simply replied that they were personal.
With that, Duke Larry excused himself from the court and departed for his palace in the hills. As he rode, the sun began to set, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape.
By the time he arrived at his palace, evening had fallen, and the stars were beginning to twinkle in the night sky.
As Duke Larry arrived at his mansion, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. The conversation with the King had left him with a sense of duty, but also a growing concern about Zilayefa's escape.
He dismounted his horse and handed the reins to his waiting groom. As he entered the mansion, he was greeted by the familiar sight of his servants scurrying about, attending to their duties.
But something felt off. The atmosphere in the mansion seemed tense, and the servants' eyes darted nervously towards him as he passed.
Duke Larry's instincts told him that something was amiss. He quickened his pace, his heart pounding in his chest.
He rushed to his chambers and opened the door, and was met with a sight that made his heart skip a beat. Zilayefa was lying on the floor, fast asleep, with tears streaked across her face.
For the first time in his life, Duke Larry felt a pang of remorse for his actions. He gently picked Zilayefa up and placed her on the bed, where she woke up with a start and scurried away from him.
"Stay away from me," she whispered faintly.
Duke Larry looked at her, feeling a mix of emotions. He called for the maids, who arrived shortly and prepared a meal for Zilayefa. After they left, Duke Larry carried Zilayefa to the bathroom and told her to bathe.
Zilayefa looked at him warily, wondering what had brought about this sudden change in behavior. One moment, he was locking her up and starving her, and the next, he was being kind and gentle.
As Duke Larry stood there, looking at her frail figure, he said, "Take your clothes off, I'll bathe you."
Zilayefa's eyes widened in alarm as she brought her hands up to her chest in a defensive gesture. "Stay away from me," she said. "I can bathe myself."
Duke Larry's expression turned stern, and anger flashed in his eyes. "But you look so weak," he said. "Let me assist you. Besides, you've seen me naked. Why can't I help you bathe?"
Zilayefa's face reddened as she replied, "I am a lady, my Lord. I am yet to be wed."
Duke Larry raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "You still have fantasies of marrying that small prince from the village?" he asked.
Zilayefa's eyes flashed with defiance. "I do intend to marry him," she said stubbornly.
The Duke chuckled, clearly entertained by her response. "You amuse me always with your fantasies," he said. "As long as you are my remedy, you are not going anywhere. And I won't let anyone come close to you. You are mine. Better make peace with that from now."
He turned to leave, but not before saying, "Take your bath and come out. Your breakfast will be ready. I have sent out word to my people to look for your mother."
Zilayefa's eyes lit up at the mention of her mother. "Really, my Lord?" she asked, her voice filled with hope.
The Duke's expression turned cold once more. "It is not in your place to question me," he said. "Bath and get dressed. I am going to see that tiny prince of yours."
As he turned to leave, Zilayefa pleaded with him, "My Lord, please don't hurt him. He is innocent."
The Duke's eyes flashed with anger, and he strode back to Zilayefa, grabbing her by the neck. "Still pleading, huh?" he growled. "You haven't learned a lesson yet?"
Zilayefa struggled to breathe as the Duke's grip tightened. Finally, he released her, and she collapsed into a fit of coughing.
The Duke turned and walked out of the bathroom, leaving Zilayefa shaken and terrified.
Zilayefa stood under the warm water, trying to wash away the fear and anxiety that had been building up inside her. She couldn't believe the Duke's sudden change in behavior. One moment, he was being kind and gentle, and the next, he was threatening and violent.
As she dried herself off and got dressed, she couldn't help but wonder what the Duke had planned for her. He had mentioned finding her mother, but she didn't know if she could trust him.
When she emerged from the bathroom, she saw that a steaming hot meal had been laid out for her. She sat down to eat, trying to savor each bite despite the turmoil in her mind.
As she ate, she heard the sound of the Duke's voice outside her room. He was talking to someone, but she couldn't quite make out what they were saying.