The Duke's Bed Warmer

Chapter 84: Right Or Wrong?

"I warned you about him, didn’t I? I told you to be careful around him. Then why?"

Alina steadied herself. She tried to think of some explanation that would calm him but couldn’t think of any. Because he was right.

"I...I didn’t accept his gifts because he gave them to me," she said. "I accepted them because...I appreciated the ideas behind them."

Austin snickered.

"Really Alina? I don’t think you’re that naive."

She curled her fingers nervously at her sides.

"I didn’t encourage him or lead him on. I set boundaries with him when he offered me the necklace."

"And you think that makes everything right?"

Her patience ran out.

"Listen...he gave me a gift that crossed a line, and I refused it. But you’re acting as if I’ve done something unforgivable."

"You hid it from me," he almost shouted.

"I was waiting for the right moment," Alina shot back. "And I handled it."

"You handled it?" he scoffed. "By accepting gift after gift while knowing exactly what it meant?"

"Yes."

And then before she could stop herself, she spoke again.

"And what if he is using me...at least the world he is offering is better than this one."

Austin froze.

"What does that mean?" he asked.

Alina knew the moment the words left her mouth that she had crossed a line, but she didn’t back down.

"That in his world... I wouldn’t be this."

Austin’s expression hardened.

"This?"

"A bed warmer."

The word echoed in the silence between them.

"I know my life is better here than it was...but that doesn’t change my title."

He didn’t interrupt her, letting her continue.

"It doesn’t matter what I do," she went on. "At the end of the day, I’m still that first."

The temperature seemed to drop between them.

"I’ve told you before that you’re more than that. I can’t change what people..."

"You could end the contract," Alina said.

Austin couldn’t believe his ears.

"What?"

"You can cancel it and make me free," she said. "But you won’t. Because the contract is the only thing that makes sure I stay here... at least there I wouldn’t be bound by a contract."

Austin didn’t just look hurt anymore; he was shaken. Like his deepest fear had just been spoken out loud by the very person he was most afraid of losing.

"Are you considering his offer?" he asked. "Do you want to leave?"

She didn’t answer. Beacuse she was angry and wanted to use her silence as a weapon against him.

He crossed the room and grabbed her arm firmly.

"You are bound to me," he said. "Through a contract your father signed. And I will never release you."

He tightened his grip. Alina’s gaze dropped to his hand on her arm, then lifted slowly back to his face. His eyes were burning with fear.

"You’re talking to me like I’m your property."

"If that’s what it takes to keep you away from Dorian, then let it be."

And he meant it. He would rather hold her with a contract than lose her to a prince. Then he released her arm and walked out.

Alina kept standing there for a very long time, trying to process what had just happened. She knew she was wrong somewhere, but she hadn’t expected that situation to escalate so badly. Austin had been mad at her before, but he had never behaved like this... not even when he thought she had leaked the intelligence.

Suddenly, a tear fell on her cheek. She wiped it away quickly, took a deep breath, and went to her room.

She was in her room crying when Elspeth entered.

"Alina...what happened?" Elspeth asked, sitting beside her. "Why are you crying?"

Alina shook her head, trying to speak, but her voice broke.

"I think...I ruined everything."

"What happened? Tell me."

Alina told her everything that had happened in Austin’s study. Elspeth listened to everything patiently. When Alina finished, Elspeth stayed quiet for a few minutes, letting Alina compose herself.

"Elspeth... how could I not say it?" Alina whispered. "In Astoria, women aren’t..."

"That’s not the point," Elspeth said, caressing her cheek. "The point is who you said it to."

Alina wiped away her tears looking a little surprised by her answer.

"Austin can’t change centuries of tradition overnight," Elspeth said. "He can’t change people’s minds forcefully. But he has been trying...in every way he can."

"I..." Alina couldn’t finish.

"And you told him it wasn’t enough. Think about everything he has done for you despite your title. Not everyone would do that," Elspeth tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You told him that a man you hardly know is offering you a better world than him who has been rebuilding his world for you for months."

Alina understood then. Austin wasn’t entirely wrong, but she wasn’t entirely right either. She was stubborn enough to never admit her mistake easily, but Elspeth’s words made her realize she had been wrong this time.

"I was wrong," Alina admitted. "I let my anger say things I shouldn’t have, even though I knew they were wrong."

Elspeth gently squeezed her hand

"Then fix it before it becomes something big."

"He won’t talk to me," Alina muttered, scared. "He walked out."

"You’re Alina...I’m sure you’ll find a way," she smiled.

During dinner, when Alina entered the great hall, Austin was already at the head table. She walked towrads her seat but Austin’s eyes stayed fixed on his plate.

They both ate in silence. Though Alina was only three seats away from him, the distance between them had never felt this much colder.

After dinner, when Austin stood up and headed towards the corridor. She followed him.

"Your Grace," she called him.

He stopped but didn’t turn.

"I need to talk to you."

"Not tonight," he replied coldly.

"Please..."

"I won’t be coming to the room tonight. I’ve some documents to sign."

"Don’t lie to me. I know you’re avoiding me."

He finally turned.

"Yes," he admitted. "I’m avoiding you. Because if I come to the room tonight, I might say something I might regret later."

He turned back and walked away. Alina was about to call him again when someone placed their hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw Audrey.

"He is difficult," Audrey said with fake sympathy. "When Austin is hurt, he doesn’t lash out. He retreats and builds walls."

Alina didn’t want Audrey’s comfort so she decided to ignore her words.

"As I’ve told you before... not everyone can handle him," Audrey said gently. "It takes a certain kind of patience and strength."

She smiles as she patted Alina’s shoulder lightly.

"Not everyone has that."

Then she walked away.