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 message. 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 immediately.
On her side, Irene was sitting in front of her mirror, the comb gliding slowly through her long hair. Since her sonās departure for the academy a few days earlier, the residence felt deserted. Kaiserās absence, unexplained, made the atmosphere even more stifling.
Moreover, her husband, the duke, had not been the same since his injury in the confrontation against the Spectrum. Recovery had left him impotent and distant; he now spent most of his time away from the domain, avoiding prolonged contact.
Irene sometimes 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 me for disturbing you, Your Grace," came a servantās 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 Kaiserās. Without another word, she abruptly closed the door, leaving the servant somewhat 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 message 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 time? 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 moment, 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 didnāt bother informing her husband. Truth be told, she wouldnāt have known where to find him. In recent weeks, he had been absent more and more often, absorbed in affairs he barely mentioned, 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. Iām 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 excitement rising within her. It had been years since she had felt this agitation. Since their first meeting, Kaiserās image kept haunting her thoughts, slipping into the most ordinary moments 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 moment before heading to the discreet facade of the hotel. She entered, crossed the hall, deliberately ignored the receptionistās 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 times.
"Iām coming," replied a deep, familiar voice from inside.
Her heart began to pound. Iām ridiculous, she thought, at my age, having the nerves of a girl on her first date. Does this mean Iām 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, youāre punctual to...", before he could finish, Irene leaped at him, unable to resist, wrapping her arms around him, and kissed him passionately. Her fingers clutched the fabric of his shirt.
"You missed me so much," she murmured against his lips.
"I know, my adored MILF," he replied in a softer tone, his hands settling on her waist, drawing her even closer. A low laugh escaped him.
She pulled back a step, just enough to dive her gaze into his.
She stepped back slightly, hands still on his shoulders, to better look at him. "Youāve become even more handsome."
He let his hands slide down to her hips, playing the inquisitor. "And you, havenāt you... rounded out a bit?"
Her eyes widened, feigning indignation. "What? Iāve gained weight?"
"Iām teasing you, hahaha." He pulled her tighter against him, his voice softening. "You missed me terribly too."
Irene rested her cheek against his chest, letting a moment of respite pass before asking, more seriously: "Where have you been all this time?"
"Ah..." He sighed. "Itās a long story."
She turned her head to glance inside the room. The evening light filtered through the curtains, bathing the large bed in softness.
"Then I have all the time in the world," she affirmed, turning back to him with a confident smile.
Kaiser placed a light kiss on her forehead, a gesture of unexpected tenderness.
"In that case, how about a walk first? The evening air is mild, and we could talk without these four walls around us."
"A real date?" she asked, a joyful spark in her eyes.
"To properly make up for my absence," he confirmed, firmly taking her hand. "Then weāll come back here. And there, Iāll tell you everything. Not a single detail omitted."