Maya slowly opened her eyes.
The familiar ceiling of her bedroom came into view, and for a moment, she couldn't remember how she had gotten there. Her body felt strangely heavy, and her throat burned whenever she swallowed. Turning her head, she found her mother sitting beside the bed, watching her anxiously.
"Thank heavens, you're awake," Evelyn whispered, immediately reaching for her hand.
Maya swallowed and winced.
"My throat hurts."
"Don't strain yourself, my dear." Evelyn turned toward the maid standing nearby. "Please, call the healer. Quickly."
The maid hurried out.
Not long after, the healer arrived and carefully examined Maya. He checked her pulse, looked at her throat, and asked her a few questions about what she had eaten and drunk at the ball.
After a moment, he nodded.
"It appears to be an allergic reaction. Whatever triggered it caused severe irritation to her throat, which likely explains the bleeding."
Damon, who had been standing anxiously near the window, finally released the breath he had been holding.
"Is she going to be all right?"
"Yes. Thankfully, it doesn't appear to be life-threatening. However, she should rest, drink plenty of fluids, and avoid anything that could further irritate her throat."
The healer prepared a mixture of herbs for her and instructed Evelyn on how often she should take it before leaving.
Maya spent most of the day in bed, eating nothing but soup and drinking warm herbal tea because her throat remained sore. Yet her mind kept returning to the masquerade ball.
She remembered the music.
The dancing.
The drinks.
She had consumed a few, but she had never reacted like this before.
What did I drink?
She tried to remember, closing her eyes and going over the evening in her mind again and again, but there was nothing.
She couldn't remember what she had consumed before she collapsed.
A soft knock came at the door.
Maya looked up as Duncan entered.
He walked toward the bed and sat beside her, his usual confidence replaced by genuine concern.
"I heard you were awake. How are you feeling?"
"A little better," Maya replied. "My throat still hurts, though."
Duncan nodded.
"I'm glad you're improving. I was occupied at the ball and didn't realize how serious things had become until later. I should have checked on you."
"You don't have to apologize," Maya said softly. "I should have been more careful."
"Perhaps. But we still don't know what caused it."
Maya's expression changed.
Duncan noticed.
"The palace is investigating. The servants have already been questioned, and they're trying to determine what you ate or drank before you collapsed. Nathaniel isn't taking the matter lightly."
Maya gave a faint smile.
"He's been worried."
"Very worried."
Duncan stood.
"Anyway, I should go. There's still work waiting for me at the palace."
Maya nodded.
"Thank you for coming."
Duncan gave her a small smile before leaving.
The investigation continued throughout the day. Servants who had worked at the mansion were questioned one after another.
Marion and Clara were also questioned about where Maya had been and what she had consumed, but neither of them knew anything that could explain what had happened.
The blood Maya had coughed up was sent for further examination. Until the results returned, everyone could only hope that whatever had happened was truly an accident.
Nathaniel, however, refused to leave anything to chance.
Whenever his duties allowed him to leave the palace, he went to check on Maya. When he couldn't, Jasmine stayed with her.
The days passed quietly.
Maya found herself enjoying Jasmine's company more than she expected. They spoke about their childhoods, their families, and what life was like in their respective kingdoms. Sometimes, they laughed over silly memories, and sometimes, they simply sat together in comfortable silence.
For Maya, it felt strangely comforting.
It had been a long time since she had spoken so freely with another woman. Ever since her older sister married and moved away, she had missed having someone she could talk to about the smallest things, not even her friends could relate with her.
One afternoon, Nathaniel arrived carrying a large bouquet of flowers.
Maya's face brightened slightly when she saw him.
"Hello, Duchess," he said warmly, placing the bouquet beside her bed before carefully pulling out a single rose and handing it to her. "Feeling better?"
Maya accepted the rose and smiled.
"I'm feeling much better."
Then she sighed.
"And please, just call me Maya."
Jasmine laughed from the chair beside the window.
"Why? Duchess sounds beautiful."
Maya gave her an exasperated look.
"Because if my parents hear him calling me by my title every five minutes, I'll never hear the end of it. Especially from my mother."
Nathaniel and Jasmine burst into laughter.
Maya couldn't help laughing with them.
For the first time since the incident, the room felt light again.
A maid soon appeared at the doorway.
"Your Grace, lunch is ready."
Nathaniel immediately stood and offered Maya his hand.
"Come."
Maya stared at him.
"Your Grace, it's my throat that hurts, not my legs."
"I know."
He gently took her hand anyway.
"I'm guiding you so you don't trip and hit your throat."
Maya chuckled a bit.
"You are ridiculous."
"And you're stubborn."
Jasmine watched the two of them with an amused smile as they made their way toward the dining room.
Lunch was served shortly after they arrived. Maya had barely taken a few bites when Nathaniel gently took the spoon from her hand.
"I'll do it."
Maya blinked. "I can feed myself."
"I know. But you're still weak."
Before she could argue, he carefully spooned some soup into her mouth.
Jasmine covered her smile with her hand.
Maya's cheeks warmed.
"Everyone is looking at me."
"Let them," Nathaniel replied casually.
Across the room, Evelyn and Damon watched them from a distance.
Evelyn smiled.
"You made the right choice. I was skeptical about him at first, but look at them."
Damon proudly patted his chest.
"Yes. I knew what I was doing."
Evelyn laughed.
"You? You were the one who thought she would never get over Duncan."
Damon's smile faded for a second.
"Well... I was wrong."
He looked back at Maya and Nathaniel.
"I think we'll be planning a wedding soon."
"And grandchildren," Evelyn added dreamily.
Damon's face lit up.
"Now that's something I can support."
They laughed together before settling in the garden, watching the afternoon slowly pass.
By evening, Nathaniel and Jasmine prepared to leave.
After saying their goodbyes, they returned to the guest residence. Exhausted, Nathaniel immediately went to his bedroom to rest while Jasmine remained awake, sitting near the window with a novel in her hands.
She had barely read two pages when a servant approached.
"My lady."
Jasmine looked up.
"Yes?"
"Someone is here to see you."
Her brows knitted together. "At this hour?"
"He says it's important."
Jasmine hesitated. A strange uneasiness settled in her stomach.
"Who is it?"
The maid shook her head, "He didn't give his name."
Jasmine closed the book, "All right. I'll see him."
She followed the maid toward the entrance. When the doors opened, Jasmine stopped.
A familiar figure stood outside.
"Good evening, Lady Clifford."
Duncan smiled.
Jasmine stared at him for a moment.
"Good evening, my Lord."
She bowed politely, though confusion was evident on her face.
"Surprised to see me?"
"A little," she admitted. "Especially at this hour."
Duncan's lips curved into a faint smirk.
"Then I suppose I should explain."
Jasmine stepped aside. "Come in. You shouldn't be standing outside."
Duncan entered and glanced around the guest residence. His eyes moved over the paintings and furnishings before settling on a large portrait hanging above the fireplace.
"It's smaller than I expected," he remarked.
Jasmine raised an eyebrow.
"That's one way to compliment someone's home."
Duncan chuckled, "But it's beautiful."
Jasmine smiled. "Thank you, my Lord."
Duncan reached into his pocket, "I came to return something."
He opened his hand.
An earring rested in his palm.
Jasmine's eyes widened, "My earring."
"You dropped it at the ball."
She took it from him, "I didn't even realize it was missing."
"I noticed."
Jasmine looked at him suspiciously. "You came all the way here at night just to return an earring?"
"I could have waited until morning."
"Then why didn't you?"
Duncan stepped closer, "Because I decided not to."
Jasmine's breath caught slightly. She forced herself to remain composed.
"My Lord, you could have sent a servant."
"I could have."
He took another step closer. "But then I wouldn't have had the pleasure of seeing you."
Jasmine's heartbeat quickened. She looked away.
"You're being very strange tonight."
"Am I?"
Duncan's voice lowered.
Jasmine swallowed.
He was standing close enough now that she could feel his presence without even looking at him.
"You should be careful coming here this late," she said quietly. "Someone could misunderstand."
Duncan tilted his head. "Would that bother you?"
Jasmine looked at him.
Before she could answer, Duncan reached up and gently moved a loose strand of her hair away from her face.
Her entire body went still. He held her gaze.
"I couldn't resist."
Jasmine's heart began pounding.
"What?"
"Returning something that belongs to someone as beautiful as you."
Heat rushed to her cheeks. For once, she couldn't find a clever response.
"Thank you," she finally whispered.
"You're welcome."
Duncan smiled, then he leaned slightly closer.
Jasmine's breath caught. For a second, neither of them moved.
She could hear her own heartbeat.
What am I doing?
The thought frightened her.
She had always known Duncan was charming. She had seen women fall for him without him even trying. But standing this close to him felt different.
She should step away. She knew she should, yet her feet refused to move.
Duncan's eyes dropped briefly toward her lips.
Jasmine noticed. Her heart pounded even harder.
Then- Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Jasmine immediately stepped back while Duncan straightened.
Nathaniel appeared, looking tired and slightly dishevelled from sleep. He stopped the moment he saw them.
His eyes moved from Jasmine... to Duncan... then to the space between them.
His expression changed instantly.
"Lord Duncan."
Duncan turned calmly.
"Good evening, Your Grace."
Nathaniel's brows furrowed. "What are you doing here?"
Duncan glanced at Jasmine. "I came to return something she lost at the ball."
Nathaniel looked at Jasmine. "And that?"
"My earring," she quickly explained, holding it up.
Nathaniel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I see."
Jasmine could feel the tension in the room. She then cleared her throat.
"It's late, my Lord. You should probably head back."
Duncan smiled. "Of course."
He turned toward the door, then paused. He looked back at Jasmine.
"Good night, Lady Clifford."
There was something almost playful in his expression.
"Good night, my Lord."
Duncan winked before walking away.
Jasmine stood frozen for a moment, while Nathaniel watched the door close behind him.
Neither of them spoke.
Finally, Jasmine whispered, "What just happened?"
Nathaniel looked at her.
"I was about to ask you the same question."
Jasmine lowered her eyes, still trying to understand why her heart was beating so fast.
She touched the earring in her hand.
For some reason, it suddenly felt much heavier than it had a moment ago.
Neither of them noticed the figure standing farther away from the dark door.
Watching, listening and smiling.