Page 30 of A Heart Disguised 1

“Well,” I muttered to myself, “I suppose I should be grateful. It’s not as if I want him to… to… oh, bother.” I shook my head, trying to dislodge the memory of his kiss, the warmth of his hands, the intensity of his gaze.

Russet, sensing my distress, padded over and rested his head on my lap. His eyes looked up at me with such understanding that I couldn’t help but smile. “At least you find me irresistible, eh, boy?” I scratched behind his ears, grateful for his unwavering loyalty.

Starling, not to be outdone, fluttered down to perch on my shoulder. She nuzzled against my cheek, her soft feathers tickling my skin. “And you, my little feathered friend,” I said, gently stroking her back, “you’re not put off by my lack of curves, are you?”

As I sat there, surrounded by the beauty of the garden and the unconditional affection of my animal companions, I couldn’t help but ponder the absurdity of my situation. Here I was, a boy masquerading as a noblewoman, engaged to a demon lord in a human realm. It was like something out of a bard’s wildly imaginative tale.

The servants’ gossip about the duke’s preferences gnawed at me, clashing with my own experiences. If he truly preferred mature, curvaceous women, why did he look at me with such intensity? Why did he kiss me with such… fervor? The memory of his lips on mine made heat bloom across my skin. His pet names, his teasing remarks, the way his golden eyes seemed to see right through me—none of it aligned with a man uninterested in his betrothed.

Unless it was all for show? The thought struck me like a bolt of lightning. Could it be that the duke was merely playing a part, putting on a performance for the benefit of others—or perhaps to toy with me? It would certainly explain the contradiction between his actions and the rumors. But if that were the case, what game was he playing? And more importantly, what were the rules?

The more I dwelled on this possibility, the more a knot of hurt and anger formed in my chest. If the duke was indeed putting on an act, then he had made a fool of me. That kiss—which had left me breathless and confused—was nothing more than a ploy, a cruel trick played on an unsuspecting pawn. The pet names, the lingering glances, the gentle teasing—all of it reduced to a farce.

I felt my cheeks burn with a mixture of embarrassment and indignation. How dare he? I may have entered this arrangement under false pretenses, but at least my reactions had been genuine. To think that I had spent even a moment contemplating my feelings for him, when all along I was just a piece in whatever game he was playing…

My head began to throb, a dull ache building behind my eyes as I wrestled with these conflicting thoughts and emotions. This was getting me nowhere. I was spinning in circles, concocting scenarios based on servant gossip and my own insecurities. Perhaps it was best to step back and take things one incident at a time. After all, I had enough on my plate trying to maintain my own deception without attempting to unravel the duke’s potential machinations.

With a sigh, I stood, brushing off my skirts. “Come on, you two,” I said to Russet and Starling. “Let’s see if we can find the kitchen. After all this excitement, I think we’ve earned ourselves a treat. And who knows? Maybe we’ll overhear some more scandalous gossip about our dear duke’s preferences. Wouldn’t want to be caught unprepared, now would we?”

10

Darius

Darius paused, stretching his neck and rolling his shoulders to ease the tension that had built up after hours of work. The responsibilities of a demon lord were endless, and today was no exception. He reached for his teacup, taking a sip of the fragrant steaming liquid as his eyes scanned the document before him. The blend, a rare Aethorian black tea infused with subtle notes of citrus and spice, was a personal favorite that helped sharpen his focus during long work sessions.

A knock at the door broke his concentration. “Enter,” he called, not looking up from his work.

Sir Fenris strode in, his wolfish features set in a grim expression. The lieutenant’s silver fur seemed to shimmer in the morning light, his piercing blue eyes scanning the room with keen intensity.

“My lord,” he began, bowing slightly, “I have the reports you requested on the recent disturbances in Silverbrook.”

Darius nodded, finally setting down his quill and giving his lieutenant his full attention. “And? What news do you bring, Fenris?”

Fenris’ lips curled back in a snarl, revealing sharp canines. “It’s as we feared, my lord. The unrest is growing. The drought has hit the farmers hard, and food prices in the markets have soared. There have been… incidents.”

A frown creased Darius’ forehead. “Incidents? Elaborate.”

“There was a riot in the marketplace yesterday,” Fenris growled, his claws flexing unconsciously. “A group of farmers and laborers, angered by the high prices, started destroying merchant stalls. The town guard managed to quell the violence, but not before significant damage was done.”

Darius leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he considered this information. “And the cause of this drought? Have our mages made any progress in determining if it’s natural or… something else?”

Fenris shook his head. “Not yet, my lord. Sir Orion’s ice mages are still investigating, but they’ve found no evidence of magical interference thus far.”

“I see,” Darius murmured, his mind already racing with potential solutions. “We need to address this quickly, before the situation deteriorates further. What measures have been taken so far?”

For the next hour, Darius and Fenris pored over reports and maps, discussing strategies to alleviate the crisis. They debated the merits of various approaches: increasing guard patrols to maintain order, opening the castle granaries to supplement the town’s food supply, and even the possibility of using magic to stimulate crop growth.

“We could also consider importing food from neighboring regions,” Fenris suggested, pointing to a map of the surrounding territories. “It would be expensive, but it might help stabilize prices in the short term.”

Darius nodded thoughtfully. “A sound suggestion. Draft a proposal for trade negotiations with our neighbors. And Fenris, Iwant you to personally oversee the distribution of supplies from our granaries. Ensure it’s done fairly and without corruption.”

A fierce grin spread across Fenris’ lupine features. “It will be done, my lord. No one will dare attempt any underhanded dealings under my watch.”

“Good,” Darius agreed, already turning his attention to the next matter at hand. “Now, about the water supply—”

Their discussion continued, touching on various aspects of the situation and potential solutions. As they talked, Darius found his mind occasionally wandering, distracted by memories of the previous day’s… unexpected vision.

Finally, as their meeting drew to a close, Darius stood, stretching his tall frame. “Thank you, Fenris. Your diligence in this matter is appreciated. Keep me informed of any new developments.”

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