The Duke's Reluctant Bride

Chapter 49: Where Love Still Lingers

After two quiet hours in the woods, a familiar emerald orb bloomed in Lucien's palm, a sign that it was ready. He exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders.

But before he attempted to throw it open, he felt a weight against him. Turning slightly, he realized Adeline was still resting comfortably on his chest, her breathing soft and steady. The fire beside them was still lit, its gentle crackle filling the quiet night.

A soft strand of her icy blue hair, once wet and now dry, fell across her forehead. Lucien felt an urge to sweep it back, to see her face again, but he shook his head and gently nudged her shoulder to wake her.

"Hey... wake up," he said calmly, giving her shoulder another slow shake.

Finally, Adeline let out a soft groan and opened her eyes. She lifted her head, meeting his gaze. His sapphire eyes caught the faint light of the fire, and his tousled dark hair fluttered lightly in the breeze, framing the calm strength in his features.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked.

"I did. What is it, Your Grace?" she murmured sleepily.

Lucien gave a faint smile. "Nothing serious. But... could you move for a moment? I need to use the Oracle now."

With a nod, Adeline removed herself from his embrace and got back on her feet. A faint flush deepened on her cheeks when she realized her shorts and undergarments showed a little more skin.

What would the others think if I entered the portal looking like this?

"Wait, before you do that, let me at least put on my clothes," she said quickly, a hint of panic in her tone.

Realizing this, Lucien only nodded and grabbed his own clothes as well. "Right."

They both dressed in silence. Adeline slipped into her white buttoned shirt, its fabric faintly stained with blood, then pulled on her trousers over her shorts before fastening her blue cloak around her shoulders. The fabric had mostly dried from the fire's warmth, though the edges still felt cool and slightly damp. Lucien donned his dark, high-collared coat embroidered with silver thread, the blue gemstones along its trim catching the firelight despite the small crack in one of them. His fur-lined cape was still damp in places, but it rested neatly over his shoulders once again.

Lucien threw the orb, and the emerald portal tore open before them. They stepped through together, and in an instant, the world shifted. The soft glow of the manor's interior replaced the forest's chill as the portal closed behind them.

As expected, familiar figures waited on the other side. Valerie stood in her uniform—neat this time, unlike the one she had worn during the previous battle. Though her wounds had healed, faint traces of pain still lingered beneath the surface, a phantom ache in her side, shoulder, and back.

Before either of them could speak, Clara ran forward and threw her arms around both Lucien and Adeline, letting out a deep sigh of relief.

"You're both okay!" Clara said, her voice trembling with relief. 

Beside Valerie, Quentin adjusted his glasses, his gaze softening at the sight of them. "We're delighted to have you two back, Duke, Duchess," he said warmly, giving them a once-over.

His brown eyes lingered briefly on their disheveled state—the slightly damp clothes, the tangled hair, the loose button on Lucien's coat, and Adeline's cloak slipping barely off her shoulder. A knowing grin tugged at his lips. "I see... quite the eventful moment, wasn't it?" he remarked playfully. 

Clara blinked, then glanced between them, realization dawning. Her cheeks colored slightly as an amused grin spread across her face.

Adeline's cheeks flushed, but Lucien's expression remained unreadable, his tone calm but edged with dry firmness. "Don't get the wrong idea," he said evenly. "Just call the maids and have them bring us some fresh clothes."