Marshal Mei left the palace through the main gate. Although surprised, the guards did not ask her any questions.

She quickly descended the steps. Alopex Klein might have been admiring the garden, but he was not going to do so indefinitely. She had to be sure she could talk to him.

She turned right off the main path that led to the entrance gate and into the labyrinth of flowers. But she had a vague idea of where the fallen husband might be hiding.

She was not mistaken.

Sitting on a bench, Alopex Klein was near the hidden spring in the center of the garden. The water that gushed happily from the rock seemed to be a remedy for the torments of the soul.

Marshal Mei approached. Alopex Klein turned around.

“I beg your pardon," she began, "I was looking for a quiet place.”

“Please," he answered, getting up, "I was just leaving.”

“No, no, don't bother. Let us sit down.”

Obviously, he did not have any desire to remain in her presence. However, his social rank forbade him the slightest remark. Each at one end of the bench, they watched the spring gush forth before Marshal Mei began the conversation, “I really like this place. It is very soothing.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Water, you who are nothing but an eternal cycle, carry my sorrow to the sea, and from the mountain bring me joy," Marshal Mei said by turning her head toward her interlocutor.

The man was startled by this sentence.

“I didn't know you read my books," he murmured.

“Why shouldn't I read them?”

“I am not the greatest author in the court. Besides, this sentence is taken from the book that received the worst reviews.”

“I don't care about the reviews.”

Alopex Klein laughed.

“No, you don’t.”

“To be honest, it is my favorite one.”

He gave her a suspicious look.

“Really?”

“If I correctly remember, the reviews said that the story was totally non-existent. I liked the fact that you described every element of the lake in detail. Anyway, the title was Watery Contemplation, so that was to be expected.” 

“I doubt that this is a good enough reason.” 

Marshal Mei sensed that he was further suspicious of her. She knew that seduction would be difficult because he was experienced in power games. Then, she looked sad.

“I was always in the action, without a moment for me. Immersing myself in a work that allows me to settle in a place where I have nothing to fear is enough. Especially since the writing is enjoyable.”

“This is the first time I've heard such a reason.”

Marshal Mei moved a little closer to him.

“Alopex,” she began.

He shuddered.

“Do not call me by my first name!”

“Do you have no idea why I read your work?” 

“Do not talk to me that way!”

“Don’t change conversation!”

Furious, he stood up. Marshal Mei held him back by the sleeve and stood up in turn.

“Alopex,” she begged him.

“Let me go," he ordered her.

“Will you be against me forever?”

He laughed.

“It is funny to hear that from the person who killed my brother.”

“You've been avoiding me for seventeen years and I have not killed your brother for seventeen years! You're always looking for an excuse.”

“That's ridiculous. Get your hands off me.”

“Alopex... marry me.”

Alopex Klein's eyes widened.

“How dare you?”

“You still don't know why I'm proposing to you now?”

“Shut up! Who proposed to me before going to war and having fun with young boys? And you dare to ask me why I'm avoiding you?” he shouted. “I despise you, Duna. You are incredibly selfish.”

“Alopex...”

“Don't call me by my first name!”

“I'm worried about you. “

“Don't make me laugh!”

“You just divorced the Prime Minister. How will you survive?”

“I don't need her to survive.”

“Let me help you...”

“I don't need your help.“

They glared at each other. Marshal Mei let go of Alopex Klein's arm...

“Finally.”

... to grab his face and bring it to hers.

Duna kissed Alopex.

He tried to push her back. His physical strength was superior, but it melted as Duna's kiss became more pressing, more carnal, more intense.

He had not known this sensation for seventeen years and a flood of emotions gushed in him without him having the least control of it.

His biggest mistake was to close his arms on her. She pulled him back and they ended up on the floor, him on top of her. She continued to kiss him and now began to caress his body. He began to do the same.

Alopex Klein came to his senses when he put his hand on Marshal Mei's sword. He jumped away.

“Don't come near me again.”

“Alopex...”

He left the place without answering her. The excitement he had felt dissipated with every step he took. He passed under the entrance gate, turned left, and headed for the visitors' stables to retrieve his horse.

He set it off at full gallop so that the wind whipped his face. The horse slowed down after a few minutes. They were far enough away from the palace and the city, so that Alopex Klein had peace of mind. On the way to his mansion, Alopex Klein reconsidered the situation.

Following his brother's execution, the Empress had demanded a divorce from the Prime Minister to avert the danger. Marshal Mei's proposal made no sense. This marriage would never be approved because he was now suspected of treason.

What was Duna thinking?

Was it possible... that she still loved him?

Alopex shook his head to get rid of the thought. She was completely different from the eighteen-year-old Duna. She was stronger, more charismatic...

... and terribly more attractive.

Even if he hated her.

He arrived at his mansion and entered immediately. He got rid of his jacket and put it on the coat rack at the entrance.

The Klein family had always been modest, and the mansion was more like a large house, which was an advantage because they had no money to pay servants. Alopex Klein had married the Prime Minister out of interest in bringing material comfort to his family.

That comfort was gone by this morning. Marshal Mei absolutely was right when she told him that he would have great difficulty surviving. His children had stayed with their mother.

However, he did not regret it.

"Oh, it's you. I thought it was Baron Klein.”

Alopex Klein looked up and saw a young woman at the top of the back entrance staircase that led to the rooms.

“I have to tell you something,” he answered.

"Okay. Are you from the palace ?"

"Yes. From the Empress' office to be more precise".

"What did she want ?"

“She pronounced my divorce.”

“That's good news.”

“Yes, but I think we'll be watched soon. Don't show yourself more than necessary.”

The young woman went down the stairs. The darkness in the hallway made her facial features indistinct. Alopex Klein could not help but whisper:

“You really look like her.”

The young woman smiled a toothy smile.

“It's only natural. I am her niece after all...”

To be continued