As Suzette was getting ready to leave, reminding Margaret she could visit her house at any time, when she needed a break from those two. Margaret reminded her, "You'll be engaged soon though...I don't want to intrude."

            Suzette snorted at that as they walked back towards the door and out the carriage, Suzette smiled down at her friend again, "On my priority list, you're higher than my would-be fiancé, besides let's not get ahead of ourselves, we haven't officially met and I have no intention of marrying him."

            Ouch. Margaret thought that that had to have hurt if Duke Theodore had heard that, "But that's such a waste...he's the most eligible bachelor besides the crown prince."

            Suzette scoffed, "Being an eligible bachelor has got nothing on his personality. Sending me a dress that somehow fits me before we actually meet is just...creepy." Suzette decided to leave the whole, going back in time bit, out of the conversation as that'd be much too complex to explain--and unbelievable, too. She had to save herself the headache and inwardly apologized to her friend.

            "Well, isn't it possible that he asked your personal seamstress?" Margaret asked her, it was a logical point as there was no way he'd remember her size but considering that her seamstress hasn't been summoned to the castle as of late, due to reasons, even if it were true it still doesn't make it any less weird.

            "Ah, I shouldn't hold you up anymore, I'll see you next time, Margaret." She planted her head against the carriage's cushion and sighed, I need a plan to keep him out of my life. If getting a new fiancé doesn't work, what if I sent countless ladies towards him. He may have said I'd be the only woman he'd ever marry...but there has to be at least one that strikes his fancy. While she was hopeful, she also knew that his pride was as big as his estate, so there's no telling if that would actually go over well.  

            She returned home, to immediately be chided by Beatrice again for her red eyes, even though Suzette tried to explain, Beatrice came over with a cold towel to cover her face with, "Milady, this must be because you won't stop biting your nails, you bit them too hard that you cried, didn't you?"

            Suzette wanted to tell her the truth...but, she figured Beatrice wouldn't hear her out and so she let the chiding continue, she was used to it at this point that it just felt homely anyway.

                                                                        ***

Once Duke Theodore Chelvion returned home he entered his office, there were several papers and forms piled neatly on his desk--already filed and read through and ready for the butler to collect and process. He sat down and rested his legs on the corner of his desk, if his butler were to come in at this very moment, he may have fainted at the sight.

            He grabbed a blank sheet of paper and took a hold of his quill pen, most documents were used with a typewriter now, other than signatures--especially if you were able to afford one. He made a few strokes on the sheet, his lips pursing into a playful smirk and he just stared at the sheet. There was a doodle of his future wife, Suzette McGrowen along with a bunch of notes.

            He looked at the sheet and began to drum his quill pen against his desk as he rested his face against his fist, "These should be all of our important events...including the ones that tore us apart. Knowing her, she'll probably try to avoid them somehow."

            He frowned and his voice went soft and quiet, "I know I should let you go, but I didn't lie when I said I couldn't live without you..." He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes and visualizing her in his mind. He smiled, she was the only one he'd ever see as a woman. He has waited far too long to back out now, including the future.

            It's has been far too long since we last contacted each other. His body screamed out at him to go to her, however right now, he couldn't. It was dusk, and it'd be rude to go to her house uninvited at this time, which would also cause rumors to circulate. He also had to get up early and the last thing he wanted was for her to be mad at him.

            He rang the bell on his desk so that he could tell a maid to draw him a bath, after his bath, he ate dinner. It was lonesome at this long table all by himself. It was too quiet--deafening even. Even when their future selves argued, it was better than this, he felt like he was enclosed in a grave again. Just thinking about the fact that he died once nearly made him hurl. He couldn't bear to eat anymore and slid his plate away for them to take.

            The chef seemed a bit disappointed that Duke Theodore didn't eat a lot again, but before he could ask him if the food wasn't to his liking, Duke Theodore had already left the dining hall, he walked himself to his bedchamber, listlessly pulling the covers over him. Instinctively, he looked over at where she used to sleep, but now it was empty and cold. He frowned, trying to remember her warmth from that time, he placed a pillow in what would be her spot. He held onto his pillow and imagined it was her soft waist and breathed out a heavy sigh.

            He knew this pillow wasn't her, it didn't exude her scent, soft breaths--her essence in general...and yet, every night he'd follow this routine, once he thought he finally fell asleep he woke up shortly thereafter. He looked down towards his hips and muttered, "Dammit."

            Even though the time that he was asleep was short, he still recalled his dream even now, her soft, supple skin, her scent which was like the gentlest of perfumes. Her playful moans and her deep breaths. The way her body rised up and down so gracefully, the way her fingernails would claw into his back when it was intense.

            It drove his body wild, he felt high just from the few, scattered traces of her. What a time to be jealous of future me, when we'll be one in the same soon enough, He reminded himself. He tried to fall back asleep but it would be a long time until he could shut his eyes again. Once morning rose at 5am, he was already awake. He rang his bell for a cup of coffee, just to get him started for the day. He returned back to his office--he had several proposal plans in his hands, one for road reconstruction, building a new temple in his territory and a few commerce buildings. The most important ones were the road reconstruction and the commerce buildings, his economy was more important than religion. Even if an angel did return them back to the past, he didn't feel it necessary to build a another temple until the citizens of his region asked for one.

            This proposal was from the church themselves, as there was only one temple within all of Chelvion territory, he knew it was mainly just the church trying to extend their powers, as they had always butted heads with the imperial family. He went ahead with his plans, all the while thinking of her. He wanted to go see her--he knew she had nothing planned today, but if he came uninvited she might throw hot tea at him. He chuckled at the thought.

            As he was reminiscing, he heard a knock, "Come in." It was his butler bringing in a tray of various breakfast foods: scones, muffins, an omelet and some sausages were on the fairly large plate. Since he couldn't eat a lot of dinner--the only time he can spare away from his office, which is why the deafening silence took its toll on him--he actually felt a bit famished this time. He ate elegantly but quickly, he had to finish this paperwork--the sooner the better. The sooner the next day would come, and the next, and the next and then it'd finally be time to officially see her. He was so focused on his paperwork by this point that he didn't notice his butler knocking and entering with a lunch tray. It was a steak with beef sauce and glazed onion on top, mashed potatoes and corn. He moved his papers out of the way and began to cut his steak, he smirked, it was just the way he liked it, not red, not brown, just the right amount of pink. Still juicy and tender, he felt he was in bliss as he continued to take fairly large bites.

            He finished up his plate, wiping off his lips and as the butler grabbed his tray he resumed work, "My lord, is there anything you'd like for dinner?"

            Not bothering to look up from his desk he said, "Anything our chef makes is good so I'm not going to complain." He took a sip of his hot tea, even though he didn't particularly like it, he knew that Suzette did. Drinking this brand also helped with his insomnia, even if not completely he was still able to get a few hours of sleep in each night.

            As he was locked up in his study, dinner was brought to him, it was an assortment of creamy potato soup, grilled chicken, broccoli and yellow rice that was decorated with some parsley. He cleared off his plate and when asked about dessert, he declined, "I'm tired, draw a bath for me and then I'm turning in."

            His bed, once again was cold and empty, he wished well upon her as he sullenly looked at what was her half of the bed. Morning rose quicker than expected and his daily routine began again.