Chapter 4: Bound by Duty, Torn by Love

Days turned into weeks, and the role Nick entrusted to Fera as his personal defender grew into something neither of them expected. She was no longer merely the slave under his magic’s control; she was the shield that stood between him and the dangers of a cruel world. When the court whispered threats, when political enemies lurked in shadows, it was Fera who stood unwaveringly by his side—silent, vigilant, and fiercely protective.

Nick had carried burdens heavier than most could imagine. Orphaned at the tender age of seven when his parents fell victim to ruthless political schemes, he had been thrust into the mantle of the 2nd Duke much too early. The golden halls of his family estate, once bright with laughter, now echoed with the cold absence of love. Raised in a world of suspicion and intrigue, Nick had learned to trust few, if any.

Yet, amidst the chaos of his lonely reign, he found an unexpected comfort in Fera’s presence. The sharp edges of his life seemed to soften when she was near—her silent strength wrapping around him like a shield that no enemy’s blade could pierce. In her company, the austere halls felt less cold; the weight of his title less suffocating. It was an unspoken solace neither had anticipated.

Fera, on her part, had settled into her new existence with a pragmatic acceptance. She was a slave, bound by ancient magic and harsh fate, yet she found a grim determination within that acceptance. No longer the spoiled daughter of the 3rd Duke, she adapted to her role with fierce resolve. She knew her place—and yet, beneath the quiet obedience, her mind churned with unspoken rebellion.

Nick’s feelings for her were complicated, layered with emotions he barely allowed himself to acknowledge. Day by day, he wove subtle threads of affection into his interactions—small gestures, lingering glances, and careful words that danced on the edge of confession. But Fera, inexperienced in matters of the heart and burdened by her own tangled past, failed to see these signs.

He gave every hint, every glimpse of tenderness he dared, hoping that one day she would understand the depth of his devotion. But for Fera, love was a foreign language—one spoken in riddles she was not ready to decipher.

Their relationship, fragile and undefined, remained suspended in a delicate balance until the night of the moonlit carriage journey changed everything.

They were traveling through endless fields of ripe wheat, the golden stalks swaying gently in the night breeze. The carriage slowed, giving them a brief respite under the soft glow of the silver moon. The world outside felt hushed and sacred, as if nature itself held its breath for what was to come.

Nick broke the silence first, his voice low and steady. “Fera,” he said, his eyes reflecting the moonlight, “I need you to understand something. Not as my slave, not as my defender, but as the woman you are.”

Fera looked away, the words stirring a confusion she struggled to contain.

“I love you,” he confessed simply, the weight of those words hanging heavily between them. “Not out of duty, or power, or convenience... but deeply, truly. You’ve become my reason—my strength and my peace.”

Her heart pounded, but not with joy. Fear, doubt, and bitterness clouded her thoughts. Love was dangerous. Love was vulnerability. And more than that, Fera’s soul was tethered to a grudge far darker than passion.

She wanted to hate him—for what he represented, for the lives of her parents he had taken through his family’s politics. Yet, she could not afford that hate. To fight him was to invite death—not only for herself but for her entire family, the 3rd Duke house.

And so, she accepted him. Not out of love, but obligation. Not from trust, but from the necessity to survive.

“I... I don’t know what this is,” she whispered, voice trembling. “But if this is the price to keep my family alive, then I accept.”

Nick’s gaze softened, a mixture of passion and compassion shining through. He understood the walls she had built, and yet, he hoped one day she might tear them down.

For now, their bond was forged not only by chains and magic but by an uneasy truce—by love complicated, by survival entwined.

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