ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 111: Pregnant women’s mood

The tone was not a request. It was an order.

Count Austin stared at Demian, searching for any opening, any chance to negotiate. There was none. All he found was an impenetrable wall.

Demian stepped closer. "Whatever you need," he said coldly, "speak to my people. Do not disturb her again. Do not force her to bear matters she should never have had to carry."

Count Austin fell silent for several seconds. Then, slowly, the familiar calculating smile crept onto his face. "You are very attentive, Duke," he said smoothly. "Is this because Valerie is carrying your child?"

The air seemed to freeze.

Demian’s gaze changed instantly darker, sharper.

"That is none of your concern," he said quietly, each word laced with unmistakable threat. "And listen carefully."

He looked Count Austin straight in the eye.

"Never appear in this castle again. Especially if your only intention is to exploit her."

Jester bowed even deeper, as though offering an apology without words.

Demian turned away without waiting for a response. To him, the conversation was finished. The only thing that mattered was this: Valerie would no longer have to face people who used blood and family ties as excuses to wound her.

As Demian walked away, Count Austin remained standing there, stunned.

And for the first time, he realized a bitter truth, Valerie was now truly under the protection of someone he could not pressure, could not manipulate, and could not command.

As Demian entered the castle, his steps slowed. An uneasy feeling settled in his chest the kind that came not from a soldier’s instinct, but from long familiarity with the moods of one particular person.

"Sean," he called.

The senior servant approached at once and bowed respectfully.

"Is Lady Valerie in her chambers?" Demian asked without preamble.

"Yes, Your Grace," Sean replied. "She went straight to her room after returning from the garden."

Demian paused, then asked again, his voice lower, "What is her mood?"

Sean did not need to think. "Bad."

Demian released a quiet breath, heavier than he realized. "Then," he murmured, "this means nothing will settle properly until later."

Sean gave a small nod, as though he had expected as much. "Indeed, Your Grace. Lady Valerie has just dismissed all the servants from her room."

Demian said nothing more. He only nodded once, then turned and climbed the stairs toward Valerie’s chambers. Each step felt heavier not from fatigue, but from the knowledge that when Valerie shut herself away like that, she was carrying something alone.

When the door opened, Demian froze.

Valerie stood near the window, wearing only her undergarments. Her hair fell loose down her back, her skin faintly slick with sweat. To Demian, the sight itself was not unfamiliar but the atmosphere was different. There was no teasing confidence. No inviting warmth. Only a tangible discomfort that filled the room.

"Why are you only wearing that?" Demian asked at last, his voice more concerned than surprised.

Valerie glanced at him briefly. "My body feels hot," she replied shortly. "And it’s uncomfortable."

Demian stepped closer. Now he could see it clearly her slightly rapid breathing, the moisture at her temples, the dull exhaustion in her eyes. "Do you have a fever?" he asked at once. "Are you unwell?"

Valerie shook her head. "No. I’m just... tired today."

The answer did not fully convince him, but Demian knew better than to push. Forcing her would only make her retreat further. He fell silent for a moment, thinking, then his expression softened slightly.

"How about a soak?" he suggested quietly.

Valerie looked at him, her brow faintly furrowed. She seemed to genuinely consider it. "Where?" she asked at last.

"The lake," Demian replied. "Or the river. If you want something farther away, we can go to the coast."

Valerie gave a small scoff. "That’s something common folk do," she said, half doubtful. "Can a Duke like you really do that?"

Demian smiled faintly a rare smile, one stripped of titles and authority. "I do it often," he answered honestly. "It’s just that... the place is never shared with anyone."

Valerie fell silent. She studied him for a long moment, as though weighing something beyond his words. Demian did not press her. He simply stood there, giving her space something he rarely used to do.

"If you want," he added gently, "let’s go."

Silence settled over the room once more. Then Valerie gave a small nod. A simple gesture but enough to ease something tight in Demian’s chest.

"All right," she said softly.

Valerie turned to prepare herself. There was no wide smile, no tender words but for the first time since morning, her shoulders seemed a little more relaxed.

Valerie’s eyes widened as her steps came to an abrupt halt.

She stood frozen, as though she had forgotten how to breathe.

Before her stretched a sight she had never imagined could exist a hidden place deep within the forest, perched on a hill, as if nature itself had chosen to keep it from human eyes. Tall trees framed the soft fall of sunlight onto the water’s surface, and in the distance a waterfall poured gracefully downward, forming a shimmering arc of rainbow in the air.

Beautiful. Almost impossibly so.

Valerie lifted a hand to cover her mouth, her eyes shining with unguarded awe.

Demian stood beside her, watching in silence. The sight of Valerie like this captivated, open, unguarded was far more beautiful to him than the landscape itself.

"Do you like it?" he asked at last.

Valerie did not answer right away. She simply nodded small but certain as though words could not carry what she felt.

Demian allowed himself a faint smile. "You said your body felt hot," he said. "I thought... this place might help."

Valerie turned to him, her expression softening. "This is already more than enough," she said quietly. "Thank you."

Demian did not reply. He merely watched her so small against the vastness of nature, so calm for the first time that day. A quiet satisfaction settled in his chest not because he had brought her here, but because he had given her space to breathe.

"Then," he said after a moment, "would you like to soak now?"

Valerie nodded immediately, almost instinctively. Without waiting, Demian reached for her hand. She startled slightly but did not pull away. She followed his lead, allowing herself to be guided down a narrow path hidden among the trees.

No servants followed them. Demian had already made it clear this place was for them alone.

They reached the water below: a calm stretch of river where the waterfall descended a short distance ahead. The water was clear and still, deep enough to soak in, yet safe sheltered from the force of the main current.

Demian stopped at the water’s edge and, without hesitation, began to remove his clothes. His movements were calm and natural, as though this place was deeply familiar to him.

Valerie fell silent, watching him with undisguised surprise.

"We’re... bathing without clothes?" she asked softly, almost in disbelief.

Demian glanced back at her, his expression easy, his gaze warm. "Of course," he replied simply. "The water is clean. There’s no one else here."

He held out his hand. "Come."