ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 72: What if i erase myself

Days passed after the night that was never spoken of.

No one dared to mention it, yet the entire castle knew something had broken.

Valerie changed.

She still rose in the mornings, still sat at the breakfast table when the meal was brought to her chamber, still answered when spoken to. Yet everything was done in a hollow silence, as if her voice had been left behind that night and never returned with her.

She no longer held anyone’s gaze for long. No longer asked questions. No longer smiled not even the small smiles she used to give Sera and Lira.

And Demian...

His anger did not explode like a storm. Instead, it seeped into the walls, making the air in the castle heavy and suffocating.

His footsteps echoed sharply through the corridors. His voice was cold and clipped. The servants bowed lower than ever before.

None of them dared to linger longer than necessary.

"Do not disturb His Grace," they whispered among themselves. "The mood is foul."

The restriction came without any formal announcement.

Valerie was not permitted to leave.

Not to the gardens. Not to the boutiques. Not to the salons.

The window of her chamber became her only connection to the outside world and even that was often hidden behind drawn curtains.

Sera and Lira felt the change most keenly.

They helped Valerie prepare as they always had, but now every movement was careful, as though the sound of fabric or jewelry falling might provoke something.

"My lady..." Lira once tried to speak. "Would you like to read today?"

Valerie only shook her head slightly.

Her gaze was empty as she stared at her reflection in the mirror the same face, the same gown, yet something was missing.

Trust?

Safety?

Or perhaps... herself.

On the other side of the castle, Demian was rarely in his chamber.

He worked late into the night, shutting himself away in his study, stacking documents so high that even his advisers dared not interrupt him.

He was angry. At the world. At Valerie. And at himself though that last truth he would never admit.

Whenever his gaze fell upon the door to Valerie’s chamber, tension crept into his shoulders, his jaw tightening, as though he were facing a war he had not yet won and did not know how to.

And Valerie felt it.

Not through words, but through distance.

They slept in the same bed, yet felt like strangers. There were no conversations. No meaningful touch.

When Demian spoke, it was to give orders. When Valerie replied, it was only what was necessary.

The castle remained grand, still alive with activity, but to Valerie it felt like a silent cage.

And the most painful truth was not the restrictions, or the anger, or the cold that seeped into her bones.

It was the realization that... Demian acted as though everything would return to normal if only Valerie stayed silent.

And for the first time since standing at his side, Valerie began to ask herself, If I must erase myself in order to survive here... then who does this place truly belong to?

The castle felt slightly more alive that morning.

The announcement of Crown Prince Kaiser’s arrival sent the servants moving with unusual efficiency. His presence always brought a different atmosphere lighter, more open nothing like the tension that had hung over the castle since Demian had grown withdrawn and easily angered.

Demian himself was walking beside Kaiser down the main corridor. Their conversation sounded ordinary enough, touching on matters of the capital, noble gatherings, and bits of political news that only the two of them truly understood.

Until their steps slowed.

At the far end of the corridor, Valerie appeared.

She was walking quietly, accompanied by Sera, who carried several folded pieces of fabric perhaps Valerie had just retrieved something and was returning to her chamber. Her face remained calm, almost blank, as it had been these past few days.

But before Demian could react, Kaiser smiled first.

"Lady Valerie," Kaiser greeted her warmly, his tone sincere. "Did you return safely that night? I hope you weren’t too drunk."

The air seemed to freeze.

Demian stopped short. His brows immediately drew together.

Valerie herself looked briefly startled not by Kaiser’s greeting, but by the sight of Demian standing right beside him.

She recovered quickly.

"I am well, Your Highness," Valerie replied softly, her voice controlled. "Thank you for your concern."

She bowed politely, following noble etiquette, then stepped back one pace at a time before turning away without looking back, without offering any explanation.

Her departure was swift and clean, as though she had no intention of leaving a trace behind.

Demian watched Valerie’s retreating figure with darkened eyes.

Several seconds passed before he finally turned to Kaiser.

"What did you mean just now?" Demian asked coldly. "How do you know she was at that party?"

Kaiser blinked, clearly not expecting the question to sound like an accusation. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"I attended Countess Avaina’s salon as well," he answered casually. "You know that."

Demian’s jaw tightened.

"Then," he said in a low voice, "who was the man with her that night?"

Kaiser paused, then frowned.

"There wasn’t one."

Demian turned sharply. "Don’t lie."

The edge in his voice startled Kaiser.

"I’m not lying," Kaiser replied, his tone turning serious. "Valerie was alone. That’s why I accompanied her."

Demian stared at him as if hearing something he did not want to hear.

"What do you mean... accompanied her?"

"You know what those parties are like," Kaiser continued. "Too many men with no sense of boundaries. I didn’t want her to be bothered, so I stayed by her side. All night."

The words fell one by one, too clear, too explicit.

Demian clenched his fist.

"So," he said slowly, pressure heavy in his voice, "the man Valerie mentioned that night... was you?"

Kaiser froze.

"What?" He looked at Demian with genuine confusion. "What is going on, Demian? Did I miss something?"

But Demian did not answer.

His expression hardened further, restrained emotions churning beneath the cold surface. Without offering any explanation, he turned away.

"Go to my study," he ordered shortly. "Wait there."

"Demian—"

"I’ll be back shortly."