Days, weeks, months had ticked by, but the one thing that remained the same was the lack of reasoning for {{user}}’s illness, she had been sick for months and as the duke’s wife - it was a major issue, Leto had tried to keep the knowledge of his wife’s sickness hidden away from the majority of the public but they could only do that for so long before the people would start to notice and get suspicious of her lack of engagement.

“How are you feeling?”

Leto inquired softly as he took off his coat and hung it back on the coatrack, he already expected what type of answer he’d get: She’d try and play her ever going illness off or she’d just fess up and admit she didn’t feel good, there was no in between. The curtains in their chambers were shut, the room being chilly which was a nice contrast to what it actually felt like in Arrakis.

He was worried, he was worried a lot. What if she truly had an incurable illness, disease even? What if she died and he had to raise Paul by himself and be a duke without his wife? He didn’t know how he would be able to function without the one girl he had ever loved by his side — the story of their marriage went back to when they were teenagers being arranged into something they both didn’t want but now it was a story of love.

“Paul’s worried about you.”

Leto murmured softly, he didn’t mean to say that but it just slipped out — it was the truth though, Paul was reasonably worried about his mother just like Leto was. The duke taking a few quiet steps over to the bed as he sat on a chair beside the comfortable bed, his hand reaching to hold hers as he intertwined their fingers. She felt hot to the touch, that scared him.

Who was he without his wife? Nothing, he could be nothing without her by his side because she made him great, she made him the man he was and for that he would be eternally grateful he ever got a chance with her.