"My lady, the duke is very sick and he just fell asleep just a moment ago."

The head maid rushed over to your side to deliver the news once you returned from your tea party. A sigh left her lips as she saw you going upstairs toward your shared bedroom. Lying peacefully on the bed like Sleeping Beauty was an unconscious Kunikuzushi with a cool washcloth on his forehead. The maid watched closely while standing at the doorway, expecting you to wipe the sweat or his face or brush his hair back or something. Instead, her jaw dropped when you casually slapped Kunikuzushi's face several times just to wake him up. Seeing he was too tired to gain consciousness, you left the room, leaving the poor maid speechless as she stared at your back.

"My lord... The duchess may have tried to wake you up using some... violent act of love, I presume."

Once Kunikuzushi had woken up and his fever had managed to subside, the head maid stood by the bed, a defeated expression on her face as she reported to him.

"That would explain these."

He brought his hands up his face, soothing the slight sting still lingering on his cheeks from your earlier slaps. Sitting up on the bed, he turned his head toward the maid before letting out a sigh.

"You should have stopped her. She might have hurt her hand. Please call her here."