ONE NIGHT STAND WITH HOT DUKE-Chapter 99: Is this a dream?

Meanwhile, back at the castle, the atmosphere changed almost overnight.

Valerie awoke with a strange feeling not because of the nausea that still came and went, but because of the silence in her chamber. It felt... too orderly. The curtains had been drawn open early, soft morning light spilling in, and the bitter scent of herbal tea she was used to had been replaced by the comforting aroma of warm soup.

When she slowly sat up in bed, two servants were already waiting standing straighter, their expressions noticeably different from before.

"Good morning, Lady Valerie," they said nearly in unison, bowing deeper than she had ever experienced.

Lady.

The word still sounded unfamiliar to her ears.

That day and every day that followed the castle seemed to revolve around her.

Gifts arrived without pause. Baskets of fresh fruit from the southern orchards, soft silks said to be safe for a pregnant woman’s skin, delicate jewelry adorned with protective charms brought by nobles eager to show their goodwill. Even the flowers were replaced every morning, accompanied by small notes bearing prayers for the duke’s heir to grow strong and healthy.

Valerie could only remain silent.

She accepted everything with an awkward smile, often glancing at Sera and Lira as if to ask is this really for me?

The servants’ behavior changed drastically as well. They spoke more softly around her, rushed forward at the slightest hint of discomfort, and nearly panicked whenever Valerie appeared unwell.

"Lady Valerie cannot tolerate the smell of meat," a kitchen servant reported.

The head chef nodded firmly. "Change the menu. All of it."

And from that day on, the castle kitchen became a small battlefield.

The head chef and his staff worked tirelessly, testing recipe after recipe clear soups, lightly toasted bread, warm porridge, herbal broths all with a single purpose: to get Valerie to eat.

If a dish made her nauseous, it was immediately discarded. If she managed only two spoonfuls, the servants recorded it as if it were vital information.

Valerie felt guilty... and deeply moved.

"I’m causing you so much trouble," she said one morning, staring at the table filled with simple dishes prepared with painstaking care.

"Not at all, Lady Valerie," the head chef replied sincerely. "Caring for the mother of the duke’s heir is an honor."

The word heir made Valerie fall silent.

And amid all of this there was Demian.

If the servants’ attention felt excessive, then Demian’s attention felt... unreal.

He began visiting Valerie’s chambers more often. He did not always speak, nor always touch her but he always checked something. Whether she had eaten. Whether she had been sick that morning. Whether she had slept well.

If Valerie refused a dish, Demian ordered the kitchen to prepare something else. If she looked pale, he dismissed everyone and made sure she rested.

Even his schedule changed.

He returned earlier. Left his study more frequently. And when he sat beside her bed, his hand often paused over Valerie’s abdomen a brief, stiff touch, yet one he repeated again and again.

Valerie watched him quietly.

There were no sweet words. No declarations of love.

Yet that steady attention care she had never asked for, presence she had never demanded made her chest feel warm and painfully tight at the same time.

One afternoon, as the sun dipped toward the west, Valerie stood by the window, gazing out at the castle gardens bathed in golden light. Her hand rested on her abdomen, still struggling to believe there was life growing there.

"It’s strange..." she murmured softly.

Sera, standing behind her, smiled. "What is, Lady Valerie?"

"I feel like I’m dreaming," Valerie admitted. "Yesterday, I was afraid of being seen as insignificant. Now... everyone treats me as if I’m the center of the world."

She let out a quiet, hollow laugh. "I’m afraid that if I wake up, all of this will disappear."

Sera and Lira exchanged a glance, then Lira spoke gently, "This time, it isn’t a dream, Lady Valerie."

Valerie looked at her own reflection in the window glass.

A woman who once had almost nothing now carrying the child of a duke.

And though her heart was still filled with confusion, jealousy, and fear of what the future might bring in that moment, surrounded by an unfamiliar warmth and care

Valerie could only stand there and allow herself to believe, if only a little,that perhaps...her life truly was beginning to change.

Night had fully fallen when Demian finally returned to the chamber.

The day’s work had drained more strength than usual, yet his steps remained steady as he opened the door. The soft glow of oil lamps greeted him, and there Valerie sat propped against the bed, wearing a loose house gown. Her hair was still slightly damp, her expression calm, though a weariness lingered beneath it that she could not entirely conceal.

Demian paused at the threshold.

Something changed every time he looked at her now.Not in her features but in the awareness that within that fragile body, there was another life depending on her.

He approached, removed his gloves, and asked in the flat tone he used to conceal concern.

"Is there anything you want?" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Valerie turned toward him. Her gaze wavered for a moment, as if weighing whether the question was genuine or merely a formality.

"Nothing," she answered at last.

Demian gave a small nod. "Very well. If there’s anything, say so."

He was about to turn away as was his habit when Valerie’s voice stopped him.

"Demian... may I ask something?"

He looked back. One brow lifted slightly. "Of course. As long as it’s reasonable."

Valerie bit her lower lip briefly, then spoke softly, honestly. "I want to take a walk. I feel... weary. The castle feels very narrow lately."

Silence hung between them.

Demian did not answer right away. His gaze dropped briefly to Valerie’s abdomen, then returned to her face. He knew too many people, too much attention, too many worries had been placed upon her in a short span of time.

Finally, he said, firm but not harsh, "Later."

Valerie stiffened slightly.

"After your condition improves," Demian continued. "Your body isn’t stable yet. I won’t take that risk."