The spittle landed on his face and elicited an irritated sigh from the Duke. Luckily, Bethany was there to gasp and quickly hand him a towel with which to wipe off. And as they dragged the girl kicking and screaming out of the study, the Duke also decided it was time to change into something that didn't remind him of the troubles all around.
A clean tunic, blue and grey and emblazoned with the insignia of Wulfbauer, was already laid out for him in his chambers. Likewise, a hot bath had been drawn and sat there waiting. He took his time, letting the hot waters soak away the aches and pains of his body and his mind. When he was ready, he toweled off and changed into his new attire.
Dinner was served to him in the Great Hall, at the end of an immense table meant to seat fifty men. He sat there alone, dark save for several candles and the gentle fire in the hearth. Thoughtfully he chewed on the roast pigeon, washing it down with ice cold water as he thought about the affairs of his Duchy. Sometime during the meal, a guard approached and whispered in his ear: they'd found an enormous ruby up in the chandelier, and were holding it for him to inspect later.
And when he finally tired of all the stresses that came with being Duke of Wulfbauer, Erwin remembered the girl locked in the dungeons below the Keep. He made his way down there then, holding up a torch to illuminate the way. The door leading to the cells was guarded by the head jailer and several soldiers, who bowed to their Duke and set up a chair just outside of Mae'leena's cell in which he could sit. When they were done with the preparations, they let the Duke into the hallway of cells and closed the door behind them.
Erwin gently took a seat in the chair and peered into the cell at the girl. Faint flickers of torchlight danced shadows across his face and made his light blue eyes gleam.
