How To End This Marriage-Chapter 31: Contrasting Concern

"Duke, could you please leave?" I intervened before a confrontation could escalate.

"Madam, I—"

"We can talk in the morning. But for now, please leave. I have something to discuss with Erios. I hope you’ll respect my privacy," I requested.

I could sense his growing anger, but I believed it was merely his pride that had been wounded. Or perhaps it was a good thing that he wasn’t like the man who, just hours ago, had callously taken the lives of those maids right in front of me.

I was relieved when he didn’t say anything else and simply walked away, closing the door with a loud slam. Finally, I could turn my attention to Erios, who had been patiently waiting for my response.

"Erios!"

"Yes, Master," he replied.

"Why did you do it?" I inquired.

"What are you talking about?"

"Erios, you know what I’m talking about. You don’t have to act clueless when it’s just us here," I said.

"Master, he is dangerous," he reiterated.

"What are you talking about?" I pressed.

"Master, I sense bad vibes from him. Whenever you are with him, I can feel your heart beating rapidly, even though I’m aware of your feelings toward him. But it shouldn’t be like this. You sound as if you’re in distress, as if he’s crushing you under his feet like a piece of paper," he explained.

Insecurity? Hatred? Pain? Anger?

"Erios, you’re overthinking it," I said.

"You can go back to your room," I added.

"Can’t I stay here?" he asked.

"No," I firmly replied.

He didn’t press the matter further and left my room. Soon after, Vix entered and informed me that she would be staying in my room for the night.

"Did the Duke send you?" I inquired.

She didn’t answer verbally but her silence spoke volumes. I didn’t ask her anything else and settled down on my bed, my thoughts racing. So much had changed since that first night in this new life.

Arrogant maids were dead.

The Duke had visited me.

Erios was here.

And now Vix was here, making it less lonely compared to before.

Why had there been so many changes? How had they occurred?

I couldn’t fathom the answers. Lost in contemplation, I eventually drifted off to sleep. The room’s soft, cold breeze kissed my face, causing me to snore softly—a sound I hadn’t heard for the last six months. But in this place, it felt strangely comforting.

"Bernice."

"Bernice."

"Can you hear me?"

"Wife."

Wife? Who was calling me "wife"?

I felt gentle fingers running through my hair, brushing it away from my face, leaving a tingling sensation in their wake.

"Alex?" I spoke.

"Yes, wife? Did I wake you up?" His voice was incredibly gentle, and his touch lingered on my face.

"Duke? Why are you behaving this way?" I asked.

"Wife, what happened to you? Can’t I love my wife?" he inquired, his fingers still caressing my face.

"Tell me, what happened? Did you have a bad dream?" he asked, pulling me onto his lap and causing my cheeks to flush.

"D-duke, what... are you doing?" I stammered.

"Wife, why are you calling me Duke? You’ve never called me by my title after our marriage, so why now? Have I done something wrong? If so, scold me. You can even hit me if it makes you feel better, but please, stop calling me Duke," he said with a puppy-like expression that I had never seen before.

"Wifey? Are you listening to me?" he asked, bringing my face closer to his.

"A-Alex?" I stuttered.

"Yes, wife, just like that," he said, gently kissing my forehead, causing my heart to race.

"Duchess."

"Duchess."

"Can you hear me?"

I opened my eyes, returning to reality. The contrast was stark, and I found Vix opening the curtains as sunlight streamed into the room. But my heart ached in a way that was difficult to describe.

"Duchess?" She called for me again.

I groaned.

"I apologize, but I wasn’t sure what to do since you weren’t responding," she explained. I wasn’t upset, but the dream still lingered in my mind. I remembered his expressions, ones I had never seen before, and I was drawn to them.

"Let’s go for breakfast," I said.

"Yes, the Duke is already waiting for you," she replied.

In the dining hall, I found him reading the newspaper, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked handsome.

"Morning," I greeted.

Upon seeing me, he set the newspaper aside.

"Morning, Madam," he replied in a soft tone.

"How was your sleep? Did you have any trouble?" he asked while looking at Vix.

"No, thanks for the arrangements. I really enjoyed myself last night," I said, taking a sip of tea. The liquid was scalding, and I yelped in pain. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Bernice!" he called me by name once more.

"Are you okay? Is it hurting badly?" he inquired with a concerned frown.

"D-duke, you don’t have to," I tried to protest.

"No, let me check. Allow me to inspect for any injuries," he insisted.

"Show me your tongue!"

Then he checked on me, and I couldn’t stop him.

"Let me see," he urged, concerned.

As he examined me, I couldn’t help but recall a time when he hadn’t cared for my well-being.

"Is it okay?" he asked, looking relieved.

"Yes, it’s fine," I replied.

"You had me worried there," he admitted with a soft smile.

"I apologize for causing you concern," I said.

As I gazed at his face, it radiated a complex array of emotions and vibes that left me baffled. Why was he displaying concern over such a minor incident? I was well aware of the numerous wounds that had pierced my skin and nearly taken my life, yet here he was, worried because I had burned my tongue with hot tea. It seemed almost impossible. Could a man truly possess such contrasting personalities simultaneously? I had never encountered such a situation before, and everything felt different, yet suspicious and challenging to comprehend.