How To End This Marriage-Chapter 38: Dark Shadows and Unanswered Questions

"Is this how you planned to kill me?" I asked, my voice unwavering, as a heavy atmosphere filled the room.

"Madam, what are you saying? Have you gone mad? Or did you forget why I married you in the first place? If you did, then let me remind you. I married you to protect you. That was my promise to Marquis Kael," he said, his brow furrowing with concern, his tone a mix of frustration and bewilderment.

"Yes, I know. You’ve repeated it so many times since I entered this mansion. But can you explain this? Can you explain why the entire mansion is empty, with only the Duchess here? Is this how this place operates, empty all night, or were you preoccupied with something else that required your absence?" I inquired, my gaze then falling upon Vix as she approached, her presence in the shadows fueling my anger.

"Madam, I don’t understand your tone," he said, his own voice tinged with confusion.

"If you don’t understand, allow me to be perfectly clear."

"I heard that Vix was not from here. Another thing you told me was not to assign her basic maid chores. She even interfered when I was addressing you in front of all the workers, an area under my authority. But now, you both are here together late at night. What’s the explanation? Is this how you interpret protecting me? Is this what you promised my father? Or was this all a scheme to conceal your affair, with my death ensuring no one would question you?" I questioned, glaring at him, my fists clenched, every word heavy with accusation.

"Madam, please control yourself!" he raised his voice, his grip on my shoulder tightening, his frustration now apparent.

"Duke, you’re hurting me!" I protested through gritted teeth, the pain in my shoulder adding to my growing unease.

"Madam, trust me, what you’re thinking is incorrect. She and I are not what you imagine," he insisted, his words falling on deaf ears as I seethed with suspicion.

"Yes, Duchess!" Vix chimed in, her presence only adding fuel to the fire.

"I didn’t grant you permission to speak," I rebuffed her as the Duke continued to speak over me, the tension in the room thickening with every passing moment.

"Madam!" he addressed me again, his voice tense and urgent.

"Duchess, something is amiss!!!" Grant’s voice echoed from the basement as he rushed toward us, his anxiety palpable.

"What happened?" I asked, my concern shifting momentarily to the unfolding situation.

"Duchess, the assassin...the assassin..." Grant stuttered, unable to convey the gravity of the situation.

Without delay, I removed the Duke’s hand from my shoulder and hurried toward Grant. "Tell me what happened?"

"Duchess, the assassin has committed suicide," he revealed, his words like a thunderclap in the midst of a storm.

But before I could inquire further, I sprinted into the basement where he had been taken. As I arrived, I beheld his lifeless body on the floor, blood seeping from his mouth, as if he had ingested something that had driven him to bite his own tongue and end his life.

"I should have checked," I muttered in frustration, my mind racing with questions and suspicions.

This turn of events only deepened the mystery surrounding the night’s events, leaving me to confront a web of secrets and uncertainties that threatened to consume me.

"What happened? Did he die? Did he utter who sent him? Did he give any clues?" Alex repeated his questions anxiously, his eyes locked on Grant, who was clearly overwhelmed by the situation.

"You don’t need to interfere with anything. This is my issue, and I will deal with it," I asserted, trying to pull away, but he held onto my hand with a desperate grip.

"What do you mean by ’I don’t need to interfere’? What if something happened to you? What if you die? What would I have done?" his words poured out in a frantic tone, his fear palpable. Inside, a voice whispered, "Of course, you would have instantly forgotten about me. My family would forget that a daughter named Bernice once existed, and you would get your happily ever after." But I didn’t let those words escape my lips.

"Madam, this is not a minor issue," he implored once more, his grip on my arm growing tighter, his worry etched across his face.

"I said I will handle it, so you handle your issues. For now, I am in charge of this mansion. I will decide what is good and what is bad for this mansion, and this falls under that rule. And if you are so interested in this, then you could have done this sooner. You wouldn’t have even needed a wife," I retorted, trying to free myself from his grasp.

"Madam! Wait!" he followed me as I attempted to leave the basement, and I halted once more.

"Grant!" I called him.

"Yes, Duchess!" he responded promptly.

"I need this place crystal clear before I see any other workers entering this mansion, got it?" I instructed.

"Yes, Duchess!"

"And one more thing! Once every worker is present in the mansion, call for me. Tell them I need to meet them for some basic discussion, okay?" I asked.

"As you say!" he complied, and I returned to my room. However, a nagging thought persisted: Where is Erios? He should have appeared by now, but there was no sign of him. Why? Did something happen? Is this related to his creator? Is this what God Lunar warned me about, that his body is drenched in blood for a long time? But still, why would he disappear when he said he would be by my side as I am his master now?

"Madam! Wait for me! Listen to me!" As I contemplated these questions, I inadvertently left Alex behind, and we ended up in my room with the door firmly closed.

"What? What more do you have to say? Can you describe why you were out of the mansion so late at night? Can you explain why there were no guards? Can you clarify where all the workers are? If you can, then do it. Do it right now because I have no patience left," I demanded, my frustration simmering. I remained silent, waiting for his response, but all I received was silence. He stayed mute, gazing at my face with a pleading expression, as if I was in the wrong for asking questions that shouldn’t be asked.