How To End This Marriage-Chapter 41: Words of Defiance

"Lord, everyone is present in the hall area," Grant came to the study once more to inform. I don’t know why I’m still here in this room when I already know how chilling the air is just by standing beside him. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"I will go with you," I said while following Grant. Alex did the same, but the only difference between us and him is the sword. The way he is aggressively holding the sword is so terrifying, even though his face is as cold as always.

With each step toward the hall, a sense of dread settled over me. I couldn’t help but wonder if I had unwittingly walked into a situation that would only bring more chaos and confusion. Alex’s presence beside me was both reassuring and unsettling, his sword gleaming ominously in the dim light.

As we entered the hall, I noticed the servants and staff of the mansion gathered, their expressions a mix of fear and uncertainty. Grant stood at the front, waiting for us to join him. The air was tense, and I could feel the weight of everyone’s expectations resting heavily on me.

"Did I step on a landmine?" I thought, a sense of unease gnawing at me. The last time I had been in such a gathering, it had led to an encounter with the temple’s high priest, an event that still haunted me.

But before I could dwell on my apprehensions further, the surroundings began to blur and fade away. I knew this sensation all too well; it was God’s doing. He was pulling me once again into his ethereal domain.

"Tell me!!! What do you need from me?" I found myself shouting, my voice echoing in the otherworldly space.

The god’s form, obscured by clouds, seemed to swirl with anger. "I can’t believe the audacity of yours. No one can dare to face a god, yet you have been given this opportunity, and you are talking this way to me? Have you finally lost your mind, Bernice Balliol Agnes?" The god’s voice thundered, carrying a wrathful tone that sent shivers down my spine.

"Why would I lose my mind? I think you have lost it since you sent your minions to me to take me to serve you."

The god’s presence remained enigmatic, concealed within the swirling clouds. His anger seemed to intensify as I continued to defy him.

"A god, who has such ego but couldn’t stop pestering an extra like me, has the audacity to say I have lost my mind," I retorted, my voice steady despite the tumultuous surroundings. "How should I talk to you then? Highly of you? Or lowly of you? To be honest, if I tried speaking, then I must say I have zero respect for you. In my last life, I may have, but now I don’t have. Not a single point of respect is left for you."

My words hung in the ethereal space, challenging the god’s authority. I couldn’t deny the surge of anger within me, fueled by God’s relentless interference in my life. His actions had left me with little reverence for a deity who seemed so determined to control my destiny.

"Bernice!!!!!!!!" The god’s voice thundered once more, momentarily deafening me.

"Slow down your voice. I might go numb if you keep screaming this way," I retorted, my defiance unabated.

"Bernice, listen to me! Come to me, I’m guaranteeing you. You will not die. I will not let you die, nor will there be any obstacle in your way for your entire life. All I’m doing is for your good." His tone softened, attempting to coax me, but I remained resolute, recognizing his attempt to manipulate my emotions.

"Ha, how could I believe you?" I scoffed.

"I’m a god," he declared.

"Pardon me! But when I died, you were a god back then too? Still, you chose to see me die, so how am I supposed to believe in a god now?" I countered, my skepticism unwavering.

"Bernice, you are making a mistake. Alexavier Agnes is not what you think. He is a monster. And the holy sword you believe in is not what you think. He is not someone I have assigned to you. I don’t know how he went to you when I never ordered him to be by your side unless I say so," he said, his voice filled with urgency.

"You don’t know how much blood he has shed. You don’t know how much blood has been wrapped in that body, and that blood was of innocent people who didn’t deserve this. Now he is playing with you, and if you don’t believe me, he will have your blood as well. That night will come true once more. Do you have the power to endure the same pain once more? Can you endure it? That time you won’t have a second chance," he warned.

Suddenly, everything around me turned dark, and I found myself back in the reality of the duke’s mansion, standing before all the workers who had gathered in the hall.

"So, who is going to explain?" I heard Alex’s cold voice.

The silence is still here. The fear is still lingering so deep into my skin.

"I asked something, right? Or have you all lost the ability to speak?" as he said, one of the maids spoke. "I d-don’t know. We only get a uniform once every few years." That’s the same maid who I talked to. Then my eyes fell on Vix, who is standing in the corner, but I realized her dress was not as shabby as theirs. Why? Is she different? Is she different because the previous Duke and Duchess looked at her like their daughter? Or is she his personal property to take care of?

Soon, my eyes turned to Alex. My eyes were filled with tears even though I kept on mumbling to myself not to cry. He looked at me.

"Madam? Do you want to say something?" he asked. How dare he ask me if I want to say something or not when he is giving me pain every moment?

"No, why would I?" I showed a bitter smile.

"Then where is the fund I have been providing? Did the sky gulp all the money, or did the earth eat it?" he asked. I saw everyone trembling.

"W-we don’t know. The previous head maid has been handling all the funds provided by you," the same maid spoke.

"I think everyone is aware of the demise of the old head maid, right? Is that why her name is taken by you all? Is this because it is easy to speak her name in this situation?" he said, gripping tight to his sword.

"We can’t dare, My lord," she kneeled as he said.

"Then, where is the fund?" he shouted once again. But this time, it angered me.

I spoke, "Why are you asking where the fund is? Were you blind until now?" I said.

He turned toward me. "Madam?"

"Yes, you too see them every day, right? Then why have you only come to know they have been using the same dress for the past five years? You can’t see them unless you are blind, right?" Am I asking for my death this way? Not sure.

"Madam, you are embarrassing the Duke in front of all." It’s Vix. Why is it always her? Why does she always interrupt my conversations?

"Vix, do you know you are embarrassing me in front of everyone as well?" I said. I clenched my fist.

"You are well aware I’m the Duchess of this mansion, right? And I can speak in every situation? And about talking to the Duke, I’m sure you are well aware he is my wedded husband? Then who are you to talk between us? Did I give you permission? Or did he?" I looked up when he only said, "Madam?"

I stayed silent. I didn’t say anything else. As I felt a sharp pain in my chest, hurting my head so hard.

"I ask for your forgiveness, Duke. I think I should excuse myself now." I didn’t even wait for him to speak but faced toward my room. My feet are trembling. My vision is blurring as if I’m going to fall right at this moment, but as the stair bars supported me, I somehow reached my room. My tears already started dripping down my cheeks.

"The previous time was not this painful," I said.

"My death was not painful then seeing him speak for someone else instead of me." My tears fell.

"Master!" I heard Erios’s voice outside my room.

"Stop

! Don’t enter!"

"Don’t read my mind!"

"Don’t feel my emotions!"

"Don’t think about me!" I said as best as I could, but I think my voice is giving me up. But what should I do? My chest started hurting so much. Just imagining everything hurts me so much. This moment keeps making me resent my father, the Marquis Balliol, who sold me here despite my denials. What should I do?

"Master, please let me inside! My chest started to hurt a lot." He cried out in pain even though I’m holding back for a while. Is it because I’m so used to it, and he is not? Maybe.

"Bear with me for a while! It will be over soon. Yeah, it will be over in a few moments, so bear with me. Even though I don’t want to share this moment with you. Even though I so much want to break this bond, break this contract with you, Holy sword." I said.

I don’t know what happened afterward as darkness covered my eyes, making me fall asleep, but I know the pain also erased with sleep. And I know Erios is fine now as well. But as I opened my eyes, I found myself in my bed, and the curtains were open. "Did someone enter my room?" I mumbled.

I walked toward the window and saw the night, and found it the same way as I saw the night of my death. So, is this the day the enemies are going to come? Is this the day I’m going to fight them? Maybe. "Be ready, Bernice. This may kill you or keep you alive."