How To End This Marriage-Chapter 43: Binding Contracts of Fate

I found myself standing in a room filled with tension, my words echoing in the silence that followed. The weight of what I had just said hung in the air, and Alex’s concern was palpable.

"Die? What do you mean? Why would you say you don’t want to die?" Alex repeated the question, his voice a mix of confusion and genuine worry. My heart ached at his concern, but I couldn’t reveal the truth, not yet.

"Madam! What do you mean? Has someone threatened your life? Are you afraid of someone? Please tell me; I will handle it. I won’t let any harm come to you," he implored, his urgency evident. Erios, on the other hand, remained silent, his eyes flickering towards me as if he held knowledge beyond my own.

"It’s nothing, really. I was just talking about yesterday’s incident. What if someone tries to kill me again? I can’t let that happen. I can’t die. Because I don’t want to die," I replied, deflecting his questions and avoiding his gaze.

"Madam, I assure you that nothing like that will happen to you. I will investigate the identity of those assassins and ensure they are arrested. I will even speak to His Majesty to ensure they face severe punishments. You have nothing to worry about. You won’t die," he reassured me, attempting to calm my fears. Despite his words, doubt gnawed at me. If His Majesty couldn’t find the murderers of the previous Duke and Duchess after all these years, could he really catch these assassins?

"You can leave now, Duke. I have something to discuss with Erios," I said, eager to change the subject and delve into the mysteries that surrounded me.

"But Madam, are you still in shock from the incident yesterday?" he asked, concern evident in his hushed tone.

"No," I replied, because it wasn’t a shock that troubled me. I had been the one to deal with those assassins, to handle the situation alone in a short amount of time. Shock wasn’t the issue; it was the shadowy conspiracy that loomed over my life.

"I will take my leave then," he said and left, leaving me alone with Erios, who was still avoiding my gaze.

"So, you’re aware of my situation, aren’t you?" I turned to him.

"W-what are you talking about?" he stammered, his discomfort evident.

"You know exactly what I’m talking about, Erios. You know that I’ve traveled back in time, and you know that these incidents keep happening, trying to kill me over and over again when I don’t die. So don’t deny it; just tell me if you’re aware or not," I pressed, my voice tinged with frustration.

"Yes, I am well aware of the situation," he admitted, his reluctance to share more information palpable. The room seemed to tighten around us as the weight of my reality bore down on me.

"Tell me, what do you know about this situation?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as if fearing that the walls themselves might hear.

"As I said, I can’t go into details. But I can say one thing: you are surrounded by miseries. There’s no way these incidents are going to stop happening to you. Deaths will continue to come after you until you drop dead as they wish," he said, his words sending a chill down my spine. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"As they wish? Who are they? Who are you referring to?" I pressed, desperation creeping into my voice.

"I can’t say," he declined once more, his resolve unwavering, and then he vanished before I could inquire further, leaving me with more questions than answers.

"Deaths will come after me until I drop dead!" I repeated what he had said, pondering the situation further. The ominous words hung in the air, a grim reminder of the perilous path I walked.

"Duchess, I have brought the attorney, as you requested," Grant informed me, breaking the heavy silence that had settled in the room.

"Keep him in the study. I’ll be there in a few minutes," I said and walked out of the room. Finally, the day had come. Finally, I was going to prepare the contract that was necessary for my survival. Finally, I would have a reason to break free from this never-ending cycle of my death. Once I was no longer his wife, maybe, just maybe, I would stop dying. I hoped.

In the study, the attorney greeted me with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Oh, you’re here, Duchess!"

"Yes, please, have a seat. I have some important matters to discuss," I said, gesturing for him to sit across from me.

"Yes, I heard from the butler that this is a very urgent matter," he reiterated, his professionalism coming to the forefront.

"Yes, how can I help you?" he inquired, ready to address whatever issue I presented.

"Actually, I need you to draft a contract," I began, my voice steady despite the weight of my request.

"A contract? Are you trying to conduct business in this state?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his tone.

"No, it’s not a business contract, but—" I paused, gathering my thoughts.

"But?" he prompted, waiting for me to continue.

"It’s a marriage contract," I confessed, the words hanging in the air as the attorney’s eyes widened in surprise.

"A marriage contract? I don’t quite understand. What are you trying to say?" he asked again, seeking clarification.

"I want you to prepare a marriage contract between me and Duke Alexavier Agnes, with certain clauses and conditions," I explained, my determination shining through.

I knew this was something that had always been lurking beneath the surface between us, an unspoken understanding. But I needed to voice it, to make it official, so that he could draft the contract. Without a contract, there was no way to formalize it, and our marriage would dissolve in a year.

"Duchess, do you have issues with the marriage?" he cautiously inquired, sensing the complexity of the situation.

"That’s not something I can say outright, but I need you to prepare the contract as quickly as possible. The validity should be for one year from now," I stated directly, the urgency in my voice unmistakable.

"But, Duchess, don’t you think you should discuss this with the Duke?" he mentioned, concerned for the potential consequences of such a contract.

"I have already discussed it with him, and don’t worry, this contract won’t bring harm to the region. So, you can rest assured. Even if I’m no longer here, there will be another Duchess to handle all the matters. Please, prepare the contract quickly," I urged, a sense of determination guiding my actions.

This time, he didn’t ask any more questions but began writing down all the clauses and details I needed to include in the contract, his pen moving swiftly as he understood the gravity of the situation.