How To End This Marriage-Chapter 53: Unspoken Turmoil

"Madam, where are you looking?" Alex’s voice cut through my thoughts, urging me to refocus on the present.

"Madam!" he called again, his tone growing increasingly urgent.

"I apologize in advance if my behavior appears disrespectful," I murmured, diverting my gaze back to the emperor. Without further ado, I broke into a brisk run toward the doorway. I knew my impulsive actions would raise numerous questions and possibly accusations of disrespect, but something within me compelled me to act.

"This is disrespectful!"

"Duchess, stop right there!"

Voices accusing me of disrespect echoed behind me, but I paid them no heed. My eyes were fixed on Vix, who stood frozen in the doorway. If that door swung open completely, everyone would see her. Although I wasn’t entirely certain why Vix had been prohibited from showing her face outside, I sensed that bringing her out in this manner would be a grave mistake.

"Madam! What’s happening? Please tell me!" Alex’s voice pleaded with genuine concern. As we approached the door, he ceased questioning and quickly draped his blazer over Vix’s head, shielding her identity from prying eyes.

"Duke—" I began, wanting to discuss the situation, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he urged us forward, running while firmly holding both our shoulders.

Observing Alex’s anxiety sent shivers down my spine. I couldn’t quite grasp why he was reacting so intensely. My initial fear had been that he would discover Vix here, but the unfolding situation was markedly different from what I had anticipated.

"Duke, please listen to me!" I implored, making another attempt to start a conversation.

"Duchess, I warned you that the Duke would be furious if he found out. But you didn’t heed my advice," Vix sobbed in fear. Meanwhile, Alex remained resolutely silent, not uttering a word despite my persistent efforts to engage him.

By the time the three of us reached the carriage, we were all panting heavily. Only Alex was privy to the reason behind his intense reaction.

"Duke, why are you reacting like this? I understand that bringing her along without your knowledge may have upset you, but this isn’t the right way to handle the situation," I insisted, still attempting to initiate a dialogue.

"Duchess, I asked you before we arrived at the palace, ’Who is she?’ I didn’t recognize her face. But you told me that it’s difficult to recognize everyone’s face and misled me about the entire situation. Did you seek the assistance of Erios, the Holy Sword?" he inquired, his anger evident.

"Yes, I did," I admitted, avoiding eye contact with him.

"Why? Why did you go to such lengths to bring her with us? Is it because you suspect me of having an adulterous relationship with her? Is that what you want to insinuate every time?" he accused, causing me to flinch.

"Lord, please calm down. It’s not what you think," Vix attempted to interject, but I silenced her.

"Yes, it’s my fault. I did this to prove something, but it wasn’t what you’re thinking," I confessed, accepting his accusations even though they were far from my true intentions. I never intended to make anyone feel guilty; it was all a misunderstanding.

"Duchess, no!" Vix protested, but no one paid her any heed.

"Now, are you satisfied? Have you satisfied yourself? Or would you be happier if the entire kingdom believed that I’m a cheater, unfaithful to his wife, having an affair with someone no one knows? Is that why you brought her there?" he demanded, frustration and anger evident in his words. Yet, he still hadn’t explained why he had suddenly brought Vix with us, nor why he seemed so afraid.

The carriage moved, carrying us away from the palace, and a heavy silence hung in the air. It was a silence that masked a multitude of unspoken emotions, questions, and misunderstandings, leaving us in a state of turmoil.

After a long and tense journey, the carriage finally came to a halt in front of the Duke’s mansion. Alex hurriedly led Vix inside, leaving me behind with a whirlwind of unanswered questions swirling in my mind. It was a disconcerting moment as I watched them disappear into the mansion, leaving me standing alone in the courtyard.

That’s when Grant, one of the Duke’s trusted aides, stepped forward and inquired, "Duchess, is something amiss? The lord doesn’t seem well. And why was Vix with you? Weren’t you supposed to bring someone else?"

His questions only added to my confusion, but I didn’t immediately respond. Grant approached me and guided me inside the mansion. As I entered the grand hallway, I saw both Alex and Vix standing there, their expressions tense and expectant.

"Grant!" Alex called out, prompting the aide to hurry over to his side.

"Yes, my lord," Grant replied with a respectful bow, his gaze lowered.

"Didn’t I explicitly instruct you to keep a close watch on the people working in the mansion?" Alex’s voice held a clear undercurrent of anger.

"Yes, my lord," Grant affirmed.

"Then how is it that you were unaware Vix was missing from the mansion?! Did I appoint you to neglect your responsibilities and get lost in your own thoughts once the Duchess took over the workload?" The fury in Alex’s voice was palpable.

"No, my lord. It was entirely my mistake," Grant admitted, taking full responsibility for the oversight.

"Duke, it’s not his fault, but mine. I took her with me. It’s all my fault," I stepped forward to confess, but he turned away from me, refusing to acknowledge my words.

"Duke! Listen to me!" I insisted, turning his face back toward me with a bit of force. However, when I saw his expression, my heart ached, and a sharp pain shot through my chest.

Why do you look so hurt? Why are your brows furrowed in anger and your eyes filled with so much pain, as if I’ve wounded you deeply? Why do you appear hurt when everything I’ve done was for your benefit? Why?

"Duke! Come with me!" I said firmly, taking his hand and leading him to my room.

"Madam, stop!" He attempted to resist, but I paid no heed. I knew that he could easily shake me off if he wished, but he didn’t, despite his efforts to resist coming with me.

"Madam!" I ignored his protests until we reached my room, where I promptly locked the door from the inside.

With determination, I pinned him against the wall, an action I couldn’t believe I had the courage to take. Placing my hands on either side of him, I blocked any chance of his escape.

"Tell me! What are you thinking? Why are you looking at me like this? Why do you seem... seem..." I couldn’t complete my sentence, the words catching in my throat.

"Madam," he spoke softly, his eyes searching mine.

"Yes, speak! What’s come over you? Why are you behaving this way? I just wanted to show her the outside world because she mentioned she’d never been outside. But the way you reacted, it frightened me, as if seeing her would lead to a grave problem," I said, my voice filled with panic.

"Tell me! What are you hiding? I know there’s something, but I’m not aware of it. I want to know! Tell me!" I shouted, my demands causing tears to well up in my eyes.