How To End This Marriage-Chapter 58: Shadows of Revelation

The moonlight bathed us in its pale glow as I confronted Alex, my heart heavy with the revelation Erios had brought to light.

"Thousands of people used to die every day? Why have I never heard of this?" I asked, my expression filled with shock, struggling to grasp the enormity of the revelation.

"Duke, is this true? Have you been at war for such a long time?" I questioned, my urgency evident as I tugged at his shirt, seeking the truth from him directly.

"Master, I can explain," Erios offered, but I declined his intervention.

"No, I want to hear it from him. You can go," I said, and Erios vanished into the shadows, leaving me alone with Alex, who wore a solemn expression.

"Duke, explain this to me! Tell me the truth behind what Erios said," I implored, pulling his shirt closer to me as if physical proximity would bring forth the answers I sought.

"Madam, what he said is true," he admitted in a hushed tone, his eyes reflecting the weight of the burdens he carried.

"How? How is it possible? How could someone who was so young survive such monstrous battles? No, no, this can’t be true. I refuse to accept this," I exclaimed, my disbelief causing me to take steps back, as if distancing myself from the harsh reality.

"But it is the truth," he replied, his voice still soft, resigned to the painful memories he was forced to confront.

"I was sent to war when I was fifteen, and after five years, I returned to Ablia. I know what you’re thinking. You must be thinking that I’m a monster, that I’m scary. I won’t stop you from thinking that way because, in a way, it’s true," he explained, his gaze fixed on some distant point as he recalled the horrors of his past.

"Duke, I don’t think you’re a monster," I said, looking at his downcast face with a mixture of empathy and compassion.

"I appreciate your kind words, but it’s not how others see me," he replied, his voice heavy with the weight of societal judgments and prejudices.

"I may not know you very well, but the way you’ve stood up for me, that’s enough for me to trust you. I don’t find you scary, even though I used to think that way before. You used to walk around with a cold expression, you know," I rambled on, opening my heart to him as I shared my evolving perception of him.

"Cold expression? Did I do that?" he asked, his confusion evident as he genuinely seemed unaware of the demeanor he had once projected.

"Yes, you weren’t aware of it?" I inquired, genuinely surprised by his lack of self-awareness. He shook his head.

"Duke, you always had this stoic expression. You rarely smiled, and you didn’t have an expressionless face either. But you did have an expression that seemed to warn anyone not to mess with you," I explained, a fond smile playing on my lips as I recalled his former demeanor.

"I wasn’t aware of that," he admitted, his humility endearing as he met my gaze.

"Are you embarrassed, Duke?" I teased, unable to resist the opportunity to lighten the atmosphere, my laughter filling the night air as I playfully prodded at his emotions.

"N-no, I’m not," he stammered, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks, betraying his true feelings.

"Oh, come on, you are! You’re definitely embarrassed by what I said about your expressions," I continued to tease him, a mischievous glint in my eyes as I enjoyed the rare sight of Duke Alex caught off guard.

He didn’t say anything in response, but his gesture indicated that he wanted to lead me inside. It was only then that I realized how cold I had become, the chill of the night air seeping into my bones.

"Madam, sit in front of the fireplace. It will warm you up," he said, draping a shawl around my shoulders in a gesture of concern and care.

"No, I need to deal with the assassin. If I delay any longer, I won’t get the information I need," I insisted, my determination unwavering as I turned towards the mansion’s dungeon, my mind focused on the impending interrogation.

"Madam, you should warm up first. If you don’t, you might lose consciousness during the interrogation," he advised, his voice laced with genuine concern for my well-being.

He was right, as usual. The warmth of the fireplace beckoned, offering respite from the biting cold of the night. Reluctantly, I nodded my agreement, allowing him to guide me back inside the mansion, where the embers of the hearth awaited to chase away the chill that had settled in my bones.

As I sat by the crackling fire, I couldn’t help but reflect on the revelations of the night—both the shocking truth of Alex’s past and the newfound understanding I had gained of the man behind the stoic façade. The night had brought not only danger and confrontation but also unexpected moments of vulnerability and connection.

And as I watched the flames dance in the hearth, I knew that the path ahead held more mysteries to unravel and challenges to overcome. But with Alex by my side, I felt a renewed sense of determination to face whatever secrets and adversities awaited us, forging ahead into the unknown with courage and resilience. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

After warming myself by the crackling fire, my determination to confront the assassin in the dungeon remained unshaken. I rose from my seat, ready to proceed with the interrogation, but Alex intervened, his concern for my well-being evident.

"I’m warm enough. I need to see him," I asserted, my determination driving me forward despite the lingering cold.

Alex hesitated for a moment, his gaze searching my face for any signs of weakness or hesitation. "Yeah, I won’t stop you, but I don’t think you’re well enough," he cautioned, his protective instincts surfacing.

"I’m well, Duke. I’m warm enough," I replied with unwavering resolve as I walked past him, determined to face the assassin and unearth the truth that lay hidden within him.

The dungeon loomed before me, its darkness intensified by the memory of the previous night’s encounter. However, this time, Alex carried a fire lamp that cast its flickering light upon our path, pushing back the shadows and lending an eerie glow to the stone walls.

"Thank you," I acknowledged with a grateful smile, appreciating the presence of the lamp as it offered a semblance of comfort in the oppressive darkness.

With each step we took, the shouts of the captive assassin grew louder, echoing through the narrow corridor.

"Leave me! I will kill this so-called duchess who killed my brother!" his voice reverberated with anger and vengeance, his threats hanging heavily in the air.

"Leave me! Or I will break these shackles myself!" he continued to spew his defiance, biting his lips in frustration as he strained against his restraints.

"You think you’re here so that you can kill me? No! You’re here because that’s what I want. Otherwise, I could have dueled with you and killed you myself. I wouldn’t have had to put you in the dungeon and shackle you," I declared, my voice unwavering as I lifted his chin to force him to meet my gaze, determined to assert control over the situation.

"Ha ha ha ha! What a joke, Duchess Bernice! If you were that strong, how did you end up with an assassin? Couldn’t you have killed them before they even attacked you? But you didn’t. You didn’t even know there were assassins around you, so how could you kill them? Your senses are so dull. You couldn’t even sense how many people are after your life," he taunted, his words piercing through my defenses and stoking my frustration at my own shortcomings.

His mocking laughter only served to fuel my determination. "Yes, I’m aware, and that’s why you’re here. Tell me, why are you here? Why do you want to kill me when I don’t even know you, and you don’t know me either? You only recently found out about me. So, why are there so many of you trying to kill me?" I asked, my voice steady and composed.

"You’ll ask, and I’ll answer? What a simple duchess," he mocked, his tone dripping with disdain as he continued to struggle against his restraints, the frustration evident in his every movement.

"Don’t you know I came here to kill you to avenge my brother? Then why are you asking me?" he groaned in anger, his defiance unwavering as he sought to break free.

"Yes, I know, but tell me, why did your brother come here? Who sent him? Why was he here to kill me?" I pressed for answers, determined to unravel the web of secrets and motives that surrounded me.

"Ha, why should I say? Can you bring my brother back? If you can, I’ll agree to talk. Do it if you want the answers," he challenged, his eyes locked onto mine, his defiance a testament to the depth of his resolve.