I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 28
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“A letter? Who are you sending it to?”
“To Jenin. To tell her to be careful of the rainy season.”
The start of the full-fledged rainy season signaled the end of the spring social season. The nobles of the capital, who had been bustling about in peacock-like finery attending parties and tea gatherings, now shut themselves in their mansions, and we were no exception.
However, unlike other nobles who were merely waiting for the rain to stop, we had contributed money to reinforce three dams in preparation for this heavy rainfall, so we were just monitoring the situation.
In the original story, Jenin’s village, located right below the mountain, suffered severe damage. Although a dam was built upstream, I wrote a letter disguised as a greeting, worried about potential harm to her horse or house.
“…Aren’t you showing too much interest in that jockey?”
“Actually, I’m restraining myself from inviting her to the mansion during the rainy season.”
“Ha! What do you find so appealing about her?”
“She was just impressive. It was like love at first sight.”
“Anyone would think you’ve fallen for her. You’re completely smitten.”
“Well… It wouldn’t be unreasonable to say I’ve fallen for her, would it? I want to become friends with her.”
No matter how worried I was or how much I wanted to befriend her, inviting her to this mansion seemed quite inappropriate, so I wrote at the end of the letter that if she wanted, I would recommend lodgings for her to stay during the rainy season.
As I finished writing the letter, condensing my sincere feelings, and sealed it, I turned my head towards Cassion, who was standing beside me without saying a word. He was looking at me with a displeased expression, arms crossed. Is his lip protruding now?
“What’s wrong?”
“Just saying, I’m good at riding horses too. I could show you after the rainy season ends.”
“Of course, you’d be good… You must have ridden horses on the battlefield too, right?”
“…That’s enough.”
But your expression doesn’t say it’s enough? Does he dislike Jenin that much?
Even if the situation has changed, it’s strange to think that the original female and male lead could have so little feeling for each other. Or is it perhaps a love that starts with dislike? That doesn’t seem right either.
“What are you thinking about so deeply? You’ve been spacing out often lately. You’re not feeling ill, are you?”
“…It’s just that with the rain and the sun not coming out, one tends to think a lot.”
I must have been staring blankly while holding the letter without realizing it. He approached me with a quite different expression from when we were talking about Jenin and examined my complexion.
It’s true that I’ve been thinking seriously about the original story more often lately.
“You seem to be trying not to use me too much, even though we’ve made a contract. If something’s wrong, don’t hide it and tell me. Don’t try to gather ‘information’ or anything like that alone.”
As much as Cassion and Jenin’s current situation has changed, the gap between reality and the original story will only grow larger. Is that change really only for the better?
The less I know about the future, the less I can prepare for, and in the worst case, even the Second Prince’s ascension to Crown Prince, achieved at the cost of the protagonists’ lives, could go awry.
“Thank you. I’ll consult you if there’s anything difficult. Right now, it’s really just because of the weather.”
But I have to try to prevent such things from happening. I didn’t start this without that level of determination.
Perhaps people unconsciously become depressed when they see less sun? I shook off the uncharacteristically dark assumptions and smiled.
Knock knock knock!
“Eek.”
At that moment, there was a rough knocking sound, as if someone was trying to break down the door. Along with the sound of rain pouring outside, thinking it was thunder, I flinched, and Cassion naturally embraced me and called out.
“What’s the matter?”
“An urgent telegram has arrived for the Madam.”
“…Come in.”
Unexpectedly, the owner of the somewhat impolite knock was Butler Bert. As one of the few servants employed before I came, he rarely made such mistakes.
“This is no longer a mercenary camp, but a Duke’s mansion. If the content of the telegram isn’t that important…”
“I apologize, Your Grace. But it really is an urgent telegram.”
Cassion, who still had his hand on my shoulder which had shrunk back, continued coldly, but the butler cut him off and held out the letter on a tray.
The recipient was me, but the sender was not written.
“May I open it, Asil?”
“I don’t mind.”
Perhaps feeling uneasy about this fact, Cassion asked for my permission before reaching for the letter. There didn’t seem to be anything inside the envelope other than paper.
There shouldn’t be any letters coming except for the flood of invitations from nobles I’ve only met face to face.
As I had nothing to hide, I watched Cassion carefully opening the envelope. From the writing slightly visible on the back, the content wasn’t long, but his face instantly hardened.
“….”
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
“…This… I’m sorry. You should have seen this first.”
What’s wrong? Cassion, seeming at a loss for words, rubbed his face a few times before folding the letter once and handing it back to me. Why fold it? Couldn’t he just hand it over as is?
I received the paper, looking more at his face than at the letter itself.
[We inform you that the bodies found under the bridge by the river in the Shaperi region at 04:00 on xx/xx/xx have been identified as the Viscount and Viscountess Cornel. We kindly request the Duchess’s presence in Shaperi for immediate confirmation.]
“…Oh.”
For a moment, my thoughts stopped. I looked at the letter once, then at Cassion with his troubled face once more. For some reason, the sound of rain outside seemed to become clearer. I sank into a dazed state and checked the letters on the paper once more.
The bodies under the bridge have been identified as the Viscount and Viscountess Cornel.
Bodies. Viscount and Viscountess Cornel.
“…Is this… a death notice saying my parents have passed away?”
“Asilia.”
“Is this real? You read the same content, right? Don’t look at me like that. I’m not sad or anything, I’m just really shocked.”
“…Asil.”
Cassion quietly embraced me. This kind of comfort isn’t necessary. Doesn’t he know how they treated me? Their death isn’t particularly sad to me. I’m just shocked because the timing and fact seem like a joke.
I patted his shoulder, indicating I wanted to be let go, but he didn’t loosen his arms around me.
“Let me go. Shaperi isn’t even that far away, is it? I thought they had gone somewhere far when they fled in the night, but to think they went to such a place.”
“…”
“Aren’t they stupid? They should have known it rains a lot this time of year, so why did they go under a bridge? It’s ridiculous.”
“…Asilia. Would it be alright if I go with you?”
The hand holding the letter is trembling. Why is it trembling? Am I cold? Feeling like even my voice might tremble, I bit my lip, and Cassion, still holding me, asked.
I gave up trying to escape from his embrace and rested my face on his shoulder. Unlike the rain sound hammering at my eardrums, the faint heartbeat I felt gave me a sense of stability.
“…Okay.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
“For what? I should be thanking you. The rain seems to be getting heavier, so I’d like to go early tomorrow when the sun rises and come back quickly if that’s okay?”
“Let’s do that. In that case, it’s better to rest early today.”
“That’s not necessary…”
“Your face is too pale right now. I should light the fireplace. The room is damp too. I’ll have some warm tea brought in.”
“Yes!”
Cassion naturally led me to the bed, almost snatching the letter away. Before I could say anything, I was pushed onto the bed, watching the butler who was still uncharacteristically rushing out and Cassion putting wood in the fireplace.
As the soft touch of the blanket and the warm air enveloped the room, I realized that my heart had been beating madly. I exhaled a long breath, trying to calm my breathing.
I guess I was a bit shocked.
“…Cassion.”
“Yes, Asilia.”
“I feel strange.”
“It’s okay. That’s natural.”
“…Is it because of me?”
“No.”
He didn’t add detailed explanations or try to comfort me easily. He just held my hand tightly and arranged the blanket.
I thought about what I had blurted out without thinking.
Is it because of me?
Because I altered the original story. Because I remarried Cassion, drove out my family, and forced them to flee at night, burdened with debt, did they meet this tragic fate?
“…I want to be alone.”
“Alright. Call me if you need me, Asilia. Drink the tea before you sleep.”
Could this be my fault? Did I swing a sword and tell them to die?
As I thought before, just because I remember my past life, just because my personality and thoughts have changed a bit, it doesn’t mean I’m not me anymore. I recalled my lonely and painful past.
Reason tells me that the past me indeed suffered child abuse, and that my parents’ end was a misfortune they brought upon themselves. But emotions? How do I feel now? Am I sad? It doesn’t seem so.
“…I feel… strange.”
I muttered, even though Cassion had already left.
For some reason, I wanted to see the telegram once more, but Cassion had already taken it with him when he left.
I just drank a cup of warm tea that the maid brought with a cautious air, feeling resigned to whatever may come, and went to bed early.
The sound of rain annoyingly echoed in my ears until I fell asleep.
