I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 55
“Ugh, it’s so noisy.”
Although the festival’s peak had passed, the sounds of drunk people wandering the streets continued throughout the night. I tried to cover my ears with a pillow and close my eyes at the sound of loud laughter, but sleep wouldn’t come.
It wasn’t just the noise outside, but somehow I felt uneasy inside.
“Cassion was acting a bit strange earlier…”
His expression, illuminated by the bright night lanterns, unlike during the day, kept coming to mind. That expression that seemed to have a lot to say. Those eyes looking at me. The hand that held mine tightly so we wouldn’t get separated in the crowd.
“He keeps stopping mid-sentence.”
Come to think of it, Cassion often left his sentences unfinished. Like this time, he would close his mouth even when his face clearly showed he had something to say.
It was both frustrating and intriguing how he would swallow his true feelings like a shy young lady, despite looking like someone who would speak his mind without hesitation.
We’re in a contract relationship, so shouldn’t he be able to share his worries with me?
“Speaking of the contract… it’ll be over soon once we take Lorang back.”
How petty. As I pounded the pillow, driving away what little sleepiness had come, I suddenly realized that Cassion wasn’t alone in the next room and felt dazed.
Of course, our contract is until the 2nd Prince becomes the Crown Prince, but in reality, once Lorang reveals the truth about the Empress and it’s known that the 1st Prince isn’t of royal blood, it’s practically accomplished.
“I thought it was far off, but now it feels strange.”
Watching the lord’s daughter’s wedding today vividly reminded me of our messy wedding.
It feels like I haven’t known Cassion for long, but already a season has passed and the weather is starting to cool down.
The plan has gone better than expected, and we found Lorang quickly too.
At this rate, the contract would surely end before winter comes.
“We’ll be divorced before a year… Won’t that be dishonorable?”
Should I have suggested we maintain it for at least a year after the contract ends? Wouldn’t such a quick divorce add to his bad reputation? It’s absolutely not because I’m reluctant, but objectively speaking, to avoid looking like a contract marriage, it would be better to maintain it for a certain period.
“Sigh…”
But if Cassion wants to meet a genuine partner, it might be better to set him free quickly. And if I want to establish myself anew, it’s better to receive the money soon.
Surely we’ll remain friends after the contract ends, maybe even exchange letters, so why this stuffy feeling? I buried my face in the pillow and exhaled for no reason.
…Clank…
“…?”
Even with my face buried, I heard a clear sound.
My room at the inn is on the second floor, and the sounds I heard until now were just from the street below.
But that sound just now… it seemed to come from right below the window, an unsettling sound that made me instinctively freeze and hold my breath.
Thud… Thud-. Clank.
It’s best not to ignore instinctive feelings.
I held my breath and sharpened all my senses, confirming that very small noises were repeatedly coming from right outside the window.
“…”
There’s no time to go call Cassion. It could just be a pigeon or something, but I moved before I could think.
I arranged the two pillows I had requested to look like a person under the blanket and searched for a weapon. I should have bought a self-defense knife.
“…!”
Biting my lip, I kept scanning the room and found the knife we used to cut fruit for dessert. I quickly grabbed it and crawled under the bed.
Click.
And with a hair’s breadth difference, the window opened with a chilling sound of the lock being undone. Without even the sound of footsteps, I see two feet entering the room from my view under the bed.
What should I do? What should I do?
Think quickly, Asilia. The pillow disguise will be discovered soon. It’s okay. Cassion is in the next room. Calm down.
Stab–
“…What’s this?”
While I was urgently pushing myself internally, the man who had sneaked in stabbed the disguised pillow and stepped back with a puzzled look.
The first strike is always the key to victory. Before the man could realize I was hiding, I used all my strength to thrust the knife into the right ankle in front of me.
“Argh!”
I aimed for the Achilles tendon for a fatal blow, but the knife doesn’t seem to have gone in even halfway. Guessing that it wouldn’t immobilize the man’s actions for long, I frantically tried to escape from under the bed and run.
No, I tried to run.
“You wench!”
“Aah…! Let go!”
The man grabbed my hair before checking his own foot. I didn’t hesitate to cut off the ends of my hair, but because it was a small knife, I felt a pain as if my scalp was being torn, and my movements weren’t fast enough.
But even if I can’t escape, I can still attack.
“Cassion! Cassion!!”
I shouted with all my might to wake him in the next room. At the same time, thanks to cutting my hair, I lowered my body that had escaped from the man’s grasp and kicked the ankle I had stabbed with all my strength.
It was a shame that the impact was reduced because I was barefoot and not wearing shoes, but the attack seemed to land properly as the man stumbled forward.
However, this time he grabbed the hem of my skirt.
“Aah, persistent! Cassion-!”
As I was pulled back sharply and almost fell over the assassin, I tore off the hem of my skirt this time. I’m buying a dagger as soon as I get out of here.
“Get out!”
The room that seemed spacious compared to other inns when we entered now felt regrettable. I threw whatever I could grab – oil lamps, plates, anything – as I ran towards the door.
It’s not even 5 meters, but I’m out of breath.
“You wench…!”
But before the man who was only cursing verbally could catch up to me, I managed to open the door and quickly went out into the corridor, closing the door as if to trap him inside.
Bam-
“Eek!”
As I pressed against the door with all my strength to prevent it from opening, feeling slightly relieved, a sword suddenly protruded, grazing my shoulder. At the same time, the door I was holding started to shake violently.
If I let go, the man will burst out, but if I don’t, the sword will pierce through the wooden door.
“Ah, damn it.”
If only my knife was a bit longer, I could try to stab back. There’s no choice. I have to let go of the door and run again…
“Asilia!”
“Cassion!”
At that moment, Cassion rushed out from the next room. As I turned around, feeling relieved at his voice, I saw he was covered in blood.
“Oh no, you…!”
“Watch out!”
As I cried out in shock, Cassion approached at an incredible speed and snatched me away, just as a sword protruded through where my abdomen had been. A cold sweat ran down my spine.
“Get back! Lorang!”
Cassion pushed me towards Lorang, who had come out of the room they were in with a pale face, and swung his sword as he flung open the door to my room.
“Argh…!”
Soon after, a death cry was heard. Since I had damaged his ankle, he probably couldn’t match Cassion. I didn’t bother trying to check my room again and approached Lorang, who was hiding and not coming out into the corridor despite Cassion’s call.
“Are you oka… Gasp.”
And I swallowed my breath at the sight visible through the door Lorang was clinging to.
Judging by how Cassion couldn’t come right away, I guessed there had been an attack on his room too. I thought maybe one person had sneaked in like in my room, but the small room was filled with about a dozen sturdy men lying on the floor, covering it completely.
“Asilia! Are you alright?!”
As I hesitated at the sight of what seemed to have been a fierce fight, Cassion approached and looked me up and down. I also thoroughly examined his appearance, holding a blood-stained sword.
“That’s my line! Are you hurt anywhere? My goodness, how many of them came?”
Ignoring our commotion, it seemed the innkeeper had woken up, as there were rustling sounds and lights coming from downstairs.
Ignoring those sounds, I fumbled over his body soaked in blood. When I rubbed it, even the fabric wasn’t damaged, so it seemed to be just the assassins’ blood splattered on him. From the outside, he didn’t seem to be injured anywhere.
“Asilia. Your hair…”
Still, just in case, I wanted to take off his clothes and check, but Cassion, who was watching me examine him closely, reached out with a trembling hand and looked at my torn skirt and cut hair.
“Ah, I cut it myself. I’m not hurt. Are you really okay?”
It’s just that I cut my hair that used to reach my waist to just below my shoulders. It was a bit uneven, but. The clothes were bought just a few hours ago, but they’re cheap compared to the value of a life.
“Asil… Asilia. Damn it. Are you really okay? I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner… There’s blood on your arm!”
His trembling hand that couldn’t even touch me wandered and finally discovered the wound, grabbing my arm. Before I could say anything, he tore off the fabric around the wounded area like a piece of paper and looked at the skin where the sword had grazed.
“You said you weren’t hurt!”
“Ah, it’s just a scratch.”
Seeing Lorang looking at us awkwardly and the innkeeper coming up with a lantern, I shook off his hand and quickly turned around. What excuse should I make? That they were robbers who came for money?
“Um, this is… Eek.”
But before I could make any excuse, my body was spun around again. In the corridor brightened by the lantern the innkeeper brought, Cassion’s blazing red eyes were clearly visible.
“I need to check if you’re hurt anywhere else.”
