I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 66
“…E-enough.”
Is the battlefield only where attacks take place? This place is no different from a war zone. Overwhelmed by the collective monologue shouting around me, I covered my ears and shrank back.
“Huuuuuuh… sob Ack, M-My Lady’s face…!”
“Your Grace, what on earth did you do? You said you could at least keep the Duchess safe, but look at the state of My Lady!”
“Um, where should I go? Is it safe here now?”
“Where are you hurt? Is it serious? Look at your feet, there’s blood dripping under your dress!”
Pia, who discovered me as I was moving for treatment, burst into tears before even greeting me, and butler Bert poured out his nagging at a speed that made me wonder if he was even breathing.
The oblivious Lorang was still following me, and Cassion… well, I didn’t think he’d not follow in the first place.
“Everyone, stop it! My ears are about to burst!”
I hadn’t shouted even during the perilous journey to bring Lorang back.
Seeing the doctor coming with treatment tools, clicking his tongue with a look that said ‘this is hopeless’, I lost my temper and yelled, and as if by magic, all noise ceased.
“Don’t you all have your own tasks? What are you doing surrounding an injured person?”
“Asil. I’m just worried about you…”
“I understand your feelings, but worrying won’t naturally heal my wounds, and pressuring me isn’t helping, Cassion.”
I felt a bit sorry seeing Cassion’s shocked expression, but it was the truth. I might have endured with sheer willpower during the journey, but there was no need to suffer further after reaching the Duke’s residence, was there?
I just wanted to receive treatment quickly and rest.
“Everyone, please leave for now. Only the doctor needs to be here. There’s no need for grooming now, Pia. Stop crying and go do your work. Butler, please show Lorang to his quarters.”
As everyone opened and closed their mouths as if they had something to say when told to leave, I quickly stopped them.
At least the quick-witted butler covered Pia’s mouth as she was about to burst out again, and left the room quickly, holding Lorang’s arm. Much quieter now.
“I’m sorry for speaking harshly, Cassion. You know I’m not blaming you, right? Don’t stay here, go talk with His Highness the 2nd Prince.”
“…Are you trying to drive me away and hide your injuries?”
“I don’t like being in pain either. I’m not going to hide or endure it since I’m not outside anymore, so don’t worry. You can check with the doctor later if you want.”
“I’ll really ask about everything, Asil.”
Seeing Cassion’s expression, which showed not only shock but a bit of guilt, I quickly tried to comfort him. Oh, what to do with this soft-hearted person. He’s built like a bear, though.
“Do that. But the same goes for you.”
“Me?”
“Am I the only one who’s hurt? Don’t hide your injuries either, tell me everything.”
“This much doesn’t even count as a scratch… No, I understand.”
When I glared at Cassion, who seemed indifferent about his own injuries, he quickly changed his words. He doesn’t seem to have any major wounds other than the arm injury from the forest, but just in case.
“Can I start the treatment now?”
And the doctor, who had been observing us from afar during this long commotion, asked, holding medicine and bandages.
Indeed, true to being the only person who didn’t flinch at the sight of my face, she simply had an attitude of wanting to finish the job quickly.
“Am I the only one injured? Don’t hide any of your wounds either, tell me everything.”
“This much doesn’t even count as a scratch… No, alright, I understand.”
When I glared at Cassion as he showed indifference to his own injuries, he quickly changed his words. Outwardly, apart from the arm injured in the forest, there didn’t seem to be any major wounds, but just in case.
“Can we start the treatment now?”
And the doctor, who had been observing us from afar during this long commotion, asked while holding medicine and bandages.
Indeed, as the only person who didn’t seem surprised by my face, she simply showed an attitude of wanting to finish the job quickly.
“If you want to check for body injuries as well, you’ll need to remove as much of your outer clothing as possible. Let me know in advance if you two are going to pretend to be shy around each other again.”
At least this time, she gave a warning instead of just stripping off the clothes, which seemed to be her best behavior. As soon as she finished speaking, Cassion turned around and headed for the door.
“I’ll be in the reception room, so come when you’re done with the treatment, Asil. You can rest if you want.”
“I’ll come.”
He hesitated when I told him to leave, but he ran away so quickly at the doctor’s single mention of removing clothes that I’m not sure if he heard my last words.
“Well then, My Lady. Let’s take everything off.”
Why does this feel more like an interrogation than treatment?
***
Knock knock-
“Asil! Did you come right after the treatment ended?”
As soon as I knocked on the drawing room door after finishing treatment and washing off the dirt and dust, the door opened immediately. How did he know it was me? More importantly, was he standing right by the door?
“Were you in the middle of a conversation?”
“We were, but… I’ve explained the gist of it, so I think it would be better for you to rest.”
Cassion looked me up and down, then bit his lip tightly and blocked me as I tried to enter the drawing room. The 2nd Prince, who seemed to have been by the table, also approached the doorway, looked at me, and clicked his tongue.
“Yes. I’ll hear all the urgent matters from Cassion, so it’s better for you to go to your room, Duchess. Looking at you now, your condition seems worse.”
“It just looks more dramatic than it is.”
In truth, even for a noble lady receiving a prince, my appearance was quite shocking, despite being a close acquaintance.
The bandages wrapped around various parts of my body and the loose dress that didn’t emphasize any body lines to avoid touching the wounds could almost be mistaken for sleepwear.
Moreover, with the small scratches on my palms, bruises on my neck, and bandages and gauze on my face, I might well look like a mummy.
“They just bandaged everything, even small scratches, as a precaution. Oh, come on, Cassion. Don’t block the door, move aside. After all this trouble, does it make sense to talk without me?”
Cassion, who seemed determined not to move until the end, was startled and stepped back when I pushed him with my bandaged hand. Taking advantage of the gap, I slipped in and quickly headed towards the table, causing both men to sigh.
“We can finish this quickly and concisely. Where did you leave off in your discussion?”
“…Sigh. We just reconfirmed Lorang’s identity and summarized the attacks that have occurred so far.”
“That’s good. You haven’t made plans for the future yet, right?”
I thought the conversation would have progressed a lot since my treatment took so long, but this was perfect timing.
Although I was a bit tired, I clenched my fist with enthusiasm, causing Cassion to sigh once more and His Highness the Prince to slowly tilt his head.
“About that, I think your wife needs to rest soon, so I’ll get straight to the point.”
“Pardon?”
Is there even a point to get to? Weren’t we supposed to make future plans from now on?
“I’ve already prepared for the trial.”
“What?!”
Doubting my ears at this sudden development, I looked at Cassion, who reflexively shook his head as if to say he wasn’t involved.
What’s going on then? Why has the situation suddenly accelerated like this?
“If Lorang’s identity is certain, the longer we delay the trial, the stronger and more vile the attacks you’ll receive will become. I didn’t think there was any need to drag this out, so I’ve been preparing since the moment I received word that you were under attack.”
“But what if we found the wrong Lorang, or even if we found the right one, he might not be the 1st Prince’s biological father! Isn’t this too hasty?”
“The fact that the Empress’s private soldiers moved is as good as admitting the truth. What matters now is how we drive this forward. Surely, Duchess, you don’t think the information you presented is uncertain?”
Though his expression is gentle and considerate, his last question is sharp.
Knowing the original story, I’m 100% certain that the 1st Prince has a different biological father, and that person is undoubtedly the Lorang we found.
But as I hesitate slightly due to the sliver of doubt and anxiety that all humans have, Cassion steps in front of me.
“We are certain. And I’ve already told you that I’ll take responsibility if there’s any issue with the plan.”
With Cassion’s back blocking my view, I could no longer see the Prince’s questioning gaze. Thanks to this, the tension that had been tightening eased, and I could breathe again.
“She’s already very tired and injured. Please don’t burden my wife.”
Though his tone was a bit impertinent for addressing a prince, I honestly felt very reassured. Thanks to this, I shook off my lingering anxiety and stood beside Cassion, holding his hand from behind.
Cassion turned his head towards me when I suddenly grabbed his hand. I smiled at him once, then turned my gaze to the 2nd Prince.
“I’m certain too. As long as Lorang speaks properly, there won’t be any issues with the trial.”
After silently observing Cassion and me for a moment, His Highness the 2nd Prince smiled kindly again. With that, the tense atmosphere that had been prevailing suddenly dissipated.
Although the Prince is known to be informal even with his subordinates, as someone trying to overthrow the person he believed to be his own brother and ascend to the position of Crown Prince, he has a unique charisma different from Cassion’s.
“I feel like I’ve become the villain. I apologize, it’s just such a sensitive matter.”
However, the Prince was also flexible enough to offer an apology without regard for status. If such a person becomes the Emperor, it would surely benefit the empire’s development.
Honestly, until now, I had only been thinking about surviving the original story and siding with Cassion to make the 2nd Prince the Crown Prince for my own life. But now I could understand why Cassion chose the 2nd Prince.
And also how reckless and unprepared my plan was. But we’ve already come too far to turn back.
“Then all that’s left is to prepare for the scheduled trial.”
“We’ll start educating Lorang from tomorrow.”
We can’t undo what’s already been done.
Just as my fate, Cassion’s, and Jenin’s had deviated from the original story, all we could do now was forge ahead with our own hands.
