I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 84
“Madam, I brought desserts from the shop you often visit. Are you really not going to eat them?”
“…Pia, you eat them.”
“You haven’t eaten properly for days!”
“I just don’t have an appetite. I’ll eat dinner properly.”
There’s nothing I can do.
Since regaining my memories, I’ve had days that stormed by under my own intentions, but this feeling of helplessness is a first, and it’s depressing.
Many people, including Pia, assured me there was nothing to worry about, that Cassion wouldn’t get even a scratch, but the cause of this depression seems to be of a slightly different nature.
Of course, I worry about Cassion as much as I like him.
But I also know well that unless the First Prince suddenly shows some crazy ability, Cassion won’t be in danger, and I trust him that much.
However, the fact that I can’t be of any help in this process is what’s fueling my depression.
It’s like…
“It feels like I’ve gone back to before I regained my memories.”
Like being trapped in a small room, waiting for family to open the door without any plans or thoughts. It felt like I had returned to that time when I was powerless and timid.
Left alone and enveloped in the same sense of helplessness as back then, it sometimes feels as if the original story was just a fantasy created by me, driven mad in that room.
My reason knows it’s not true, but my emotions feel that way. As if even the time I’ve spent with Cassion was just a dream.
“…This won’t do.”
Finally, after a long while, I got up from the bed to follow the same process as the past few days.
“Sigh, if you’re going to move, you should eat before moving…”
Pia let out a deep sigh as if she knew where I was heading, making me feel a bit guilty.
This really wasn’t like me. Is following Cassion around and blabbering about the original story all I can do?
Even if I don’t know the original story, even if I have no information, I should be enough as myself.
***
“Oh, Madam, you have talent!”
“Come on, you don’t need to give me unnecessary compliments.”
“No, really! Don’t just learn dagger techniques… The Duke will be back soon. Ask him to buy you a light longsword.”
Exercise is indeed the best for calming a troubled mind! Maxey, who had been teaching me dagger techniques and sparring with me for the past few days, puts on a serious expression.
“You don’t need to flatter me, I’ll work hard anyway. I was the one who requested this, after all.”
“Why don’t you believe me? Usually, scholarly people call sword users ignorant, but swordsmanship basically requires sense and knowledge too. Madam, you have a sense for attacking even without training!”
Is it not just flattery but the truth? I scratched the back of my head, feeling slightly embarrassed because of Maxey’s passionate speech.
My hair, tied up high for training, was slightly damp with sweat, but the night air was cool, so it wasn’t stuffy.
“I want to learn defense, though…”
“Well, isn’t the best defense a good offense? I recommend landing a decisive blow with a preemptive strike and then running away.”
“I guess… You can’t block swords or arrows with a dagger, after all.”
“That’s what I’m saying. Let’s call it a day.”
“Huh? Already?”
“…Madam, please don’t imitate His Grace the Duke in this aspect too.”
I made a face expressing my disappointment and hinted that I could train more, but seeing his grimace, I felt I couldn’t push it further.
Chuckling at his comment about resembling Cassion, I walked to the resting area at one side of the training ground, and Maxey quickly handed me some water he had prepared.
“Hydration is important, too.”
“Thank you. You prepared a lot today despite the late request.”
In the midst of going out for sword practice, I received a letter from Cassion stating that they had found traces of the First Prince.
I was relieved that things seemed to be going well, which lifted my spirits, and because Pia kept sighing deeply, I asked for some evening practice after having a light dinner.
Despite being an unscheduled late training session, the preparations were thorough, though simpler compared to the first day of practice.
Perhaps Maxey thought I might hold the sword backward, given how he saw me riding a horse for the first time.
“But Madam, I’m serious about your talent. Come to think of it, you’ve always excelled at everything, except for horseback riding… which was a bit of an exception. Haha. People need to have some human aspects, don’t they? Look at His Grace! Isn’t he annoyingly good at everything?”
What boldness to criticize his superior in front of his wife!
In the past, I might have retorted that it didn’t matter, that it was just cute, but seeing Cassion becoming increasingly smooth and skilled lately, it’s true that he has been a bit annoying, so I just averted my gaze slightly.
“Let’s set Cassion aside, but what have I ever excelled at? Oh, if you’re talking about beauty, that’s true.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re not going to say otherwise, are you? If so, I’d have to check if you injured your eyes during combat.”
“Ah, no. Of course, you’re beautiful, Madam! It’s just that your earlier statement was so unexpected.”
Earlier statement? What did I say?
“What did I…?”
“Are you serious? Wow, what’s going on here?”
“Come on, you need to tell me. Why? What?”
“…The couple has matching low self-esteem in unnecessary areas…”
“What are you mumbling about?”
While I was drinking water and tidying myself up, Maxey, who was cleaning up around us, muttered. Is he complaining about being called out in the evening?
“Alright, let’s go to your room now. I’ll escort you.”
“Alright~? Your tone is quite free, isn’t it? Am I mistaken in thinking you’re more afraid of Pia than me?”
It was obvious why Maxey was escorting me to my room, even though we were inside the Duke’s mansion. A few days ago, when I returned alone after training, swaggering like a rogue with sweat-soaked towels and protective gear slung over my shoulder, Pia was furious to the point that her anger reached her hair tips.
How could you let the Madam go alone so late at night, even if it’s in the Duke’s mansion? Where’s your chivalry? Shouldn’t you be carrying those things… Her nagging was so severe.
I chuckled, remembering how Maxey became almost as pale as when he was teaching me horseback riding, as we walked down the corridor of the Duke’s mansion.
“No, it wasn’t just a little scary. Even now, thinking about it makes me feel like my eardrums might burst. Ah, it’s dark, so watch your step.”
“Thank you. By the way, was this path always this dark? It seems like the lights ahead have gone out, as if there’s a draft coming from somewhere.”
Maxey quickly caught me as I almost stumbled. My legs were partly weak from training, but strangely, the corridor of the Duke’s mansion was unusually dim.
At that moment, Maxey stopped, holding me back.
“Wait a moment, Madam.”
“Hm?”
“Shh.”
As Maxey suddenly changed his demeanor, blocking my path and surveying the surroundings, I instinctively sensed danger and drew my dagger.
“As expected, you’re very capable, Madam.”
“It seems you were a bit incapable just now, Maxey.”
“…I apologize for that. Please don’t mention it to His Grace.”
It seemed there was something strange ahead, on the way to my room. We started to retreat quietly, heading for another path. But there was no other way except back to the training ground… and the training ground was a dead end.
“Madam, did your horseback riding skills improve during your honeymoon?”
“This doesn’t seem like the time to tease me about my riding skills.”
“That’s not it. I think you’ll need to escape on horseback.”
Horse? This is in the completely opposite direction from the stables. Besides, why is he trying to evacuate me outside instead of just calling for the knights?
“There’s a shortcut that the servants use. It leads to a food storage room with a door to the outside, where there’s a small horse used for urgent errands. It would be difficult for two people to ride.”
“Do we need to go all the way outside? If we call for reinforcements…”
“As you’ve probably noticed, it seems assassins have infiltrated. If the First Prince, who no longer has any power, has gone to such lengths, it’s not a trivial matter. If you get even a scratch while trying to break through, my head will roll.”
Ah, damn it. Should I have practiced horseback riding more than dagger techniques?
“You don’t need to go far, just hide for a while, and I’ll bring other colleagues… Madam!”
Maxey quickly threw himself forward to deflect something. It was too dark to see anything, but I heard a clang and saw a dagger fall at my feet. Suddenly, cold sweat ran down my spine.
There are assassins here, too.
“I’ll cover you! Run straight down this path!”
Maxey protects me while pulling something that looks like an ornament from his waist and bringing it to his mouth. Simultaneously, a fairly loud sound echoes. Ah, it wasn’t an ornament but some kind of horn.
Clang- Clash…
“Ugh!”
But the sound of metal and Maxey’s labored breathing follow from behind, making me bite my lip hard. Will the other knights of the Duke’s mansion be able to come before Maxey is in danger?
