I Married the Mad Duke Who Killed My Husband - Chapter 91
“…I’ll be going.”
Although Asilia had earnestly asked him to wake her before leaving, Cassion couldn’t bring himself to do so.
Unlike before, her sleeping form, almost unconscious-like, was marked with small scratches here and there, and her complexion was pale white.
Afraid of waking her, Cassion didn’t dare touch her, instead making gestures in the air as if caressing her face, quickly pulling his hand back when he heard her cute breathing sounds.
“…Hah.”
He sighed while carefully placing a small leather pouch inside his chest pocket, precious with Asilia’s hair inside.
‘Oh! Come to think of it, since I’m not going myself, what if the First Prince doesn’t believe that you’re protecting me?’
‘Who cares if someone like him doesn’t believe it. I won’t back down now.’
‘But still. There’s fun in letting them know their method completely failed and gloating about it.’
Her mischievous smile was so lovable. Cassion had to resist the urge to press his lips against hers. But knowing her competitive spirit, he should have been more careful from that moment.
‘Ah, this will work!’
‘What… Asil? Why the dagger… Asilia!’
Just when she was lying down with her eyes closed, saying she’d sleep, Asilia suddenly sat up, and in the blink of an eye, she had taken out a dagger and cut off the ends of her hair.
Suppressing another sigh as he recalled that shocking moment, Cassion smoothed over the pocket containing the pouch.
‘Take this! A hair counter-attack? Does this make sense? Anyway, if the First Prince’s side keeps insisting, show them this and tell them the real Asilia is on your side! You’ve failed! Mock them!’
‘This… this isn’t necessary, Asilia.’
‘Don’t make that face over hair that will just grow back. It’s not like I cut off a finger.’
‘Asilia!’
How terrifying even just to hear those words. Even though she was in his arms, having just received threatening letters saying the next thing after hair would be fingers or other body parts, his face instantly contorted.
But she’s not one to be intimidated by such things.
Regardless of his shouting, Asilia quickly found a small pouch nearby, stuffed her hair into it haphazardly, and then lay back down, entangling her arms and legs with his. Within minutes, she fell asleep.
How absurd that sight was. But even in that absurdity, the lovability and sense of relief he felt made him newly grateful.
In the end, Cassion always loses. He chuckled, took one last look at the sleeping Asilia, and then left the tent.
“We’re ready to march.”
“….”
The closest to the tent was, of course, Eugene, the Second Prince’s confidant.
At first, Cassion had only intended to send someone to warn him, following Asilia’s instruction to spare his life.
But even so, seeing him unscathed every time proved he was quite skilled. However, that didn’t excuse his actions of poisoning Asilia’s food. He was an unpleasant fellow, but in the current situation, he was indeed the most capable person to protect Asilia.
“You will not participate in the battle. Guard the tent.”
“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Of course, given his past actions, Cassion couldn’t leave him alone, so he stationed three or four of his own knights around the tent.
After all, he would be commanding the battle himself.
***
“Dismount. Only the Duke should come forward and kneel.”
“….”
Cassion was furious to the core.
It wasn’t just because the First Prince and his soldiers were mocking him as he pretended to surrender.
“It seems your pride is still more important than your wife? In that case, I should give you my gift, Duke.”
The First Prince, whose appearance had clearly changed since their last encounter, nodded, and someone who might be a servant or a knight came running with a small box.
It was amusing to see how the person who had approached him triumphantly upon his surrender was now trembling when their eyes met.
“Th-this is from His Highness the First Prince… He said to call him ‘Your Highness’!”
Almost throwing-like, when he opened the handed box, he saw pieces soaked in blood. No, not pieces, but a woman’s fingernails.
“Eek!”
When he raised his eyes with boiling rage, the person who appeared to be a servant quickly turned away. Though he wanted to immediately cut the throat of the one who brought this, claiming it to be Asilia’s fingernails, it wasn’t time yet.
“Be grateful for my mercy. Either way, both will grow back, won’t they? I’m giving you a chance to surrender before I permanently harm your wife.”
“….”
“Then I’ll give you another chance. Get off your horse and come forward. Kneel before me.”
How dare they?
Even though it might not be the real Asilia, he couldn’t help but be enraged, imagining how they had captured a woman resembling her, treated her as Asilia, tortured her, pulled out her fingernails, and cut her hair.
Because these were the same people who would have done exactly the same had they actually captured Asilia.
Cassion was disgusted by even the mere mention of her from their mouths.
“You mustn’t, Your Grace!”
As he dismounted to end this wretched situation quickly and return to the real her, a smile deepened on the First Prince’s haggard face.
The voices of the knights pretending to stop him seemed somewhat excited.
Though Asilia had teased him several times about not being a good actor, unlike his subordinates, he didn’t need to act now because of his anger.
“You mustn’t go! It’s a trap!”
He glared at the knights who were shouting excitedly, trying not to make it obvious. They were truly excited about the upcoming charge.
Though they flinched and stepped back at his glare, it was clear they were suppressing their rising smiles while pretending to bow their heads solemnly at Cassion’s slow advance.
Their mouths had been split into grins ever since Asilia had visited. Saying things like what a wonderful wife he had, how amazing his wife was.
Had they only just realized this now? How ridiculous.
“Come. Come closer. Put down your sword.”
“….”
Clank-
“Yes. Even a war maniac knows to cherish his wife. She is quite beautiful indeed.”
“…Asilia.”
“We haven’t killed her.”
He almost broke character and nearly shouted at them not to mention Asilia with their filthy mouths. She’s not a woman to be mocked by others. To think that because of him, she had to endure such harsh treatment and such mockery.
He tasted iron in his mouth from where he had been biting his lip in rising anger.
Watching the blood from his split lip trickle down Cassion’s chin, the First Prince, seemingly completely off guard, dismounted and began approaching with a sneer. What a fool.
“Well… If you’re this obedient, if you work for me instead of my brother, I’ll spare at least your wife.”
“…Work under you?”
“Bring me the Second Prince’s head. The Emperor’s would do as well. If you bring both their heads, I’ll make your wife my concubine and ensure she lives comfortably for the rest of her life.”
The First Prince’s knights, or more precisely the Empress’s family’s knights, began surrounding Cassion as they judged that the First Prince might be in danger as he drew closer.
Quite appropriate caution, but for their leader to be such a fool…
“Regrettably, I can’t spare your life, too. But when it’s over, I’ll ensure it’s painless… Kugh…”
“Your Highness! At-attack!”
Using his half-kneeling position for momentum, Cassion sprang up and grabbed the nearby First Prince’s throat while simultaneously drawing another knife from his chest with his left hand to slash at those approaching.
“I can’t listen to any more of this.”
“Kugh, kugh! You, this… Your wife… Ku-hugh.”
Cassion swung the First Prince around almost like a blunt weapon, gripping his throat and striking the surrounding knights.
As they scattered in confusion at their First Prince being flung about, Cassion’s soldiers who had been waiting behind charged forward with battle cries.
By the time they reached Cassion’s vicinity, the First Prince’s face had turned from red to blue, and he was near death, but Cassion had no intention of letting him go so easily.
Looking contemptuously at the enemy troops who were busy fleeing rather than helping their prince, Cassion lowered his gaze again to meet the bloodshot eyes.
“Never mention Asil with that mouth again.”
