Trapped in a Secret Room With the Magnificent Duke - Chapter 17
Reyna flinched and approached the window, only to nearly stumble when she looked inside.
“Oh my God, this is unbelievable.”
The interior of the room was identical to the one where Reyna and Duke Gerard had been trapped in years ago. Diego, noticing Reyna’s serious expression, tilted his head in confusion.
“Wife…?”
As Reyna stepped inside the mansion, she immediately called for the steward to question him about the small villa in the corner of the garden.
“Madam, I’m sorry, but it would be best if you asked the Duke directly about that matter.”
The steward answered awkwardly, and just then, the nanny quickly took Diego upstairs to the second floor. Reyna felt a presence behind her, and all the staff, including the steward, bowed deeply.
Reyna remained standing without turning around. Duke Gerard approached from behind, wrapped his arms around Reyna’s waist, and whispered in her ear.
“Don’t tell me, while I was away, you were trying to tempt the steward because you felt empty below?”
Reyna twisted her body to break free from Duke Gerard’s arm.
“Let go of me, get away!”
Duke Gerard signaled to the steward, who quickly lowered his head and looked at the other staff. As everyone quickly disappeared, only Duke Gerard and Reyna remained.
“Wife, what’s wrong?”
Seeing Reyna’s unusual reaction, Duke Gerard gently stroked her cheek and asked with concern.
“It was you!”
Reyna glared at Duke Gerard and raised her voice.
“Are you talking about the person you love?”
Duke Gerard replied nonchalantly, having completely turned into a sly fox. Reyna’s mouth fell open in shock.
Duke Gerard effortlessly picked up Reyna, who was at a loss for words.
“Put me down! What is this nonsense?”
Reyna struggled in Duke Gerard’s arms, but he moved swiftly toward the bedroom without saying a word. He was worried that she might get hurt if she fell.
“Let me go!”
Duke Gerard held Reyna tightly and bounded up the stairs two steps at a time, heading toward their bedroom.
“I’ll let you go once we’re in the bedroom. So, hold on tightly and don’t fall.”
Throughout the short journey to the bedroom, Reyna continued her fierce resistance, while Duke Gerard, with his golden eyelashes lowered, was lost in thought.
Duke Gerard, suddenly recalling something, nervously chewed on his lower lip.
In the hallway, the maids cleaning quickly averted their eyes, busying themselves with their tasks to avoid witnessing the Duke and Duchess’s familiar displays of affection.
Safely arriving in the marital bedroom, Duke Gerard carefully set Reyna down on the bed and spoke urgently.
“Wife, I can explain everything.”
Reyna, suppressing her desire to lash out, gave Duke Gerard a look that seemed to say, ‘If you have an explanation, then speak up.’
“Did you see the villa in the garden?”
Reyna did not respond, merely seething through her teeth. Duke Gerard, finding even that reaction cute, sighed softly and continued.
“You once rejected me.”
What on earth is he talking about? Reyna almost asked, but she managed to swallow her retort. Now was not the time for such questions.
“I had no intention of this from the beginning. I grew greedy and changed my mind midway, but… Anyway, it seemed like I wouldn’t be able to make you see me through normal means. I’m truly sorry.”
Despite having made a mistake, Duke Gerard looked at her with a pitiful expression, as if he was the one hurt. Reyna’s eyes darted around in confusion.
“I rejected the Duke?”
“It seems you’ve forgotten.”
Duke Gerard dropped his gaze with a forlorn expression before meeting Reyna’s eyes again.
His blue eyes were trembling slightly, and his broad shoulders were slumped in a defeated manner. He looked like a sad puppy, fearful of being abandoned by its master yet desperately hoping not to be discarded.
“Even if you’ve forgotten, it’s alright, since Reyna is now my wife.”
Duke Gerard looked at Reyna as if begging, his eyes pleading for confirmation.
Reyna, unable to escape the situation, inadvertently nodded. With Diego around, she couldn’t run away now, and everyone in the Empire knew she was Duke Gerard’s wife.
“There was nothing between us before that incident.”
Reyna questioned a troubling part of Duke Gerard’s earlier statement.
Before their marriage, Reyna had avoided going out as much as possible and stayed only at the Count’s estate.
So how could she have rejected him?
* * *
Kadrion Gerard has his own circumstances.
Kadrion had avoided social gatherings as much as possible. The reason was simple. Nobles attend social events to expand their networks and benefit their families.
However, Duke Gerard’s influence within the Empire was already comparable to that of the imperial family, and he consistently held a business advantage.
Thus, social gatherings were merely a waste of time for Kadrion.
“If you skip the upcoming imperial ball, your ship won’t be able to depart for the Eastern Empire.”
Had it not been for the Emperor’s veiled threat, Kadrion wouldn’t have attended the imperial ball, and he would never have encountered Reyna there.
