In my past life I read a novel 'The right one' . It was a generic tale of a prince, a saintess and a villainess. The villainess was engaged to the prince who hated her and her family, so he did as he pleased dating other women while engaged. The villainess would always attack his dates and her family would try to bring ruin to their family. Then the prince fell in love with a commoner, who was a saintess. The prince tried to break his engagement with the villainess but she wouldn't let go as she loved him dearly. So she would try to kill the saintess but her plans would be foiled as the prince would get hurt in the process. The villainess and her family were charged with treason and all executed then the prince and saintess lived happily ever after.
It was a tale so generic it had nothing to it. But in this boring tale, there were 3 times when the readers pleaded with the author to change the story and it was when he wrote about rumors of the duke of the north going crazy and killing his fiancée and the 3 noble houses. It was not even a part of the story. It was nothing more than gossip during one of the villainess's tea party. I was one of the people who sent fan mail to the author at the end of the main story to write more on the duke of the north as his story seemed more captivating than the main one. The author under pressure gave in and gave us a side story we all could never forget.
The duke of the north had married his childhood friend. Although they were never in love they lived amicably and had 2 kids. 10 years into their marriage the duchess fell Ill and at her deathbed she revealed the craziest plot twist I had ever seen in a novel.
She confessed to poisoning the duke when he was younger. She didn't express remorse and even said she would do it over again if she was taken to the past. She explained that she had no choice but to save count fyord's family from ruin and the only way was to comply to the demands of poisoning the duke. Although we the readers were outraged by her, the duke remained unchanged. He told her he knew all these years but he never explained his thoughts on it. Even while she died she didn't apologize nor did she feel remorse because she wasn't sorry about the past.
That was the end of that tragic tale. If truly I have been sent into that novel, it would mean I was supposed to be the villainess. But since I never fell for the prince and found something else to fall in love with I changed my fate unknowingly.
How could it have taken me 18 years to realize this? I should have paid more attention to things. I need to speak with the duke. I'll have to stay awake till he comes for the wedding night. I need to confirm if im truly in the world of that novel.
Looking deflated as she sits up on bed, clarisa was sleep deprived and slightly peeved as theodore skipped the wedding night.
Why didn't he come? I guess it's an arranged marriage but why do I feel so annoyed about it. He is the one who needed a wife right? He came to me, I didn't ask for this marriage. No I can't get angry. I dont expect him to open up to me instantly, I just need to do what I can.
"I'm sorry your grace, his grace will be skipping breakfast today."
"Thats okay steven. Does his grace skip breakfast allot?" He looked uncomfortable, unsure if to let me know or not.
"Well, his grace tends to skip meals allot due to his work. Right now he should be in his office tending to his duties" I could tell that he was skipping on some details but I won't press it.
"Then have the chef prepare some light meal for lunch, I'll take it to his grace myself" he looked taken aback.
"Yes, your grace" i know we are only an arranged couple but it feels so sad to be left all alone 1 day after we met.
I spent the next 3 hours touring the castle grounds with Maria and hannah and learning about my duties as the duchess. It was so exhausting yet we weren't half way done with the castle grounds. It was divided into 4 wings. The west,south,east and north wing. There was also the main building and the outer annex.
"You don't need to learn it all today your grace. We can go over it all slowly." Maria always seemed cautious of me but not once did she dismiss me or my concerns. She always seemed to be watching me to see if I was in need of anything. It was quite sweet and a huge change to how things were for me before.
"Your grace it's almost lunch time"
"Thats true, thank you hannah. I hope the chef got my instructions for lunch with his grace"
"I'll go make sure of that your grace" maria excuses herself.
"Do you want to change your clothes your grace?"
"A change of clothes? Is that needed? I dont think I want to" the women of runan typically wear pants in winter. So I must stick out like a sore thumb in my dress. I should probably get a tailor soon and get myself some pants. I wonder how wearing pants in this world feels like.
"As you wish your grace"
"Let's go hannah, lunch should be ready by now"
I walk into his office. His desk was facing the door and the window behind him gave him an excellent view of the snow covered garden. There were five other desk in the office which were all occupied by people I assume were his aides.
"Greetings your grace" i heard five different voices call out.
"Your grace what brings you here" his voice rang out low and calm.
" greetings your grace, since you missed breakfast, I brought lunch for us to have together" I could feel all eyes on me, examining my every move.
"Take it away i do not need it" now I was getting pissed off. I know I wasn't asking too much so is it too much to ask for him to humor me a little.
Walking closer with the cart. His face remained the same emotionless beauty.
"Its a very light lunch prepared by the chef. " grabbing a plate with sandwiches on it. I tried to set it down on the table when it is smacked off my hands and I watch as the plate and sandwiches tumble onto the ground in slow motion. I could hear the gasp all around.
"I told you I didn't want it"
The chef, Adam was so happy, he was grinning from ear to ear when I went to grab the meal. He was so happy that the duke would be having lunch for the first time in a long time. I could feel my head spinning as I lost all reason.
Lifting my hands almost immediately as the plate shattered to the ground, I smacked upside his head with my knuckles. The room went dead silent as everyone had their mouth hanging open. The duke grabbed the spot I just hit as his faced looked at me in bewilderment. But all I could see was red.
"Yes I smacked you and? Was it too much to ask you to share a meal with me? You were the one who wanted this marriage so why are you making me feel all alone? I'm not asking for much just humor me and play along with a little whims is that too much to ask" his face was still in shock as if trying to process what was happening. Everyone else was still frozen in shock as if having a hard time processing what they just witnessed.
"Fine since you want to be like that I won't stop you, but from this point on I'll do what I want too." I wasn't thinking straight, why was i suddenly scolding the duke. What if i get killed? Am i going insane? I think my brain was starting to function again as I was just realizing that I am talking to the duke, someone who holds a higher status than me. But I was already down this hole. No point going back.
"And from now on we are going to have dinner together so you had better be there" i call out to him as I storm out of his office. Half running, half walking trying to keep my composure as best as I could.
I slam my bedroom door shut behind me as my heart pounds loud. I push a little shelf against the door to block it hoping it would slow down the duke if he came after me. I slump against the door pressing my ears to it listening for footsteps.
I must have gone crazy, that's the only reason I just did that. What should I do? I need to think. Would the duke come for me for humiliating him in front of his subordinates? I dont know. I'm so screwed.
I spent the rest of the day in my room half hiding, half hoping the duke suffers from an episode of memory loss and today is erased from his head.
Maria brought me more documents regarding my duties but not once did she speak of my unruly behavior to the duke. Was she avoiding it on purpose. Is the duke planning to have me killed is that why she is so silent.
"I will leave you to rest for now your grace. If you need anything you may call for me" she excused herself.
Being busy with my duties kept my mind from wondering now I'm back to, i need to keep my mind busy maybe i should pick up a hobby.
It's almost dinner time and I could already feel the indigestion. Will the duke come or not? Would he be angry or not? I'm scared to find out, but a small part of me is eager. There is no point thinking too much now. What is done is done. Now all I need to do it move forward.