How To End This Marriage-Chapter 155: Confrontation in the Corridor
"Are you comfortable, your highness?" the knight asked, his voice hushed.
"As comfortable as one can be under watch," the princess replied, her gaze unwavering. "But I suppose that’s the price of seeking truth, even for a princess."
The knight shifted uncomfortably. "But your highness, you’ve only just returned to us. You deserve to be pampered, not confined."
"Did the Duchess not deserve the same?" she countered, her voice sharp as a newly-honed blade. "Her status was no less than mine, yet she was subjected to interrogation without a word of protest from you."
The knight’s silence filled the room, a testament to her words. The princess allowed a small, knowing smile to grace her lips.
"I appreciate your concern, Sir Knight. But I assure you, I am quite capable of enduring whatever is necessary to uphold justice."
With a curt bow, the knight excused himself, promising to send a maid and female guards. Once alone, the princess allowed her composure to falter, her hands clenching into fists.
"Hypocrites, all of them," she whispered, her voice trembling with both anger and sorrow. "I won’t stand idly by while they mistreat those I hold dear. The Duchess treated me with kindness and respect, and I’ll do no less for her."
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts, and a maid entered, her head bowed. "Your highness, we are here to assist you."
Drawing upon her reserves of strength, the princess mustered a smile. "Thank you. Your service is appreciated."
The maid led her to an adjoining chamber, where a magnificent milk bath awaited, its surface adorned with fragrant rose petals. The princess paused, her brow furrowed.
"What is the meaning of this?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued.
"The king’s orders, your highness," the maid replied, her voice barely a whisper. "He insists you are to be treated with the utmost care, despite the circumstances."
The princess’s eyes narrowed. Her father’s gesture was a curious one, a blend of affection and control. She would unravel its meaning, but not before addressing more pressing matters.
"Very well," she said, her voice resonating with newfound resolve.
Princess didn’t say and placed her feet inside the tub. As she submerged herself, her entire body began to burn, leaving agonizing marks on her skin.
"Princess, what’s happening? You’re burning! The wounds are appearing on your body out of nowhere!" the maid cried.
"I can’t bear it anymore! It’s unbearable!" the princess screamed, scrambling out of the bath and frantically drying herself.She scrubbed at her skin, leaving raw redness and bloody streaks in her wake.
"Alert the prince! The princess is under attack again!" the maids shouted in panic.
"Fetch the imperial doctor! The princess is in excruciating pain and needs immediate attention!" they yelled, sending knights and guards rushing to summon both the doctor and the prince while the princess writhed in agonizing flames.
"Erios, it’s time!" the duchess hissed.
"Yes, Mistress. The princess’s distress has everyone preoccupied. Barely any guards remain with the emperor," Erios replied.
"Excellent. Teleport us to his chambers. They may have moved him, but you know the layout. As long as I’m not seen leaving, no one will be the wiser," the duchess said, initiating the teleportation with Erios. They instantly materialized beside the emperor, who lay weakly on his bed.
"Your Highness, the emperor, your resilience is truly awe-inspiring. I knew you wouldn’t succumb so easily," the duchess purred, a cruel smile twisting her lips.
"You!!! You again!!! What are you doing here? And how did no one see you get here?" the Emperor rasped, fear trembling in his voice.
"What am I doing here?" Duchess purred, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Are you truly that oblivious, or simply playing coy?"
"An-yone... help me!" the Emperor wheezed, his voice barely a whisper against the suffocating silence.
"Ah, so your voice won’t cooperate? How will you call for aid then? Will this be your pathetic attempt at defense?" Duchess taunted, settling into a chair before him.
"There, there, your demise isn’t quite upon you yet," she soothed, a sinister glint in her eyes. With a flourish, she produced a scorpion from a small white pouch and dropped it onto his abdomen. The creature scuttled sluggishly across his skin.
"This will be your torment, your highness. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other engagements." Duchess rose, gliding towards the secluded chamber she’d identified earlier.
"Erios, prepare for teleportation! We must depart before their discovery," she hissed, her voice low and urgent.
"As you command, Master," Erios bowed, weaving a subtle enchantment as the Duchess watched. "All traces of our presence will be obliterated."
With the enchantment complete, they vanished in a flurry of shimmering light, reappearing within the Duchess’s chambers.
"Now, leave me," she ordered, collapsing onto her bed in mock exhaustion. "I must feign slumber before anyone suspects my absence."
A piercing scream echoed through the palace, eliciting a chilling smirk from beneath the covers. "He’s already experiencing the first course," she thought, relishing the taste of her revenge.
"Erios, be gone!" she whispered, disappearing further into the bedcovers just as the door burst open. Knights stormed in, their faces aghast.
"Who dares breach the Duchess’s chambers unannounced?" she roared, springing up with a flourish, her sword blazing in the dim light.
"Duchess, we didn’t-" the knights stammered, their apologies cut short by her advance.
"Did you not learn the gravity of intruding upon a Duchess’s privacy, especially during a... private moment?" she hissed, her blade glinting dangerously close.
"Duchess, we heard the Emperor’s scream and feared for your safety," one knight stammered.
"Oh? And how does that justify your trespass? Did I ever claim to be the source of His Majesty’s distress? Did I beckon your entrance into my bedchamber? Or are you implying I am incapable of defending myself?" she challenged, her voice dripping with venom.
Just then, the Duke himself entered the scene, bewildered by the commotion. "What in the heavens is happening here?" he boomed, his gaze darting between the tense guards and his wife.
"Can’t you see, husband? Look at what your men have done!" Duchess declared, her finger accusingly pointed at the trembling knights.
"What’s happening here? Why are you all in the Duchess’s room so late at night?" the Duke thundered, his voice echoing through the corridor.
"Duke, we heard the Emperor’s scream and our first priority was to enter the Duchess’s chambers to ensure her safety," the knight stammered, beads of sweat forming on his brow under the Duchess’s piercing gaze.
"A knock would have sufficed, Mr. Knight," the Duchess spat, her voice dripping with venom. "No need to expose your lack of common courtesy."
"This is blatant disrespect towards me, a Duchess," she declared, sweeping her fiery eyes across the assembled knights.
"Duchess, they are simply fulfilling their duty," the Duke interjected, attempting to placate his wife.
"Oh, are they?" she challenged, her brows arching in disbelief. "What if my husband and I were engaged in a private moment when they barged in unannounced? Would you have accepted that? Would you have pretended nothing untoward was happening?"
"Of course not!" the Duke retorted, his hands clenching into fists.
"And what if I were simply changing my dress when they stormed in? Would I be their visual feast?" the Duchess hissed, her anger reaching a boiling point.
"Duchess, please!" the Duke pleaded, reaching out to touch her arm, but she flinched away from his touch.
"You refuse to listen? Then I have every right to file a complaint against these knights. The trial will commence tomorrow morning, in full view of the jury."
"You’ve made a grave mistake!" the Duke roared, his face contorted with fury. "How dare you attempt to enter the Duke’s wife’s quarters without his permission?"
"W-we didn’t know, Duke!" the knight whimpered, bowing low in apology.
"She is not a criminal! She has never been accused of a crime! She has never been ordered to be monitored. How dare you treat my wife with such disrespect?" the Duke bellowed, grabbing one of the knight’s uniforms and shaking him with the force of his anger.
Suddenly, the Crown Prince materialized in the doorway, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Duke, what is the meaning of this commotion?" he demanded.
"Commotion?" the Duke spat, his voice thick with bitterness. "Isn’t it obvious? I allowed the Duchess to be interrogated, but I would never tolerate some stranger entering her chambers in her most vulnerable state!"
"And now, everyone will face the court – you, Crown Prince, included. Those knights claim you issued the order to monitor my wife."
"Duke, please wait! Let me explain—" the Crown Prince started, but the Duke was already storming out of the room, his wife’s accusations ringing in his ears.
"YOU!!! Who gave you the order to enter the room of the Duchess?!" the Crown Prince roared. "WE did!" the knight stammered.
"WHO GAVE YOU THE ORDER?!" the Crown Prince boomed, his voice echoing through the chamber.
The voice echoed.
