The end of the truce

When the Duke leaves, he tells me that he won't come back for a couple of days. I nod, apparently uninterested. In truth, I'm glad that for once he let me know about his schedule. It makes me feel a bit more relevant.

I also get permission to use the study at my discretion, which means that I won't get out of there for the whole time.

When the Duke has left, the maids walk in and start with my usual morning routine. After finishing dressing, I walk out of the room and bump in a messenger.

«From his grace, Duke of Kyre,» he exclaims. «This is a gift to thank his wife of taking care of him.»

My lips tremble for a second while I wonder whether he's doing this on purpose. But then, I look at the box. In it, there is a necklace with a giant, yellow gem. It's beautiful and expensive: I'll be able to show it around for a while.

«Tell him that his wife likes the present,» I reply and grab the necklace before walking away. I wear it by myself.

It's so heavy that my neck will start to ache, sooner or later. Still, I don't take it off for the whole day.

It's good that people can see. With some luck, this rumour will reach lady Elisabeth's ears. I'll have to deal with that girl since she threatened me, but I can't do it right now.

Maybe next year, if she doesn't marry in the meantime. On the other side, I'm starting to believe that I will be here, in a year.

I pass the next two days in the study, reading and writing. I also compose a poem for Princess Lyland as thanks for her help with the tea party. I will deliver it to her personally after lunch.

She often takes a stroll with her friends in the garden, so I'll meet her for sure.

As I walk, the maids stay two steps behind me, which is starting to drive me crazy. I wanted to ask the Duke to change his orders, but then I realised that it's best to talk about it when he's in a good mood.

I turn around a corner and reach a bench that's isolated and always free. I sit down and open the book that I've brought with me.

I start to read, ignoring everything else, when a hand grabs my shoulder and squeezes.

«You're here!» a stranger's voice says, and I turn, lifting my eyebrows in a surprised grimace.

«Sorry, you are?» I inquire, not recognising the man in front of me.

His gaze moves to the maids, and he snickers.

«You're playing fool now that your husband's servants are here, aren't you?»

«I really don't know who you are,» I reply. What does this man want from me?

Patricia and the other maid are looking down, not paying attention to my struggles.

«What is happening here?» I ask when this man's hand clenches my arm. «Let go of me!» I protest, but his intentions become rather evident. «Let go!»

He drags me up and takes some hairpins off of my hair.

«Let go, you fool!» I shout, hoping that someone will hear me.

«Stay calm, dear Duchess,» the man says, «or someone will hear you...»

That is what I want. Why aren't the maids helping me? They're just standing to the side.

«Patricia, go call for help,» I order. Her aloof expression tells me that she has no intention of following my words. «Patricia!»

My voice is rather desperate, but it doesn't move her cold heart.

«The Duke told me not to leave you alone,» she repeats mechanically. «I can't go.»

Is that so? The Duke told you not to leave me alone, so you're just watching while an unknown man ruins my hair and clothes. I should have expected it.

«What are you pretending, now?» the man asks. «We both know what a slut you are. Your husband left, so you don't need to worry about him...»

«Let go,» I try once again, and I hit his arms with a desperate punch.

He frowns and finally releases my arm. He raises his hand and slaps me with strength. The backlash of the hit pushes me to the ground, and I use my hands to amortise the fall. Before I can get up, a kick in my stomach knocks me down once again.

I hug my belly and try to breathe, but my lungs are aching. I gasp for a while until the air slowly returns to flow.

The man grips my hair and lifts my head so that I look at him.

«You dare to hit me, you wench? I shall teach you a lesson you won't forget...»

I don't have any more tears to shed, so I just look back at that man in silence. I thought I was getting used to the court life in the Empire... It seems that there are so many challenges for me behind every corner.

I just wanted to take a walk. What have I done wrong, this time?

«The Duke will kill you, once he hears about this,» he whispers so that only I can hear.

Was this just a scheme to get rid of me? If that's the case, this man is just a pawn sent from someone else. But who can hate me so much?

I will probably never know.

«Will the Duke be pleased if I help him to get rid of you? He won't need to dirty his hands, he will be glad that I did it for him,» the man continues.

I'm so tired of his crazy discourses.

I spit on his face, and then I close my eyes, waiting for a strike that doesn't come.

Instead, a bunch of voices comes in this direction.

I glance at the garden, and I see two groups of people reaching us.

«What is happening here?» a young girl asks. She then eyes the maids and the man crouching next to me. She crooks her mouth, considering to turn her back and walk away.