Chapter 43: Binding Contracts of Fate
I found myself standing in a room filled with tension, my words echoing in the silence that followed. The weight of what I had just said hung in the air, and Alex’s concern was palpable.
"Die? What do you mean? Why would you say you don’t want to die?" Alex repeated the question, his voice a mix of confusion and genuine worry. My heart ached at his concern, but I couldn’t reveal the truth, not yet.
"Madam! What do you mean? Has someone threatened your life? Are you afraid of someone? Please tell me; I will handle it. I won’t let any harm come to you," he implored, his urgency evident. Erios, on the other hand, remained silent, his eyes flickering towards me as if he held knowledge beyond my own.
"It’s nothing, really. I was just talking about yesterday’s incident. What if someone tries to kill me again? I can’t let that happen. I can’t die. Because I don’t want to die," I replied, deflecting his questions and avoiding his gaze.
"Madam, I assure you that nothing like that will happen to you. I will investigate the identity of those assassins and ensure they are arrested. I will even speak to His Majesty to ensure they face severe punishments. You have nothing to worry about. You won’t die," he reassured me, attempting to calm my fears. Despite his words, doubt gnawed at me. If His Majesty couldn’t find the murderers of the previous Duke and Duchess after all these years, could he really catch these assassins?
"You can leave now, Duke. I have something to discuss with Erios," I said, eager to change the subject and delve into the mysteries that surrounded me.
"But Madam, are you still in shock from the incident yesterday?" he asked, concern evident in his hushed tone.
"No," I replied, because it wasn’t a shock that troubled me. I had been the one to deal with those assassins, to handle the situation alone in a short amount of time. Shock wasn’t the issue; it was the shadowy conspiracy that loomed over my life.
"I will take my leave then," he said and left, leaving me alone with Erios, who was still avoiding my gaze.
"So, you’re aware of my situation, aren’t you?" I turned to him.