Chapter 169: Labyrinthine Loop
"Duchess, may I come in?" A maid’s knock shattered the Duchess Bernice’s solitude. "Come!" the Duchess called, suspicion lacing her voice.
"Duchess, I’ve come for Duke Alexavier’s belongings," the maid explained, bowing her head. "Belongings? Didn’t he come to stay?" the Duchess frowned, confusion blooming on her face.
"I have no idea, Duchess. I was ordered to move his things back to his chamber, merely following orders," the maid replied, efficiently packing the Duke’s belongings, fueling the Duchess’s simmering anger.
"Everything’s gathered. With your leave, I’ll be going now," the maid said, offering another bow before slipping out. Alone again, the Duchess slammed her fist against the wall, her features contorted in fury. "Always the same! He waltzes in and out at will, leaving me to play the dutiful wife. Does he think I’m some guard dog, waiting at his whim?" she thundered, her voice echoing in the opulent room.
Suddenly, another rap on the door interrupted her tirade. "Duchess, it’s me!" the Duke called out, entering the room.
"What are you doing here? Didn’t you just send your maid to reclaim your precious belongings? What more could you possibly want?" she spat, her words dripping with icy venom.
"Why are you back? You just sent your maid to collect your belongings!" the Duchess spat, her eyes blazing with anger. "Did you forget something?"
"Bernice, it’s not like that," the Duke pleaded, his voice laced with frustration. "I only retrieved my things because I feared I was intruding on your journey. I wanted to give you the space you deserve."
"Space?" she scoffed, bitterness twisting her lips. "That would have been preferable! At least then I’d understand your erratic behavior. Instead, I’m left in the dark, grasping at straws, clinging to your words as if they’re truths I desperately need to believe. There’s no transparency, no shared trust between us."
"Why would I lie to you, Wife? If you need something, ask. I’ll tell you everything I know," the Duke promised, his gaze earnest.
"Oh how convenient!" the Duchess retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I hadn’t realized I need to beg for information like a commoner. It seems I married a man who expects obedience but offers no reciprocation, content to keep me in the shadows while demanding unwavering faith. If I’d known it would be like this, I’d never have agreed to the arranged marriage, even with my father on the brink of financial ruin."
"Bernice, please," the Duke interjected, his voice strained. "I never intended to deceive you. It’s just..." he faltered, his eyes avoiding hers.