Chapter Four

Sophia's POV

I woke up.

I wish I could say that, but I didn't sleep at all. Most female leads in stories related to transmigration have time to process everything, they wake up, have breakfast, some tea, and then start thinking. I had an unfortunate situation where I didn't have even a deck of time to rest without feeling attacked. And between everything, I had to remember everything about the story. The first two weeks had been torture, traveling in an uncomfortable carriage with an even more uncomfortable girl. Then, yesterday, I suffered at least three panic attacks in less than ten hours. So, no. I had no time to sit, remember everything, and write it down. After the duke had come to my room I decided to write everything down, in another language that is.

Between English and Spanish, I wrote at least three pages worth of information about the story. Unfortunately, most of that is useless now that it has ended, though some bits of data can help me understand the situation right now. One of them is the fact that Sophia's death was never written, which is now in my favor.

I stood up from the desk and walked around the room. The sunlight came in from the windows and started missing the electricity. Last night I had to search for a candle every time it burned. If I had a lamp… ugh.

I sighed and looked at the door. Last night the duke had come to my room. He acted like he was a knight, but I guess he's not used to being in a lower position than others. And he didn't know a knight should call me madame. Also, he gave his true name. I'm starting to wonder if he's as scary and vicious as everyone makes him to be.

I called Lia to help me get dressed. I would do it myself if it wasn't hard. There's a lot of strings and knots you need to make. She also helped me with my hair. I glanced at Lia's reflection.

"Where's Yera?" Lia's deep blue eyes looked at me anxiously.

"She's…. She's been called to the kitchen today!" She answered, finishing my makeup. When did she even start?

I nodded at her answer. Seems like Yera decided to skip work today. I smiled at Lia, assuring her that she was not in trouble. "I see~ I'll have to talk to Martha about this, though." I teased her and she was startled. "I'm just joking, I'm sure she had her reasons," I said getting up and patting her shoulder. She smiled at me, grateful. I stared at the door intensely. That guy last night was tall. I remember only being able to see his shoulder at the wedding, too scared to face him. Or face reality.

I glanced at Lia who was picking up some makeup that fell under the dressing table. "At this hour… where do you think his grace would be?" I asked. Lia peeked at me, confused, and smiled. "His Grace would probably be in his office, madame." She said, picking up a lipstick.

I nodded."Where's the Duke's office?" I asked and Lia hit her head on the dressing table, startled. "Uh… are you okay?" I asked and she nodded rubbing her head with her hand. "um… Is there something worrying you, your Grace?" She looked at me, concerned. I smiled and shook my head.

"I just need to talk about our marriage. Is something normal when it's an arranged marriage, you see…" I smiled at her and she nodded, a little bit of sympathy in her eyes. "I'll guide you, madam."

Lia opened the door and Evan was outside, waiting for us.

"Good morning, sir Hills" I greeted him and he returned the greeting with a bow. We walked for at least 3 minutes and went up some stairs. Then stopped at the first door at the right. She bowed and smiled at me. "Here's his Grace's office," she now seemed calmer. I was going to knock when Sir Hills talked.

"Her Grace, the Duchess, wishes to talk to the Duke." He announced to me. I tapped my heel on the ground. I'm still not used to all this title and noble stuff…

The door opened showing the butler, whose smile when he looked at me was bigger than any other smile I've seen since I arrived. "Good morning, your Grace!" He greeted us joyously as he let us in. "Did you sleep well?" He asked. I smiled and nodded. "Good morning, Neil. Yes, I slept well, what about you?" He looked taken aback by my question. Were they not used to being asked how they slept?

He chuckled a little and smiled warmly at me. "I slept perfectly thanks to your grace, madame." I smiled back at him. He seemed nice. I looked around, the office looked empty, and only Neil seemed to be there. "I've come to meet the Duke. I've been told that he would be here." I said, smiling. Neil glanced at the desk and smiled at me.

"You may talk with him, madame." He said. I looked at him, confused. "Um… he doesn't seem to be here…" I glanced around, no one else apart from us seemed to be here. The chair behind His Grace's desk was turned around, facing the large window that illuminated the room.

Neil chuckled. "Your Grace, the duchess has come to talk to you." He said, walking to the desk, and then stopping next to the chair. Wait a second… I focused my eyes on the top of the chair, a few strands of dark honey hair peeking behind the chair's back. So he's been here the whole time and decided to ignore me? Huh.

"Good morning, your Grace." I greeted, politely. I waited a few seconds for him to turn around and greet me back, but only after three ahems from Neil I heard a mumbled sound.

"Morning…"

"Morning"?

"Morning" !?

I breathed in, trying to quell my anger. Was he being rude on purpose? Just like last night?

I padded silently till I stood in front of his desk. He didn't turn around not even once. I glanced at the papers that forged a tower almost my height. Without care I took one, Neil not even trying to stop me.

" 'Reparation's Budget: Bridges and roads.' " I read out loud, the chair shuffling a little when I talked. "Is this what you've been working on all night?" I asked. Seconds later, he raised his hand and made a fist. Is he… going against something? Then he raised his thumb. Ah… he's answering. With signs.

I turned to Neil, who seemed distraught. "Does the duke suffer a speaking disability?" I asked and both, Neil and the coward on the chair, flinched. "His Grace is not mute, madam!" He answered, bewildered.

I nodded. "Then am I as ugly and scary as a monster of the northern woods?" I smiled and Neil gasped. "Oh, of course not, madam! Your beauty is unparalleled!" He exclaimed. I smiled kindly, or at least I hope I did. "Then I do not understand why this…" I pointed at the chair. "I mean, why his grace won't even glance at me" Neil looked at me, apologetic. I shook my head. "I better go back to my chambers, I wish not to be an inconvenience to our kind host," I said and bowed down. "Have a pleasant day, Your Grace," I said and turned around, the door closing on my back.

Heavens. He's a jerk.

Aleph's POV

"You are a jerk." Kieran's voice resonated through the training hall walls. I glared at him, who ignored me and continued sharpening his sword.

"Don't call me that." I frowned and he just laughed. "Well, I won't. But I'm sure your bride already thinks of you as one." He smirked, the sound of the metal of his sword as he swung it through the air irritated me.

I wanted to punch him so bad… darn it.

"She's not a vulgar thing like you," I growled. He let a laugh out and looked at me as he wiped a fake tear. "They all think like that. Women, I mean. If you are a little bit off, then you are a jerk. Live with it, mister jerk." He said with a teasing tone, that irritated me even more.

Kieran was an old comrade from the war. Even older as a friend. He has always been there, since the first memory I have. But as long as we've known each are as numerous as the pranks he's made to me. There's no conversation where he doesn't make fun of me in any way.

He sat next to me and patted my shoulder. "You just need to talk to her. Not so hard, right?" He said, genuinely worried for me.

I glanced at him. "Talking to her is the hardest part," I said and hid my face in my hands. "She must be terrified of me," I said and Kieran cracked a laugh. He slapped my back and looked at me. His eyes seemed full of sympathy and eager to help an old friend. "Who wouldn't?"

I punched him right in the face making him fall on his butt. As he held his cheek in his hand he laughed out loud. I was going to stop holding back my necessity to beat him up when the doors opened. A clear yellow dress fluttered around the dirty floor. Fancy, light steps resonated around the room and came closer to me. Sunset eyes contrasted with light snowy skin, strands of black hair falling on her shoulders like a waterfall. And when our eyes met I fell off my feet, light as a feather.

Till I remembered I've been avoiding her since three days ago when she went to meet me at my office.

Darn it.