Chapter Three

She has a nice air around her, like that kind of scent that you can see and touch. Maybe it's her voice or the tips of her fingers. Heaven knows what causes it, but I love it. I get these chills around my fingers, my ears turn red just by being around her and my feelings go numb. I forget about everything except her eyes. 

Then I remember I'm still standing right in front of her, she in her lovely white dress, her hair let down and beautiful jewels adorning her neck. I watch her open and close her lips as I savor the sweet scent around me. I will give the head maid a raise just for this. Her lovely brows start twitching and she looks up at me. I feel those butterflies in my stomach until my brain understands her expression. She looks like she is watching a random dude just looking at her without moving, which is actually what is happening right now. 

I glanced at my aide who was just mouthing something. "Your…clock"? I ignore him and go back to staring at my precious future wife. Wife. That sounds nice. My wife… hehehehe.

My aide kicks my heel and I look at him, annoyed, though I notice how my sweet bride flinches at the sudden movement. My aide points at my chest and I look down at my clothes, which were covered by the monster's blood. Darn it. 

The first time I met my wife —I like how that sounds— and I looked like I had just committed murder. I glance back at her and she steps back a little. I felt a sting in my heart when I noticed the fear in her eyes. I look at the priest who flinches and then starts the wedding ceremony. 

"We are here reunited to join this couple in sacred matrimony…" my bride glares at him before her veil covers her beautiful face again. Alice steps back after having fixed her dress, after another sign from the love of my life the priest makes things faster. "Lady Sophia Allen, do you take Duke Aleph Kleas to be your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love and cherish him, in good times and in bad, in sickness and health, for richer, for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto him, for so long as you both shall live?"

She stood there in silence for about a minute, her hands holding her flower bouquet with enough strength for her knuckles to turn white. I held on to my desire to hold her hands so she didn't hurt her hands with the stem. Her shoulders raised and lowered a few times, and then she answered coldly: "I do".

The priest sighed in relief and then turned to me, swallowing hard. "Your grace, Duke Aleph Kleas, do you take Lady Sophia Allen to be your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love and cherish her, in good times and in bad, in sickness and health, for richer, for poorer, for better for worse, and forsaking all others, keep yourself only unto her, for so long as you both shall live?"

A smile wandered through my lips and I answered "Yes…yes, I do."

The priest sighed relieved again and then smiled brightly. I kept looking at my bride, now my wife. She kept her head down, her hands holding the bouquet with strength. I was happy to be married to her, darn, it was the most beautiful day of my life. But she didn't look happy. She looked down and unhappy. But it was understandable. She wouldn't want to be here, to be married to me. She had another love, another man in her heart. She loved someone, and that someone wasn't me. She must be feeling brokenhearted.

Sophia's POV

This dress and heels are freaking uncomfortable. And this priest is taking forever to finish this ceremony. Isn't there a faster way to end this? I looked down at my poor feet. I heard the "Yes, I do" from the duke and sighed. Finally, this is coming to an end. Now just the kiss and… wait… the kiss… ugh.

I glanced at him and noticed his glare on me. I flinched and looked away. He hates me. Definitely hates me. Well, on the bright side, this means he won't try to kiss me. I glanced now at the spectators. Their eyes on me felt like those of a hunter looking at their prey and that made me feel small. I had forgotten what kind of place this was. A battlefield where any sign of weakness meant death. 

I shivered when I heard the priest's voice. "You may now kiss the bride".

What kind of dumpster marriage was this? 

A pair of hands appeared in my sight and lifted my veil. My heart beat like it was going to come out of my chest and I struggled to keep on standing. He was going to kiss me. And I wouldn't be able to stop it. 

He leaned closer, and, to be honest, he had to lean a lot. Then he stopped next to my face. 

"Don't worry." He said. His voice sent a shiver down my spine and I held back the need to look at him in his eyes. "I won't kiss you for real… just act like I did, okay?" I could feel his tiny smile next to my cheek. He leaned over my face and I closed my eyes, expectant. 

A small touch on my left cheek as he kissed it, but hiding it from the gossip-starving public, it looked like he had kissed me on the lips.

As he raised I kept my eyes closed. He took my hand and walked towards the exit. I opened my eyes and could only see his back.  I was sure I would be killed the second he appeared in front of me. And even more sure he would do it painfully.

But he didn't. 

And that was a major problem.

We walked down the aisle, he kept his hand on mine but never put strength on it. If I wanted I could even break from his grasp. I was confused, this was nothing like in the book, and that was not good. Yeah, I'm happy I'm still alive and breathing, but hey, this wasn't supposed to happen.

Didn't Sophia die before she got married?

I stopped breathing for a second.

It didn't. Nothing about her demise or anything else. Just that she was sent to the Duke of the North. I facepalmed myself in my mind. How could I ignore this important fact? I smiled as I entered the carriage. I can change it. I knew there was a possibility, but now it was sure. I won't die. 

The carriage door closed but his grace didn't enter. I looked through the window confused. He was riding a horse some meters ahead of the carriage. "Please don't stick your head out, madam…" I heard someone say and I noticed the same knight that had helped me out of the carriage was riding a horse next to my carriage.

I nodded in response and went back inside. I glanced at the knight as he rode along. 

"Evan, right?" I asked and he glanced at me, puzzled. He nodded and looked ahead. 

"Evan Hills, madam." He said, checking his surroundings. I nodded leaning on the window.

"Sir Hills, then?" I asked and he nodded. "Nice to meet ya." I smiled and he looked at me dumbfounded. "Uh… nice to meet you, madam."

I leaned back on my seat again, tired. "Do you know how much till we get to the mansion?" I asked and he glanced at me, still puzzled. "Thirty minutes, madam"

I looked at him bewildered. "But we got to the church in less than 10!" He nodded.

"There's supposed to be a parade in celebration of your grace's wedding." He answered without looking at me. I looked at him open-mouthed. Who in their right mind would want to see how their poor duke married a supposed evil woman? I sighed and leaned back again.

I looked around the carriage, now calmer. I couldn't check it out when I was on my way to the church expecting to die the very moment I set foot in the chapel, but now I could notice the beautiful design it had. The seats were covered with beautiful fabric, with a flower patron. The walls had these golden lines that I could swear were actual gold. I felt with my fingers the silver necklace I was wearing. It had more than ten jewels and I could bet all my hair they were all diamonds. 

"Darn it…" I mumbled under my breath. One of these and I could live without worries for the rest of my life. That's when I got it. I can run away… Just somewhere far away from this darned novel. 

I smiled. I just need money… nothing much.

^^^^^^^

The night fell on the mansion. The room I was staying in — now I know is the Duchess's chamber— felt a little gloomy, but maybe that's because of my vibes. I was tired, annoyed, and done with everything. The wedding ended successfully but my emotional state was a mess. I walked around the room, stressed out. It was the wedding night, and even though the novel didn't say anything about me being killed today I still felt a bit nervous. I wished this would end right now, with the Duke never coming to my room and no problem at all. 

I sighed and put my glasses on one of the tables. I realized that the original Sophia had a terrible sight, just like me, and that made me feel comfortable. When I arrived I felt the space they'd left, and when that rude maid told me I wore glasses I couldn't hide my joy.

I sat down on the bed and decided to sleep when I heard a knock on the door. I stood up, startled. "Who is it?" I asked and a long silence followed it. 

"I've come to meet the duchess," they said finally, with a husky voice that gave me goosebumps. I sighed. Probably a knight or a servant. Maybe they'll tell me his grace won't be able to come.

"Come in," I answered and the door opened. I searched for my glasses but couldn't find them. I'm sure I left them on this very table. Darn it. 

I looked up and a tall figure stood in the frame of the door. "Come in," I repeated. "Did his grace send you?"

I couldn't make out his face so I gave up searching for my glasses. I sat on the bed again, definitely tired. The stranger stayed still. I tilted my head, "So? What is it?" I asked.

He gave a step ahead, hesitating. "Um… my lady"

I raised my head. Was he trying to be rude, or was it just a small slip of tongue? "Pardon?" I asked and he gave a small step back, the light of the candles outside shining on his back. I finally could make out his silhouette and noticed dark honey strands of hair. He was at least 6 feet tall, the doorframe almost touching the top of his head. I kept looking at him, waiting for an answer.

He hesitated for some seconds and then spoke, in a husky voice, "Oh… I'm sorry, my lady. Um… yes, his grace… the duke…. The duke?" He kept staggering and slurring his words. I held on a chuckle, and looked at him still confused. "Yes, the duke. Did he send you?" I asked once more.  He nodded slightly, "Yes," he said simply.

Okay, I may not be from here, but he's being rude in this or that century.

I crossed my legs, waiting for a more formulated answer. "So?". He stayed in silence for a few seconds and nodded. "He will… will not come tonight." He said, still hesitating.

I nodded, quite relieved. "I see…thanks." I said with a smile, but he didn't move, not even an inch.

One minute passed, but he didn't do anything. I looked at him, expecting a small bow indicating he would get out. But he didn't do anything. Just kept looking at me. I shuffled and he snapped out of it.  He seemed nervous and then stayed still. "So… I… I will go now, my lady." He announced and turned around. "Wait." I said and he stood still once again, turned around and looked at me. "Yes, my lady?"

"What's your name?" I asked. He seemed disturbed for a moment there and then spoke. "Aleph." He said.

Uh. Aleph, he says.

"I see, you may go now". He nodded and walked out the room. 

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Does he think I don't know his name?

Aleph's POV

I'm so glad she doesn't seem to know my name.

Everyone knows my last name, of course. Kleas is not so common, so it's kinda easy to remember. But not everyone knows the first name of the Duke. I used to be a little lonely that people wouldn't call me by my name, but by my title. Not even my nana would. "Young master" became "Young lord", then "Your Grace" "My lord". 

Life became numb, and when war started I had gained nicknames, but none of them were affectionate. "Monster", "Devil", "Grim Reaper". As they reached my ears, I grew colder. And not even in the capital I could rest from those memories. Only the emperor and the Crown prince treated me with respect. But nobles despised me, thought of me as a beast. Didn't matter where I went, every noble would frown, calling me worse names than those soldiers at the border. Frowning when I passed next to them, murmuring that I smelled like filthy blood. 

But then, there she was. A beautiful woman. Long, black hair; eyes like a sunrise; and a beautiful, dignified smile. She never seemed disrupted by my presence, she didn't seem to mind the rumors, nor the frowns of others. A noble, generous lady, who seemed to hide her kindness behind a cold smile. As if a single show of weakness could mean her demise. 

I always wondered what her laugh would sound like. If it would be a childish one, the kind you hear when there's children playing. Or a quiet but warm one, like a breeze in spring. I wondered if her smile would touch the commissures of her eyes, or if her eyes would look at me with fondness. 

I wondered. And wondered. And wondered once again. Awake and asleep, went and came back, imagining what would be like to touch her hair, to know her deeper than any other.

But she was engaged. Maybe not officially, but it seemed to be her dream to marry his highness. So I stayed quiet. Any arising feeling was shut inside of me. I would keep a poker face when we danced, but feeling as if we were the only ones in the ballroom. But when I looked at you, you were glancing at him. Her eyes brightened at his mention. And the smiles I would wonder how they looked like we're always directed at him. Even that day. When she smiled at him, she yelled the worst imaginable things at her. But, she didn't mind, as he hugged that girl. She just stood up, didn't even cry. And I felt like dying. She didn't deserve none of this. I knew it. I knew she was innocent, but I wasn't able to help her. 

Yet.

"Sir," my butler's voice called me out of my thoughts. I glanced up and he looked at me worried. "Is there anything wrong, your Grace?" He asked. I shook my head and glanced at the pile of documents waiting for me to sign them up.

"No." I answered and he nodded. 

"I heard your Grace visited the duchess last night," he said, smiling. I flinched and averted my gaze. 

"Wha-whatever do you mean? I did not," I stuttered and punched myself mentally. 

He smiled with joy. His face wrinkled even more. "Many servants saw you walking towards her grace's room," he answered, smiling proudly. "I never thought I would live to see the day my master finally marries. But here we are," he said, wiping fake tears with a handkerchief.

I sighed. "Neil…" I warned him and he smiled innocently. "I must say, your Grace, the ma'am arriving will bring good and new things to the dukedom, I'm sure." He said confidently. 

Butlers were used to hearing rumors and making sure the information was real enough before telling their master, and Neil was no different. He had heard all the rumors about Lady Sophia, but he had made his investigation and realized she was nothing like what she was painted to be. That's why his reassuring smile gave me confidence. That is till there was a knock on the door.

"Um… the duchess wishes to talk to the duke" Evan's voice resonated behind the door. A tap of a heel on the floor sent a shiver down my spine. She was out there. And I was here. Neil chuckled. Seems like her grace couldn't wait to see you." He said clueless as he walked towards the door.

As he opened, I decided to do the bravest thing a warrior could do in this situation.