The Echanting Duchess

Chapter 7: An Oath of Blood

"Have you not considered my feelings at all? Suspecting me for something that is totally out of my grasp is not something that I could tolerate," Atallie added.

"Then, do you mind to explain what could be the reason why the paper had not made its way directly towards you? What could be the reason why I was directly notified of this marriage, but you were not?" Duke Calex asked. The words of Atallie seemed to have been heard by him. But the duke couldn't just believe the duchess at all.

Atallie bore her gaze towards the Duke Calex and that one look almost sent an inexplicable chill down the back of the duke. Almost.

But what the duke has seen on that emotionless and cold gaze of the duchess was not just the intensity, but also tinge of mocking and pity...

What kind of look is that?!
The duke snarled on the inside.

If only Atallie could also reveal her inner thoughts. She would be scowling now towards the duke with a ridiculous expression on her ever indifferent face.

"I must have overestimated the intelligence of the duke. To think that he won't be able to even find answers for his own questions, I am a bit disappointed," said Atallie.

"What do you mean?" Duke Cakes asked with a grim look on his face.

I am right. I'm definitely right. The look on her eyes is mockery and pity...towards me!

The audacity!

"How impudent! To speak like that towards me – the Duke of Kargaz of the North!" Duke Calex said. With his eyebrows furrowed and almost touching, and his face as dark as it could be, the duke seemed to be angered by what the duchess just said.

And Atallie was aware of it.

Seems like I have provoked him too much just now...

But so what?

"My apologies, duke. I grew up in the woods and my manner of speaking has always been straightforward. I have unintentionally offended you just now," said Atallie to apologize.

But instead of making things better to sooth the offended mood of the duke, her words even sent another jab towards the ego of the duke.

Atallie seemed to be asking for an apology, and she actually was. However, if one would look closely, one would realise that Atallie's apology didn't deny the words that she has said before.

What Atallie has just said was that she meant no offense if her words have struck the cord of the duke. And she didn't deny the fact about the seemingly inadequacy of the duke to judge their situation.

"Haha! You are truly brazen, woman," said the duke with a laughter, but his face remained as dark as the bottom of a pot. "Dare to further enlighten this lowly one, hmm?"

It was a challenge. Duke Calex was clearly challenging how far the audacity and boldness of the duchess could be.

However, too bad for the duke, the duchess realized that provoking the duke would not be a good idea, at least not for now.

"If the duke would only think carefully... Maybe the scrolls have something to do with guardianship?" said Atallie.

"Guardianship?" Duke Calex asked.

"I am not knowledgeable enough about magic and incantations. However, perhaps the incantation set for the scrolls was that it should be given to the guardians of the concerned people, but if the guardian was no longer, then the scroll would automatically reach the concerned person directly," Atallie explained.

Upon hearing the explanation of the duchess, Duke Calex realized how inadequate he has truly been.

Why in the world that I haven't thought of that?

"Perhaps the duke has been so busy lately and you haven't been paying careful and enough attention to the matters at hand," said Atallie. "Maybe you should also stop being too suspicious about everything," she added.

What! Didn't she just answered my inner thoughts?

But at the end of this conversation, truly, the duke has realized where he has been inadequate.

"I have truly been enlightened, my wife," said the duke. The duke's usual coquettish and unscrupulous expression was once again plastered on his seductive and handsome face. In just a snap, his mood has changed.

Goodness, this duke was indeed hard to read. What an insanity.

Atallie could only roll her eyes on the inside.

"Perhaps this was the case then. Don't worry, my wife, I'll ask the estate Wizard to confirm about this," said the duke.

"I understand," Atallie answered.

"I would also like to inform the duchess that I'll be leaving today to do some businesses," Duke Calex said, "I'll be gone for a whole week. Please watch the estate while I'm gone. You don't have to worry about managing it, the butler will be the one to do that. And if you need anything, you could also tell Leonor about it. Both her and the butler will see to it," he added with a bright alluring smile on his face.

What a sicko.

He intentionally told me that I'm basically no one who doesn't hold the right to manage the estate.

Am I a dog to watch the estate while you're gone?

Though she has a lot to tell to the duke, Atallie could only keep mum about it. "I understand," Atallie answered.

"Well then, if there's nothing else, you may leave now and go on with your day," Duke Calex said magnanimously.

But Atallie could only feel annoyance towards the duke.

What a cockiness!

"Then, I'll be leaving first," Atallie said. And without wasting any second, she walked out of the room.

Out of sight. Out of mind.

When the door closed, Duke Calex was left behind inside the magnificent golden room. He carefully held the locket once again in his hands and swarm of thoughts came rushing in.

We will see whether she's truly the one...

"Once I return, things will be revealed," said the duke with a stern expression on his face. "Just wait for it, my dear wife," he added with a sinister smile.

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A/n: Hello ~
Have you seen our new cover photo? Isn't it enchanting? Hahaha
Had a sudden mood to come up with a new design and there it is!
I hope you liked it!

Well then, see you in the next chapter!

🖤 Elle Dee