LUCIA

Chapter 22 The Ducal Couple

"The tea party in two days but other than that..."

"So there's nothing in particular? Don't think of doing anything abrupt or unexpected while I'm gone. Just stay obediently."

"What unexpected action?"

"I'm only saying you should be as you always have. And particularly, don't go outside."

Lucia wondered why he would suddenly mention going out. Ever since she arrived at Roam, she had stayed without ever leaving the castle.

In the castle, everything she needed was prepared for her therefore there was no need for her to go out. And perhaps her personality was boring for she preferred a quiet and unchanging life to a dynamic one.

The entire time, she'd never told him that she wanted to go out so she couldn't figure out why he would suddenly say something like that.

"Why?"

"Do you want to go out?"

'Do not step outside my territory while I am gone.' That was what he really wanted to say.

"No but you never know what could happen. You have to tell me the exact reason so I can make a decision."

"Since I am not here in my position, my Duchess has to take care of it, right?"

He was pleased with himself for coming up with a pretty reasonable answer. It was not necessary for her to stay in Roam to take care of the duties in place of him but Lucia couldn't find any gaps in his words and just thought it made sense.

"Ah, yes."

Because he hadn't said anything for a while, Lucia glanced at him and found him staring at her.

"Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

He chuckled and lowered his head, capturing her lower lips. He bit it gently then sucked on it.

His wife who listened well to his words with an innocent expression and clear eyes, was just too pretty. He was already worried about not seeing her for a few days.

* * *

Philip watched as the Duke of Taran and his knights left Roam early in the morning. His residence was at a corner in the inner part of the outer wall of Roam.

The residence of the primary doctor of the Duke was originally within the castle walls but as the owner of the Taran family changed eight years ago, Philip's residence was pushed to the outer wall.

Apart from the residence changing, the Duke did not treat him 'specially' or persecute him.

It would be more correct to say that the Duke held absolutely no interest in him. Also when Philip changed his residence, the several medical records of the house that were passed down from generation to generation were allowed to move with him.

Philip never forgot that his life was hanging on Hugo's narrow compassion. Although exactly speaking, it was more payment than it was compassion. The payment of a life debt.

Philip admired the cold-blooded duke who did not bleed nor possess tears. The surrounding people who knew the secret of the Taran family had vanished without a trace and the only one left who knew that secret was Philip but Philip had never condemned the Duke's cruelty and savagery.

The reason why Philip's family clung desperately to the Duke of Taran was because he was the Taran bloodline's perfect sculpture.

A long time ago, magic was the order of the world. At that time, the Madoh Empire ruled the world and the Madoh Empire was located at the center of their very own country, Xenon. (1)