Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 22: Scene XXII

It was yet to be the time for the light of the capricious sun to rise and scarcely illuminate the sky.

Nonetheless, she could see the space meant for him absent of the man’s presence.

Ewelina stared blankly for a while, disappointed at his somehow expected disappearance.

"Sigh... Inconsiderate man..."

Driving her hand between her unkept curls she cuddled to herself inside the sheets, facing the side where she imagined him to rest, sighing further at the empty dark. Weary still from his heat, Ewelina’s lids softly closed and drifted into slumber.

"... odious husband..."

Tired, her last sentence was told in sadness. As she resigned herself to the repeated desertion experienced in those chambers.

*******

Sluggish to meet the sliding sunlight, Ewelina woke from her lonely rest.

Going back to her own chambers, the woman cleansed herself from the dry sweat in her skin once her servants brought the warm water for her to soak in.

Trying not to mind the heaviness of her hips, Ewelina got dressed in one of the garments the servants had prepared at her request and commenced her day peacefully, paying no mind to what had been done in the neighbouring room and proceeding to execute the duties of a host’s wife.

She procured that the path she crossed had no dirt to be noticed and that the ambience was proper for the guests to envy.

Ultimately, she arrived at the private hall where the Archducal family was supposed to have their meal together and entered. Although it was to share the meal with her past household, for the hall was also meant to be used if guests were taking lodging in their Residence.

"Good morning, Baron and Baroness... How was your first night under our Castle?"

"... Good morning, Archduchess... We found comfortable rest under your roof... It is a shame our exhaustion dropped us into slumber so early and we could not join dinner with you and the Archduke."

"That is no problem, do not worry. I understand the struggle to get here more than you could imagine, Baron Cole Orteu... 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

How about the Baroness? Was she able to regain strength?"

"... Yes, Your Grace. I am revitalized after a proper night of rest."

"That is good to hear."

Ewelina had smoothly walked into the room. Pacing elegantly to take her seat at the head of the dark table and confidently conversed in a gracious tone with the guests, as a middle-sized leather jack was filled with delectable grape juice for her to drink.

"... Ahem... So how was your night, Archduchess? Is the Lord of these lands joining us this morning?"

"Unfortunately, my Husband is not likely to join us. He appears to be truly busy... Even his wife could not say farewell this morning after all."

Using the truth of his absence after a shared night, Ewelina purposely told the visitors the implied share of a mattress in sight to cause more awareness to the couple before her about the bond she wanted them to believe she had with her spouse.

"... I see... ahum... That is a pity."

"Indeed... A pity." — She agreed to the uncomfortable Baron. Showing sincere deception about the absence of the man. Becoming more upset at herself, and at the situation she was now enduring in her cynical stepfather’s presence.

"... You must be impatient to have a word with him." — The woman then added.

"Well... He did take you into his household. I must show... due appreciation." — The man grinned, greedily showing his true intentions when heeding her Husband’s invitation.

"I bet you do. Although he didn’t quite ’take me’ into his household as you elegantly say."

"He married you, Ewelina–"

"Archduchess." — She interrupted to correct the man.

"..."

"He did marry me... Although after buying me." — Playing with her mug as if distracted, she then glared at the displeased baron. — "Is that not what you said when you sent me off? From no other than my Mother’s and my ancestors’ home?"

"Tsk... Seems like the barbaric ways of these people have worsened your sanity! Since yesterday, you keep acting as if you are truly as valuable as an Archduchess, Ewelina!"

"I am."

"... Girl... Don’t say any more nonsense! You just said it! We sold your worthless being to this man! You have no real worth to him! No more than a useless pigeon’s price!!!"

Standing from his seat, the outraged man spouted with despise, letting out the accumulated fury her behaviour from yesterday had amounted to.

"Seat. Baron. I am in no mood to follow your farse."

"Ewelina!"

Bang!

"Dare call me by name again... dare throw that cup at me... Do so... And I will make it so you leave this place with no hands or tongue to repeat it!"

Hitting her cup on the table, she slowly stood in menacing response to his disrespect.

Enormously irate at the countless memories of her young self receiving hits in her head from various things he threw at her, to then continue to beat her body with any he had at hand as he verbally humiliated her... For years.

She, who had no choice in her uneducated innocence to endure. Chained by the lands of the mother she loved and had left her in this man’s hands once she perished... Ewelina endured and suffered the sadness... Even when she was thrown away without any care about who was taking her.

"!? You have no such power–"

Looking with disgust at the woman’s threat, he straightened, restraining his hand from throwing the cup at her. Solely to be interrupted once more.

"I do... I do, Cole... You say he bought me as cheap as a pigeon?... That may be the case. Yet to the law... To the Kingdom... To the ’barbaric people’ you say I have lost my sanity to... I am who rules along their Lord, their Archduke... Here. In these cruel nooks... Use that head you believe is clever, ’Father’. Did you perhaps not notice when you arrived?"

"... Notice what?"

"The fearless, ruthless men guarding the walls. The very same ones on the other side of that door..."

Portraying threatening authority, Ewelima stood prominently. Showing him with her limb the near door that made their privacy a possibility, to then turn and look him in the eye to say with a cold stare.

"Baron... Those men were ready to cut your head the moment you opened your mouth to defy me. Their Master’s Wife."

Livid at her sayings the man stood silent, portraying a proud defying stance that at this moment appeared pitiable before the Archduchess’ prominence.

"The men that brought you here." — Inhaling tired at the sight of him, she took a near napkin to clean her hand of the wine that reached her in the furious motion. And asked calmly, with natural tone. — "Have you not heard from them yet?"

"... Why? Why would that be the case?" — The man hissed.

"Hah... Maybe this is why you couldn’t get more than a pigeon’s value for me, Cole."

Dropping the napkin, she smirked at the oblivious man.

"I would recommend you to learn a few things so you do not flaunt your idiocy this openly before others. It is unbecoming. Even for a Baron."

"!!! Ewelina!!"

"Watch your mouth. Address to me properly, Cole. This is my last warning." — Tranquil, the woman reminded him. Showing no kindness in her hues.

"... Enjoy your meal."

"!! Kh! Cursed woman!"

Leaving the stance, sickened by the worthless man that had belittled her existence ever since he met her, Ewelina took off without eating a crumb from her plate yet slightly satisfied at the frustration of the ones left behind... For she had only assisted with one purpose: to leave shortly after discharging her discontent with who most deserved it.