How To End This Marriage-Chapter 61: Whispers of Fate

Amidst the echoes of my turbulent encounter in the dungeon and the unsettling voices that had haunted my reflection, I stood before the Duke, the weight of his unwavering belief in Grant’s innocence gnawing at me.

"Duke, do you think I’m lying?" I inquired, my disbelief evident in my voice.

"I don’t know what you’re doing, Madam. But it seems you’ve begun to view everyone with suspicion. Please, stop this. Grant is not what you think he is. He is loyal to us, loyal to me. I don’t understand why you’re accusing him of something he has never done," the Duke responded, his defense of Grant resolute.

I pressed on, determined to unravel the mysteries that surrounded us. "If he is not what I think he is, then why was he here in the middle of the night? He should have been in his room, sound asleep. Yet he was present in the cell of the assassin. Why?"

The Duke continued to advocate for Grant, explaining that his actions were driven by concern for my safety. His conviction in Grant’s loyalty remained unwavering, frustrating my attempts to uncover the truth.

"You will regret this," I warned in a low voice, but the Duke appeared resolute in his belief.

As the tension between us simmered, a familiar voice broke through the unease. "Duchess, are you okay?"

It was Vix, the Crown Prince, who had arrived, her concern for my well-being evident. However, I found myself unable to respond, overcome by a profound sadness that weighed heavily on my chest.

"Duchess?" Vix tried again, but my silence endured. Without further words, I withdrew from the situation, retreating to my room, where I grappled with the emotional turmoil that engulfed me.

Inside the confines of my room, I sought refuge on my bed, closing my eyes as I battled the overwhelming emotions that threatened to consume me.

***

In the depths of slumber, I found myself in a realm where reality and illusion intertwined. The boundaries of time and identity blurred, and I struggled to discern the threads of truth from the tapestry of dreams.

"Duchess, the mistress is requesting your presence," a voice called out to me, its source shrouded in mystery. I couldn’t discern whose voice it was, yet it beckoned me towards an unknown destination—a meeting with a mistress.

"Where is Mother?" I found myself asking, the term slipping from my lips as if it held significance beyond my understanding.

"Duchess, the mistress is in her room. You should go see her," the voice replied before fading away. Guided by its words, I walked with an eerie sense of detachment towards the room of the person I referred to as Mother, though her identity remained elusive.

"Mother, you called for me?" I inquired as I entered the room, bowing my head respectfully before the figure seated before me—a woman of grace and authority, whom I now recognized as the former duchess.

"Yes, Bernice, I summoned you. I have something important to discuss regarding your future and that of my son," she began, her tone laced with an air of secrecy that deepened my curiosity.

"What is it, Mother?" I asked politely, though a sense of unease lingered beneath the surface.

Her revelation sent a jolt of apprehension through me. "I have decided to instruct Alexavier to take another wife for the sake of the empire’s future."

"Mother, what are you saying?" I inquired, struggling to conceal my unease.

"As I mentioned, I believe it is time for Alexavier to take another wife. It has been many years since your marriage, and still, no heir has been produced. If this continues, our lineage in Ablia will fade away. Alexavier must have an heir to carry on the family legacy," she explained, her words forcing me to grapple with conflicting emotions.

"As you wish, Mother," I responded, clenching my fists beneath the fabric of my dress.

It felt as though the other me—the one who had orchestrated my encounter with the mirror—had played a part in this fateful decision.

"Alexavier, come inside," she called, and as if summoned by her command, the Duke entered the room, accompanied by a lady who clung to his arm.

"Mother, I have brought the princess," Alex announced dutifully.

"Yes, well done, son," the former duchess commended him before turning her gaze towards me. "Bernice, allow me to introduce the princess who will soon marry Alexavier."

I stood there, a silent witness to the unfolding of events, unable to summon words or emotions in the face of a future that seemed ordained by forces beyond my control.

"Mother, if you would permit me, I would like to take my leave," I managed to request, my voice trembling.

"Oh, yes, you may go," she granted, and I walked past Alex without meeting his gaze, retreating to the solitude of my room.

As I closed the door behind me, I couldn’t fathom how I had endured all these years beside the Duke. Our marriage, it seemed, had been a loveless union forged for political gain, a reality that had now manifested itself in the form of an impending second marriage.

As I sank onto my bed, lost in the tumult of my thoughts, the door suddenly opened, revealing the Duke’s presence.

"Duke, what are you doing here?" I asked, my tone polite yet distant as I grappled with the emotions that churned within.

"Wife, what are you doing?" he inquired, his own demeanor marked by a sense of formality.

I addressed him as Duke, mirroring the term I had heard in a previous dream, uncertain of the significance it held. "What is it, Duke? Have I done something to anger you? If I have, I beg for your forgiveness," I said, bowing my head respectfully.

He grasped my shoulder firmly, his eyes searching mine. "Wife, why are you asking for forgiveness? I didn’t ask you to apologize. I’m inquiring about Mother’s request," he clarified, his tone holding a trace of concern.

"Oh, Mother. Congratulations, Duke, on your upcoming marriage. Your choice is impeccable, and I’ve learned that she is a princess. I’m delighted that you’ve found your perfect match. I hope she can give you what I failed to provide," I responded, a bitter smile playing on my lips as I masked the turmoil beneath.

"Duchess!" The Duke’s voice held a hint of exasperation.

"Duchess!"

The calls rang in my ears, their urgency growing.

"Duchess!"

Everything around me darkened, and the voices grew distant.

"Duchess!"

I finally managed to open my eyes, and I saw Vix, who had been desperately trying to wake me from my dreamlike state.

"So, it was a dream again," I mumbled, my words laden with resignation.

"Duchess, I was frightened when you

wouldn’t wake up," Vix confessed, her concern palpable.

"I apologize for scaring you," I replied with a faint smile, still haunted by the echoes of the dreams that seemed to blur the lines between reality and fate.