The Grand Duchess Escape

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The carriage ride was silent. Only the occasional soft, wheezing breaths escaped from Asella.

Calix could not take his eyes off his wife, who lay nestled in his arms, sleeping as if unconscious. Fearful of waking her, he sat motionless throughout the carriage ride.

Her face had grown thinner, perhaps from the ordeal. Her body, light as a feather, looked as if it would float away with the slightest breeze.

‘…….’

His original goal had been simple – to find and retrieve his runaway wife. Asella’s thoughts, her feelings, did not matter. And at last, he had her in his hands.

Yet, he could not shake off this unsettling feeling. He could not understand why he cared so much for her, this woman who was merely his wife in name.

After all, the emotions he felt for her were something between possession and obsession, were they not?

Therefore, Asella Benvito’s moods, her thoughts, her feelings, her heart – none of that should concern him. He had caught the bird trying to flee, and now he need only clip its wings. Imprison it in a cage that would never open to anyone other than him, so that her eyes would never fall on anyone beside him.

‘As soon as I get back…….’

But the next thought did not come as readily.

Calix was fairly merciful towards those within his cage, but he showed no mercy to traitors. Asella had deceived him. She had lied to him, betrayed him, and fled.

Naturally, she had to pay the appropriate price. But why?

Calix’s mind was in turmoil, unable to rationalize his own conflicting emotions. Right on cue, the carriage came to a halt. Ryzen opened the carriage door and bowed.

“My Lord, we have arrived.”

The carriage, pulled by four fine steeds, had ridden through the night without rest, thanks to the shortcut. Calix glanced at the just-dawning manor, then turned his gaze to his wife nestled in his arms.

“Bring a blanket.”

The crisp morning air seeping through the open door was chilly. If she caught even a slight cold, she would surely fall terribly ill.

Soon, a servant hurried over carrying a large, plush blanket. Made from the soft mix of yarn and fur, it was lightweight yet warm.

Calix took the blanket and carefully wrapped it around Asella’s form, then slowly rose to his feet.

“Mmh…”

As the cold air touched her face, Asella stirred in her sleep, nuzzling further into Calix’s chest. He pulled her close and quickened his pace towards the manor.

Meanwhile, the servants lining up outside the manor, waiting for their master’s return, were all shocked by the sight before them. They were more than surprised, they were horrified.

Some had their mouths agape, forgetting the situation, until they were nudged by their colleagues before regaining their senses.

It had only been the other day that the manor was turned upside down over the Grand Duchess’ disappearance. The master had been so furious that even Benvito’s vassals had been procrastinating in reporting for duty, postponing their reports while keeping an eye on the Grand Duke mood.

Thus, they had not found it difficult to imagine the Grand Duchess being dragged in by force. They had expected her to be bound and confined, or perhaps even worse.

Moreover, the hope they had held for a change in the Grand Duchy with the arrival of their new mistress had quietly been set aside. It had been merely a fleeting dream. By the time they received word that Calix had returned after finding Asella, the servants of the Benvito Duchy had already prepared themselves.

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