Become The Duke's Wife Or Die

Duke Kleo had just returned from his study, resolving various tax issues as well as the plague that was finally fixed.  After finding suspicions on the drinking water for the livestock, finally, various secret actions were carried out.  The result is that the plague can be eliminated.

He didn't care who was behind, the most important thing was that the epidemic case had been resolved.  Maybe he'll investigate later after the tax issue also gets the same result.

"Gosh, did I forget to stretch my back again?"  he groaned, just before entering his room.  The two guards at the door saluted him.

The candle flames lit up the room, like gold nugget twisting.  His body fell on the bed, staring at the ceiling for a moment.  He felt like he wanted to fall asleep immediately if his body wasn't too sore from being exhausted sitting in the study.

"Looks like I have to start doing vigorous exercise again.  Because if I don't then I'll have a hard time sleeping."  Due to the many problems that had occurred recently, he did not have time to carry out his routine properly.  Sometimes he barely even eats lunch and forgets to drink every few minutes to keep him fit.  The exercise that he usually always did had to stop due to busy schedules.

Now he feels the consequences, namely pain all over his body due to poor blood circulation.

"I'd better get a little exercise if I want to sleep quickly.  Tomorrow I have to go out of town to take care of some things."  So he immediately got up, even though his body ached.  His back was stiff, due to a lack of fluids.

He took up a fair amount of space in his room, close to the open window, then started doing some light exercise to get a sweat on.  Usually, he would fall asleep shortly after.

That night's exercise session lasted about thirty minutes when he finally started to drift off to sleep.

"Enough," he whispered breathlessly, wiping the sweat off his forehead as well as his chin.  "I am going to sleep now.  Surely I can sleep." But suddenly he saw a black shadow from the window, causing his face to immediately look up to see if his eyes were troubled.

It didn't take him long to realize that intruders were trying to get out of the Wereal.  And they brought someone along, Lyra!

"Damn it, who are they?  Are they her friends?"  he cursed, soon coming out of the room, and told the guards to give chase.  At first, he wanted to shout to instantly mobilize the soldiers, but he chose to do so quietly.  He wanted to see who it was that had helped Lyra escape from him.

Are they her friends, or maybe her mistresses?

"I can still tolerate them if they are your friends.  But if your mistresses…" As if crushing his hand, Duke Kleo shortly headed to the stables to retrieve the horses.  A guard came up to him after that, informing him that Lyra wasn't really in her room.  "Damn it, what did those maids do that they didn't know she ran away?"  Duke Cleo roared.  "If I can't find her, then I'll execute them tomorrow!"

Screams and cries were heard from Lyra's room, the maids were crying after hearing Duke Kleo's consequence for them, as well as regretting why they could fall asleep while on duty.

"Hurry up and disperse and look for them!  Arrest whoever you can find!"  Duke Kleo ordered, galloping his horse into the forest, followed by an army of cavalry.

They spread out to various points, combing through the darkness with the light they brought with them.  It turns out that Weggie is quite good at leading the mission to free Lyra because the soldiers failed to find them.

Finally, Duke Kleo ordered the few soldiers who were following him to surround the area of ​​the path out of the forest, asking some of them to pass this information on to the other group of soldiers.

His strong hands tugged at the horse's reins, focusing his eyes as if he wanted to burn whatever was in his way.  "I don't know what I'll do to you if I find you," he growled as he rode.  "I've already given you too much forgiveness."

His head was filled with so many things, making his brain boil with anger, thus urging his throat to explode whatever he wanted to sound.  Then various feelings raged, about the question of whether he wasn't too good for her, so she would rather take the risk of running away from him.

"I know this is your principle," he shrieked, quivering, continuing to spur the horse.  "However, I feel useless because of your attitude."  A moment later he saw another flash of shadow.  As he turned and took a closer look, the shadows seemed more solid, moving towards the end of the forest, on the way out.

His feet stomped, along with his hands, the horse sped quickly, until then managed to stop the shadows.

He saw Lyra widen at the sight of him coming, one thing that didn't surprise him but hurt him.  Shortly after that, she ran away with the two people who took her, hiding somewhere.

Lyra's heart was pumping excessively, making it swell and nearly explode.  Her head was already messed up by this incident, and her breath was choking with exhaustion and fear.

"How did he know where we were?"  asked Weggie, panting as she ran.  Her feet raced to kick more bushes, leading Lyra and Gerald behind her.

"Maybe they know we're infiltrating," Gerald commented, choosing to carry Lyra on his back and running after Weggie.

They were cornered in many places, because of the high bushes that obstructed their path.  Just as they were about to get out of the forest, they suddenly found a swarm of soldiers blocking their path.

Finally, they turned around, looking for another way.  But suddenly they were surrounded by a group of cavalry soldiers.

Having no choice, they finally went back into the forest, and hid in a hidden alcove, surrounded by bushes and the roots of a hugeous tree.  Gerald embraced Lyra's body, Weggie held her breath as she listened intently. She had to get Lyra out of the woods at all costs.  But…

"Come out!"  shouted someone, Duke Kleo, who seemed to be standing right above them.  "Get out and go back to Wereal!"  he said again.  "I don't want to take violence.  I will free the two people who helped you escape if you want to get out and return to Wereal."

The gallop of horses was heard, as well as the grunts of some of the others.

"I don't have much patience.  I still have a lot of work to do.  Hurry up and come back or I will slaughter the people with you."

Lyra gulped, her lips quivering, her face turning pale.  Her gaze shot at Weggie and Gerald, who shook their heads at her.

"Don't do it!"  said Gerald quietly.

"We can get out!"  continued Weggie.  "He's just intimidating you."

"I will still be able to find you, as well as the identities of the two people who took you away," Duke Kleo said, threatening again.  "They will suffer forever or will not even live before sunrise."

Lyra was cornered, her body shaking, her legs becoming very weak.

"I can't wait any longer.  Get out quickly or they will die.  One."  Duke Kleo started counting, urging, and cornering Lyra.  "Two," he continued.  "Don't let me say three."

"Let them go first!"  Lyra shouted as she closed her eyes, startling Gerald and Weggie as well.  She cried, apologizing to them.  "Let them go and get out of the woods, then I will come with you."

"Lyra!"  cried Weggie, shaking her head.

"Foxie, don't be stupid!"  said Gerald firmly.

But Lyra was determined.  "Go!"  she said while crying.  "Go away or I will be a murderer."

***