Become The Duke's Wife Or Die

Gerald and Weggie were nervous about having to leave Lyra.  They still desperately wanted to free her from Wereal as well as from Duke Kleo's grip.  Soon their mission will be successful.  They only needed to run for about a hundred meters, and… a champion!  They nail it.  But unfortunately, those plans don't always work out easily.

"Foxie," Gerald whispered, tearing up at the sight of Lyra crying.

Weggie's heart seemed to be torn apart, even worse than when she had been tortured in the past.  Seeing the man she loves suffer is another level of misery.

"Go!"  Lyra legged with a shaky voice and resembled a shriek, just as one of the soldiers had shot a few arrows between them, giving warning and threats.  "Go!  I will be fine!" she continued.

Her wet face was in Gerald's grasp, which forced her to look up but failed.

"We can do it as long as we are together."  He was still confident that he could take Lyra away, as opposed to Weggie, who led the way on the mission.  "Okay?"  His fat fingers tucked Lyra's hair in just the right position, causing Weggie to bite her lip back wryly.

Shortly after that, a rush of arrows fell all around them.  One of them even managed to rip off the side of Weggie's robe.  She shrieked, and that convinced Lyra even more of her decision.

"You'll die if you stay here," Lyra pleaded, explaining.  "Go!" she continued.  "Duke Kleo won't hurt me, I can guarantee for that.  I'm safe with him."

Gerald clenched his fists, filled with various raging feelings.  On the one hand, he was furious with Lyra, who couldn't even leave her playful behavior with men.  If only she had listened to him earlier, maybe something like this would never have happened.

But his affection for her was greater than his anger.  They have gone through many difficult times together, like a brother and sister who often fight but also get along very well.  They protect each other and strengthen each other.

"I hope you'll keep your word," said Gerald, checking Weggie's condition as well as her robes.  "And you start having to change your bad behavior.  You have to change your bad attitude once you're free."

Lyra grimaced, unsure of the expectation.

"I'll shoot more arrows if you guys don't disperse soon!"  It was Duke Kleo's voice, which sounded like a battle siren.  "Lyra, you have to come here quickly or I won't let those two go."

"W-wait!"  Lyra shouted, breaking Gerald's heart.

He very rarely saw his friend's weakest side, as well as the gripping fear side.  That meant she was in real danger.

"I wish to approach you, My Lord.  But my legs hurt too much."

A buzzing sound was heard, followed by approaching footsteps.  Weggie glared, then pulled Gerald back out of the danger zone.

Duke Kleo drew closer, as two strangers he didn't recognize left.  His eyes looked down on Lyra, who was sitting weakly on the damp ground.  "Next time think carefully before you act!"  he reproached, cradling Lyra in both hands, then carrying her onto the horse.

Gerald glared, ignoring Weggie who kept tugging at the hem of his robes.

"She will be safe with him," she whispered.  "You can see it for yourself, can't you?  Duke Kleo wasn't that bad to Lyra, only to her.  He even wanted to carry her.  So don't act silly!  We're surrounded."

Gerald cursed, then turned his back and ran.  The hoofs of the horses followed them as if chasing them.  A moment after that Lyra's trembling voice followed.

"I'll make sure you guys get out of the woods," Lyra shouted, being in Duke Kleo's arms.  "Do not be afraid!  The soldiers will not harm you.  Keep your faces covered."  She lowered her head, feeling Duke Kleo's hot breath full of anger.  She could even see how tight his grip was on the horse's reins, perhaps breaking it.

Her body swayed with the horse's steps down the forest path, leading Gerald and Weggie to find their way out.  Their figures began to drift away, flashing along with their robes, like two floating black cloths.  She caught sight of Gerald turning to look at her again, to which she responded with a wave of her hand and a fake smile.

After he was completely away from Weggie, Lyra caught her breath.  This was the moment of destruction that would come to her, as Duke Kleo's galloping horse was driven very fast.

Her body bounced even higher, nearly falling over and over again.  A few twigs slapped her face, leaving a few scratches on her skin.  Her eyes were wet with tears, which couldn't stop flowing even after they got to Wereal.

Duke Kleo didn't say a single word.  His figure was like a cruel ghost who was trapping her, which then lifted her body to get off the horse, while dragging her up to the room, without saying anything.

Her shoulders shook as her body was already slamming on the soft mattress, struggling to get some air.  Her eyes saw the anger erupting as if it had almost swallowed her in one gulp, even during a glaringly exhausted expression.

Duke Kleo snorted, standing in front of Lyra without saying anything.  His back ached, his head pain, and his eyes stung from failing to fall asleep.  His whole body was not right just because of the stress that suddenly attacked him.

He wanted to say something to her, but his anger shut his mouth.  So he just walked away, slammed the door, and locked it.  He would make decisions for the two maids in charge of guarding her that night.

"He didn't say a word," Lyra whispered, quivering, finding more maids in her room, while the two maids who had been guarding her had now disappeared. She didn't think her actions were a danger to anyone else, nor did she realize how disdainful the servants looked at her.

Now she threw herself on the bed, unconsciously asleep.

…

A scream rang out in the early morning, waking Lyra and her still tightly closed eyes.  Like shards of glass, her eyes were finally forced open.

The room was still dark, the fresh sky showing a hint of dawn.  But the chaos outside was truly worse than the city's market activity on a sunny morning.

"What happened?" she asked hoarsely, getting up quickly to reach the window, standing up to check.  But nothing.

A maid finally answered, both irritated and scared, "The two maids guarding you last night will be executed, My Lady.

Lyra sank for a moment, turning her face very quickly.  "But why?"  Her body heated up from the increased heartbeat.

"Because they were negligent in carrying out their duties," replied the maid.  "They fell asleep when they were supposed to be watching you."

"But it's not their fault."  Lyra darted to the exit, but it was locked.  "They can't be executed while it's all my fault!"  pointed at the doorway.  "Let me speak to Lord Kleo!  I have to talk to him."

The maids glanced at each other.  "Unfortunately you are not allowed out of the room until an indefinite time, My Lady."

Lyra staggered, then collapsed miserably on the floor, staring blankly at the bottom of the bed.

***