Become The Duke's Wife Or Die

Duke Kleo immediately sped off, leaving behind all the parchments he needed to read when seeing Lyra squirm on her bed.  Like a husband who has just entered the delivery room to see his wife and newborn baby.  His hand gripped her, making sure she was in good condition.

"Summon the palace healer now!"  He ordered the maids, which was followed by a nod from one of them.  His eyes focused on Lyra, observing every inch of weakness.  "Are you okay?"

She blinked weakly, as if barely able to do it.  Her voice was low as she groaned.  Even when her brow furrowed from the scorching sun, her movements seemed unusual and odd.

Now she could fully open her eyes, directing her gaze right at her hand that was already in Duke Kleo's grip.  'Is this a dream?' She thought.  In a weak state, there is a sense of huge laziness that prevents her from speaking.

"Lyra?"  Duke Kleo called out to her, trying to get her attention.  He thought maybe this would work.  At least he had to know if she was fully awake, and at the same time reassure himself that she wasn't in a coma.

The door of the room opened, following Mr. Zen as well as a maid who called out to her.  His simple outfits made it easy for him to move, which now seemed to overshadow Lyra's figure lying in front of him.  After asking Duke Kleo's permission, he started to examine her.

"Are you awake, My Lady?  How do you feel?"  he asked very gently, checking Lyra's heartbeat and checking her eyes at the same time.

"Weak," Lyra said, her voice too small to be heard.

Duke Kleo gasped, almost jumped up, and hugged her tightly, grateful that he had finally come to his senses.  However, his steps stopped after seeing that the examination had not been completed.

"I see," nodded Mr. Zen.  "Now you have to eat something to take the medicine I prescribed.  Do you know you have been unconscious since this morning?"

Lyra's unstable gaze fell on the window that stretched behind Mr. Zen's back, seeing the sun beginning to tilt westward.  Her eyes closed accompanied by a slow shake.

"Okay, I understand."  Once again Mr. Zen nodded.  Now he turned to Duke Kleo to talk about Lyra's condition, as well as hand over the medicine to the maids.

The two of them seemed to take a place some distance from the bed, as well as separate themselves from the crowd.

"Have you heard the news that is spreading in Wereal, My Lord?"  Mr. Zen started the conversation, glancing at the maids who were busy going to the kitchen to get food.

"About what?"  Duke Kleo frowned cluelessly.

"About why Miss Lyra could be like this."

"Not yet."  Duke Kleo's shoulders tensed.  He had indeed been wondering about it since yesterday, though didn't get any answer.  A sense of guilt overtook him because he suddenly believed that he was the main reason behind all of this.  "Tell me everything you know!"

"It's all about the two maids you have punished."

Wide-eyed, Duke Kleo finally understood what was going on.  "So that's why she refuses to eat?"

"I think the possibility is very high."  Mr. Zen lowered his head, looking deep in thought.  "She must feel guilty," he continued, looking seriously at his master.  "You'd better explain the actual situation to her, My Lord, if you don't want this to continue."

Duke Kleo turned around as Mr. Zen left.  The toes of his shoes pointed to Lyra's bed, where she was still lying and still visibly refusing to eat her food.  Even her pale face looked down, her body didn't move at all, while the maids seemed to be coaxing her.

Stefanus sounded sore, wanted to do something but didn't have much power and authority.  His eyes flickered awkwardly as Duke Kleo caught him.  "I only sympathize, My Lord."

"But I know you like her too."  It's not just an accusation.  "You know where you are, right?"

And the guard lowered his head uncomfortably.  "My apologies, My Lord.  She has been stunning ever since I saw her."

"I don't care about that."  Duke Kleo was indeed too arrogant.  "Now she's mine.  I hope you know where to place your allegiance."

"I'll find another girl, My Lord."

"That's the answer I've been waiting for."  Duke Kleo approached the bed, once again, causing the maids to back off and scatter.  He just stood on the side of it, barely doing anything.  All he saw was Lyra who didn't move much except look down.

Tension suddenly rose.  The maids glanced at each other and held their breath, predicting what bad things might happen.

"Eat!"  Duke Kleo ruled Lyra, taking everyone's breath away in the room.

It seemed they could not stand still if the situation continued as it is now.

Lyra tried to reach for the spoon in front of her.  But her hands were too weak for that.

Sighing, Duke Kleo sat down, grabbed the tray, stirred the food to quickly feed her.

Everyone was wide-eyed, even though a piece of logic in their heads said it wasn't unusual.

"Just eat!"  said Duke Kleo curtly.

Lyra complied, opening her mouth to devour the spoonful of food that was thrust at her.  Now she chewed, with a sense of unbearable sadness.  Tears even rolled down her cheeks, which she hastily wiped away so Duke Kleo wouldn't scold her again.

Once again sighing, he wiped her tears with his handkerchief, continued to feed her until she had finished more than half of the food.

When he saw that she couldn't eat anymore, he waved at the maids to give her some medicine.  With his help she took the medicine, swallowing it after drinking water.  His hand wiped her wet mouth, his eyes quivered from wanting to kiss it.  Shaking his head, he snorted after realizing his madness.

"Now you must always eat your food.  Take your medicine too!  I don't want to bother taking care of you and waiting for you like today.  I have a lot of work to do."  Duke Kleo almost had Lyra not say something to him.

"You don't have to take care of me if you want to."  Her voice sounded louder now as her strength increased.  "You just have to ignore me."

"And let you make more of a mess?"  His head turns quickly, like the best lubricated 360° hinge.  "Did you think I would let you do that?"

Lyra looked down, choosing not to answer because she was too confused to say anything.  At least she wanted to get Duke Kleo to let her go.  But is it possible? He was even torturing himself.

"I will punish you in my way," Duke Kleo pointed at her, looking disgusted and furious.  "And this is not the way I chose to punish you.  So don't do whatever you want!  You are just a prisoner here!"

Duke Kleo asked the servants to move his desk again, making them gasp in disbelief.

Meanwhile, the maids in Lyra's room looked confused.

'Looks like His Grace is out of his mind,' one of them thought.

A crowd broke out as the valance was spread down so that none of the men could see Lyra on the bed, an obvious form of Duke Kleo's jealousy.

He almost came out after the maids had managed to move his desk, as well as the important parchments.  Perhaps he would read more documents before deciding what to do the next day.  But before he moved, a small whisper was heard by him.

"Gerry."  It was Lyra's voice.

Duke Kleo closed his eyes, while his lips curled into a disgusting grin. How dare she call another man's name while he is still beside her.  Did she do that on purpose?

Anger overtook him again, causing him to turn to face the bed.  A shriek was heard as he grabbed her wrist, gripping her very tightly.

She widened in fear, not understanding why he did this to her.  The servants and Stefanus were the same.

"My-My Lord," she whispered, trembling with fear.

"I'll find out their identities, the people who took you ran away," he said savagely, puffing anger through his nose.  "And I'll make sure they get a severe punishment."

Looking up, Lyra's eyes quivered and filled with tears.  "You promised not to chase after them again!  You promised, My Lord."

"That is if you always obey my rules.  But unfortunately…" Jerked her hand, then left the room without another word, ignoring her pleading screams.  But his heart was numb.

***