Become The Duke's Wife Or Die

"It's a secret, My Lady!"  whispered Ella, after making sure everyone wasn't looking at them. She even pulled Gena's body to cover them, as if this was able to expose sins that were very great, terrible, and also fatal.

Lyra froze, didn't say anything.  Her face focused on the two maids in front of her, watching their lips without wanting to interrupt them at all.  This would probably be a great hope for her, or it might be the other way around.

"But you can't tell this to anyone," Ella continued, with a nod from Gena.

"Right, My Lady, or we die."  Gena glared at several guards who seemed to be walking down the hall, to get somewhere.

"I see," Lyra nodded impatiently, pulling the two maids further away from the crowd.  Now they were near the lake as if isolated from the life of the universe.

"The two maids were not executed, My Lady."  Ella's words instantly slapped Lyra, like dropping her in a terrible hole full of thorns, which tore her to death, and took her brain into a daze.

Gena nodded, looking like a blurry object that didn't get any attention.

"Really?"  Lyra's eyes widened like they were about to pop out.  For a long time, there was a misunderstanding.  She was the one waiting for Ella and Gena to say something, while the two maids were waiting for her to give another response.

Finally, after a long silence, Lyra said again, after swallowing hard, "How did that happen?  I heard screams outside, like a cry.  Then some maids said that the two maids would be executed for neglecting to look after me."

"In the beginning, it was, My Lady!"  Gena glanced back at Ella, asking her friend to continue this thrilling story instantly.  "But it didn't take long for His Grace to change his mind," he continued. After not getting what she expected, Ella was silent as if waiting for her to speak again.

"Please tell me the full story!"  Lyra asked, clasping her fists together, as if in prayer.  "I need it, so I can stay sane."  Nightmares had been haunting her lately as if never letting her sleep even for a moment.  She still remembered the faces of the two maids, who had been fast asleep when Weggie came to her rescue.

Then the two maids turned pale, in their dreams, chasing after her with bloody bodies and no heads.  She would wake up gasping for air, covered in sweat and terrified.

"His Grace was very angry that time, My Lady."  Ella again explained, now seeming to live it, as if the tragedy just happened yesterday.  Her eyes gazed into the distance at the lake, breaths low and barely perceptible.  "He decided to execute the two maids, for being negligent in their duty."

"Moreover, their negligence was fatal."  Gena hastily added.

"They have even been imprisoned for one night, at the same time being tried at the execution ground."

"Then Duke Kleo made up his mind in no time," Lyra commented, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.  How easy it was for nobles to do what they wanted, to play with someone's life like a toy and something worthless.

"That's true," Gena nodded, wiping her eyes with the hem of her dress.  "We were all shaken at the time.  Even the servants couldn't sleep, it was as if the sentence of execution had been handed down on all of us."

Lyra bit her lip, looking very guilty.

"Then Mr. Bertus tried to persuade His Grace, just like as usual."

"Mrs. Melisa too," added Gena.  "Then Sir Stefanus too..." Her face looked far away as if she saw Stefanus, stood up, and waved at her.  "They all defended the lives of the two maids."

"Is this the first time they've done it?"  Lyra frowned.  "Shouldn't they be persuading Duke Kleo not to easily execute someone's life?"

"Indeed, My Lady," Gena nodded.  "But it's not easy to do.  His Grace is full of emotion, the wrong move will only make things worse.  Maybe another threat will be dropped."

"Then why do they suddenly dare to persuade Duke Kleo?"

"Because they know His Grace is different now, My Lady," said Ella, responding to Lyra's question.  "They know now there is a weapon that can stop his madness."

"What's that?"  Lyra leaned forward, blinking curiously.

"You," Gena pointed at Lyra without thinking, laughing for some unknown reason.  "Of course you are, My Lady."  Shrugging, still laughing.  "They know His Grace and his madness will be stopped because of you."

"Me?"  Now Lyra was pointing at herself, dazed.  "Why me?"  Like the world went extinct in an instant.

"You still don't understand?"  Ella stared in disbelief.  Though she thought Lyra was a smart girl.  "His Grace likes you very much, My Lady," she continued after seeing Lyra shake her head.

"Then?"  Even though Lyra wasn't completely sure about Ella's words.  She understood some of one's love languages, but none as extreme as Duke Kleo.  So she always thinks he doesn't love her, but an obsession for a binding reason, namely his promise to Lady Helen.

"Then?"  Gena laughed again, this time rolling her eyes.  "Then His Grace will take any advice as long as it concerns you."

"And he would hurt anyone if it had anything to do with me."

Ella and Gena were silent because they couldn't deny that fact.

Returning to the main topic, Gena continued, "That's why Mr. Bertus used your name."  Swallowed hard, getting ready to gulp non-stop.  "Mr. Bertus said that you would hate His Grace even worse if His Grace still insisted on executing the two maids.  Mr. Bertus also said that your marriage may never happen or will never be founded on love forever."

Ella nodded.  "That's right," she said enthusiastically as if she had just seen a magnificent fireworks display in front of her face.  "Mrs. Melisa added that a woman never likes violence.  She said that women like soft things full of affection.  A violent and murderous man will only drive them away.  It worked.  His Grace began to doubt his decision at that point."

"Then Sir Stefanus played a big part too."  Gena smiled again as if seeing Stefanus waving at her, tempting her affectionately.  "He told His Grace that you hate executions.  That further strengthens their persuasion.  Oh, handsome Sir Stefanus."

"So there you have it, My Lady."  Ella ignored her friend who was in love.  "His Grace has finally changed his execution decision to exile."

"Exile?"  Lyra's eyes went wide.  "So the two maids were exiled?  Where?"

"Only His Grace knows."  Ella's face lowered sadly.  "But at least they weren't executed, right?  That is enough."

"Maybe later you can persuade His Grace to release them, My Lady," suggested Gena hopefully.  "At the same time can stop His Grace's bad character forever.  Only you can do that because His Grace loves you so much."

"If His Grace doesn't see you," Ella said again.  "Perhaps execution after execution continues.  We rely on you for life.  You are our only hope, My Lady."

Lyra was cornered, weighed down by people's expectations.  Ella and Gena's embrace was warm, snaking and touching her heart, but it left a feeling of discomfort.

"His Grace will listen to anything you inquire, My Lady,"  Gene added.  "As long as you give him full and sincere love.  You can do that right?"

Lyra bit her lip, asking herself the same thing.

***