Become The Duke's Wife Or Die

"If I say I like you too, then what will you do?" Baron Jason tilted his head slightly, while almost all of his expression was filled with gray from the lack of lighting. He waited, remembering what he wanted to do after arriving at the prison.

"W-what do you mean?" Even Tania thought there was something wrong with her hearing, or maybe she was dreaming. But what she was seeing right now was too real, too lively.

"I know you're not a stupid girl." The tip of his index finger brushed her lower lips, pressing gently as if to make them concave. "You must understand what I mean." As his face drew closer, his breath brushed against her, stinging through his warm breath, which clashed with the cold temperature of the prison.

Moisture that comes from mossy walls, and dirty soil seems to harbor more bacteria. All of this exacerbated the conditions of the prison, which was now filled with a musty and rancid smell.

The first time he entered the prison, his chest constricted from the stale air. Now he even let a girl imprisoned in such a place, a meek girl.

"Aren't my words obvious?" Then he almost wanted to kiss her cheek but stopped his intention after something woke him up. Seeing her confused and scared expression gave him even more strength, it was as if the grudge he had held so far, against anyone, had just been poured out.

Does he have a strange kind of love? It seemed like this was the first time when he finally found someone he was able to dominate, thus making him a feared and powerful party.

He was a noble, who had wealth. His good looks aren't bad either, and he has several other advantages. When he's with Lyra, he's like a gloomy nobleman and suddenly shines so bright. Unfortunately, her love and affection is a shadow that doesn't exist, it's all fake.

Now he found Tania, although he wasn't sure about it yet. And surely he can become someone who is respected if he is with her.

'Stop it!' he thought in annoyance, shaking his head then grinning after a squeak. "Do you think I did it?" His body rose, towering after convincing his resolve. "Do you think I want to be with a lowly girl like you? Who does not have the beauty, rank, or property that is qualified? So what made me have to like you?" Shrugging his shoulders proudly.

'I know,' Tania whispered in her heart, almost crying after feeling dumped without first being loved. It's a scam, a very painful scam. Her two injured hands gripped her shabby and bloodied skirt as if to let out all the pain of the gaping heart after being stabbed so many times.

"But even so," Baron Jason suddenly continued after a long pause between their situations, "I still have to do this." His shoulders lifted. "I don't like being indebted, and you saved me earlier from the ruins of the prison." His style was nonchalant, too self-assured to seem obnoxious. But he is still handsome, in Tania's eyes. "And that's the reason I'm doing this."

At the same time, his hand rubbed Tania's face again, smoothing the strands of hair that stuck to her skin, due to sweat, and dried blood. Her green eyes seemed to glow in the dim light, glowing in the moonlight, looking beautiful but also dangerous.

She bit her lip, stuck between two ends that it was hard to choose one. Until then she felt a kiss on her cheek, deep and warm.

"I'll treat you well for a few days," he said after seeing her look up quickly at a light and gentle kiss. "So prepare yourselves! And don't be too surprised, this is only my form of repaying you." Combing her hair with her fingers.

"You don't have to return the favor to me." Because she knows her love for him will only get bigger. So before that happens she must stop all this madness as soon as possible. Moreover, he was eyeing her best friend. "I did all of that without expecting anything. It was just a reflex."

"Nonetheless." He grabbed her by the neck, not because she wanted to strangle her but because she wanted to caress her, making her shudder and tickle. "I don't like being in debt. I will still treat you well during these few days. So after that, I don't have to feel burdened. After all, who knows later you will ask me for your kindness in the future?"

"I'm not that kind of girl."

Baron Jason shrugged nonchalantly. "No one ever knows what the common people's minds are like." Standing up to ask the palace guard to call some maids to come. "Prepare blankets, appropriate clothes, and delicious food. Bring them all here!" he ordered after seeing the rows of maids lined up in front of him.

His body turned again, leaning against one of the prison walls after the servants nodded and accepted his orders, although there were a few confused expressions on their faces.

Why did Baron Jason have to treat a prisoner who had even been tortured so well? Finally, there were various speculations although none of them wanted to reveal it.

Tania kept silent, kept her head down even though her heart said against it. The figure of Baron Jason was in front of her, sitting quietly looking at her. It was quite difficult to be strong when what he faced was a man with the behavior of an angel. But she sticks to her resolve because Lyra can't even be compared to anyone, Tania's savior, her brother, friend, and parent.

The servants came shortly after, bringing all the things Baron Jason had asked for. They lined up, swallowing the confusion and strangeness that had persisted the last few days.

"Put it down!" Baron Jason ordered, to which the servants immediately complied. "Put her on the blankets and mats," he continued, seeing a warm mat brought over by a maid. "Now go!" he ordered again, listening intently until the maids had left.

His body squatted in front of Tania, who was already sitting leaning on the mat. The blanket was still folded at the end of her feet as if waiting patiently.

"Do you want to change clothes?" he asked, handing her a set of clothes. One eyebrow rose after seeing her not answering, or maybe reluctant to answer. "Or do you want me to torture your friend?"

"Do not!" interrupted she hastily, lowered her head, and cursed inwardly after seeing him chuckle viciously. "I am fine, thank you."

"But I'm bothered by your appearance." A mocking face.

"Okay," she said relentlessly. "I will change clothes now. So you can go out."

"I'm not sure I should go out while you change."

"Sorry?" her frown is confused. Then her eyes widened when she saw the devil's smile on his face.

"I'll help you change clothes."

***