Chapter 313: Chapter 313
Elegant, the Duchess stood prominent before her husband. As a moment of silence was taken by the present people until the Duke cleared his throat, slightly bewildered by the way his wife had come out to receive him.
"Ahem... Nonetheless, manners ought to be shown to my wife." — Maintaining his gentlemanly stance, Orland kindly responded to Elenaide, giving a step forward to offer a hand to the wife; so both could enter the lounge together. — "I hope I did not make you wait for long. How has your day been until now, wife?"
"You did not take long–... Husband, excuse me for a moment."
"?"
Taking back her hand from Orland’s Elenaide turned on her feet, much too aware of how the door had been kept open after walking back inside.
"... I want no one to interrupt." — She discreetly told the guard outside, closing the doors gracefully at his nod before looking back at her confused husband.
"What’s the matter? Has something happened?"
"... No..." — Walking back to stand by his side, Elenaide softly responded. Taking her hands on her own to tell him truthfully while bashful. — "It is only that I want no ear to interrupt our reunion, Dear."
"... I-I see... Yes, that is... That is alright, I suppose."
"... Your way here, how was it? There must have been many matters to attend to since you only come to me at this time."
"Yes... well, I only requested a summary of the pending matters... Yet it still took a big amount of my time." — Joining hands, the Dukes sat at the near settee to converse with each other. — "The travel however was as usual. Uneventful, quite peaceful."
"That is good to hear... Dear... I am happy you are back."
"... I am also happy to be at our home." — Taking his wife’s head gently, Orland expressed with a kiss on her temple. Releasing her smoothly as the woman was one he couldn’t simply cuddle without her request. — "Nonetheless, we exchanged letters. Maybe that is why nothing about your day has been told yet?"
"Nothing much has occurred on this day besides your arrival. Yet indeed... Your letters brought me relief while you were away... Nonetheless, I still missed you." — To his thoughtful distance, she answered... Laying her head on her husband’s shoulder as more was told.
"... Honey, are you alright? It is not that I dislike it, yet..."
"... As I said... I missed you, darling." — Continuing to rest on his shoulder as his limb welcomed her in a warm embrace, Elenaide softly said to the concerned Duke. Feeling comfortable as the man’s eyes squinted, pained to mention something he knew was not a simple whim from the woman.
"... Your hair, it has been a long time since you have worn it loose."
"... I wished to try something different." — Rising from his shoulder, Elenaide plainly stated. Taking her red hair in her hands to change the severity into a sweet inquiry. — "Is it not to your liking?"
"... Sigh. That’s nonsense."
"Is it?"
"Your hair is beautiful Elenaide." — Making her go back to lay on his shoulder, Orland simply relinquished to the woman. Aware that she wouldn’t tell the atrocity her son in a burst of anger had done.
’I am sorry my wife... Your heart must be already suffering because of our son... My woman... I will protect you truly this time.’ — Granting a kiss on her crown, Orland thought, holding his wife dearly in an affectionate embrace. Trying not to hate the guard he had assigned her since the circumstances were ones he had no choice but to only watch.
The woman cuddled to him, delighted by his warmth and scent, smiling tenderly as her constant turmoil disappeared.
"My husband..." — She whispered. — "You have always liked this hair of mine."
"Your eyes too... It pleases me that our children resemble your beauty. Theressa and Marianne–"
"Don’t mention her now. I beg you, Orland."
"... Elenaide. You can’t... You can’t even ask if she is here? I was to come back with Marianne yet you..."
"It’s because I don’t care about that child." — Standing from her husband’s side, Elenaide turned sour. Giving him her back at the displeasure the name of her eldest daughter brought.
"Why?... Marianne is–"
"Sigh... I beg you, Dear... Not now that I solely want peace between us..." — Hurtful expression was shown by her countenance. Honestly begging her husband to not continue this topic that frightened and unsettled her core so greatly. — "Please... Let us not fight today."
"... Elenaide... This time. As I know it troubles you... However, let me tell you. Even if you don’t tell me now... I will learn about it soon enough. By your own mouth, it would be best. Yet that will not stop me to learn why there is this despise for this child of ours in you."
"... She is evil, there is nothing more to know."
"She is not. But I believe there ought to be a reason you say such."
"..."
Shrinking while holding her arms, Elenaide felt the distinct shiver traverse her body. Causing strong disgust as the sound of a haunting hiss resounded in her ears.
’Haah... You won’t understand...’ — Shivering Elenaide told in her mind to the husband as she quickly became faint.
To the eye of an attentive husband such as Orland, only a sigh could vacate him as his chest felt void. Aware that there would be no earnings in continuing this harmful conversation as he could see the effect it took on his wife.
"Wife... I wonder if it is that I am useless a protection to you." — Placing carefully his hands on the trembling arms as she gave him her back, Orland softly mumbled, showing his intense trouble in his always gentle voice.
"! No... Orland, you aren’t... my sweet husband... It is with you that I feel calm. Only you."
"Then how come you don’t trust me with this that makes you suffer? Never. Ever since she was born... You would flare at her mention to the point we..." — ’We became opponents, wife.’
"... I..." — Unable to continue staring into those eyes that sincerely cared for her, Elenaide’s forehead fell on his chest, teary-eyed as she did not wish for the man to look as conflicted as herself.
A moment of ponder was taken and it was the sweet kiss on her head out of an affectionate impulse of the man that made her speak once again.
"I trust you greatly, Orland... My love."
"...Elenaide..."
"Give me time. It is something I am not prepared to tell... Nonetheless... It might be fair to say it after all this time."
"... Time..." — ’Time is hast, Elenaide.’
"We... We drifted apart because of this matter long ago and... From some time now I- I couldn’t bring myself to say this, Orland."
"... You can tell me an–"
"I have not finished." — Placing her fingers on his lips, the overwhelmed woman stopped her husband’s words. — "Once, you said you want us to get along again. I don’t want that."
"...ah... S-sorry I–"
"I want you to love me again, my sweet man." — Restraining Orland from dismissing his touch, Elenaide told him candidly.
"!... I have always–"
"You haven’t. Yet I did the same... Nevertheless, you are the man I chose to marry. Because I love you, Orland..."
"... Our parents and I decided on our marriage." — Orland frowned at the apparent lie of the woman.
"Fufu~... No, Dear... That is what you believe." — Seductive, Elenaide grazed his husband’s lips. — "I worked hard to make you notice me. To make you see I would make a good Duchess... Because I liked you at first sight."
"... Hah... It’s no wonder I could never understand you... After all this time, I get to learn now that our marriage wasn’t completely arranged by our families."
"Just like this... I will tell you other things I keep to myself. But when it comes to... That girl..." — Frowning to say it, Elenaide fought the distress to finish her request. — "Give me time. It is not easy to tell or understand."