In the room of the Duchess....
Yuki only remembers the side profile of the Duchess, it was back when the nurse had brought her infant body to her just after birth.
Well, she was another epitome of a parent who didn't even see her child's face after giving birth, just because the child was not an 'Alpha'.
Still, in the memories of Yuki, the Duchess had looked proud even from that side profile, she was a bona fide noble Alpha, the pride was engraved in her bones and always kept oozing from every cell in her body.
As Yuki still remembers everything from birth, she also knew that the Duchess didn't like to show her weakness in any case, even during the labour, she hadn't even flinched, of course she must have felt the tremendous pain of childbirth, but she didn't show it on her face...to her, it was probably her bottom line..., she may have come here for a marriage alliance and would always have to carry the name of another man, still, she would never show something 'unbecoming' of her pride as an 'Alpha' to anyone.
In a way, even though Yuki didn't think of her as a mother, Yuki did have some respect for this strong woman, just that this woman was too inflexible in her thoughts... well, that's a thoroughbred noble for you!
Though she hadn't seen this woman since then, this woman still had a great impact on her.
...
That is why, if she had seen the frail visage of Duchess who was lying on the bed, sick and emaciated with a pale face. without a shred of her past arrogance and noble elegance, even Yuki would have a confused expression and not her RBF.
But what remained the same was the unwavering light on her eyes... even though breathing had become hard for the duchess, she still didn't lose those twinkling eyes that hid their own story, the untold story of a lonely woman.
When they saw the Duke enter, all the doctors greeted him before shaking their heads.
It seems that the Duchess didn't have much time...
The Duke excused everyone, there was nothing that could be done, having these people here didn't have any value....he knew the amount of pride in her bones, she wouldn't show her weakness in front of him, much less these strangers, in these last moments, he wanted her to rest in peace...
After everyone left, only the couple-in-name remained in the huge room.
Nobody spoke a word for a while, well, nobody would blame them;
The marriage was based on interest so, even after the marriage both had kept to their own business... The Duchess was given full rights to govern the Ducal while the Duke could finally do his work as a general without any responsibility, he was a man who had only brawns and the country in his mind, that's why he could become a legendary general but not a good father....
The pair hadn't spoken more than a 100 words since there marriage and didn't know what to say at a time like this, as well.
Maybe it was her last pride as nobility, but even with a frail appearance and softer than a whisper voice, the took a deep breath, she knew she won't live beyond the day, "Duke, I would like to request something of you? "
"Anything", the Duke said in his usual voice, well, he was most acquainted with death and didn't feel much, and considering that they were a couple, he didn't mind fulfilling her last wishes.
" I wish that you won't have any other children, call it my ego, but this marriage should be your last... ", maybe because she felt liberated close to death but she finally opened her long-held grudge, " This kingdom is called Agape, but ironically both of us never felt any love.. ", she had a sarcastic smile on her face,
" I'm already dying now so, I don't want any regret... Both of your children are not Alpha... I don't care what happens to them in the future, but my soul won't be in peace if I'm the only one who suffers from this.... This is my last request as well a curse... You can't find happiness in this life... ", her cynicism was her hatred towards this unbalanced and ugly world....
Just like that, without waiting for him to reply, she took her last breath.
....
This was the true nature of this world.. Under the guise of noble blood, the humans were just but pitiful and coward.....
The Duke, to be frank, was not surprised nor offended by her words, he was also the child of noble and he had seen his share of blood and filth, it wasn't hard to know what the Duchess had gone through...
He was the same...
Deep in his heart, he was the same...
Knowing that, he had let go of these worldly affairs and never chose an omega, he didn't like the concept of life-based on 'fate' and 'instinct, as a man, he wanted to live his life as a 'human'...
No matter how they beautified its meaning, using euphemism like 'fate' and 'bonds', deep down every noble out there was a greedy animal, using instincts to commit treacherous acts..
In this world, the nobility wanted just one thing, power...
Power to reach the top and nothing else, from this point, it would be better to be born as a commoner, without any power, at least you won't have that responsibility to fulfil and at most can have a happy family irrespective of your gender.
Even knowing that she won't be able to hear it anymore, he still said, "I will fulfil your wishes, rest well my Duchess..."