Of all things that Julian might have expected for the Duke to request, checking up on his wife and the status of her pregnancy was not what he expected. After all, what was even the point of sending a mage physician on such a task when it could be easily done by any old doctor!
If it had been anyone else, they might even have been insulted. Privately, Julian had wondered if it was a test. He raised a brow at the older man before him, who was busy acting bashful and apologetic.
Julian smiled, both disarming yet fake, "It is no problem! Just see it as a little favor from one fellow to another." He winked, keeping his tone casual and friendly. Despite his easy-going demeanor, any skilled player in the game of hidden tact and inter-personal politics would realize the pointed choice in words.
Although Julian was but a wayward tradesman in this situation, he still dared to claim his service as a 'favor' to the duke. This was hardly appropriate. However, because the Duke had been the first to slander him with such an odd task, Julian could only retaliate by leveling the playing field with such a tactic, without outwardly rousing any form of strain between their newly formed acquaintanceship.
Aside from the attentive servants and vigilant guards, there were only the two of them left. Leonel had gone to escort Marik out in order to sell his disguise. Julian was most amused when he watched the Inquisitor make his exit, clearly displeased at the state of affairs. Julian had no idea when and how he began to see the big bratty Inquisitor as cute.
Ah, but Leonel was pretty cute. However, it was a good thing that the Inquisitor was gone now, leaving Julian without any immediate distractions.
The duke looked up, the apologetic smile on his lips not quite matching the sharpness in his eyes.
"I see, that makes sense," he hummed with a nod.
Julian's smile widened, this time with more sincerity.
It seemed that this duke was hardly a simple idiot, following along the steps without any overt words or actions. And dangerous as well, for he might find it suspicious that Julian was so delicate with his words and tone, unfitting for a simple tradesman.
If that were to come to light, the Doctor might have to come up with a contrived back story to cover himself, but it wasn't as though he was unprepared or unwilling. Of course, he wasn't going to impart the duke with any of his (fake) history without question, he only patiently navigated through their banter. "It is only proper!" He grinned.
"Then I shall hold you to your word." The duke nodded with satisfaction. He raised a hand, summoning a servant girl who shuffled towards them with her head bowed. "Please, take our good doctor Julian Gray to see that little wife of mine."
"Yes, My Lord."
Julian tilted his head, "Will you not join us?"
Lord Opheron gave a small laugh and shook his head, "I'm afraid my presence won't do you any favors."
How odd, Julian thought. But he decided not to pry, at least not yet. With a courteous bow, the Doctor excused himself and followed after the maid.
He had suspected there were some interesting circumstances surrounding this wife of the Duke's but in all honesty, he hadn't expected to be so rudely dismissed by her before he could even open his mouth!
It all happened in a split second. The maid led Julian to a decadent room, full of tall paintings in various states of completion.
The duchess was not hard to pick out, sitting quietly by an aisle as she busied with sketching something out. Her clothes were exceptional with beads woven into sheen folds of silk. Her long dress drapes the floor, its subtle minty dye matched the pale golden shawl she had draped over. There were sparkling jewels and pearls adorning her platinum hair. She seemed rather young, barely out of her teens.
The duchess watched them both with blank regard while the maid bowed and explained the situation. It didn't take long before her face twisted from calm neutral to one of red anger.
"This is some form of insult isn't it?!" A dainty, feminine voice hissed lividly. There were embers of rage in her eyes and she glared down at Julian and the poor maid that was sent to accompany him.
Julian's face pulled into one fully of apologetic stupor, though in fact he was rather calm on the inside, pleasantly amused by such developments.
"Please pardon my words, my Lady," Julian made sure that his voice dripped with sorrow aplenty, "But…truly, I assure you that your good Lord husband only wishes you well."
"Wishes me well!?" She shrilled, her wheat-colored skin turning bright rouge, "He wishes to slander and embarrass me!"
Julian gasped, feigning his dismay, "How could such a wonderful thing be slander—"
"How could it not!?" She bellowed, "We have yet to even have sex! Does he think me a cheating whore, out there producing bastards!?"
The maid paled, horrified at the duchess's crass words.
Julian mimicked her terrified expression while his mind churned. That bastard duke! He sure sent a very strange and interesting test in Julian's way. He must handle this situation delicately!
And by delicately, it meant sinking to his knees and lowering his forehead all the way to the floor, just like a scene in one of those cheap romance novels that were so terribly written, they could only be sold on the black market.
"Please forgive me, My Lady Duchess! This pathetic physician was not aware of such things… i-if I had known…ah, if only the Lord Duke had told me…!" He sobbed and groveled at her feet while internally waiting for her response.
…Perhaps his little act was a bit over the top, but what was life without a bit of fun? This, to Julian, was fun!
The Duchess huffed, her arms folding neatly over her bosom. Though her movements were dainty and elegant, which bespoke of a high-born status, Julian couldn't help but notice her forward and blunt personality.
"Did you think your pathetic excuses would work on me? The relationship I have with my Lord husband," she added a small snarl, "is hardly any secret!"
"It is my mistake," Julian wailed so loudly that even the maid could do nothing but bow her head in embarrassment, mortified that she had brought such a personality to greet her Lady with. "I am but a foolish traveler who dares to sample the world's marvels without straining my ear to such gossip! I am ignorant! Naive! Please, my Lady, do find me a punishment you deem fit!"
The snarl in the duchess's face quelled, if by only a little. She narrowed her eyes at his hunched form. "A traveler, you say?"
"Y-Yes, My Lady!" he sniffed, forcing tears to raise to his eyes, his glasses scraping against the floor as he forced a tremor in his body, "I have traveled far and wide My Lady… your Lord husband had been so kind in welcoming me into his abode I didn't even… I didn't even think twice! I just thought…"
She clicked her tongue to show her impatience but Julian noted that the anger had already ebbed. It seemed that her married life with her husband was strained but the Lady Duchess of Costailles was hardly that quick-tempered of a person.
"You are naive," she scolded, "That foolish husband of mine is not only a scheming bastard but he is a spineless coward who refuses to confront me. It is a shame that a traveling physician such as yourself was tricked by the likes of him, but next time, you ought to be a bit warier if you wish not to get caught up in the schemes of idiot noblemen."
The maid paled at such words. "M-My lady," she stammered, horrified.
But the young duchess merely raised a brow. "What? Does my Lord husband fear slander coming from his wife? Does he wish to reprimand this girl? Then let him! Tell him of my words, my actions. I fear him not."
The maid shrank, a small whimper leaving her lips, "I-I wouldn't dare."
"Many thanks to the Lady Duchess for imparting this lowly servant such words of wisdom!" Julian hollered at her once more.
"Enough!" she huffed, turning back to her artwork, "And begone from here."
With a few more courteous (or perhaps painfully dramatic) parting words, Julian made his leave. He did not report to the duke, the old bastard surely already understood the outcome.
But it was curious still, did Lord Opheron wish to humiliate and scold Julian's brazenness? Or was he carefully trying to impart the Doctor with a request?
A favor.
How interesting.
Julian's languid steps came to a stop as he exited the palace gates. A shadow was around the corner to greet him. "Ah, if it isn't my cute little puppy. Did you get lonely waiting for your master? You could have gone home you know, I'm sure Anderina would have been happy to feed you!"
In return, Julian got a smack to the head, knocking his glasses askew. "Ow!"
"Shut up," Leonel hissed.
The Doctor rolled his eyes, "Ah, that punchline of yours is getting old."
And then he got another smack.