"Young Master Klaus," Fred, who had led me to the majestic golden gate, called my name and handed me a small golden token with a seagull symbol engraved on it.
It was a teleportation token, a small and precious object that granted me access to a specific portal. Given the presence of the seagull, this coin would take me to the portal in the city of Pristina, which was relatively close to my lands.
Obtaining a token like this required a considerable amount of money, but I realized that it was nothing in the Duke's eyes.
After all, he had a teleportation portal within his own residence.
"I hope you have a safe journey, Young Master," Fred said, bowing.
"And if you allow me to be a bit bold, I ask that you please treat the young lady with kindness." His voice was a whisper, audible only to me.
I understood. It seemed that, despite the general hostility toward Miss Juliane in that house, there were still compassionate souls concerned about her well-being.
"I'll do my best, farewell," I waved with a smile and continued my way towards the carriage, where Artiz awaited me alongside my knights. Beside them was my contractual wife, Juliane.
And like almost all the rumors circulating about this woman were exaggerated, I admit that those related to her appearance were certainly true. Her presence exuded an aura of refined nobility, clearly highlighting her superior status. Were it not for the circumstances surrounding her, someone with a title equal to mine, or even slightly higher, like a count for example, wouldn't be able to approach her.
This charming woman was about to reach her thirties. She had married at twenty-one and divorced at twenty-six. With such a tumultuous marriage, she was sent back to her parents' house, where she spent two more years in seclusion.
Her long green hair cascaded gracefully over her shoulders, contrasting beautifully with her pale skin. Her eyes were as blue as the sea on a summer's day, entrancing anyone who gazed upon her. Two side strands delicately framed her face, accentuating her thin, defined eyebrows. She boasted a curvaceous figure, with generous breasts and hips, and an imposing height, nearly reaching 1.80 meters. At this moment, she was stunning in a long blue dress, with crystal earrings delicately hanging from her ears and an elegant necklace adorning her neck, completing her majestic appearance.
This woman had been scorned only for lacking a magical core and for being unable to conceive children. Now, she carried the stigma of being a cursed woman, walking with a noose around her neck.
Life in nobility was, without a doubt, irritating. Truly irritating.
"Miss Juliane," I extended my hand to take hers as I leaned forward.
"Viscount Klaus," she responded softly, her sweet and distinctive voice filling the space as her delicate hand met mine. Touching her fingers, I was greeted by a refreshing floral scent, and her skin felt extremely well-tended and fragrant.
Although she can project a distinct image and act with grace, I can't help but imagine that beneath this impeccable exterior, her emotions must be in turmoil.
I think her long dress may be hiding scars, not necessarily physical, but emotional ones caused by the Duke.
It's truly a pitiable situation. Hehe.
"I hope you're ready, as we're about to depart. We'll use a teleportation portal to reach the city of Pristina, saving us from a month of travel."
Our lands were on the borders, probably the farthest point in the kingdom, known for its arid land and majestic mountains.
It took about a month to travel from the Duchy of Aurora to here. Although I could cut the time in half by traveling alone on my horse, I considered it extremely rude.
Moreover, the rugged roads made the journey even more challenging. If our family were a bit more fortunate, using teleportation portals wouldn't be an issue, but that wasn't our reality, at least for now.
"Artiz, you will travel in the other carriage with Miss Juliane's maid. Make sure you're ready. We're leaving now for Pristina and then on to Klaus. We won't make stops, and I don't want interruptions." I conveyed my orders to the coachmen and then led Miss Juliane to my carriage, where we sat facing each other.
Our eyes met for only a few seconds before Juliane, who pretended to smile timidly, looked away from the carriage's window as we departed.
I noticed her gaze became distant and somewhat somber for a few moments as she watched her old residence disappear into the light of the portal. This would be her last glimpse of that place.
Woman, what's going through your mind right now? Is it nostalgia for the happy times you lived there, or perhaps for the darker times?
I have a slight interest in the difficult periods of her life, but it would be extremely rude to ask such a question.
Or maybe not, considering that my life has turned into a living hell because of her.
...
The journey through the portal was remarkably smooth, much more so than I had heard. In a matter of minutes, we were in the city of Pristina, saving us from a long month of travel. As soon as we emerged from the portal, someone was waiting to collect the teleportation token.
We continued our journey without noteworthy incidents after leaving Pristina. Miss Juliane remained distant.
Her somber eyes remained fixed on the carriage's windows. Perhaps it was the shock of the new reality consuming her?
"Hmm, Miss doesn't seem quite well. Perhaps we should make a brief stop for a few minutes?" I suggested, feigning concern. In truth, I cared little about whether she was feeling well or not.
"Hmm?" My words seemed to finally pull her out of her trance for a brief moment.
"Oh, thank you, but I don't think it's necessary. I'm just a little tired, that's all," she promptly replied, inventing a simple excuse.
The distant and somber look quickly dissipated, as if it had never been there. However, no matter how much she tried to hide it, her true emotions were easy to decipher.
"I see. Then, I hope that..."
"Juliane." She interrupted me.
"Hmm?" My curiosity prompted her to explain.
"Call me by my name, Juliane. Since the moment the contract was signed, I've become Mrs. Klaus. Even if it's just a paper agreement, I'm your wife now, and you have that right." Even though she tried to conceal it, I could hear the pain in her voice when she pronounced the words "wife" and "contract." Furthermore, the grip on her dress was a clear indication.
She's making an effort to make this work because, at this moment, I'm her last hope to stay alive.
And I remember her signature on the contract well. She knows all the terms and is aware that she will have to live with me for the rest of her life.
No matter how I treat her, she has no choice here, as none was given to her. So, it's natural for her to have taken this initiative.
Although the idea of marrying her still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, there's no reason to refuse her initiative.
"I understand. Then, call me Marcos from now on."
"I will," she replied.
"Great. As I was about to say before, endure a little longer; we should arrive in Klaus tonight if we don't have any interruptions."
"If you're curious about something, don't hesitate to ask. We have plenty of time," I smiled gently.
She pondered for a moment, then decided to ask some questions.
"So, what are..."
But before she could continue, Artiz interrupted our conversation.
"Young Master!"
Artiz's voice sounded in my ears. Magical communication.
"Speak, Artiz."
"I sensed a group of people ahead of us, probably bandits."
"Thank you, Artiz. Follow the plan we discussed earlier."
"Alright... be careful, Young Master."
Annoying.
This shouldn't be happening, right? Annoying. Annoying.
"Marcos? Did something happen?" Juliane asked, concerned.
She must have been surprised to hear me talking to myself.
"Oh, it's nothing, just some... obstacles on the way." I smiled while biting my tongue, letting the metallic taste of blood fill my mouth.