Sitting on the family head's chair, Callisto felt complicated and exhausted. Unlike how Briana usually reacted, she hadn't even greeted him that day and had just left for her room.
Dumbfounded, he had followed her, yet there was nothing unusual about her. Of course, he didn't enter the room and hide the moment she was about to leave.
If she saw him, she would for sure delude herself again. It was not like she wasn't delusional enough to ask him wither he loved her every day! A scary woman who kept sending him long letters of affection and concern during these five years.
His duchess went to the office and worked until noon. Not even looking for him once, even though he was sure he had sent the news of being injured right before their departure.
Instead of fussing over her scar and blowing on her injury, she is sitting in front of him at the other end of the long table. Not sitting beside him, as she normally did. Was his wife broken?
Touching the small scar on the corner of his brow, he frowned. Is he the broken one? Didn't she say that he is the most handsome man on earth and that she loves and treasures his face? Is a small scar that important to act like this?
'Well, she is one odd one,' He thought with a stony expression as he looked at the reflection of his small scar on the spoon. He wanted to keep it to look more intimidating, but he decided just to call for a healer first thing in the morning.
If his face was that important to her to act like this, he had no choice. Even if he didn't like her, she was his wife and the mother of his children. However much odd, she was but his duchess and his responsibility.
Of course, someone like her who has never even witnessed a violence would hate him for being a soldier and a killer. She already lowered herself enough to marry someone like him for his face. Wouldn't she leave if he took from her that one reason, he thought.
His obvious sour mood and intent stare intimidated everyone in the room. Making them unable to enjoy the delicacy in front of them and instead looking at their angry lord and his seemingly unimpressed wife. Enjoying her food, without a care.
'So, the captain of the guards was right. The lord had finally gone over Madam's endurance limits and was about to get dumped.' is what was going on in all the knights' minds and eyes.
After all, their madam was really the pinnacle of all the noblewomen in the empire. The once most sought after 'bride' of the empire. One who still received letters of admiration.
Even they had heard of her brilliance and a long list of suitors. The eldest daughter of the most influential duke of the empire. The noblest lady with the most influence in high society, a breathtaking beauty who also is the closest cousin of the ruler of their empire.
Someone intelligence, beautiful and cold who had declined many eligible noble men's marriage proposals. Even though the part about her being cold and noble seemed to be a bit of a stretch, the rest was still true. Their young and unlucky duke seemed to have used up all his luck in marriage and looks.
Other than making a fool of herself now and then, the duchess was indeed amazing. Despite the uneducated lord's absent, under her rule, the duchy flourished day by day in all terms. Economically, prosperity and even military.
Her business idea of raising war horses and using the iron mines to make weapons, not only made their military and economically needless but also gave the women and children a source of income. They were really skeptical at first, since it was a nearly impossible deed, but she succeeded.
Not only that, she took great care of the soldier's families. By sending random bonuses to their struggling family members and even vising them from time to time to make sure everyone was okay, she had won over all the military families.
Besides that, the duchess was generous with the wages, armors' and weapons' quality, sanitary and food supplies. It had made the knighthood of havoc one of the most desiring knighthoods to get into, and the knights proud and happier than ever.
As a result, even if she was the enemy's daughter, the think of the duchess leaving made everyone lose their appetite. If that happened, they would never forgive themselves.
They had held a grudge since she was on the side of the emperor and blamed her for the deaths of their comrades and families. As if it wasn't enough that she married a heartless man. Biting the hand that feeds them, the knights always made fun of her and insulted her to her face. She had all the right not to stay.
Not knowing of the depression and tension in the air, Briana was wondering if he was about to kick him out in the middle of the banquet. She drowned wine and gobbled on food. Better eat good food as long as she could. From tomorrow on, she may have to act frugal until finding a job.
"Madam, you have a letter from Duke of Croft!"
Briana was in shock. Ever since her marriage, he never never took the initiative to send him a letter first. It was always Briana sending letters and vising him on a monthly basis.
With curiosity, she ripped the top of the letter using the table knife. The content made her distrust her eyes.
[ We are disturbing the salaries.
Come and take your salary immediately!
With love,
your father
P.S. That is if you want it..]
"Pfft, cough! Cough!" she almost choked to death. Drinking of her wine, she calmed down a bit.
Had her father finally gone senile? With love????
However, the important part was the part about receiving a salary. Did he mean for her time in the military or whenever during these 15 years she went back to lead the croft army? Whichever it was, she needed and deserved that salary.
So, jumping from her seat, she announced her departure to her father's castle.
"I congratulate everyone on coming back safely! Unfortunately, I am leaving for my father's manor as he seems quite sick. Then, farewell." She said as she left the banquet room. Leaving behind the crowd in despair.
"The duchess is for sure leaving our duke! She's not coming back!" said a knight in a confident tone. Resulting in him receiving hateful glares from his pairs and a scary and dreadful pressure belonging to no other but the duke in question.
"Vinter, you will be my sparing partner from now on!"
The duke's voice was as cold as ice. Saying that, he left the room as fast as lightning, not hearing the young commander of Havok's cry.
"NO!!!!!"
*
The door Briana had just shut close to change got slammed open, making her frown. Obviously, it was her cheating husband. No one else was uncivilised enough to enter like this. Even if this room indeed was as ruined as a stable.
'I have spoiled him too much!' She thought as she looked at the man's shining silver eyes that matched his silver hair and cold, handsome face.
"May I know the reason for your barbaric invade of my privacy?" Her voice sounded as frozen as the borders she had spent her youth on.
It froze the opponent together with the bitter words. A voice she never used on Callisto, who seemed like a frightened small cat to her. Hissing to protect itself.