Chapter 28: The Duchess' Decision
Lirian sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the wall.
Her chest tightened as the scene replayed in her mind—Daria wrapping her arms around Gabriel, kissing him like Lirian didn't even exist.
Gabriel hadn't pushed her away, not at first.
And Daria… Daria had looked up at her, something sparkling was in her eyes that made Lirian realise it wasn't an accident.
She had wanted Lirian to see.
It didn't make sense...
In the book, Gabriel was loyal.
He wasn't supposed to betray her, not like this.
Lirian clenched her fists, her nails dug into her palms.
Her throat burned from the lump she couldn't swallow.
The memory of Daria leaving her in that dark alley came back to her mind.
She had thought Daria was good, kind even.
But now, everything seemed clear.
Daria had always been scheming…or maybe she just hated Lirian for what the original Lirian was doing to Daria?
"I should've seen it," Lirian whispered to herself.
She stood, her legs felt weak beneath her, and stumbled out of the hall, mumbling an excuse to no one in particular.
She needed to get away, to breathe…and to go back to her chambers instead of this crazy servant's bed they brought her to.
Her feet carried her through the maze of corridors until she finally reached her chambers.
Her eyes were blurred with unshed tears, but she refused to cry.
She locked herself inside and didn't come out until the next evening.
Today, everyone was celebrating a small victory and Daria's birthday…
It was a bit too convenient for Daria to come just right on her birthday…
By the time a knock came at her door, Lirian had built her armor.
She brushed the wrinkles out of her dark green velvet dress and took one last look in the mirror.
Her curls were pulled into a half-ponytail, a style she'd adapted from her modern life, and her makeup was light but elegant.
"Duchess, it's time," a servant called from the other side of the door.
Lirian opened it and stepped out, the faint chill in the air bit her skin once again.
She'd asked for a fur cloak earlier, but the servants had told her they were reserved for Daria.
Of course they were.
"I'll manage," she had said, though the cold gnawed at her arms.
She arrived at the hall where the celebration was taking its place.
Laughter and music spilled out from the grand doors, and the scent of roasted meat and spiced wine wafted through the air.
As she entered, the men turned to look.
All eyes went on her, their faces were sparkling from admiration.
She was stunning, a vision in green velvet with her confident walk and modern hairstyle.
Lirian ignored the stares, though her heart thudded in her chest.
She was a duchess.
She belonged here, no matter what anyone thought...
She swept the room and landed on them—Gabriel and Daria.
Daria had her arm looped through Gabriel's, leaning close to him as if they were lovers.
Gabriel didn't seem to push her away, but his glare flicked to Lirian.
Lirian's face remained neutral, not showing any hurricane destroying her chest and raging inside her blood.
She walked past them,with a head held high, ignoring the way Daria's lips curled into a smile.
Throughout the evening, men kept approaching Lirian, slurred from too much wine, confident as if Lirian was going to give them a chance.
One leaned too close, his breath reeked of alcohol.
"You are far too beautiful to be sitting alone," he murmured, his hand reached for hers.
Before Lirian could respond, Gabriel's sharp glare cut through the cold atmosphere.
"She's my wife, so if you want to live, you need to get out of here as soon as possible!"
"Fine…" He rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry…" The man recoiled, muttering an apology before retreating.
Gabriel's eyes didn't leave her after that.
He hovered nearby, though Lirian caught the flashes of something like jealousy.
Finally, he approached her.
"You should go back to your chambers," Gabriel said, commanding as if wanting Lirian gone as fast as he slashed the monsters.
Lirian raised an eyebrow, calmly, but cutting too decided to reply. "Why? Am I not allowed to celebrate?"
"It's late," Gabriel said, his jaw tight. "You need rest."
Lirian stared at him, unblinking.
"No problem." Her voice was cold and beautiful as a snowflake.
She rose from her seat, nodding once before turning to leave.
As she reached the doors, a voice called out behind her.
"Lirian!"
She stopped, her back straight, and turned to see Daria hurrying after her.
"Duchess," Lirian corrected with a raised brow.
Daria slowed, blinking in surprise. "Oh… Duchess. I just wanted to—"
Lirian cut her off, her tone felt like steel. "If you value your life, you will remember to address me by my title from now on. I'm not your friend, Daria."
Daria's face flushed with crimson, but she forced a smile. "Gabriel gave me permission to—"
Lirian stepped closer, lowering but losing her voice like none of its bite.
"Gabriel is not my husband in name alone. I am the duchess. You're a commoner, Daria. Act like one."
The room seemed to hold its breath as Lirian turned on her heel and walked away.
She didn't look back, even as she felt every pair of eyes in the room on her.
Once she was alone in the corridor, Lirian allowed herself a small smile.
It wasn't much, but putting Daria in her place had felt good.
Gabriel's behavior still stung, but tonight, she had reminded everyone who she was.
She wasn't going to break.
Not for Daria, not for Gabriel, not for anyone.
"I'm going to survive…I will live…"
The minute she was back in her chambers, she noticed all her dresses being destroyed.
Every dress she recently bought and brought here were all cut in small pieces, and left on the ground.
"What the hell happened here? Who did this?"
She looked at her bird, "Pedro, who did this?"
"DARIA! DARIA!"
Lirian clenched her fists, "so that's how it is…" She said through gritted teeth, "if you want war, I will give it to you in a modern way…"