'Dear Bella, I know I didn't leave you under the best circumstances but I'm hoping this letter puts your heart at ease. I'm doing very fine in Runan, I don't know what the future holds and it still scares me to trust others but I'm taking your advice to heart. I miss you so much, I'm looking forward to the day we reunite. I hope Clark is doing well. Please take care of him. I plan to write him soon but I don't know how to start the letter. Sincerely to my first love from clarisa.'
"I'm so glad clarisa seems to be doing very well. I was so scared. I was so terrified" Bella clenched the letter in her hands as she cries into her hands and Clark strokes her back comforting her.
"Clarisa, please be safe"
"Her grace seems to be in a great mood this morning" steven clears his throat as he gestures to Maria.
"Welllllll... Her grace and his grace spent the night together" hannah squeals as she and stella hop and swoon together.
"You nosy ladies" Maria scolds them, but the look in her eyes said she was enjoying it as much as them as nothing could stop their excitement.
"It seems spring will be coming to Runan early"
I have been so busy learning my duties in the duchy. The novels always made it look easy but this is so hard. From preparing the budget for the castle to overseeing supplies, managing the employees of the castle, planning parties and so much more. The lessons I learnt as prince callus's bride were a childs play compared to this. After breakfast I was thrown into this world of chaos and I feel so drained. Good thing i have nothing planned for after lunch.
"You grace, its lunch time" maria interrupted my train of thoughts. For some reason she has been smiling more today not just her but all the maids in the castle have been smiling so much today.
"Thank you Maria, did the maids prepare the extra room as i ordered?"
" yes your grace, a new dining area was prepared for his grace's aides"
"That is great, thank you for the hard work" I'll call this 'operation get the knight using the horse'. I must have been crazy yesterday, so today I'll do things right.
'Lets go reel in some big fish'
I wonder how I should address him, he didnt seem to mind me calling him 'my love' last night. Would it be crossing a line since we would not be alone? Should I ask for advice from Maria or hannah? And why is the walk to his office taking forever today, its making me so nervous. Knock knock
"Your grace, her grace is here to see you"
"Come in"
"My love" everyone looked like they just heard a forbidden word, their mouths were wide open as their faces were priceless. I must be crazy, I really must have gone insane.
"Du.... clarisa what brings you here?" he had his eyes glued on me. I think I'm smiling right now, he called me by my name and he doesn't mind me calling him 'my love'.
"I brought you lunch my love, you skipped breakfast again today."
"I believe it's our first meeting, greetings I am duchess clarisa Leandros. Thank you all for always taking care of my husband" I bowed
"There is no need for thanks your grace, its a pleasure to meet you your grace, my name is count Enoch thates, i am the minister of finance"
"Greetings your grace, i am sir Astin shaw and i am the minister of defense." shaw? So he must be sir Lucas's father, the knight commander.
"Greetings your grace I am lady Eleanor Taylor and i am the minister of agriculture. "
"Greetings your grace its a true honor to finally meet you. I am baroness evelyn mills, i am in charge of the ministry of works "
"I guess i am the last then. It's a true honor to introduce myself to you for the 'first time' your grace, I am lord kelvin astar and i am the minister of information. " Kelvin astar is it what a petty man. You just earned a spot in my black book.
"Ahem, since it's lunch time I figured you all must be hungry so I prepared a light lunch for you all in the room next door." Their eyes lit up as they looked at me in shock and admiration. They all turned to the duke waiting for his confirmation or rejection.
"Since my wife went out of her way it would be rude not to. You can all take a 30 minute break." Cheers and thanks erupted as they all bolted out the door. He called me his wife, he said it. My heart skipped a beat the moment I heard it.
"Thank you for that my love" walking towards him with the cart of food. Will he reject it again today?
"I brought you lunch again today, do you want it?"
"If I said no would you take it back" he cleared off some papers off the table to make space for the plates. He stood up, grabbed a chair and sat it beside his.
"You can sit here clarisa" he is so sweet. His face never shows any emotion nor does his voice crack but i just can't help but fall deeper. I know i shouldn't, I will probably end up hurt but I can't stop my hearts. Is this how he treated his wife in the novel? Maybe that's why she stayed by his side all these years, taking advantage of his kind nature.
"Thank you my love"
"Will you be bringing me lunch everyday? Then i guess i can have my aides take a break when you get here." I cant believe it, is he accommodating me right now? Dammit
"Thank you, i'm sure they would love that"
"About yesterday I'm sorry, for some reasons I can't explain, I don't have the best relationship with food so I took it out on you. That doesn't excuse me so please forgive me clarisa." why... why are you apologizing? I'm such a bad person. I knew about his trauma but I tried to force him to eat from me.
"No don't apologize, it's my fault. I'm sorry, yesterday wasn't my best day. I should have conducted myself better. I'm sorry my love. Does your head still hurt" the look on his face was different. It was only for a second but I saw it, it wasn't his usual expression.
"It never hurt, i was just shocked that is all"
"Pffttttt, im sorry I didn't pffttttt mean to laugh pfftttt" I was laughing hysterically at this point because he looked so cute. How can anyone in their right mind try to harm such a lovable man.
"My parents sent a letter today. They will be arriving in the duchy in 2 weeks." He sounded so nonchalant like he was talking about what he ate for lunch yet here i was freaking out about my meetings with the in laws.
"Do I need to prepare anything for their arrival?"
"No, im sure my parents would be happy to meet you" he sounded so sure, almost like i was the perfect wife. And that strangely made me happy.
Knock knock.
"Sorry to interrupting your lunch, but his grace has received a letter" steven looked between me and theodore uncomfortable. Before handing it over to theodore.
"Go ahead steven"
"Miss ivy and lord jordan have requested for an audience with you tomorrow " what?? I may not be the queen of noble etiquette, but I know for a fact that you need to give a minimum of 7 days notice with good reason to visit someone as high as the count for a duke it should take way longer. I looked over at theodore, but he had his usual face on.
"Thank you steven, I should be available after lunch tomorrow " his voice was the same, no anger, no hate, no joy. I need to meet with them tomorrow, i need to confirm if this truly is the world of that novel. I still remember her appearance from the novel as it was very unique. If i asked would that be alright? Do I even want to meet her? What if i find out that theodore is in love with her? I dont want that, i don't want to see him treat another lady like she is special. It's not like finding out that this is a novel will change anything for me. I had better just abandon this idea, nothing good will come out of it.
It's has been years since I saw his grace having such healthy appetite. I could only watch from the sidelines as he spiraled out of control. I hope his grace can find his smile someday.
"Steven" I spun around to face the duchess who just called out to me.
"Your grace" she had closed the distance between us in seconds.
"Steven, may I ask a favour of you." This is the first time her grace has asked for anything. I must make sure to fulfill it with utmost efficiency.
"Absolutely your grace."
******
Theodore was so busy today and the only other time I saw him was at dinner time.
"My love, you came" I didnt know if he would make it to dinner today too but now that he is here I'm so happy.
"Of course, you asked me to have dinner with you everyday."
"I'm glad, ill look forward to dinner going forward"
"How did you spend the rest of your day my love?"
"After lunch, i went for training with the knights and after that we went for an inspection of the northern walls." He doesn't ignore me, he looks me in the eyes when he speaks, he also doesn't speak to me with hate in his voice. I can get used to this. This much is enough for me. I will just stay safely on this side of the line that way we can continue to live amicably, just like this.
"My love" i peekd into his room
"Clarisa, come in" he is looking stunning again today sitting behind that desk.
"Dont mind me, i'll just be over here." Hannah's choice of hobby today was a novel. She said it was a huge hit in runan and she couldn't stop talking about it.
"Clarisa" i felt a hand on my shoulder. I must have dozed off while reading the novel. He was crouched down in front of me picking up the fallen book.
"Im sorry i touched you without your permission but you seemed to be uncomfortable. Maybe you should retire to bed for the night"
"Will you be going to bed too my love?"he took a long look at me.
"Yes, ill head to bed right now too"
"Thank you my love, for listening to my selfish request " i know it must be uncomfortable for him laying next to someone who he doesn't know.
"There is nothing to thank me for clarisa, you are my wife. Listening to you and honoring your request is my duty as your husband." I know he is only doing it as an obligation but im so glad I'm married to this man.