If I Disobey the Duke

Couples’ Quarrel (1)

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Lily woke up screaming in the middle of the night, her face drenched in cold sweat and tears.

She groped for the lamp on the night table with a trembling hand.
Her hand slipped several times before she succeeded

The yellowish light gently warmed the bedroom, and only then could she breathe.

It was always like this when she fell asleep alone.
She couldn’t even sleep properly without her husband.

She knew she was undoubtedly a very difficult trinket to take care of.

“…A trinket…”

It was the key to unlocking all questions about Vlad’s actions.

Lily couldn’t deny Tristan’s statement that she was just something her husband had collected.
In fact, it didn’t hurt much.
Deep down, she already knew that.

Lily’s escorts increased to four knights.

Considering that this was a small territory, even one knight was a very careful measure.

The employees were more respectful to her than in her own home, and above all, there was no problem with sleeping with her husband.

If this was how she was treated as a trinket, Lily didn’t mind being one forever.

She breathed deeply and picked up the paper next to the lamp.

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It was a letter left by Vlad.

[I’ll be late.
Don’t wait for me.]

His cursive was elegant and neat.

Vlad did not visit Lily’s bedroom for three days after the incident with Tristan.

Every evening, he would just send a short letter through the maid.

“Because he was a knight, I thought his handwriting would be indecipherable…”

The more she looked at the letter, the stranger it felt.

It was a letter.
It was as if he saw her as a real wife.

It was too sudden for Lily, who had just accepted her situation.

“But for something like me…” Lily muttered to herself.
She dropped the hand holding the letter on the bed and pulled the rope near her bedside.

It wasn’t long before a maid came in.
“Did you call, Madam?”

“Vlad… does he usually stay up all night?”

“On days with a lot of important work, he often stays up.
After Madam came, he slept more often in the bedroom.”

She had a pile of things to tell Vlad.
But why did he have to be busy with work at this time?

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Tristan’s behavior was shocking, but she didn’t want him to be punished too much.

She wanted to stop hurting people around her.
“How is Tristan? When will the trial or visitation be possible?”

“As for that matter, I can’t give you an answer.”

Lily let out a deep sigh, resigned at the rehearsed reply.

The maid stared at her lady.
“With all due respect, Madam… I dare ask you a question.”

Lily’s eyes widened.
It was the first time she spoke to her.
Up until now, the maid was similar to a machine that answered questions or processed orders.

She was pleased to see that change in attitude.

“Sure.
Anything.”

“Why did you protect the maids from your close friends?”

She was asking about getting angry at Tristan’s insult.

Lily thought for a moment.
She also wondered how she could be so angry.

Raising her voice to him… It was something she’d never imagined in her life.
Ever since she came here, she had been filled with unfamiliar feelings.

“Well… just because.
Not because of any definite reason, but because Tristan said offensive words…?”

“The term ‘insult’ is only applicable to those who have honor, Madam.
Your honor is tarnished by taking sides with people like us.”

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“Honor… Why the hell are you saying that…?”

“I am grateful for your pity, but some maids find it even more difficult to accept that kind of sympathy.

Lily’s mouth opened slightly as if it was something she hadn’t thought of at all.
She shook her head slightly.
“It’s not like that.” She raised her fine eyebrows as a tingling sensation started in her stomach.

A sad, bitter smile spread across her face.
“You are people who take care of me every day and… share stories with me.
In my previous marriage or even childhood, I’ve never had a female companion.
And more than that…” Lily tilted her head slightly and looked up at the maid.

The pale yellow light from each lamp cast a sharp contrast on her face.

“Am I in a position to pity anyone?”

The maid’s eyes widened at the unexpected question.
“Madam, what do you mean…?” she asked, trying not to stutter in embarrassment.

“I have no honor to be tarnished.
My husband and even my friends just think of me like a plaything…” Lily lowered her long eyelashes slightly.
It was very painful to articulate it.

She didn’t want to keep it in anymore.

As soon as she said it, words came out uncontrollably as if a dam had burst.
“You know what I am.
Something that Vlad uses at night and whenever he needs it…”

The day she had a verbal battle with Tristan, she remembered the question the knight wrote.

[What do you think of the lord?]

At that question, she was blank for a while.

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Even thinking about it now, the answer that she barely came up with after hesitating was not very good.

[…I don’t know]

His gaze that was wandering in the air stopped, and that was the answer that she pulled out with difficulty.

It was a very wise answer, thinking of it now.

It didn’t really matter what she thought of Vlad.

The inside of her chest was still sore as if it had been scratched by sandpaper, but it was clear that this too would get worse someday.

The maid’s face became noticeably dark.

Lily’s words were quite shocking.

Her experienced eyes distractedly wandered.
“A play… thing… Madam…”

She had no idea where to start to correct her mistress’ opinions.

Even though she wasn’t her maid yet, it was absurd for the duchess to think of her as a companion.

What was more serious was the relationship between the lord and his wife.

Of course, it was the lord who caused this ridiculous misunderstanding.

The maid closed her eyes tightly.
She decided to do something disrespectful.

It was to intervene between the couple.