I Accidentally Tamed the Duke

Chapter 4

Slap. A wet cloth stuck to Yurania’s cheek, and she woke to an acrid, rotting smell.

“So she’s finally up.” It was Talia’s voice. “I was worried from the moment you said you were going to follow him to the lake. How on earth did you fall in there? Do you know how much trouble you put His Grace through? Tsk.”

The lake! Yurania shot up from bed, then rubbed her temple and groaned at the sweeping dizziness.

“Are you even listening to me, my lady? Even His Grace came back wet to the bones. It was so careless of you.”

It thankfully sounded like Casius was all right. Feeling relieved, Yurania took hold of the rag being dragged over her arm and tossed it away in front of her. She wasn’t strong enough to throw it too far away, but it was a clear sign of refusal. She shook her head, conveying that she didn’t like it.

“Lady Yurania! Did something happen to your head from lying in bed for two whole days?”

Two days? She’d been in bed for that long? Come to think of it, her body felt warmer than it should. It was a miracle that she hadn’t died drowning in the Pallack Herb Lake, so it wasn’t at all strange that she was sick.

“What is she doing, throwing the wet cloth away,” Talia grumbled as she left the room. She returned a moment later, loudly stomping inside. “Open your mouth. It’s time for your medicine.”

Yurania instinctively drew her chin back and resisted her. What kind of medicine is it? If it was something Count Vincent had sent, it would definitely have the pallack herb mixed into it. And based on how the rotting smell of decayed wood pierced her nose, it was definitely the pallack herb. Yurania had been throwing out the drug ever since she’d come back to the past, and she had no plans to ever take it again.

“Lady Yurania?”

She shook her head once more.

“Hurry and take it, my lady. Why on earth are you behaving this way as of late? You’re acting out!”

When Yurania continued to refuse, Talia resorted to grabbing her by the chin. Yurania’s lips touched the cup as Talia forcefully tried to open her mouth.

“Urghh!”

Yurania wanted to shake Talia off, but she was inherently too weak to do even that.

“Oomph!”

Yurania slapped Talia’s arm away in a desperate struggle, making the cup fall somewhere with a loud crash.

“Lady Yurania!”

Talia’s voice screeched in Yurania’s ears as she wiped her lips with her sleeve.

“What is the commotion?”

Casius’ voice came, heavy like a thick fog.

“Y-Your Grace.”

“I asked what is going on, Talia.”

Casius was now standing inside the room. Seeing that he was safe and well in person made Yurania feel much more reassured.

“I was only trying to assist Lady Yurania because it was time for her to take her medicine. There was a loud noise because she’d suddenly become very temperamental these days. My apologies, Your Grace,” Talia said politely, a stark contrast to how she was when she addressed Yurania.

“Leave.”

“I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but she must have her medicine right now.”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

Never mind Talia—his biting tone chilled and weighed down the entire room. Once Talia left, Yurania positioned herself to face Casius. Her vision had improved further, and she could see more of his face now. The only problem was that his face was embarrassingly close to hers.

Yurania flinched and turned her head slightly to the side. Oops.

“Why did you act so recklessly?”

Casius’ voice sounded crosser than it had been a moment ago. Yurania reached out with her hand to grab her blanket, but what she caught hold of instead was Casius’ warm, firm hand.

“Answer,” Casius said.

She realized that he’d deliberately put his hand in her reach. Writing her message on someone’s hand still felt strange to Yurania because it had also been her first time doing so when she’d written on Casius’ hand.

She carefully straightened her finger and traced out her words.

—Thank you for saving me.

Her shoulders slumped remorsefully even as she thanked him.

“Did you jump into the lake to save me?”

Yurania gave a short nod.

“Are you aware that it was a crazy and reckless thing to do? It’s dangerous for anyone without mana to go into the lake. Weren’t you aware?”

What? She hadn’t known about that—she’d only known that the lake calmed his madness. Yurania felt taken aback, and her hair swayed from side to side as she shook her head.

His voice was frigid. “This is a warning. Such a thing should never happen again. I will not put up with it.”

Yurania recalled the gleaming eyes she’d seen in the water. It had been the duke who’d carried her all the way here after she’d passed out. So he hadn’t drowned. In other words, she had been needlessly nosy. She’d fallen into a sudden panic and had underestimated the near monster of a man who’d earned the title of swordmaster at the age of sixteen.

All I did was cause him trouble. I should apologize, right? What can I say that won’t sound like an excuse?

As a good idea came to mind, Yurania waved her hand, requesting Casius bend his head down. She grasped his shoulders just as he did.

“What are you doing?”

Yurania took a deep breath, then wrapped her arms around his neck in an embrace.

“Yurania, what are you—”

Never mind getting a divorce—Yurania felt like she might not be able to see his face again if their relationship was ruined any more than it already was, so she put all her heart into the apologetic embrace. For a moment, the two stayed frozen in her awkward hug.

“You’re confusing me, acting like someone who’s about to die,” Casius said as if sighing.

He then withdrew and pulled a blanket over her shoulders. Only then did Yurania remember what she was wearing—a chemise. The chemise in the south was thin enough that one could see undergarments through it. Yurania blushed and wrapped the blanket Casius had given her more tightly around herself.

Casius rang the bell, and Talia returned.

“Yes, Your Grace?”

“Is the medicine the doctor prescribed ready? They’d said to give her the yahn herb in case she swallowed any of the pallack herb.”

“It’s still being prepared, Your Grace.”

“Bring in the medicine once it’s ready. And don’t force the duchess to take any medicine she doesn’t want to.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Yurania’s eyes wavered. This was good news for her, as she’d be able to completely recover her sight and speech if she had the yahn herb. Her heart began to race in her chest, and she hoped that she’d be able to see and speak properly soon.

“Talia.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Do not forget that insulting my wife is tantamount to tarnishing my name.”

With that, Casius left as quietly as he’d come.

***

Tap, tap, tap.

Yurania woke to the sound of a carrier pigeon tapping its beak against the window. The pigeon placed down a glass bottle as she opened the window. The order from Count Vincent had finally arrived as it did in her past life.

She uncorked the bottle and read the brailled letter.

—The duke will attend a festival held at the central district on the emperor’s command and will not be returning for some time. So now is the time. Go inside the duchy’s stone cave and destroy the Initiation Object artifact.

It had been precisely because of this that Yurania had been imprisoned in the tower in her past life. The strange part was that unlike in the past, Casius hadn’t left for the central district. I wonder why. It was strange, but that didn’t change anything.

Yurania flipped over the letter to write her reply. What had made her afraid wasn’t the darkness, silence, or the lake—what suffocated her was Count Vincent.

—I have come to realize that it would be more beneficial for me to become the true duchess of the house rather than to follow your commands, waiting for the day I die. I refuse to do as you say.

It was a declaration of war on her part, which stated that she would not cooperate with Count Vincent and would rather die at Casius’ hands. It was the rebellion Yurania hadn’t been able to carry out for the past twenty years. A light smile graced her face as she watched the carrier pigeon fly away. More of my sight’s returned. It also felt a lot more refreshing than she’d thought it would.

Count Vincent will come to threaten me next. Even though she could take the yahn herb to regain her sight and speech, she had to find another way to treat the internal wounds from the drug. Though it was regrettable that she couldn’t ask Count Vincent for the house pharmacist’s treatment, she never wanted to bow her head before them again.

This time, it was Yurania who refused to keep the company of a house that would only make use of her and ruthlessly discard her. She had to get her vision and voice back as fast as she could, then end her relationship with Casius. Even if it was a political marriage, it was a forced one on his part. She felt sorry that he, who shone brilliantly wherever he was, had to take her, the insignificant Yurania, as his duchess. She had to leave this place and free Casius, who was always at the center of scandalous rumors.

Yurania rang the bell, calling for Lina.

“Is there anything you need, Your Grace?”

Yurania held out a sealed letter and a note.

—Mail this in secret so that nobody knows.

It was addressed to her childhood friend, Sade Kalisto. It was a letter asking him to find her a recognized doctor because as of now, Sade was the only person Yurania could rely on.

***

A few days passed, and Casius still hadn’t left for the central district.

Why? The only reason she could think of was that she’d gone to the lake with him. She didn’t know the exact reason why, but the events were unfolding differently than they did in her past life. Though it puzzled her, the changes also made her hope a little. The hope that things might change made her joyful. Still, she became downcast once again when she remembered Casius’ cold and indifferent behavior toward her.

Yurania walked out of her room. Her voice hadn’t come back yet, but her sight was nearly fully restored now. I think I can bring up the topic of divorce now that I can see this much now. It would be better for both of them if she left him as fast as she could.

Just then, Lina, who was following right behind Yurania, whispered, “Also, Your Grace, they’ve found Ophelia’s child and are on their way back.”

Yurania didn’t reply.

“Also, I was told that the task you ordered is going well, Your Grace.”

Yurania had ordered Ophelia to investigate Talia.

She gave a light nod of her head.

When Yurania headed down to the dining hall with Lina’s assistance, she was greeted by the servants.

“At your service, Your Grace.”

“How do you do, Your Grace?”

That’s strange. They were polite, heartfelt greetings she hadn’t been able to receive before.

Lina came up right next to Yurania and explained, “His Grace gathered us and especially ordered us to address you with the proper respect, Your Grace.”

Casius did that?

“You don’t know how handsome he was when he came back running with you in his arms the day you fell in the lake, Your Grace. I’d never seen him in such a hurry before.”

Lina blushed and twisted about her body as she continued, “Ah, I forgot that hearing things like this scares you, Your Grace. I tried not to tell you these things until now, but I just couldn’t help it.”

Yurania stopped in front of the entrance to the dining hall. Casius stood right before her.

“Yurania, I don’t remember allowing you to leave your bedroom. Are you acting as you please again?” he said.

Casius’ face was indifferent as he looked down on her. He looked so bored that the small shadow of doubt that crossed Yurania’s mind at Lina’s words instantly disappeared. She took the note from her pocket and held it out to him. His violet eyes slowly rose to her face as he read the note.

“Are you asking me for a divorce right now?”