I Accidentally Tamed the Duke

Chapter 5

Yurania nodded at Casius as he questioned her about her request for a divorce.

“Is that what you really want?”

His violet eyes clung to Yurania. But when she resolutely nodded once more, Casius turned around, drawing his hard gaze away from her.

“Follow me.”

The servants shared confused looks when Casius stopped at the entrance to the dining hall and went back the way he’d come. No one dared to question their master, though, and in just the short moment Yurania had been distracted, Casius had already walked far ahead of her.

Maybe he’s planning to file the divorce papers right away, Yurania thought hopefully. She hastily took Lina’s hand so she wouldn’t lag too far behind him. Though Lina sped up accordingly when Yurania waved her hand to convey that she wanted to walk faster, her body couldn’t catch up with her excitement, and her legs started to wobble. She had yet to recover completely from lying sick in bed after falling into the lake.

“Your Grace, I think walking slower would be better for us. You might hurt yourself at this rate!”

Despite Lina’s anxious attempt to slow her down, Yurania didn’t listen and held her skirt up.

“Your Grace! I beg your pardon, but Her Grace can’t walk that fast.”

Lina raised her voice, risking impertinence toward her master. Only then did Yurania slow down, gasping for breath and clutching at her chest.

Casius, who’d been walking ahead of her, turned around to face her. He clenched his fists like a conflicted man, then said, “Did you come outside when you haven’t even recovered yet? So that you could give me that trivial note?”

It wasn’t trivial. To Yurania, it was a lifeline, which was why she didn’t have the luxury of feeling hurt by Casius’ sharp words. She calmed her breathing and stretched her arms out in front of her. Casius tilted his head slightly to the side, looking like he was trying to understand her actions. Seeing this, Yurania lifted her heels lightly and stretched her arms higher.

Carry me like before.

When Casius finally understood what Yurania wanted, he let out a bitter sigh. Puzzled, Yurania looked at him.

“You’re giving me a lot of trouble these days. I can’t tell what you want. Are you trying to confuse me on purpose?”

Yurania quickly shook her head. She’d only asked because though it was a little embarrassing, it was much easier to catch up with him this way. What if she was too slow and Casius’ aide took him away? Their talk on the divorce could end up being for nothing after the trouble she went through to bring it up.

Casius closed the distance between them in a second, his shadow hovering over Yurania’s head.

“I don’t know if it’s normal for a woman to ask a man whom she wants to get divorced from to carry her.”

Had she been too shameless? Yurania sullenly put her arms back down. But at that moment, Casius bent down and carried her with one arm like he had before.

“Urgh!”

Yurania quickly wrapped her arms around his neck because she was pretty high up and needed something to hold on to.

“Are you getting nervous again after how easily you hung on last time? Or are you worried that I might drop you?”

Casius then turned to Lina and ordered, “You needn’t follow.”

Behind him, Lina was bashfully twisting her body about for some reason before she bowed and left.

Yurania and Casius arrived in his office. Naturally, it was her first time inside the room, since they’d been distant to the point that she could count the times they’d stood face to face on one hand. Casius sat her on the soft sofa, went to the side table behind it, poured the prepared hot water, and made tea. Yurania hadn’t eaten yet, and the subtle fragrance from the tea made her hungry.

“I admit that I haven’t been attentive to you. But you have to understand—there’s little I can do when you run away like a frightened rabbit.”

Yurania confusedly looked at Casius. He came back and handed her the teacup himself.

“I knew you were acting strange these days, but was this what you wanted to talk about? Divorce? So that’s why you’ve been diligently testing me—so that you could boldly bring up the topic of divorce.”

Casius sat beside Yurania and stared at her with dark, tenacious eyes.

Did I offend him by talking about a divorce? Yurania tried to consider Casius’ feelings as she brought the teacup to her lips. But the tea was hotter than she’d thought, and she quickly pulled back. When she coughed and put the cup down, Casius gently dabbed her lips with a handkerchief.

“I usually take my tea like this, but it must’ve been too hot for you.”

The way he was gently pressing on her lips felt so foreign that Yurania reflexively pushed his arm away, her eyes moist from the pain of burning her tongue.

“You hate me so much that you cry yet so readily ask me to carry you. You jump into the lake to save me despite your current state. How am I supposed to understand you?”

Yurania looked confused. Though she was afraid of Casius, she wasn’t as scared of him as she had been in her past life. It seemed like she’d lost her sense of fear after dying once.

Casius placed a jewelry box in Yurania’s hands.

“It’s a piece handed down to the duchess of our house from generation to generation. It’s for you to wear at public events.”

Public events? Then what about our divorce?

Yurania hastily stretched her hand out to Casius, motioning him to give her his palm because she wanted to say something. However, Casius stood from his seat.

“Urgh?” Excuse me?

“Do not take the duchess’s duties lightly. I too will make an effort to meet your expectations.”

Casius stared hard at Yurania then left the room, raking his hair back. She let out a dejected sigh as the door closed behind him. I knew it wouldn’t be that easy.

Yurania opened the jewelry box in her hands. The necklace called the Memories of Waves glittered in all its magnificent glory. It was a brilliant necklace with blue diamonds tucked tightly around blue gems. The meaning behind possessing this necklace was not to be taken lightly. It symbolizes the duchess’s dignity.

Wait a minute. What if I ran away with it? If she sold it off, not only would she have enough funds to live independently, but she would even have enough to live the rest of her life without having to work. No. My head will come off before any of that happens. Yurania shook off the terrible idea that crossed her mind for a second. This means that he isn’t going to divorce me.

Divorce and remarriage were common among nobles. On the contrary, it was much rarer to see couples growing old together without divorcing. So it probably wasn’t because he was worried about his reputation. It’s more likely because he feels guilty about my condition.

Yurania became lost in her thoughts. Casius had chosen the most undistinguished Yurania among the countless ladies who had been mentioned as possible fiancées.

It had all started at the tea party held by House Euclid.

Yurania was eighteen years old when she followed her stepmother and visited House Euclid. Erika, a commoner by birth, had no place in high society. Because of that, Yurania also wandered around the garden and was unable to socialize as well. That was when she’d noticed smoke coming from the greenhouse where the tea party was being held. She’d immediately run toward the smoke when Erika grabbed her.

“Where have you been!? Quickly, go inside!”

“I’m sorry?”

“Duchess Euclid is inside! Hurry! Go on, get inside and save her!”

That was how Erika had pushed the bewildered Yurania into the fire. She was pushed here and there by the screaming ladies and half-willingly, half-forcefully shoved inside. That was where she’d discovered the former Duchess Euclid crushed under heavy ornaments.

Duke Casius’ mother. She’d seen the duchess once at the banquet announcing the war’s victory, which had been held a few days after the funeral of the former Duke Euclid, who’d died on the battlefield. At that moment, Casius’ lifeless, emotionless face had overlapped in her mind’s eye. Had that been why?

Her hesitation was short-lived. Yurania quickly cleared away the ornaments that had fallen over Duchess Euclid. However, Duchess Euclid had injured her legs and could not move on her own. Even then, Yurania had put all her strength into supporting the duchess and barely escaped the fire. At that moment, the greenhouse collapsed with a deafening roar, and Yurania lost consciousness. On the day she finally got up from bed, Erika handed her a drug mixed with the pallack herb.

“You’ll lose your sight and speech for as long as you take this.”

“Sorry?”

“It’s a trifling sacrifice if we can possess House Euclid. Do you understand? You lost your sight and speech from the shock of the accident that day.”

Yurania had been so consumed in Erika’s abuse at the time that she didn’t know how to escape and had no choice but to nod her head. Refusing would only make her life even more grueling. Learned fear had driven her toward the edge. That was how she had become the unfortunate lady who’d lost her eyes and voice, and why Casius had taken Yurania as his wife—as if to repay her for the favor he owed.

Yurania came out of her reverie and nodded in determination. I should ease Casius’ guilt first. And then he would sign the divorce papers with an easy heart.

***

Yurania was unable to see Casius for a few days after that. Though she deliberately took her meals in the dining hall downstairs and lingered around his office, he was nowhere to be seen. When she asked Lina in passing, unable to wait any longer, she only replied that no one besides Casius’ aide knew where he was. When Lina asked her the uncomfortable question of whether she was going to get a divorce, she gave up on looking for Casius through Lina. Instead, she kept her eyes wide open in search of his aide. However, he too was nowhere to be found.

I can’t just sit by and do nothing just because the divorce is getting delayed. Yurania had diligently taken the yahn herb and could now discern objects perfectly. Though her voice hadn’t returned yet, she had to prepare for the next step.

After finishing her meal inside her room, Yurania called for Zyle.

“Did you want to see me, Your Grace?” he asked.

She handed Zyle the note she’d written in advance.

—Can you ready the carriage so I can go to this place right now?

Now was her chance when Casius wasn’t around. She had to meet her childhood friend, Sade—the materialistic friend who’d responded to her request to find a skilled doctor by asking her to bring “a lot of money.”