"Using holy power to heal a wound hurts more than you can imagine," I exclaid, writhing in pain as Erios continued his healing process.
"When you apply dicines, they take ti to affect the internal wounds, sotis weeks, but holy power works differently," he continued.
"Holy power imdiately starts to affect the internal injury. Sotis, when people with broken bones seek the temple’s aid, the priests’ use of holy power can cause them to scream in pain, even creating the illusion of an earthquake. That’s how excruciating it can be."
I bit my lip to endure the pain, but it was almost unbearable. My fingertips clutched at my crumpled dress.
"Master, are you okay?" Erios asked, noticing my distress. He attempted to reduce the intensity of his power, but I stopped him.
"Y-yeah, I am. So, please don’t stop. Keep going," I requested, despite the increasing agony. I could sense the pieces of glass embedded in my skin slowly working their way out. Multiple small shards were pinching my skin as they erged, but the pain was diminishing.
"Master, please bear with this. The real treatnt is beginning now," he warned, making apprehensive.
"Wha—"
Before I could complete my question, I felt a sharp, excruciating pain in my foot, as if sothing was tugging at my skin with sharp claws.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" I scread in agony.
"Duchess," I heard Vix’s concerned voice, but I was too focused on the pain to see her face, only hearing her worried tone.
"Duchess, tell what’s happening to you!"
"Mr. Erios, please stop it!" I implored, my voice strained.
"The Duchess doesn’t look well. Please, stop!" I heard Vix pleading with Erios.
"I’m healing her," Erios explained, but his words grew faint as my pain overwheld .
Until I heard that sa cold voice, addressing as "MADAM."
"Stop it!" His voice was deafening. He silenced everyone, but the pain finally began to subside, allowing to regain my senses. However, my body felt drained, as if all my energy had been sapped away.
"Madam, are you okay? Do you feel any discomfort? Say sothing!" he urged, bombarding with questions.
I couldn’t muster a single word, but a sudden urge overca , and I vomited on the surface. It was a sensation I had been enduring for a while now, the feeling of my insides twisted in pain.
"Madam!" His voice was still ringing in my ears, and I didn’t want him to keep addressing like this.
"Duke, can you please stop now?" I finally managed to say.
"W-what?" he asked.
"Can we talk sowhere else?" I requested, shifting my gaze from Erios to Vix.
"Yeah, okay." His voice softened, and he approached , intending to carry . However, I pushed him away.
"I’m okay," I assured him. He didn’t ask any further questions as we made our way to my room. We were both enveloped in a tense silence.
"Now, tell what you were trying to say?" he asked as we entered my room.
I took a deep breath. "Why are you doing this?" I asked once more. "What do you an, why? What did I do?" he questioned, sounding genuinely puzzled.
"Duke, don’t pretend! I know what you’re doing, even if you try to act oblivious. I can prove whatever you’re up to."
"Madam, I truly have no idea what you’re talking about," he replied. His words grated on my nerves, and I couldn’t fathom how I had managed to tolerate him for months in my previous life when I could hardly stand him for a day now.
"Duke, why are you showing so much concern for ?" I pressed on. "Please don’t say it’s because you’re following my father’s wishes. I know he would never say such a thing."
"I want to know the truth. I want to know why you’re being so caring toward . I want to know why you appear every ti I’m hurt. I want to understand why your expression seems to reflect your own pain rather than mine. Why?" I demanded answers.
I didn’t know what I expected to hear, but at least I wanted to know his feelings, to understand why he was being so sympathetic toward . I wished I could discern his true emotions.
"Madam, you’re mistaken," he retorted, and I felt sothing inside snap.
"I have no idea what kind of mixed signals I’ve given, but as the lord of this mansion, I have responsibilities. You are one of them," he explained. "As I ntioned before, our marriage is a union of convenience. Your father sought assurance for your safety, and I needed a wife to fulfill my duties as a duke. I don’t foresee taking another wife anyti soon, so please don’t put yourself in harm’s way. Stay within the mansion. I will handle external matters."
With that, he left the room, slamming the door behind him. It was exactly as I expected. This man couldn’t change. He remained cold, arrogant, and selfish, just as he had always been.
"All right, you married to make a duchess, didn’t you?" I muttered to myself. "Then I’ll make sure to fulfill your wish."
---
"Duchess," Vix’s urgent voice woke from my slumber.
"What is it?" I asked, slightly disoriented.
"Why are you shouting so loudly?" I added, annoyed at the abrupt awakening.
"Duchess, representatives from the temple have co to et you," she inford , looking breathless.
"Temple? Did the Duke send for them?" I questioned.
"No, the Duke didn’t. He’s not here at the mont. You need to et with them," she replied, sounding panicked.
Another knock on the door interrupted our conversation.
"Duchess, it’s , Grant," ca a voice from the other side.
"Yes, what is it?" I inquired.
"Duchess, there are guests waiting to see you. Are you available?" Grant politely asked from outside.
"Duchess, representatives from the temple wish to et you urgently. Can you see them?" Vix added her voice to Grant’s request.
I hesitated, unsure of what to do.
"Duchess, the temple guests have requested your presence. They believe you have a significant role to play as the forr holy knight," Grant explained.
I still couldn’t comprehend how they knew about my past as a holy knight, sothing I had only shared with the God and Alex.
"Fine, I’ll be there. Please lead them to the living room," I agreed, getting out of bed.
Vix didn’t waste any ti, quickly helping prepare for the eting, even though I was in a rush. I glanced at myself in the mirror; I still looked presentable.
"Can we go now?" I asked as Vix continued to check if everything was in order.
"Yes, Duchess," she replied, and we made our way to the living room.
I observed the old man from the upper floor as he sat on the couch, dressed entirely in white, a typical attire for soone of his age and status. It was clear that he was an elderly figure.
What are you even thinking, Bernice? I scolded myself silently as I approached them.
"I, the head priest, greet you, Duchess," he said politely as I reached them.
I offered a slight nod and took a seat in front of him.
"So, what brings you here, High Priest?" I inquired.
"I believe you already know why I’ve co," he responded mysteriously.
"I know?" I questioned, puzzled.
"Yes, Duchess, before you beca a duchess, you were a holy knight of the temple. Don’t you rember?" He spoke with a sly tone that left bewildered.
How did he know? Wasn’t my connection to the temple and my role as a holy knight sothing only known to and the God? And perhaps, to Alex? How had this high priest co to possess this knowledge?
I silently mulled over these questions.
"Duchess, I too received a ssage from God about your existence. That’s why I’ve co here to take you with to the temple," he explained.
"You belong to the temple. You don’t belong here," he asserted.
"You are the property of the temple, so you should be in the temple," he added, his words branding as re property. Sothing inside snapped at that mont, and I lost all restraint, glaring directly at him.
"High Priest, could you please repeat what you just said?" I asked, my tone icy.
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