Wickedness took over Everett. He planned to do something very sinister, and he didn’t care about the implications. His father was nothing but weak, whatever may happen he was sure that this was the end.
Dimitri was the heir and his father wouldn’t be able to change it... But he will. He didn’t care if his future would be ruined for doing something... Illegal, as long as Dimitri won’t have a happy ending.
The resentment building within him fueled a dark thought.
What would happen if Dimitri won’t be able to use his powers anymore? Would he still be a befitting heir? All he needed to do was break his bones... He glanced at Dimitri once, with a smile on his face.
All he needed to do was ensure an unfortunate "accident"... One that could leave him with broken bones and torn muscles. It wouldn’t have to be much, just enough to weaken Dimitri, to render him incapable of fully embracing his powers.
The announcement had thrilled the servants, sending them bustling about to make arrangements for a grand dinner in Dimitri’s honour and to celebrate the return of their Duchess.
Adeline approached the Duchess, eager to share something. "Your Grace, I’ve found something," she whispered, and together they retreated upstairs.
Everett’s attention was piqued as he watched them go, but he remained where he was, pretending not to care.
In her room, Adeline led the Duchess to a small, hidden compartment where she had stashed a collection of letters she’d uncovered.
It would have been enough to challenge him, to bring him to heel. But when Adeline reached into the compartment, her fingers brushed only air. The letters were gone.
It was missing! It wasn’t there anymore. Adeline’s heart raced, what happened?
Adeline froze, her breath catching as she looked up at the Duchess. Worry overcame her... "I swear they were here!" She almost yelled... Did the Duke realise they were gone?
But the Duchess merely regarded her with a calm, almost resigned expression, shaking her head softly.
"Your plan wasn’t bad," the Duchess said, her voice a touch cool but not unkind. "But this is why we must always be cautious. You’re young, Adeline. Schemes like these require precision and meticulousness."
She knew very well the Duke might have got them. Without the letters, any accusation against the Duke would be written off as baseless accusations. He would feign ignorance, and claim he had only done what was best for the household.
Her husband knew her well enough to understand she would never act without proof, and now he had robbed her of that proof... Still, she wasn’t too mad at Adeline. She was only a child. For a child, she did very well.
What the Duchess knew was that there will always be more evidence. No one is that meticulous. This was simply a missed opportunity.
"Adeline, don’t you think this evidence was too easy to find?"
Adeline looked at her in doubt. Her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes dropped. The letters were hidden beneath the carpet, which wasn’t safe at all... It was too easy... The Duke would be smart enough to make such a mistake, wouldn’t he?
Indeed he was smart, he knew that there was someone after him. His gut told him that he was being targetted. Hence, he did this. Those letters were just a ruse... To see who wanted to bring him down.
That pink-haired brat dared to go against him. She was too daring for just a child. If she dared to do something like this, then she must face the consequences...
The dinner would be a battlefield between the Duchess and the Duke. The Duchess verified Adeline’s statements by asking around. The Duke indeed hid the news from them and proclaimed himself to be the head of the Duchy.
He hoped the temporary position would become permanent, didn’t he?
As the hour of the dinner approached, the Duke found himself alone, seething in his study. The resentment he harboured for the Duchess grew, each memory of her condescension adding fuel to the fire.
A knock interrupted his thoughts. It was the Duchess herself, her expression as cool and composed as ever. She entered, closing the door behind her, and looked at him with a stern gaze.
"About Dimitri being the heir..."
The Duke leaned back into his chair and scoffed, "So now you are here to discuss it with me? After you made the decision..."
He forced a laugh, shaking his head. "First, you undermine me with the servants, with the estate affairs, and now this."
"What is there to undermine? I am the Master of this house, the duchy..."
His fists clenched as he took a step closer, his anger barely contained. He laughed uncontrollably, there was madness in his eyes. The Duchess remained unfazed.
"With or without your permission, Dimitri will be the heir of my Duchy. But I am not unreasonable, if you have any valid concerns, you may tell me."
"Valid concerns? Now you want my input after you’ve already told the whole estate? It’s not about Dimitri. it’s about you taking whatever you want and calling it your decision alone," he spat, his voice tight with resentment.
"Well, it is my Duchy to give away. I will be deciding the heir... Or would you want me to consider that orphan boy you brought without my permission?"
The Duke looked at her and smiled, "Well, I am just following your footsteps..."
She tossed her hand as if speaking as a matter of fact, "I wish you followed my footsteps diligently. I would’ve never chosen that foolish child. Couldn’t you have chosen someone worthy? Hah."
That was all that the Duke could take, he couldn’t bear the insult any more, so he stood up in anger and swiped everything on the desk.
He could no longer contain himself. He stepped close to the Duchess with uncontrolled aggression.
She however did not move an inch, she stood and faced him directly. She wasn’t scared of this wimp of a man. She was not someone who would be completely enamoured by some man.
At first, she was attracted by his wit and intelligence. He kept up the facade long enough for them to get married. Soon, his insecurities started to show. Day by day the intelligence she was first attracted by was gone.
His projections, his lies, his deceit. She was sick of it. She allowed him to do whatever as long as he didn’t trouble her. Divorcing him would be a hassle... She thought.
She, like her element was calm and cool. His behaviour did not provoke her.
She looked at him as if he were a jumping clown.
"That boy... Is better than that stranger you brought in!" He yelled.
"Hah! Better..." The Duchess immediately brushed him off and turned to leave. When she did, the Duke placed his hand on her shoulder attempting to stop her.
Realising it was getting ’physical’ the Duchess acted. She turned and used her powers. Like a huge wave crashing down, water overwhelmed him. It slammed against the desk leaving him soaked.
With heaving breath, he stared at his wife leaving... Anger and fright...