Please stop...I'm so sorry...please no more or else I'll die...." Covered in blood and wounds, Derick joins his both hands and begs for mercy. His fine clothes already in tatters, his face covered in tears.
And a sadistic smile took over her face, when she hears his cries, begging her to stop while groveling down at her feet like a dog.
It was a smile full of satisfaction and pleasure.
A wonderful sight it was to her eyes!
Because he was at the place where he belonged.
That was at Rosetta's feet.
"Dear brother, you forgot your place, so it's my duty to as an elder sister to remind you again" I smile at him.
Then raising the whip high up...
But when I'm about to strike it again, I hear a woman's scream.
"PLEASE STOP IT!!!"
I turn around to see Teresa standing on the other side, her head covered in bandage from the wound Derick gave her.
After bringing her out of his room back then, I called the doctor and asked him to treat her. Her head was bleeding after Derick threw the glass at her, her face was all swollen from his punches.
Even though she tried to kill me, I found her very pitiful.
But this girl can't be helped.
She rushed towards us, and drops down on the ground before me.
Then raising her arms wide she protects Derick behind her, "Please don't hurt him anymore! Hurt me instead! Please don't lay another finger on him!!"
"What?" I raised a brow.
"He's innocent. I'm the one who poisoned your medicine last night. Punish me if you want to punish someone!" She says.
I really have no words.
Her eyes are serious, she is really ready to get hit.
It's really painful to even watch this drama...
"I'm tired." I say.
Then handing the whip to the guard, I walk back to my room.
And immediately Teresa hugs Derick and cries, "Milord are you okay?!? Hey someone help him get up!"
Derick passes out in her arms.
But no one helps them.
Neither the servants nor the guards.
No one dares to come forward to help him after what happened a few moments ago.
"How could you!? You all were supporting master Derick until yesterday!? And you dare to turn your backs on him now!?" Teresa shouts at them.
"Teresa didn't you see what the Duchess did a few moments ago!? Do you want us to be next?" A maid says.
"What is the meaning of all this!? Hey you...You said that you poisoned her...remember this is a grave crime punishable by death! You must be grateful that the lady has forgiven you for now" A guard warns Teresa.
"I poisoned her!? Then what about you people? Anne, Lily, Ron??? You all knew what I was going to do and swore to help master Derick get his rightful title back as the the son of this family! How can you change sides so easily? Where is your loyalty?" Teresa says to the other maids.
The guards who were listening to all this, gasp in shock. Unlike the servants who were on Derick's side, the knights of the Duchy were still loyal to Rosetta who would train them personally most of the time.
A murder scheme...
All the servants of the house work together...
To kill the Duchess...
And listening to all of this, an old knight standing close to Teresa couldn't control his rage anymore.
"What is the meaning of all this? Have you all gone insane!?" He shouts.
The servants avert their gazes in guilt. It was already time for the truth kept inside the inner chambers of this palace to come out to the world.
"This is unforgivable! Your necks deserve to be sliced off for your sins!" The old knight raises his sword to attack Teresa.
But he is stopped by someone.
He looks behind to see it's his Lord Arron grabbing his arm that held the sword.
"Sir Franklyn what are you doing?"
"Lord Arron...these lowly servants dared to scheme the murder of the Duchess..."
"I know" Arron lets go of his arm.
Then turning towards the other guards, he orders,"You all may take your leaves."
"Pardon my insolence Milord, but shouldn't you punish them as the Duke of this house?" Sir Franklyn asks in disbelief.
How can he be so carefree after they tried to kill his wife...?
Then is he also...?
"Punishing them is upto me. You don't have to worry about that. " Arron says.
Franklyn bites his lips and decides to ask the obvious question that all the guards present in the hall were dying to ask...
"Were you aware of this from beforehand...?"
"Huh?"
"The Duchess...Back then she told us you tried to kill her along with her brother...Is it true?" He asks.
"Oh did she now? So yeah what about it?" Arron asks back casually.
Franklyn swallowed a lump in his throat.
As a loyal knight, he wouldn't dare to go against the Duke of this house but being one of the oldest knights of the Duchy he had seen Rosetta grow up from a little girl right in front of his eyes like his own daughter...
To think that she's married to a scum like that...
"Get your act together before I cut-"
But before Franklyn can complete his sentence another knight stops him by placing his hand on his shoulder.
"Let's go Sir, it's time for our training." He reminds.
He had to stop his senior before things got worse...
Afterall a knight must never go against their Lord.
But all of them...
Their faiths wavered greatly.
They all loved and respected Rosetta, as the Duchess of the house. She was a woman of honour and dignity.
If the Duke goes against her...
Should they just obey the duke because he's the man, over her?
All of them were standing at the crossroads of faith.
And they knew that soon they will have to choose sides.
Franklyn bites his lips and follows the knights out.
Watching their retreating backs, Arron smirks.
"They look like dogs escaping with their tails in between their legs..." He says under his breath.
"Lord Arron...Thank you." Teresa says hugging Derick to her chest.
He looks down to see Derick covered in wounds and rags.
"What's this? He's completely passed out huh? She's wilder than I thought..." A pleased smirk takes over Arron's face.
"Milord...no one...no one helped him! All of them watched the Duchess torture him like an animal...!" Teresa cries.
"Lord Arron we are sorry...But this is the first time we saw the Duchess like that..." A maid says.
"It's my first time too" Arron says.
The noble Duchess who is perfect in every way...
That woman suddenly changed into a scary beast.
Establishing her authority over this place through violence...
It was very unlike of the gentle and polite lady, Rosetta Rowells.
She was always mindful of her reputation.
She would never make a scene like this...
That's why even after hating Arron for his low status, she made sure everyone believed that they are happily married.
This marriage is not real.
They are both using each other.
She could keep her title and status as long as she was married.
He could enjoy her wealth and luxury...
But it was getting tiring for him to pretend like this...
Even while sleeping on the same bed he can't touch her...
She gets close to other men and even trains the knights personally...
She hardly speaks to him except when needed...
Arron narrowed his eyes.
The frustration was eating him up every day and night.
They never understood each other.
What they had was a parasitic relationship.
Where one person is benefitted at the expense of the other...
And in the end only one of them survives.
That is why you should use them before they can use you.
Arron knew that very well.
He sighs and turns towards Teresa.
"Tell Derick to be careful around the knights. The servants and the inner chambers of the palace may be under his control but don't forget that the knights are still loyal to the Duchess as she always trains them personally, they are very close to her" He warned.
Teresa nods carefully.
"Get him to his room and treat his wounds" Arron orders the servants.
Although hesitant at first, the servants eventually follow his orders.
He is the Duke of this house afterall...
And he has everything under his control except...
Her.
Rosetta...
Even if this whole property and wealth becomes his...
She would never be...
And that was the truth that burnt his body and mind every day and night.
As his blue eyes wanders around in thoughts of her...
Suddenly they fall on Lorenzo, standing at the end corner of the hall.
A devilish smirk takes over his lips.
It was finally time for a delicious meal.
"Clean this mess up and go back to your duties" he orders the servants.
They bow down as he takes his leave.
And when Lorenzo noticed Arron walking towards his direction.
A jolt of shock takes over him.
"No...I can't let that bastard find me like this..."
Immediately, he turned around to escape.
But where would he escape...
Arron would still find him no matter wherever he goes....