How To End This Marriage-Chapter 161: Boundaries Tested

"You have returned?" Duke Alexavier inquired, his gaze fixed on the Duchess as she entered the room.

"You? Why are you here? I specifically declined your request to enter," the Duchess retorted, her anger simmering beneath the surface.

"And I declared that no matter how vehemently you refuse, your heart yearns for my presence. So here I am, fulfilling your unspoken wish," the Duke replied, a playful glint in his eyes.

"This is not my wish, nor will it ever be," the Duchess spat, her voice laced with venom.

"Why this anger, wife? Are you perhaps afraid that a moment of gentleness might spark love for me?" Duke teased,leaning closer.

"Gentle with you? Don’t jest, Duke! Such a thing is inconceivable!" she scoffed.

"Because I haven’t forgotten the year I spent locked away, starving and parched, while my husband lavished attention on the princess," she hissed, her eyes flashing with bitterness. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Do you have any clue how desperately I searched for you?" he countered, his voice thick with anguish.

He closed the distance between them, his fingers digging into her shoulder.

"You parrot the same accusations, and I endure them because I despise causing you pain. But have you ever considered my perspective? Mine was overshadowed by yours, silenced and unseen." He spoke with an urgency that reverberated through the room.

"The day your disappearance was announced, I raged against the Emperor. I defied him, do you even comprehend that?"

"I sent knights scouring the forests, clinging to the hope of finding you alive."

"A knight on the verge of revealing the truth was silenced, branding me a criminal before the entire Knight Association. I drowned my sorrows in alcohol, losing myself to despair, yet you claim I never sought you?"

"Enough of this cruelty, wife! My heart cannot bear it any longer!" he cried, his voice cracking.

The Duchess shoved his hand away, stepping back to regain her composure.

"I have no desire to understand you, Duke. This was always a marriage of convenience. Let it remain so." Her voice was cold and unwavering.

"You wish to stay? Fine. Your presence is no concern to me. But dare you interfere in my affairs again, and I will take measures you wouldn’t envision." The Duchess delivered the threat with icy finality before turning towards the bed.

"I have adjusted the pillows. Do not even think of crossing this line," she warned, her voice laced with exhaustion, before slumber claimed her.

"You think a pillow will stop me from getting to you?" Duke smirked.

"It’s not just a saying, Duke. I’m ordering you not to cross the line," the Duchess retorted, her voice firm.

"Order? We shall see. What will happen if you cross the border yourself?" the Duke challenged with a playful smile.

"I won’t break my word, rest assured. I won’t lay a finger on you," she said, turning away while the Duke chuckled and began changing his uniform into a night robe, exposing his chest before falling onto the other side of the bed.

This was the first time they had shared the same bed in a year and a half.

"Wife, have you fallen asleep?" the Duke asked, but received no response.

"Wife, are you sleeping?" he tried again.

"What? If you can’t sleep, then leave. I want to rest in peace," she snapped, sounding irritated.

"If you want to sleep, why keep telling me to go away? Are you feeling insecure about me being in the same room?" the Duke teased once more.

"I’m not insecure. I’m simply comfortable sleeping alone in my own bed. That’s my preference. Don’t think I’m easily teased like you," she stated, keeping her eyes closed as she spoke.

"Alright, I’ll find out if you truly sleep with me or if you’re just saying that," he said with a smile, as the Duchess slowly drifted off to sleep.

"Wife, asleep?" He received no answer.

"Wife, you really fell asleep while I, your husband, am right beside you? So defenseless, my wife," he mumbled as he turned her face towards his, her soft snores reaching his ears.

"Such a beautiful face you have while you sleep. Closed eyes! Small lips opening and closing gently as you breathe, an angel’s look upon your face. It’s as if I’m truly married to an angel, not a human." He whispered softly into her ear.

He carefully pulled her over the pillow boundary and made her lean against his bare chest, his hands circling her back.

"How I wish I could always hold you like this," he murmured, closing his eyes, then whispering, "But I know tomorrow morning will be pure chaos from your scream."

He smiled as he drifted off to sleep, letting the morning take over the night, while the Duchess slowly opened her eyes.

"What is this rock-hard thing? Did I somehow sleepwalk into the forest and fall asleep?" she mumbled in confusion.

"Wife, how long will you be asleep on my chest?" the Duke whispered in her ear.

"Aaaaa! What are you doing here?" she screamed, jumping back.

"Did you forget I permanently shifted into your room?" the Duke replied calmly.

"I didn’t forget that. That’s not what I’m asking. I’m asking how I’m on your chest? Didn’t I warn you not to cross the line?But you didn’t listen to me!" she exclaimed, flustered.

"See, wife, it wasn’t me who crossed the line, but you," the Duke countered, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"Last night you were mumbling my name, and your hand wandered to my chest. I tried to tell you to keep your promise,but you didn’t listen and fell asleep on me. You took advantage of me!" the Duke feigned innocence.

"I’m not someone who would do such a thing!" the Duchess protested indignantly.

"Do you think I would? Can you really believe I would do something like that?" The Duke continued to act innocent,enjoying the playful banter.

"Yes, I would believe you would do such a thing to go against me," the Duchess argued, her voice tight with suspicion.

"How could you accuse your own husband, wife? I’m as innocent as an angel. Everything I said is true. You were practically crawling into me like you were gonna—" the Duke started, but the Duchess clamped her hand over his mouth.

"Not a word! Don’t utter a syllable," she hissed, her jaw clenched.

As she placed her hand on his lips, he surprised her by kissing her palm.

"What the heck are you doing?" the Duchess sputtered, flustered.

"Loving you, perhaps? You are my wife, and I long to express all my love to you. I’ve controlled myself around you for far too long, and I fear I can’t bear it any longer."

"Your scent... it draws me in like I’m in heat, and I want to... mate with you for days," he declared shamelessly.

"How can you be so shameless!" the Duchess exclaimed, staring at him in disbelief.

"What shame is there in loving my own wife? This was bound to happen eventually." He leaned closer, his eyes pleading.

"But don’t worry, I will always wait for your consent. I’m not that kind of man, wife. I love you with all my heart," he added, his voice thick with emotion.

"Enough!" the Duchess snapped, cutting him off. Just then, her maids entered the room at her summons.

"Help me get ready!" she instructed them.

"Yes, Duchess, but...," the maid started hesitantly.

"But what?" the Duchess prompted, raising an eyebrow.

"The Empress has summoned you. You need to be there in five minutes," the maid explained nervously.

"Don’t worry about that, I’ll handle it," the Duchess assured them, and marched into the washroom where another maid awaited.

Meanwhile, another maid approached the Duke.

"Duke, how can I assist you in getting ready?" she offered with a suggestive smile.

"No need," the Duke replied abruptly. "I prefer my wife’s help."

"But the Duchess is preparing for the meeting with the Empress. I doubt she’ll have time to help you," the maid persisted,her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness.

"My wife never said she was rushing to meet the Empress. So, don’t concern yourself with our affairs," the Duke responded, giving her the cold shoulder.

"But I’m the maid assigned to serve you, Duke," the maid whined, attempting to get closer.

The Duke stepped back, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "Didn’t you hear what I said? Are you deaf and dumb?"

"What’s happening?" the Duchess asked, emerging from the washroom.

Noticing the situation, she strode towards the maid, who immediately averted her gaze.

"Who are you? Who sent you here?" the Duchess demanded, tilting the maid’s chin up to meet her eyes.

"I’m... just a maid, Duchess. I was sent here to serve you," the maid stammered, fear creeping into her voice.

"Then why weren’t you with me in the washroom? Why are you here with my husband? Do you... have ambitions of becoming his concubine?" the Duchess accused, her anger blazing.

"I-I have no such intentions, Duchess," the maid stammered, shrinking under the Duchess’s glare.