The Ruthless Circumstances of the Monstrous Duke - Chapter 17

Back in her room, Marienne tried to suppress her tumultuous emotions before violently throwing off the robe.

Despite the weather not being cold, her hands trembled. She couldn’t recall how she had come to her senses or how she had returned.

She remembered the maid’s bewildered expression when they met on the stairs.

It’s no wonder, considering she had come down from the Duke’s floor in such a state, as though she was flaunting it.

Marienne slumped down on the floor.

Regardless of the circumstances, she had entered the lord’s room without permission.

She had no right to complain even if she received harsh punishment.

While understanding this, it was difficult to bear the shame.

More than being mistaken for a thief and subjected to a body search, being considered trash who extorted money from the sick was even worse.

And she felt utterly miserable for using that to beg for compensation for her healing.

After lying sprawled like a rag, she got up clumsily and went to the washbasin to wash her face. A shabby woman was reflected in the mirror. Like the tattered front of her dress.

Marienne glared at the woman in the mirror.

“Pull yourself together. There’s nothing to be disappointed or upset about. Nothing to be ashamed of. From now on, there’s nothing you won’t do to survive on your own without anyone to rely on.”

Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the basin.

That evening, when Marienne finished her meal, a maid informed her that the Duke was waiting in the reception room.

Having expected this, Marienne calmly followed the maid.

The Duke was waiting in the reception room.

As she sat down opposite him, the Duke handed her a contract.

“Read the conditions and state your desired compensation.”

Marienne carefully examined the contract that would become her lifeline.

The parchment stated that she would become the Duke’s bella, respond to healing requests at any time, keep all matters confidential, and would receive appropriate punishment if the terms are violated.

Her eyes, which had gone down to the last sentence, moved back up and fixed on one word.

Bella.

In vulgar terms, a mistress.

A relationship of pleasure that requires no promises or vows.

The noble aristocrats, disliking the vulgar word ‘mistress’, had created their own hypocritical nickname.

Marienne looked up.

“If healing is the purpose, you could keep me nearby as an attendant maid. Is there a need for me to be a bella?”

“From now on, you’ll be with me everywhere. Even if it’s on the battlefield. Wouldn’t it cause a scandal if an unmarried duke dragged around a young maid without justification?”

“I didn’t know you feared rumors. I suppose those with much to lose have much to be cautious about?”

At her sarcastic words, Nigel crossed his long legs and leaned back.

As if he would tolerate the prey’s antics, arrogantly.

“The Emperor has a strong obsession with healers. He even made a law to forcibly register them in the temple so that no one could employ them privately. Of course, the nobles strongly opposed, and the Emperor had to make an exception.”

“An exception…?”

“He allowed the freedom to refuse the temple if the eldest son of a family took a healer as his spouse or bella. Why do you think the greedy Emperor did that?”

Marienne shook her head.

“Because there had never been a female healer since the founding of the Empire. That’s how obsessed the Emperor is with healers. And he hates me just as much. What do you think will happen when these two factors combine?”

“You mean I’m to be a false bella.”

“The Emperor isn’t such a careless person. We’ll probably have to pass through the Flame of Faith. It’s a dangerous ritual that was performed in the imperial family long ago, but he’s likely to demand it.”

“The Flame of Faith?”

“It’s magic that discerns the relationship between a man and a woman.”

“What happens if it’s false?”

“You and I will remain as friendly ashes.”

Marienne frowned at the unfunny joke.

“Then will one night be enough? Or is there a set number of times?”

“Does your mouth not know shame?”

“I want to be certain. It’s a formal contract, after all.”

Nigel glared at her with a sneer.

“Whether it’s once or a thousand times, I’ll decide. The only thing certain for you is to keep your mouth shut as you see fit.”

Marienne clenched her teeth to keep her expression from wavering.

“May I state my conditions?”

“Speak.”

“When the healing is completely finished, let me leave. And don’t look for me again after that.”

“Is that all?”

“And… pay me three hundred deniso per day for the healing, including being a bella. I’d appreciate it if you could pay it punctually every morning, even if it’s troublesome.”

“You’re more vicious than a moneylender.”

I’ll put a vulgar price on every day I spend with you.

I’ll stamp out any unnecessary feelings that might grow, day by day.

“Will you do it?”

“Write down your demands and sign.”

Marienne picked up the quill pen.

After she finished signing, the man who was once the master of her heart elegantly wrote his name next to hers.

The contract was sealed.

Her shoulders, which had been tensely raised, finally lowered.

As she read through the sentences on the parchment again, Marienne prayed.

That when that day comes, she would be able to leave freely.

That she would gain the courage and strength to move forward into the unknown.

And that she would be able to laugh and forget this contract that was killing her heart.

“I will devote myself wholeheartedly until the day the healing is complete.”

Nigel looked with contempt at Marienne, who was quietly smiling while looking at the contract.

* * *

“So you signed the contract?”

Marienne was walking and chatting with Rahta about various things.

“You said you liked Nigel. Can you handle such a relationship?”

“What can’t I handle when I have neither education nor possessions? I’m trying to live steadfastly.”

“Marienne…”

Rahta linked arms with her and pursed her lips.

As they entered the rose garden, a fresh floral scent wafted through the air.

But Rahta flared her nostrils at the scent emanating from Marienne.

“I’ve met many priests, but your fragrance is by far the best.”

“That’s nonsense. How can you compare me to such intelligent people? I’m just a fraud who’s never been trained.”

“Nigel met all the healers trying to find you. Including the high priest. The more pure and altruistic the priests are, the greater their holy power, and it manifests as a fragrance. But they all had weak scents.”

“I’d like to meet them. People with the same ability.”

“They were mediocre. They called themselves priests, but they were more like politicians. That’s why their scents were all weak. Some priests couldn’t be smelled at all. Nigel was very disappointed.”

“By the way, what’s your relationship with the Duke? He detests monsters, doesn’t he?”

As they turned a corner of the garden, the Duke appeared in the distance, leading a group.

Rahta burrowed into Marienne’s voluminous hair and whispered.

“Nigel and me? We’re close, but we should never meet!”

The creature slid down Marienne’s back and quickly ran away.

As the Duke and his entourage approached, Marienne politely stepped back to let them pass.

When Nigel passed by, she lowered her chin even more.

Count Godwin, who was accompanying him, glanced at Marienne and stopped.

“Was there such a beauty here? Which family’s young lady are you?”

Marienne was quite flustered by the misunderstanding that she was a young lady from a noble family.

Should she say she was the Duke’s bella?

She couldn’t decide.

“I am…”

As she hesitated, trailing off, Nigel intervened.

“She’s a maid to assist my mother, a relative of Baron Ballock. I’m teaching her the work before sending her to Rockshield.”

“Where? Hmm… to think you’d send a daughter from such a humble family to serve the Duchess.”

Godwin looked Marienne up and down, like he was licking her with his eyes. Then he extended his thick hand as if offering alms.

Marienne bent her knees and took his fingertips with both hands.

“It’s an honor to meet such a noble person.”

As she tried to withdraw her hand after the light touch, Godwin suddenly grabbed her wrist.