How To End This Marriage-Chapter 104: Awkward Beginnings

The carriage moved forward, and I sat inside with the duchess. I had expected my husband to be with me, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

"I think you will understand my concern and why I chose you," she said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"I didn’t quite grasp your point, Duchess," I replied.

"I am no longer the duchess to you; I am your mother-in-law. I don’t want you to see me just as the holder of a title. I am your mother-in-law, and I think you should keep that in mind," her tone turned cold.

"Let me get straight to the point," her eyes hardened.

"You must have heard about Alex. As everyone says, he is a monster, but he still obeys his mother. So, I need you to do what I want. I need an obedient daughter-in-law who will follow my wishes," she said, sending shivers down my spine.

"I may be relinquishing my title as duchess, but I still hold that position. You may be sitting there, but I will tell you what you need to do or not. Do you understand?" she asserted.

"Yes, mother," I replied.

Cold. It was so cold. I felt frozen.

"This should remain between us!" she cautioned as the carriage came to a halt. She exited, leaving me alone. A knight extended his hand to escort me into the mansion.

People were staring. I was frightened. The man I had married walked ahead with his mother, and I walked as if I were of little importance in their eyes, not even worthy of their attention.

"Bernice, come forward! If you walk so slowly, people will think we left you behind on the very first day," the duchess remarked with a sarcastic laugh, making me feel out of place.

"I apologize," I said meekly.

"Ah, no need! I didn’t say that to make you apologize," she replied, guiding me as we entered the mansion. The duke went his own way, leaving me alone in the center of the mansion, with all eyes on me.

"Here, now this is your home. Alex is busy learning about his responsibilities, so he went to his study. But don’t worry. I will guide you to your room. You will be given a bath by a maid, and you will soon be assigned your personal maid as well," the duchess informed me as she led me forward. A maid accompanied me to the room situated in a corner near the staircase.

"This is your room, Duchess," she addressed me by the title.

"Ah, I’m not," I attempted to decline.

"No, madam! We have been instructed that you have taken the title of duchess starting today," she said, reminding me of the voice that had declared, "You will only be the duchess, but I will be the one to guide you." The voice continued to echo in my head.

"I will prepare a bath for you," she said, helping me remove my dress and guiding me toward the bathtub.

***

"Madam, I have prepared everything. Please wait here while I go and inform the duke," she said, increasing my anxiety. I’m not sure why I’m so scared, as I know this will happen sooner or later. Sooner or later, I will get married, my husband will touch my hand and kiss my lips like there’s no tomorrow. I’ve heard about all this from the maids. They say it’s very romantic as well as intimate, just how both remove their clothes and immerse themselves in pleasure. But now, this is something I’m about to experience.

I waited, discovering why the maids were giggling so much. The nightgown is so transparent that it made me blush when I looked at myself in the mirror.

I waited for a while, then my husband entered the room, making me turn around to face the other side in a hurry.

"Wife?" he called out.

"Yes, Duke," I answered, my heart beating loudly.

I didn’t know what he would ask or what we were going to do. I didn’t know what would happen. His next words hurt me.

"I know the marriage happened in a hurry, and we didn’t even get the chance to talk. We didn’t even get to meet, so it must be quite uncomfortable for you," he said, sounding like a regular person. Completely different from what I had imagined.

"I don’t think all these rituals are necessary. I know this is something you didn’t want, nor did I."

The last sentence stung.

"I’ve come, leaving my work in the middle, to let you explain about this. So, I think I will take my leave now," he said, walking out of the room, leaving me bewildered.

"Lady, remember, once you get married, you should stay with your husband. It’s not good when the husband enters and leaves the bridal chamber on the wedding night. People gossip. They don’t view the bride favorably after such an incident," Nanny’s voice echoed in my ears. I didn’t care whether he was a monster or not. I didn’t care if he obeyed his mother or not. I thought at least I would come to know him this time, this night. But he said he didn’t want this. He said he came here leaving his work unfinished. So, the work was more important.

"Bernice, you have such a difficult life," I mumbled as I curled up on the cold floor and fell asleep.

I don’t know what happened afterward, but when I opened my eyes, I was in the bathtub, and the maids were preparing me. Everything felt so awkward.

"What are all of you doing? How did I end up here?" I asked.

"The mistress ordered us to prepare you," the maids replied.

"You could have waited," I said.

"We did as the mistress instructed. If you don’t want us to continue, we can stop," they responded, then left the washroom, allowing me to soak in the bath.

I closed my eyes to keep my thoughts organized, but I was awakened by a loud noise.

"What happened?" I shouted.

I was about to go tie the bathrobe when I found the duchess in front of me, entering the washroom.

"Mother, w-what are you—" Before I could finish my words, she reached in front of me when I barely wanted anyone to see me like this.

"Bernice, I think what I said yesterday has gone through your mind. So I’m here to remind you again. You will do what I desire. I have sent those maids to help you prepare, but you refused, why? Because you have become the duchess so you could do as you please? No, it won’t be happening here," she said, making me unable to speak a word but kept on looking at her in fear.

"I apologize, mother!" I said, stuttering.

"It is ok. I didn’t mean to scare you. All I’m doing is for your good," she smiled once again as if nothing happened just now. And as she left, the maids entered the washroom, trying to wash me up again. I laid down in the bathtub like I’m a dead person.

Soon, the washing process was done, and I’m shifted to the dressing table while some prepared my dress, while some did my hair. Some applied makeup, while some worked on my footwear. Everything went through a fast process, and I was prepared to walk outside of my room. But those eyes were looking at me, muttering about last night.

"The duke returned in less than a minute from the room," I heard clearly.

"Yes, I heard they didn’t even see each other before marriage. They didn’t even come in the same carriage, nor did he escort her. Such a loveless marriage is this," I held on to those remarks while walking forward toward the breakfast table, where the duchess, I mean mother, and my husband were present for breakfast.

"Greetings, Duke!"

"Greetings, mother!" I said.

"No need for all these formalities," the duchess smiled, and I sat beside the duke, even though I didn’t have the least interest.

"Did you have a good night?" the duchess said mischievously.

Of course I had, but a worst night.

"Yes, mother. It was good," I said, smilingly.

"Oh, I thought this brat has done something again. He always loses himself in work, so it worries me," she said, making me aware she knows but not telling and mocking me instead.

"It is ok, mother. I’m fine. It is not bad to work," I kept on smiling like a machine. My lips kept on its wide mode, making my entire face hurt.

"Mother, we are having breakfast. There is no need to have such a conversation here. Have a peaceful breakfast," the duke interrupted. Yeah, he too knows what happened last night, but for that, I didn’t have to smile like a machine, but I came back to normal and started having breakfast.

But before I could finish my food, he left the table, leaving me alone. Soon, the duchess walked away too. I was all alone.