My Duke Won't Leave Me

Hidden ugliness

Felix narrowed his eyes at Valentine who was sweating buckets right now.

“What did you say?”; He questioned with a cold and firm tone making Valentine gulp down.

This is the first time such thing has ever happened in his life. He has such a big contact and there is no way he cannot take out information about a single girl.

“My Lord, it is as if she does not exist.”; Valentine spoke up. He tired his best and used all his sources, there is no spy with her name; hell, there is no one in this world with her name. They even showed her picture that painter has painted but no one has seen her ever. It is as if she is a ghost, as if she never came in contact with anyone in her life.

“She said, she here to find a friend”; Felix said in confused tone. If she never came in contact with anyone then who is her friend. Who is she?

“What about the names of the place and kingdom?”; Felix said, thinking what if the names do really exist. Maybe some local people might call the kingdom with different names in their vernacular language or something.

“No, there is no place with that name. None”; Valentine replied making Felix sighed.

“It is as if she is not of this world.”; Valentine spoke under his tone making Felix look at him.

“She said it is ‘out of the world country’”; Felix said making Valentine eyes widened. There have been legends of people coming from different world. People of the church call them ‘saints’; because everyone believe that it is their God who send those people to guide them to right path.

“There are legends of people coming here from different world.”; Valentine said in a grim tone. These saints are known as very powerful people, they have different powers as well.

“I know about those legends, but that only happened when the world coming to an end because of the so called ‘Demon Lord’ or with the corruption of people. It was thousands of years ago; even this Demon Lord is a myth.”; Felix replied, there is a statue of a Saint built in the church. No one knows if these stories are true or not, people now use these stories as folk tales or in children books.

“But if she is from a different world.”; Valentine questioned as Felix nodded, he knows if Ruhi is actually from different world and church came to learn about her they will do anything in their power to take Ruhi in their possession. He hates this church; in terms of God they are starting corrupt practises and because people are ‘God fearing’ they do not come forward to report the crimes.

Church is slowly and slowly starting to grow in power and it is clear that they aim to be more powerful than the King himself. Silas James Walker, the light mage blessed by the GODDESS OF LIGHT is the one is the core of this corruption yet he cannot find any proof. Felix cannot openly investigate Silas because people might riot against him and the King. Thankfully King has put at least some limit on the church by not giving Silas a high status but because of people’s ‘growing love’; he is becoming more and more daring.

“My Lord, you should confirm with Miss Ruhi”; Valentine said as Felix sighed. He will only if Maria confirms that Miss Ruhi is not suspicious. He will wait for Maria’s report before taking any action concerning Miss Ruhi. He would have to inform the King if she is really from another world.

…………………………………………….

Where Felix running his brain on high power, Ruhi was enjoying the market. Maria and Ruhi were wearing normal clothes while Ruhi stood out because of her skin colour. Some found it exotic while some found it disgusting but did not say anything because their Lord had deeper colour than her. Maria noticed their gazes and looked at Ruhi thinking she must be feeling awkward but was surprised to find absolutely happy girl.

Ruhi was astounded by the beauty and liveliness of the town and what made her happiest was that she was not recognised and she could do anything and no one will stop her to ask for her autograph and picture. She cannot deny it is awesome being recognised by people and giving autographs but now that she retired, she found it tiring as she could not enjoy normally. She would have to cover her face if she wanted to enjoy the local carnival and let’s be real carnival are enjoyed locally.

“So, are there any adventure guilds?”; She asked to Maria who gave her a confusing look.

“Well Miss, there are mercenary groups who take odd missions”; Maria said, she came from one such mercenary group which died in a mission. She was the sole survivor; she was taken in by the Archduke after he admitted that she has great talent. She never thought she would be a knight; people see woman as weak being. Even after Archduke promoting women knights, majority still think woman belong in kitchen and is only good in maintaining household.

King personal army does have female knights but in a very less number because woman themselves does not want to come. Some because their families do not allow that while most of them are hesitant, they just want to marry and settle down. Females are seen as damaged ‘goods’ if they have any mark on their bodies therefore most of the female knights remain single for their whole life while man are seen as manly if they have scares on their bodies. She hates this kind of double standards, but what can she do?

“Well than let’s have a look.”; Ruhi said in a jolly tone making Maria came out of her thoughts. She smiled at Ruhi and nodded leading her to the guild. She does not know why Ruhi is so excited to go to a mercenary guild, woman rarely go their; most of the time it is because they cannot find work elsewhere. Girls are given a test if they cannot pass then they are not admitted in a group, but they are given a choice to become a w***e or a mistress and if she is lucky a wife to one of the mercenaries.

Many girls sell their bodies their but no one can say anything because girls sign a contract. Girls sign a contract before they start selling their bodies and once, they sign it they cannot be relieved from their ‘duties’ unless the contract is over. The girls who make to the group too does not have very good luck, many of them are used as holes for ‘relieving’ men because they are not strong enough to defend themselves.

Archduke tired to make it better but could not do anything because girls sign a contract and does not even come forward to tell if they were forced to sign it. He cannot infiltrate the mercenary’s groups unless and until he has people standing against them. The girls are so threatened that they do not dare to raise their voice at all.

She herself had to sell herself to have money to eat, Maria shuddered remembering how men would tear her clothes and use her at their wish. She was just twelve at that age, she trained herself to become powerful and make a place in the group. After that she killed everyone who r***d her and thought it was alright because they are paying ‘money’ for it.

She understands why girls feel powerless, it is because they have been oppressed from the beginning. Even the parents tell the girls to concentrate on household works because they need to be a proper wife. They cannot fight because men are stronger, girls are not taught to defend themselves at all. And if the girl is r***d even though Archduke have death penalty for it but society blames the girl, because she must be the one who seduced the man. Maria chuckled in frustration, she hates walking down the streets because she knows that ugliness behind these smiling faces, these people do not even deserve a place in hell.

Ruhi who was walking behind Maria noticed how her mood changed hearing about mercenaries. Seems like something happened to her there, maybe this is not like the ‘fairy tales’ she has red about. She has read how people of the town are super nice and welcoming but what she feels now is completely opposite of how she felt when she was in carriage. She can feel the judgemental gaze burning in her skin.

But she is so powerful and have so much experience that people with narrow mind does not affect her at all. But she can see that Maria does not like anyone here, seems like these smiles are a big façade. She smiled internally; people are same everywhere; even in her world when she came to the organisation she was shunned because she was the youngest. All of their attitude turned 180 degrees when she became the member of the council. All of them think themselves as good but they are nothing but people who have the hidden malice which they take out by shunning people. And the best part is these are the people who show ‘how they don’t discriminate’ and are ‘good to everyone’; just like these town people.

It has been years seeing such hidden ugliness, after she became famous everyone turned good towards her. But even in her world, this type of ugliness is common.