The Scoundrel's Tribute

I was dragged out of the castle by force. My dress ripped into pieces and my legs got wounded by being dragged like a rag doll. People of the Dukedom shouted in anger as the knights passed by them. They kept throwing rocks at me and shouted as loud as they could. The knights tied me against the pole they meticulously prepared and I heard people screaming. - BURN THE WITCH! - KILL IT QUICKLY! - "Ugh... These fools. Only if I was a bit faster, things wouldn't have ended up like this..." - I thought as he was approaching me with a torch in his hand and with his eyes filled with pain. He looked as handsome as the first time I've met him. I can't believe that it had been already two lives ago when my father introduced me to him. Duke Dmitry Rankin, he was still dashing young man, despite being more than ten years older than I was back then. Now his kind brown eyes looked into mine with pain and resentment. - Any last words? - he asked and I had to smile how till the very end he preserved his dignity. I knew it wouldn't matter what I'd say. I've tried it already, but it wasn't enough. His daughter was dead and the claim fall on me, again. - Seems like I failed this time too, I hope I can fix things next time... - his hand trembled as he threw the torch onto the bulk of wood I was standing on. Funny that I wanted to reach out for the hand that was about to put out the light of my life, setting the woods on fire. As the flames consumed my body I remained silent and kept looking into the eyes of the one I've always loved. " See you soon." I've opened my eyes and fel a burning sensation on my thighs. Her eyes met mine and she was mumbling with fear. - Du.. Du.. Duchess Rene... I'm so sorry... - I reached towards her and she shut her eyes. The eyes that were the mix of his and his first love's. I used to resent her hazel eyes and golden locks in my first time meeting her. - No problem my darling, accidents tend to happen. Did you get hurt? - she looked at me at awe. - I'm fine Duchess. - Mom, call me mom. - Dinara's eyes widened and I've realized that I never looked into them properly before. Her eyes looked like the beach, with her father's brown color in the center resembling an island and her mother's clear blue surrounding it as the ocean. Dinara's mother, the Duke's first wife, the former Duchess Rankin, Catherine. She was a beauty well-known in the whole Empire. With her perfect figure, golden hair and blue eyes, she was the reason of envy of all women and the desire of all men. She married Dmitry when they were barely eighteen years old, but their love story was the hottest topic of the Empire. How the young Duke fell for the daughter of a Viscount and broke off his engagement with the Princess because of that. They lived happily together for years and eight years ago, Catherine gave birth to Dinara. Not long after, unexpectedly, she passed away. There were rumors that the Emperor's hand was in Catherine's sudden death, but it turned out that she lost her life due a failed pregnancy. Dmitry mourned his dead love for years and poured all his love and efforts into his daughter's happiness. Since his reason to go against the Emperor's wishes was gone. He had to remarry and the new bride was the Emperor's niece, Princess Rene, my humble self. I sighed and caressed Dinara's little head, she was only nine years younger than me. "Is it okay for her to call me mom?" - I asked myself but it was already too late to go back on my own words. Dinara turned her glance on the ground quickly and lingered her stare in her little shoes. Now that I think about it, I've been her stepmother for two years already and this is the first time I've talked kindly with her. "She mist think I'm a weirdo..." - Of course, if you feel uncomfortable calling me that, you can just call me by my name. - I said quickly to break the uncomfortable silence between us. She looked at me again and her hair danced around her little face woth each movement she made. She was almost the spitting imagine of her mother, with her heart shaped face and fair skin. "If it weren't for those little brown islands, no one would tell that you are Dmitry's child." - I thought and waited for her to make her decision. - I don't want to be disrespectful towards the Duchess. - she said and I felt ashamed of my previous selves." This little girl is an angel... Why did I have to treat her like a pest? "... - Actually, I knew why. Before my deaths, I was madly in love with Dmitry. I was head over the clouds for being able to marry him, I wanted children of our own and to be looked at the same way he used to look at Catherine. But after our wedding, I had to realize, that those caring glances, were meant for only her and her daughter. So at first I've taken out all of my pain on Dina. The second time, I've just ignored her, the third time, I've tried to be somehow caring but all of my attempts were considered suspicious, so I stopped. But this time, it will be different. It must be. - You won't be disrespectful, but I understand of you want to keep your distance. After all, our relationship wasn't ideal until today. - I got off of my chair and kneeled in front of Dina, I held her trembling little hands and heard the maids gasp. A few in fear that I'll hurt the child, others in surprise of my sudden actions. - Dinara, I'm sorry for mistreating you in the past. I know that there is no reason for you to forgive me, but I hope you can. I'd like to become a proper guardian for you in the future and I'll never attempt to take your mother's place in other than title. - My Lady! - the maids said and I sent a glance at them to shut the f**k up. I've reached into the pocket of my dress and wiped Dina's tears off with a gentle smile. I turned towards her nanny and ordered her to prepare new tea for the Princess, while I headed back to the castle to change my clothes. On my way to my chambers, I've met Dmitry in the corridors. He halted as he noticed my dirty skirt. I've stopped and bowed him respectfully, not expecting anything, but Dmitry called after me. - Duchess. What happened? - his voice sent a shiver down my spine. I turned back to face him and smiled kindly which caused his eyebrows to twitch. - I've had an accident in the garden. The Princess's hand slipped and she poured her tea on me. - he skipped the distance between us and grabbed my shoulders staring into my eyes like an animal ready to attack. - If you raised your hands on my daughter I won't forgive you Rene. I've warned you last time. - "Yeah... I remember well. Also in my last life, this happened the same way. But the difference is that I won't be begging for anything." - I just smiled at him. - I'm innocent. Now, If you'll excuse me, I must treat the burn on my thigh and get a new dress. - I said grabbing his wrists and pulling them off of my hurting shoulders. I knew that by that night, I'm going to have his fingerprints on my skin. "Luckily my skin isn't as fair as the little lady's. No one will notice it."