The Scoundrel's Tribute

Silent Night

Rene

It's useless to say that the atmosphere at the dinner table tonight was even colder than ever. Usually Dmitry would talk with Dina completely shutting me out of their chatting, but since I came, they remained silent. I took only a few bites of my dinner before I stood up. Both of their eyes stared at me as I said.

- I don't feel well, please excuse me. Have a nice meal, both of you. - I left without further discussion followed by my personal maid Magda. She hurried after me.

- Duchess, what happened? Are you really feeling unwell? Should I call the doctor? - I stopped and smiled at the young maid. She was still so inexperienced and cute, Dmitry assigned her to me to annoy me, since she still made lots of mistakes. But Magda was loyal and tried her best. Her green eyes waited eagerly for an answer and after a deep sigh I said.

- I'm fine, I just wanted to give them some space, that's all. Could you please, bring me some light dinner to my room?- she bowed and rushed towards the kitchens leaving me alone. I went back to my room and laid on top of my bed. Everything was dark green and decorated with gold. "f**k my luxurious taste... How childish is this?" - I thought. I tried to outshine Catherine's former room by decorating mine extravagantly but it only ended up being ridiculous. The best part was the hidden staircase behind the huge, dark brown bookshelf. It lead to a tiny tower attached to my room. I haven't used that tower in my previous lives but this time I'll make a good use of it. Thanks to the windows all around it was always warm there. "What kind of herbs should I plant first?" The door opened and I sat up.

- You are back faster than expected Magda! - I said but only then noticed that the door was opened by Dmitry. I got up and bowed.

- Duke.

- Weren't you feeling unwell? - he asked and I looked into his eyes. The warm eyes that shined with adoration at Catherine and Dina, yet looked at me coldly.

- I'm a bit under the weather. What are you doing here? - I asked and he scoffed. He wasn't a lot taller than I. Maybe half head, a bit more. Dmitry's powerful aura filled the room and I was getting stuffy.

- Do I need a reason to check on my wife? - he asked back but his voice remained cold. I chuckled and sat back on my bed.

- Normally? Not at all, but I don't think that's the case in our situation. - my response got him out of guard.

- What do you mean by that? - he asked and I smiled leaning back on the bed but keeping my eyes on him.

- We both know that you hate me to the core. I'm the reason you got tied to the Emperor, and you married me, the orphan niece of the Emperor, because you were ordered to. Also, my attitude wasn't the best in these past years, but please rest assured, I'm over you. - he laughed and his laughter filled the room.

- You don't expect me to believe this right? - I sat up and walked in front of him. I stared into his brown eyes and hated how my body reacted to his closeness, but I've got my mind set on my target.

- I don't want you, Duke Rankin, I neither covet the former Duchess's place anymore. I'm Duchess by name only, so why don't we coexist for the time being? - I asked and he grabbed my shoulders again. I hissed because he digged his fingers into the wounds he caused previously.

- What kind of sick games are you playing this time Rene? Wasn't poisoning yourself and hurting my daughter enough for you? What is this sudden change of heart? - he asked and all I could do was smile and feel pity for him. This strong man, I've seen him shattered into pieces three times already. I've seen him loosing weight, getting pale and how the light of his life slowly extinguished leaving a walking corpse instead of the once glorious Duke. I saw him loosing the last reason of his existence and I was determined to avoid that to happen in this life. Not only for my feelings for him, and not only to save my own skin but also because of my sense of guilt.

- I've reflected on my life and got to this conclusion. You won't believe my words, so with time, my actions are going to speak for themselves. Until then, please leave me alone, my dinner is here. - I said as I noticed the shocked Magda at the door. Dmitry released me and before leaving the room he said.

- I'm keeping my eyes on you. One wrong movement Rene, and I won't care about who you are. - he left shutting the door behind him and Magda squeaked. She put the tray down and rushed to me.

- My Lady, are you alright? - she asked seeing me rubbing my shoulders.

- I'm fine, but starving! - I took a seat at the mahagony table and ate slowly the soup Magda brought. Once I was done, I asked her to prepare my bath and told her she can leave for the rest of the night.

- Are you sure my Lady? I can stay if you want. - I pat her shoulder and smiled.

- I'll be fine Magda, don't worry too much! Take a good rest because I'll need your help tomorrow! - she smiled faintly and left with worry. I stood in the bathroom, in front of the full body mirror and looked at my body. This year of my life, I've just turned eighteen. I was tall for a woman of this Empire since my mother came from a tribe from the South, I wore her characteristics on me. Cool honey colored skin, very long, wavy black hair, almond shaped, black eyes with a hint of dark blue in them like the night sky. Slim, but curvy body, with long legs and with delicate fingers. My father made sure that I've learned to play piano and dance like my mother used to before he died and my mother taught me all the basics of her tribe's knowledge, before she disappeared. They found her body at the borders of our territories. I knew she wasn't there because she wanted to. She longed for her land and tribe, but my father was a greedy man, who didn't want his belonging to escape. I couldn't stop laughing when I realized my mother poisoned him before leaving, so overnight, my parents killed each other and the Emperor became my guardian. As I expected, the fingerprints of Dmitry were already getting darked on my skin. I got into the warm water and submerged into it inhaling the calming lavender scent, Magda put into the water.

- Maybe I should start with lavenders and verbena. Also a few wolfsbane and chamomile won't be too weird. I'll have to get out of the castle in the near future and visit the forest to bring a few seedlings. - I got out of the water and after drying up, I got into my sleeping gown. Once I was in my bed, I felt the presence of an intruder in my room. When the cold steel touched my skin I grinned and sent the assassin flying to the other side of the room. Apart from the sexy southern appearance and my beauty I've inherited something a lot more useful from my mother and that was her magical power. The assassin's eyes widened as I approached him. I kneeled in front of him and asked.

- Which one sent you? - his mouth started filling with white saliva and his eyes rolled back before he died. I walked to the door and coughed to wake up the guards.

- Gentlemen, I hope you had your beauty sleeps because someone tried to murder me. He is dead, by the way. Could you please get rid of it? - they rushed into my room and soon took the dead body out. I walked back and crawled into my bed dreaming about my tower garden.