Bala: The Duke's Contract Wife

Paul Maraina

Rose had to blink several times. Outfits after outfits were being brought into the living room in the west wing of the Maraina mansion. Not only outfits, various shoes, and accessories were also being piled. In between those piles, sometimes there were dresses made of velvet and decorated with animal fur.

The girl stroke her hand to one dress made of white tiger fur. It was so soft.

"It's... not wedding dresses...," said a confused Rose. 

"Ah, at first His Royal Highness the Duke indeed told me to bring wedding dresses only," said a middle-aged woman in the middle of the room. The woman introduced herself as Madam Chiffon, a designer commissioned by Victor. "But just yesterday, Adrian told me that you're also going to need some daily clothes."

Rose glanced at Adrian. The butler put on an impassive face in the corner of the room. "That is an order from His Highness," he said.

Yes... I wouldn't refuse when given more clothes...

Madam Chiffon gave orders to the servants of the mansion to put down all the things they were carrying. In that room, for that moment, she was the ruler. Although the woman sometimes looked stiff when dealing directly with Rose who was wearing a mask.

When Rose nodded to show her understanding, Madam Chiffon quickly said, "Now, you have to change with this." Madam Chiffon took out a white dress with a mermaid silhouette. The dress had a low backline and even lower cleavage.

"Not that," Rose said.

"But why?" asked Madam Chiffon, "Duchess has a nice body. Such a body must be shown–"

"That's why I don't want to," Rose cut her off, "Choose a more traditional outfit. One that covers more skin."

Madam Chiffon sneered using her lips. "Your marriage is very abrupt, Your Grace. I won't have time to make a new dress when your wedding is tomorrow and the Duke just made an order from me yesterday."

"These are the only dresses I have now," Madam Chiffon said firmly. Behind her mask, Rose smiled thinly. She liked that Madam Chiffon was being frank and taking her stance.

Rose scanned her eyes on the wedding dresses brought by Madam Chiffon. There were six outfits in total. Most were designed to expose the chest, shoulders, and arms. If Rose wore a dress like that, her burn scars would be clearly visible. She almost wanted to demand Madame Chiffon to alter one of the dresses.

Until Rose saw a dress that was placed in the corner of the room. Unlike other dresses that have stocky skirts, this particular dress followed a mermaid pattern just like the first dress Madame Chiffon showed. The neckline was off-shoulder, however, there was lace with an intricate pattern covering the neck and shoulders as well as layering the entire surface of the dress.

***

Looking at Rose's direction of gaze, Madam Chiffon was about to protest. But Rose had already taken the outfit and took it to her room.

"I chose this dress," she said not caring about Madam Chiffon who was still pouting.

"Bu– but Your Grace that is–"

Madam Chiffon's words were cut off when Rose had entered her own room to try on the clothes. Lisa was about to enter Rose's room to help her wear the dress. Yet again Rose refused anyone to enter her toom. She could see Madam Chiffon's face was confused about it, but she didn't care.

In her room, Rose took off her mask with relief. Then she started stripping off her indoor dress and started to put her body into the wedding dress.

Pesky...

Rose attempted to raise the zipper of the dress on the back, but her fingers couldn't pull the zipper up. She did not dare to use more force, fearing that she would damage the dress.

Just in time, the room door opened and Rose quickly turned her back from the door.

How dare they enter my room without permission? Those servants... I must remind them of my status in this mansion.

"Didn't I tell you to wait in the living room?" asked Rose in a low tone. Everyone who heard that tone would surely shrink in fear. But the voice that replied to Rose did not in the least indicate that he was intimidated.

"It's me."

Rose immediately recognized Victor's voice from the door. Before long, the door closed again and Rose could feel someone was watching her intently from behind.

Oh, my God, this guy's presence is so strong.

However, knowing that not just anyone entered her room but the Duke himself, Rose relaxed her shoulders.

"Oh, you," Rose said quietly.

Before Rose could fully face Victor, Victor had already closed the gap between them. His big fingers touched Rose's fingers that were still perched on her back.

"I'll do it," Victor said. His hot breaths blew to Rose's still-exposed back. Spontaneously, Rose's mind wandered on the events of last night when Victor... touch her. Rose felt her body heat up a little.

She lowered her hand and let the man helped her raise the zipper of the dress. Rose put her black hair down on one shoulder, giving Victor access to work. Somehow, time seemed to go very slowly back then.

"What are you doing here, Duke?"

Victor had finished hooking up the zipper perfectly. However, the man held his fingers at Rose's nape and instead fiddled with several strands of Rose's hair.

What's he doing?

"There's someone I'd like to introduce to you."

Then Victor saw Rose's reflection from the mirror on the dresser. For a glance, Rose could see Victor's jaw had slightly fallen off. Rose never felt so intensely noticed by someone. It felt weird. The girl unconsciously slightly hugged her arms as she attempted to slide away from Victor's gaze.

"You mean your son, don't you?"

Victor snapped out of his trance. "Uh... yes."

The man cleared his throat. Then he extended one hand out from behind. Rose exhaled before finally putting her mask back on and welcoming the helping hand.

Victor led her out of the room. When the door opened, it appeared that Madam Chiffon and some of the maids were eavesdropping from behind the door. They immediately straightened their bodies and pretended not to do anything.

The only thing that was different was that a boy had been standing just a few steps from the door. The boy was like a miniature Victor with blonde hair and green eyes. But unlike Victor who could intimidate a room, the boy instead acted frightened. He hid behind a maid.

Rose could see the boy's hand shook violently holding the maid's skirt. Rose recognized that stare. How could she not? It was a look she gave herself every time Rendre entered her room.

The flames of anger smoldered inside Rose.

As great as you are on the battlefield if you make your son this scared... You're still the scum of society, Victor Maraina.

Without realizing it, Rose had clenched her fist to contain her anger. She almost squeezed Victor's hand with her other hand if common sense hadn't stopped her.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, That boy is none of my business. That boy is not my responsibility.

"Paul, say hello to Rose," Victor said with authority.

The boy caught Rose's gaze. Perhaps he became more frightened by the appearance of Rose who was still wearing a mask. The boy stuttered, "Go- good afternoon. Miss Rose." Carelessly, Paul tried to bend down with one hand on the stomach.

"Call her Duchess, Paul," Victor said again, "Not Miss."

Paul looked worried because Victor just declared the boy's mistake.

Seeing Paul so nervous, Rose couldn't bear not to raise her voice. "It doesn't matter. Young Master Paul can call me anything," Mawar said in a soft tone. Then Rose did a curtsy as a form of greeting to Paul. "Nice to meet you, Paul."

Paul just nodded quietly.

That's enough. I don't need to get close to him.

"All right," Victor continued, "I have to tell you both something. I'm going on a three-month expedition. The Emperor has just ordered me to conquer the rebellion in the Wild Land."

Paul's eyes widened when he heard that. "Bu– but you just got back from the previous expedition..."

Oh, there's nothing more saddening than seeing a boy who still loves his parent but is scared of him at the same time....

"It's nothing new, Paul," Victor said coolly. Rose could feel the atmosphere of the room became heavy. The servants and Madam Chiffon could only silence their mouths even if their eyes said different things.

Suddenly a hand wrapped around Rose's waist from behind. Rose could feel the warmth of Victor's body from her back.

"For three months, this mansion will be taken care of by my wife, Rose," Victor told the whole room. His big hand pressed against Rose's waist so strong that Rose had a little trouble breathing. "I'm sure this mansion is in good hands."

Rose immediately knew that Victor was acting. He hugged and expressed confidence in Rose with the aim of giving a message to all the mansion's staff. That they should honor Rose as the Duchess of the mansion.

But his strong embrace around Rose's waist was actually a threat to Rose.

"If you mess around while I'm gone," Victor whispered in Rose's ear, "Believe me, I can make someone disappear without a trace."

"Is that what happened to your first wife?" Rose whispered back.

Rose's breath was blocked when she felt Victor's arms on her waist hardened yet again. Instinctively, Rose held Victor's arm. Luckily she was wearing a mask, so no one else could see that her face was wincing.

"If I were you, I'd be careful with my words."

Victor gave a kiss on Rose's neck and shoulders.

To others, Victor looked like a future husband who adored his bride. Rose could see some of the servants gasping with the intimate display of their Duke. Paul was even stunned by his father's actions.

For Rose, Victor's threats were clear.

Yes, this is the real Maraina monster. A figure who could make every country fearful and shake greatly in battlefields. Rose realized she had entered a cage with a beast instead. She was a white rabbit with red eyes in the cage of a lion with green eyes.

To survive, Rose needed protection and strength from the Duke of Maraina. To survive, Rose would not hesitate to do what was necessary.

One thing Victor didn't know was... This rabbit was used to playing with fire. Even the existence of Rose herself was an eternal fire that could never be extinguished.

Let's see who burns who, in the end.