Chapter 14: Yes?

Chapter 14: Yes

"How long did I sleep Gray?"

"Just a day…"

"What? I slept for one whole day?"

Then I only have one day to stay in here?

Shit. I only planned on fainting for a moment and waking up early as possible. I still have to do something to prove that I can be the Duchess. Well he clearly gave me three days to sort that thing out didn't he?

"Well, milady, you lost a lot of blood because of that wound in your arm and you had the whole castle turned upside down. The Duke's very worried."

Well of course, he would be worried because his guest was harmed in his own estate. So I glanced at my wounded arm. This would surely leave a scar. Ah that bastard! I should have just cut both of his arms!

"Then what happened to that bastard?" My teeth are clenching just the thought of that disgusting man.

"O-oh that m-man?" My eyebrows shot up when he tried to evade my question.

"Hey, what happened to him I asked?" But he just cleared his throat and thought about it.

"He lost both of his arms."

"Oh did you cut it for me?"

"No, the Duke was terribly enraged that night and that the only person he brought here alive and yelling was that bastard…"

"Then he cut his arms?"

"It was during their interrogation yesterday, his cries and begging clearly resounded throughout the whole castle and even the servants tiptoed and avoided the basement where they kept their prisoners."

"I didn't know that there would be someone who's crazy like you. But come to think of it milady, it seemed like the Duke has a crush on you. For him to go crazy like that--"

"You're the one who's crazy, Gray. He's just frustrated that such a thing happened in his own estate and…" Him liking me, I would have believed if he said that five years ago but now, him liking me would be near to impossibility since five years already past by and people's feelings can change throughout that five years.

"Really? But he nearly cried when he took you from my arms though? It seemed like he lost his love--" My hand caught a pillow and I threw it at him.

"But milady, won't you believe me? I told you he's looking at you differently. Why won't you observe it yoursel--" and another pillow.

"Milady--" yet again another pillow until he went near the door. I attempted to throw another one at him but he gestured a stop sign so I stopped.

"I apologize milady. But won't you try observe it yourself--" then I threw again another pillow but he practically avoided it when he immediately went outside my room so the pillow hit the innocent door.

That crazy guard of mine has really gone insane. Does he really have to say that out loud? But what if he was right?

Then you're the crazy one Emily! Why would the Duke like you for crazy's sake! He deserve someone much better. Yeah and not some crazy bitch like me.

I groaned a little when the servant slightly brushed my wound with her hands.

"I-I'm sorry milord." But I didn't mind.

Milord. Maybe the Duke didn't tell them my true gender yet. Well, I still have to stay in his territory for a day so disclosing my identity right now would do him no good.

"May I ask to see the Duke?"

"I apologize milord but the Duke has been away since last night."

"Last night, can I ask why?"

"He gathered the knights to inspect the estates owned by Baron Garrows."

"Baron Garrows?"

"Ah, he was the alleged owner of tbe building where young men and women were held captive and he was the principal offender of the lord's assault." He said and glanced over the wound on my arms. So he was that pigsty.

"So where is he being held right now?"

His eyes glanced on the door of the basement which is just beside us.

"He's now being held in there and the Duke firmly instructed us not to let anyone in, except me, the Butler, for he still needs to be fed until the day of his execution."

So anyone is out except the Butler.

"Is that so? Did His Excellency tell you when he will return?"

"No milord, he left abruptly last night after visiting you. He seemed to be so worried because of what happened yesterday."

"Yesterday?"

"Yes, milord."

"But I thought I was unconscious for a day?"

"B-but milord, you have only slept for a few hours milord and we're thankful that you've been awake even before His Excellency arrived." He said and I again felt the strong urge to beat the shit out of him. Remind me that I have to kill that crazy bastard when I see him.

"Then milord, you can approach me if you need something else. Since the Duke strictly reminded me to take a good care of you." So I just nodded.

"Ah one more thing, the Duke strictly told me that you should never leave your room, just tell the servants what you need." My forehead crumpled because the Butler suddenly became cold. What?

Then a sudden pain struck my head. Again, is this one of your memories Emily? When will this be over?

My grip on the door tightened to keep myself from falling but the memories kept on invading my mind.

"No matter what happens, you can't get out of this place milady or the Duke will impose strict punishments on all of us. If you don't want to endanger all of us…"

"I can't get out? Why is that?"

"Milady, we must follow the Duke's words. His words are the rules and anyone who--"

"Shut up!"

"Milady."

"I said shut up!"

"M-milord, what's the--"

"Shut up or else I'll rip that fucking mouth of yours!"

"M-milord? I-I didn't mean that you can't get out of the castle. Y-you can still explore the estate but the Duke suggested that you bring servants and knights with you aside from your personal guard."

Trying to compose myself, I bit my lip and closed my eyes for a second. But when I opened my eyes, my eyes saw some of the servants seemed shocked and was looking to me with wide eyes. They must've been surprised with my sudden outburst. Shit. I must've looked crazy in front of them.

"I-I'm sorry, I think I needed to rest for a minute. I'm sorry." i said and the Butler seemed so professional because he immediately restored his composure and nodded at me. He gestured some of the servants but I shook my head.

"I-it's okay, I can manage myself."

"Alright milord, but how about dinner? The Duke also reminded me to make sure that you eat on time."

I lost my appetite to eat but I'll be branded as an ungrateful bitch if I even rejected it.

"I'll try. But I think I'm going to rest for a while." I said and he just nodded and let me close the door of my room. You've gone crazy Emily. You should've just held it in. Now the whole estate would see me as a crazy bitch. Forget about being the Duchess, I might've even be kicked out of this place.

I expected them to be hospitable to me since I was a guest of the Duke, but an uninvited guest to be exact, but instead I was greeted with so much hostility.

Every time I needed to run an errand, every servants would politely reject me with the excuse of running an errand for the butler. Some would intentionally avoid bumping into me in the castle corridors. No one would even prepare a bath for me or even take care of my clothes. Even the food they're serving me was nothing but pure cabbages and rice. In short, they've abandoned treating their guest properly. It seemed like someone purposely convinced them to completely ignore me.

The butler was always busy going to and fro to the marketplace and managing the castle, so I can't find time to talk to him but I wasn't planning on complaining, I just wanted to hear the news about the Duke. It seemed like he would be gone for almost a week and I only have this day as my last stay in the estate for I will be returning home tomorrow.

"He's a bad omen."

"There was never such a thing happened here over my years of working here as a servant. But when he arrived…"

"I didn't know what made the Duke accept him as a guest. He's a suspicious person, who knows he might even endanger us all here."

Well, that servant was right, I might get rid of all of you if you don't stop cursing at me. I might be a crazy lady but I don't harm anyone who has never done anything to me.

"That's why I said you should just ignore him." And that's the principal offender, none other than the self-proclaimed fake Duchess of the estate.

"B-but the Butler strictly reminded us to treat him proper--"

"So what? The Duke's not here so can't we just ignore him? He can't do anything if all of us would ignore him, right?"

That stupid hypocrite bitch, what did I do to you for you to be so wary of me huh?

"Felix! You bastard! I told you to get rid of him right now!"

That bastard guest, I can't understand myself for being so wary of him but seeing how Hal treats him especially, I can't help but be nervous. No one should stand beside Hal but me. Anyone who dares will face a brutal death and he's not an exception.

"Then what will you do if the Duke find it out?"

"By looking at him, do you think he will have the audacity let alone the courage to tell us to Hal?" But my stupid brother just ignored me and went away. This bastard, why is he so hesitant to do what I want. But he always do it without questioning me but why now?

"Stop it Felicia. Vannister was serious when he told me not to mess with his guest."

"B-but…" That cowardly bastard just walked past through me but I immediately said something that made him return in front of me.

"Have you become a coward now that the Duke found out your hidden hobby--"

"Don't you ever mention that thing to me. Even if you're my sister, I won't spare you."

"Try me Felix, touch me and Hal will know all of your dirty rags."

"You--"

"That's why I told you, we should take advantage of everything in this house. You will take care of my problem and I'll take care of yours. You only need that pig to disappear and nobody will know of your secret."

"I mean we don't need to take care of all of it personally. What's the use of pawns if you can't use it right?" Come on brother, I know you're not that stupid enough to not understand what I'm talking about.

"I can take care of that measly guest but how about his guard, he seems to be a professional."

"I already had a plan for that. Just do your job and we'll be in good terms."

That's right brother, let's do what we can tonight before Hal comes back. It has to be tonight or else everything will come to waste.

"Milord, will you not really have a dinner?" I glanced at the Butler who's sweating colds. I sighed and at the end nodded. I can't have the Duke scold them over something petty. And I'm getting hungry from having my head ache a while ago.

"Milady, you've woken--" before I even forget his transgression against me, I immediately hit his gut with my elbow causing him to groan painfully.

"Shut up and eat with me if you want." I said and went to the dining room.

"Yes milady."

But upon seeing the Hamlet siblings, I somehow lost my appetite.

"Milord, where are you going? Come and dine with us. You are the esteemed guest of Hal so we should take care of you." I just smiled at her fake generosity.

Upon seeing the juicy sauce of the chicken, I prevented myself from salivating. I've never regretted my decision from coming down here to eat dinner.

"Gray you can sit--"

"Oh no, I apologize but there has never been a precedence that a mere guard ate with his master together in the dining table." The bitch said so I pretended to be surprised.

"Is that so? Gray…"

"I'm fine milord. I'll just stand here and wait for you." He said and nodded but I can see him gulping and was deeply disappointed from not being able to eat. So I gave him an apologetic look but later on I stuck my tongue out at him as if mocking and teasing him for not being able to eat. He understood what I was thinking so he just avoided my eyes and looked away.

"Here try this one. The greatest chef in our estate has prepared this one with love."

I expected that she would play hard tricks on my food but to think that my teeth would somehow crack upon biting the chicken. This bitch, she could've just played tricks on other things except food. To think that she would stoop this low just to humiliate me.

I can tolerate the servants purposely avoiding me, disrespecting me and not attending to me but I can't have her mess up with food because food is food. And I will kill anyone who tries to mess up with it even if she's a person close to the Duke.

I gulped down all the juice and immediately threw it all up on her face when it tasted funny. How can a fruit juice taste spicy and sour. This has gone beyond what I can tolerate and this is my payback.

"Y-you witch! Son of a bitch!" She said as she used the table napkin and tried to wipe her face. While the servant were also panicking not knowing what to do. However, I don't want to end it up yet. Seeing her hysterically yelling and crying at the same time makes my soul full so I can't miss this.

I secretly scoop a grain of pepper using the table napkin I'm holding and pretended to help her wiper her face but she only cried and yelled painfully when it added to her agony.

"Stop it you bastard! H-help me!" She said and tries to stand up so I also stood up and 'accidentally' stepped on the hem of her long dress causing her to stumble and fall as well as ripping the lower part of her dress.

"O-oh I'm s-so sorry! M-my goodness! C-can anyone help u-us? Oh my goodness! I'm really sorry--" I tried to help her stand up but she only hit my arm and glared at me.

"You bastard! I knew you purposely did this! I hate you! I hate you--"

"What? N-no! I promise! I d-didn't do anything! I'm o-only being thankful t-to you but the chicken tasted wrong and the juice also was very different. B-but I didn't mean to--"

"Shut up! You stupid son of a bitch!" With the help of her servants, she stood up and tried to slap me but I evaded her and moved onto the right side. Her eyes widened because she lost her balance and she knew she was going to fall. The servants tried to catch her, but my reflexes was faster to disguise my plan. I pretended to catch her but my right hand quickly and covertly pulled the tablecloth causing all the dishes and cutlery fall onto her. I purposely caught few of the dishes on me to show that I was also a victim. But she caught all of the freaking dishes on her head.

"O-oh my goodness. I'm really sorry--"

Her ear-wrenching scream must've echoed in the whole castle along with the breaking of plates and glasses and the falling of the cutlery. Oops, I've overworked it. But seeing the frustration and fear spread among the servants and the pathetic view of this bitch, I think I've done enough for the day.

But I remembered that actions must be paired with words for people to effectively understood it. So I pretended to appease her when I crawled close to her.

"Be careful, a dagger might come and visit you at night without you knowing it." I whispered at her ear and I felt her shivering. But I immediately went back to being an innocent sinner.

"Milord." Gray immediately helped me stood up and secretly gestures a thumbs up on me. So you're a proud papa now?

Then a frustrated shriek was heard across the room. When I looked at the entrance of the dining room, I saw the Butler cupping his face and looking in the horrors that happened in the kitchen. He glanced at the both of us and his face fell deeply. So I apologized immediately but the bitch kept giving me deathly stares.

"I'm really sorry. I'll keep up with this mess. B-but my head has been aching since then so I'll retire to my bedchamber." I said and continued to apologize.

"Stop apologizing you pretentious bitch!"

"Felicia! Be careful with your words." The butler growled at Felicia but shifted into a kind one when he looked at me.

"Milord, I'm sorry to have caused this mess into you but you may go back and rest to you chambers now." He said and I smiled and once again send an apologetic bow to everyone especially the Butler.

After Gray closed the door to the dining room, I kept my blank face on until I arrive in my room. There I burst into laughing when I remembered their faces. Being able to avenge on them would be one of my achievements to keep and record. Such a priceless face. So have a goodnight fixing the mess you've earned so hard.

It was so fun doing that. But my smile faded when I realized that I would be going home tomorrow.

"Milady can I talk to you for a second?" Gray knocked on my door so I let him in. He closed the door and faced me.

"Milady, are we really leaving the estate tomorrow?" He asked in a serious voice.

I purposely tried to make myself busy with the things going around in this estate so I could forget the truth that I will be leaving this place.

"Of course, it seemed like the Duke won't be returning home tomorrow. He might've had a hard time dealing with Garrow's dirty linen."

But I don't want to go home. I want to stay here.

"Did you regret exposing the Baron's deeds, milady? Because as I can see it, it made the Duke busier that he has no extra time to even talk to you…"

"Are you crazy? Intervening and helping to expose such crazy psychos was my biggest achievement."

Yes, I regret doing that. If I became a little more selfish, I could've spent more time with him in the last three days. I should've postponed dealing with that shit if I knew this would've happened. Bug I know that my conscience wouldn't let me sleep a wink.

"So what happened to being the Duchess of the estate?"

"Let's just give up that part, I don't want to force the Duke to do something he didn't want to."

I shouldn't have agreed on this deal in the first place. Returning back to my family should've been the first thing I did the moment I faced a painful rejection.

"Milady, that's enough. I told you, you should've been a little more honest with your feelings. Should I drag the Duke back here?" A pillow immediately hit his face and he didn't avoided it.

"Should I thank you for comforting me?" He sighed and shook his head.

"Take a rest milady. I'll stay behind this door and guard you all night. I have a feeling that someone with a dagger would invade your room tonight." Yes, I also had that feeling to, but I neither had the emotion nor time to deal with it.

"Good night milady." He said and closed the door. I lied down on my bed facing the round moon being reflected on the window. With my heart the only thing that's beating loudly around me, I could almost knew what this feeling was. It was the feeling I had for the Duke of Kingsley back in my previous life. Yes, it's an attraction towards an opposite sex, but today, I've confirmed that it's more than that.

My senses were extremely alert when I felt a dagger aiming for my neck. I dodged it and fell on the other side of the bed. But the pursuant or the assassin tried to stab me again so he/she was already on top of me and aiming his/her dagger on my chest.

Then a thought came into my mind. Should I just die right now? What would it feel if I did?

Will I have my third life and forget about this second one? I've already avenged Emily so there would be no reason for me to keep on living. But am I really alive? Will having a dagger stab my chest make me feel that I'm alive?

Then I loosened my grip on his dagger and I felt my flesh being ripped painfully when it dug under my skin so I groaned and held his hand to stop it from going too deep. So I'm alive?

"Emily!" Then I heard a familiar voice and the sound of the door being slammed into the wall. But I couldn't care less because my head started aching once again and it was more painful than the one back when I was abducted. I groaned painfully because I felt my flesh being pierced and my head being split into two. S-shit.

"Emily!" It was him. Vannister. I felt an immense joy pouring into my heart immediately replacing the pain I felt a while ago. Despite knowing that it would be just another remnants of Emily, I immediately hugged him when he pulled the assassin away from me. Then again as watching a play, series of memories flashed into my mind. Was he also a part of Emily's previous life?

I tried calling out his name but my mouth won't open. But in the past, I could still talk even if these remnants were flashing in front of me. But how about now? Why can't I? I can only watch the previous Emily freely talk to him.

"What are you doing? How could you not shout when that bastard was aiming to kill you?" He gently pulled away from my hug and inspected my body which I also did and there was not a single injury even in my chest. But my chest definitely was stabbed because the pain of my chest being pierced was something that I truly felt. It proved that I was alive but here…

"Thank goodness y-you're not hurt--" I cupped his face because unlike in this life of mine, his face in Emily's previous life was not scarred and he's beautiful. But I knew in myself that I preferred the scarred Duke.

"What are you doing here? What if the Duke found out that you're here? He wouldn't spare you…"

"Sshh, I'm also a Duke now and I'm going to get you out of this place. This is the right time to do so." He said and he grimly glanced at the bright round moon shown through the windows.

"B-but I don't want to put you in danger. Y-you know him, he wouldn--"

"That's why I said I'm going to protect you even if it costs my life--"

"No, I don't want you risking your life for me. If getting me out of this hell means that you'll die then I would just stay right here until I vanished into thin air--"

"No, no. I'm sorry. Alright, I won't die. S-so I will live together with you until we grow old. Is that acceptable?"

"But the Duke--"

"We will go far away. Far away that he can neither reach us nor see a strand of you hair."

"Then wait for a moment, I wanted to bring this, just this." Emily took a rusty small box below her bed and another set of remnants flashed before my eyes causing my head to ache so much as if splitting it was not enough. Stop it Emily, it really hurts right now. I can even feel a reddish liquid drop from my nose.

Please stop it Emily! I've avenged you 5 years ago! What more do you want? Are you also telling me to stay away from the Duke?

I crouched and screamed my heart out when their letters with each other flashed one by one right in my face. I don't care! Leave me alone Emily, please! I-it really hurts like hell. I don't think I could still have my brain in tact after these fucking remnants.

"Please stop! Stop it please! Really, i-it hurts so much! P-please!" I didn't notice that I was able to speak right now because my eyes were too focused on the last remnant that was flashed in front of me. It was an image of the Duke bleeding to death while lying in the dark cold place. It was the last image of the remnant when I yelled in so much pain.

"E-Emily…" Then as if coming back to reality, I felt huge and warm arms that was enveloping me into a hug so I can't help but to let my tears let loose. As if waking up to the reality, I felt the intense pain coming from my chest and the pain in my head was already gone. Emily, you've gone too far this time. I-I hate you…

"Emily." I thought it was just part of my remnant but it was really the Duke's voice and it was his familiar scent. So I pulled away from his hug and cupped his face. He was wearing a mask unlike the one in Emily's previous life.

"I-I d-don't know anymore. I don't know what to do anymore. I… i just wanted to disappear from this place. I… I wanted these headaches… Those remnants. I want them all to disappear…" He didn't speak and just looked at me.

"I don't know who I am anymore. T-those remnants kept messing my head. I don't know who's who anymore. I don't even know myself anymore. Am I still Emily? Am I still really alive?"

He didn't answer me so I got nervous but I heard him sighed as if he had been suppressing himself from doing something.

"D-do you really want to know if you're alive, hmm Emily?" The hair on my nape shivered and stood up when he asked that so I was dumbfounded.

"Y-yes?"

Then without a second of hesitation, he crashed his lips into mine. I was shocked at first but I immediately closed my eyes and wrap both my arms on his nape. He then wrapped his other arm on my waist to keep me from falling and his other hand was busy caressing my face.

He deepened the kiss and eventually my back touched the softness of the bed and he immediately crawled on top of me still deepening the kiss. I can't even recognize my own voice when I groaned because he slightly touched the wound on my chest.

But then the moment he heard that, he immediately stopped and cursed himself. I was too intoxicated with his kisses that my humiliation was too late to arrive. I silently muttered a curse when I realize what we did. We almost did that thing. But I didn't know if I would be grateful or not with my chest wound.

"S-so was that enough to prove that you're alive?"

His words pulled me back to reality and I was too ashamed to face him but I can't help but be magnetized with his golden eyes. The only gold that I would've wanted to covet.

"I didn't know what happened but I neither intend to stay ignorant nor cross the line. So I'll just protect you with my own way. And yes, you're Emily. The Emily that I met in her birthday and here in my estate. The Emily that I kissed that night and tonight. They are all just the same. You are you and I like you just the way that you are."

His words were laced with sincerity that I was easily pulled in and I don't intend to get out from that.

He sat beside my bed and wrapped my wound in a bandage to prevent it from bleeding. It wasn't that deep of a wound so I won't really die from it. He held my hand and put me to sleep. I wanted to ask him about Gray and that assassin but I was too tired to ask anything and instead I unconsciously blurted his name out.

"Van…" nister.

The sun was already rising when I opened my eyes. I glanced at my chest and it was properly mended and bandaged now. I knew that I needed to wake up and prepare to depart but I suddenly felt lethargic.

I suddenly remembered the remnants last night. To see the memories of the previous Emily, to realize the big differences with out lives it was too confusing that I even asked if my life was even real because I knew I would be disappointed if it's not.

"Milord, the carriage is ready, we have to depart right now so we could return before the sun sets." Gray knocked and reminded me that we're going to leave but I didn't want to.

I wanted to stay in this castle together with him. Beside him and just being with him makes me realize and feel that I'm just me despite the never-ending remnants of Emily.

I gave the room one last glance before making my way out of the castle. Then my eyes immediately scanned the surroundings and I found him wearing his usual dark blue trench coat with a white shirt and blue vest on the inside. He really looked like a Duke but yeah maybe because he's really a Duke.

"Your Excellency, I really wanted to extend my gratefulness for letting me stay here and I apologize for the disturbances that we have committed." I smiled at him and he just sadly smiled at me. I planned to just make it short and just ran to the carriage right away but something is telling me to try my one last chance before even surrendering.

"B-but staying in this estate has been fun and wonderful…" I tried my best not to let my voice crack so I cleared my throat and continued.

"B-but before that can I confirm something Your Excellency?" His eyebrows creased as if he was confused but he just nodded and went near me.

"Can you come a little closer Your Excellency?" I said and I could hear the whisperings of the servants as well as the confused and glaring stare of the Hamlet siblings.

Despite being confused with my favor, he indeed came closer and I gestured that I would whisper something to him so he crouched and leveled his ear into my mouth. But instead of whispering, I cupped his face and brought my lips into his.

I cared less with the various gasps and shrieks I heard from my surroundings when I suddenly kissed their Duke in public. Well, since I'm still wearing me disguise, they must thought that it was weird seeing two men kissing so I was planning to stop there but this Duke has also became crazy because he kissed me back.

He removed my hat causing my medium length hair to be exposed then a series of gasps echoed around the place. It became louder when the Duke carried me and kissed me even deeply. Shit. It seems I've pushed the wrong button.

A few seconds, he pulled away from me as we're both running out of breaths but he managed to smile at me as if he knew the meaning of what I did.

"I've confirmed it Your Excellency. I apologize but I do not think I can leave you alone in this estate."

He smiled and gave me a light and quick kiss.

"As I thought, I can't easily let go of you. I also apologize milady but I think I will have to imprison you here for the rest of your life, would you accept that kind of fate milady?"

"Yes if Duke Halsted wants me to." For the first time in the last five years, I was again able to feel this unending bliss.