Betrayal and Doubt

"What's going on? Where is the injured maid?" the duke hurried as soon as he got down from the horse. He looked tired but didn't go to his chamber. Instead, he moved forward to the maid's chamber, finding her unconscious on the bed with non-stop bleeding from her stomach.

"How did this happen? I was away for a short while," he raged in anger, looking at everyone with fury.

"We don't know, Lord! When we reached the spot, the knife was already on the ground, and the maid was with the duchess, drenched in blood. Her hand was on the wound, covered in it," the maid spoke.

"The duchess tried to commit this crime while you were away."

"We want justice, my lord! If you let it go this time, the next time it could be either of us. We will all die here by her hand," the maid said, falling on the duke's leg, forcing him into a dilemma.