The duke's wife is a man

CHAPTER 8

"how long will the ceremony take." an impatient Grand duke said closing his eyes tired eyed and leaning on his seat.

"an hour, your grace" his attendant, Ridge, said.

"too long."

ridge sighed "your grace, that has already been shortened as per your request."

"make it 30 minutes"

" He wouldn't be able to breath from reading the ceremonial scroll too fast."

"they wont die from that, though they might just die if they don't respond to my demands." ridge sighed once again at his masters unreasonable request.

"your grace, we've already skipped reception and an after party plus a ball, what more would be left. please remember you are the grand duke."

"i only agreed to this marriage to shut the vassals nagging and since the respectable king himself has found me a wife I could not refuse" the duke said spitting out the words with sarcasm.

"Please don't mess up your last engagement and marriage on purpose, your grace"

the duke had 3 engagements in the past. The first one was pregnant with another's child, the second one was an assassin, the third one eloped with a lover. Though the grand duke didn't complain about them since he didn't want marriage in the first place.

Please get married, Ridge thought giving the duke a dirty look.

Ridge took out his watch and winced "your grace, we must get you ready. it is almost time for your wedding." He said ignoring the dukes complains. The duke finally stood up and resigned to his future.

"I Need all information on the Mishka's and Janella Mishka."

why would a family that supported the previous king go along with the current kings order without as much as a complain. it was never made public that the viscount supported the king rather he was said to be neutral but he had connections with the church that kissed up to the previous king in exchange for support.

"Yes, your grace."

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Jaey stared out the window, waiting for his escort to take him into the church. It was his wedding day but it felt more like a hostage being taken into enemy territory. his hands slowly went up to touch the necklace that had poison in them. He knew what he was risking and it was his life.

even if he did succeed Jaey would be executed and the mishkas would abandon him. he knew he was only being used and that was fine with him, anything to make his sister happy.

Jaey laughed. It wasn't like he was afraid of dying it'll just come sooner than scheduled, but maybe he did hope he would be able to spend his last moments with his sister happily and peacefully yet that wish was too much to be given to him.

"My lady" Jaey looked up, it was finally time. He took the escorts hands which assisted him down the carriage. The church was empty to Jaye's surprise, only the priest who looked like he would collapse any moment now and the grand Duke standing beside him.

Jaey was only familiar with the grand duke through rumors, gossip papers, news papers and from the young ladies whenever he attended tea partys as Janella. They would describe him as a beauty as if god himself have descended, a surreal handsomeness that it was almost sinful.

but with his beauty came with an intimidating aura that no one could approach. Many would ask to be his wife if he wasn't known to be a blood thirsty killer and the fact that he was the illegitimate child of the king outweighed his surreal look. Being an illegitimate child is the greatest shame to all nobility, much more to the royal family.