The duke's wife is a man

CHAPTER 9

" my lady, we will be spending the night here and depart in the morning." a knight said as they stopped in front of a decent looking inn. Jaey nodded his head, itching to get off the uncomfortable carriage.

The knight escorted him off down the carriage, he would've fallen face first to the ground if it we'rent for the escorts careful assistance. he eyed Jaey worriedly and feared that the lady must have been pushed to her limit, they had forgotten to take in consideration that they were traveling with sheltered nobles who probably have never rode a carriage that long.

And it was more worrisome to see  lady Janella look pale since she was known to be an energetic lady.

"My lady-" Jaey held his hands up to stop the worried knight from catching him after he had stumbled and barely caught himself. He was too nervous too let other people touch him, afraid that if people were to look long enough they would find out he was infact a man.

"I'm sorry but could we head in now" Jaey said covering his pale face with a fan.
"Yes of course" the knight hesitantly said and walked in front of Jaey to lead him to the inn while sneaking worried glances at him.

Jaey followed the knight drowsily. Part of him was worried that he was not walking in a straight line and might appear to be some drunkard walking. If anyone were to see him His sister, the future duchess' reputation might just plummet.

'Duchess Janella Coventry, drunk on her  wedding day' now that would be a controversial headlines.

Beads of sweat started to form on his Forehead. Jaey took every bit of strength in him and a small prayer to keep himself up and walking straight. The tight corset that digged into his ribs did not help with the shortness of breath he was experiencing.

He couldn't take it anymore. Just as his eyes had lost it's will to stay open and his legs to keep him up, suddenly, sweeping him from the ground was Grand duke Coventry. It was a familiar feeling to Jaey as if it had happened to him before but he was sure this was the first time they had even looked or breath the same air as each other.

He knew Grand duke Coventry was holding him in his arms. His breath hitched as he lifted him effortlessly in his arms. Jaey could feel the Muscles from underneath the fabric The duke was wearing and could feel his warm breath linger on the top his hair. It was a vivid feeling as if he was in a dream, the duke was truly intimidating but there was a touch of gentleness in him that Jaey felt somewhat safe in his arms

Until his Father's face flashed in his Mind.

The disappointed look and scowling face that always appeared in his nightmare. That's right, if he failed this he would be proving that he was nothing more than just a waste of space, even putting the first and  only person who truly cared for him in danger, Janella. Jaey clutched on to the necklace on his chest in a sense of duty and covered his face with his hair.

A pang of hurt stifled his heart when he remembered the betrayed and pained expression Janella had on her face that night.

It was a soft quiver but the arm that held Jaey felt it and frowned. Of course people were afraid of him and we're terrified of him, much more if they've seen him naked where his horrid scars would be on display for people too see.

He sarcastically chuckled to himself. It doesn't matter if his new wife would be scared of him, actually it was for the better, he'd just wait for her to run away, have an affair, or simply elope with someone. He had hoped for a clean and quick divorce.

It was a small and innocent misunderstanding that Jaey was terrified of Him, oh no, actually Jaey was mesmerized by him aside from the fact that he might die by the hands of this handsome man sooner or later. Jaey slowly closed his eyes, losing all energy.

"y-your grace!" The Knight Escort saluted and nervously glanced at Jaey who had finally passed out. The Grand duke clicked his tongue and made his was inside the Inn where a reservation was already made.

"Are you crazy." the Grand duke said through gritted teeth at his Aide who stood with an expressionless face.

"Last I checked I am perfectly sane, your grace."

"Get it checked once more." he retorted, a grim look dawning on his face. Ridge sighed.

"Your Grace, Usually after marriage, at night the couple would sleep together in a bedroom. Please make an effort or at least try to look like you're making your marriage last. The vassals would be disappointed if they found out"

His Aide glanced at his watch before bowing "well, sleep well your grace." He said before walking away but stopping after remembering something "Your grace I know you are familiar with noble etiquette and morals and that you are a respecta-"

"Get to the point."

"Please do not undress the lady while she is asleep. She obviously needs rest and it might shock her if she finds out that you changed her clothes while she was asleep. No one would like getting stripped down to their undergarments by the opposite sex or by anyone without proper consent unless of course it was their maid."

"Just what do I look like in your eyes." He said putting Jaey down softly on the bed and removing his shoes. he was about to reach out and undo the corset but decided to look at his Aide "Do I look like some brute in your eye?" The duke was met with silence but his Aide had a look that said ' an absolute brute' which annoyed the duke.

" I was simply worried you spent too much time in war-"

"Get out."

"Absolutely, your grace. Oh yes and-"

"Do you never run out of words?"

"Your grace, I know you will mean well by doing this but. Do not I repeat do not remove the lady's corset. It may seem uncomfortable but if you do not want to be hated and treated as a pervert do not remove her corset." He said and finally left.

The room was filled with silence but the soft burning of the wood in the fireplace. He stared at the corset that caged Jaeys body, it looked terribly uncomfortable. He contemplated on removing the corset and decided to loosen it instead.

He stared at Jaeys sleeping face and frowned "The gods must not like you very much, seeing you were given to wed a tyrant" he said to Jaey who was asleep and oblivious of what was going on. The duke swept a strand of hair of his face and looked closely at him. Color was finally coming back to his face.

Was this really Janella of the Mishkas? Though they were but a viscount they were well known in high society aside from being the golden family, Janella was known as a tomboy and slightly intimidating but this infront of him was a timid person and looked like they would break from the slightest touch, just like a certain goldy he had seen at the ball. The duke's brows met and his frown deepened.

Was he that desperate to meet goldy that he began to think it was not Janella but Jaey. He sighed to himself.

Just as he was about to get up and remove his clothing to ready for bed his eyes settled on Jaeys necklace that Had a scarlet color, a color that stood out from his Gold hair and White dress.

His hands softly grazed the skin on his chest and looked closely at the suspicious liquid inside his necklace. He quickly unclasped the necklace and looked at it once more in his hands.

Maybe it was just a new trend in the capital or just simply a stylish necklace but it wouldn't hurt to be sure.

The duke hid the necklace inside his coat before removing his clothing and getting under the cover with a decent distance between him and Jaey.

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( ๐_๐) sorry for the punctuation and grammar mistakes

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