Duchess From Hell

11

Not proofread yet, I apologize for the typo and grammatical errors.

***

Instead for a warm and romantic dinner together with the Duke, the dinning hall become a battlefield with the uprising cold war between them. The supposedly exchange of hi and how are you? turn into a mayhem of words and taunts.

The maids and knights tightly collect themselves not to fall on their knees due to the immense and formidable pressure escalating, asking for submission, devouring their strength and weakening their state of mind and body as a whole.

"Is the Duchess perhaps, questioning her husbands capability?" Zealand's domineering voice send chills through her spine but she maintain her derisive expression, not bothered despite her audacious remark.

"If a seed is planted well with effort and precision, without failure, it will bloom into immaculate blossom." She said asserting meaning in her words.

Emission of little gasp from people are heard as Zealand's aura become aggressive, his face darkle. Anna's tone is canorous yet certainly trenchant, hitting death's ego.

Zealand let out a low chuckle without batting an eye, wearing a smug face.

She stabilize her valour, holding to the bits of her calmness and not fret. Sa totoo lang, kung mababawi niya lang ang sinabi kanina ay agaran niya na itong binawi. But what was said has been said and cannot be taken, kaya't pinanindigan niya nalang ang sinabi. Pilit tinatagan ang loob na salubungin ang malalamig at nanggagalaiti sa dilim na mga mata ng taong kaharap.

Without her pride, she must have shudder profusely. Nakakapanindig at nakakakilabot talaga ng taong kaharap niya.

She's fearless but not anymore. There's finally a person who can wreck the undaunted Ana.

Pabagsak na humiga si Anna sa kanyang malapad at malambot na kama. Hindi niya na pinasunod si Rosia at mag-isang bumalik ng kanyang kwarto.

Matapos ang nakakahindik na mahinang tawa ni Zealand ay tumayo ito at lumabas ng dining hall.

Hindi niya malaman kung galit ba ito sa sinabi niya o natutuwa dahil sa tila amuse na kunting ngiti sa mga labi nito.

Yes, he smiled but she wouldn't call herself lucky to being graced by his elusive smile.

That ghost smile is a nightmare and death really visit her in her dreams.

Agad na napamulat si Anna ng mata habang hinahabol ang hininga. Ramdam niya ang malalamig na pawis na namumuo sa kanyang noo.

His ghost smile

Kinilabutan siya ng maalala ang kanyang panaginip. He was stabbing her multiple times with the same smile plastered on his face. She wished to die but still got resurrected and again was skinned alive by the Duke. She woke up again, alive and by then was being turtored again, brutally. Gusto niya ng wakasan ang buhay habang sumisigaw sa sakit na pagpapahirap sa kanya ni Zealand na nakakatakot na nakangiti.

Kung hindi lang siya nagising, ay baka tuluyan na siyang hindi masilayan ang umaga at malagutan na ng hininga sa kanyang pagtulog.

Napaupo siya sa kama at niyakap ang sarili. She never experienced nightmare even after her family was massacred in front of her naked eye, but upon seeing Zealand, he's a true nightmare.

He is death himself, affirmative.

How will she tame the Monster Duke then?

Hindi naman magkandamayaw ang mga katulong ng makita ang dukesa habang naglalakad papuntang dining hall. She's walking like she's in deep thought, at hindi na papansin ang kanyang nasa paligid.