The Duke's Wife

Chapter 5: Just A Visit

Lilith's POV

The next day, there was a knock on the door to my study. "Lilith, the master has asked you to get ready quick," Geraldine informed me. Just as if queued, the maids rushed in.

"But why?" I questioned, both of us using normal speech to talk. "The emperor has summoned the both of you immediately," he replied, annoyed, ruffling his hair.

"What does that bastard want?" I scowled as the maids removed my jewelry and started wiping my face with a warm wet cloth.

"Fuck I would know!" he retorted, slamming the door closed.

(A/N: These two were seatmates at the academy for all seven years. They're super close— even went to war together once.)

Well, it is an unspoken rule that each and every new couple were supposed to visit the emperor after marriage, but it's only been 1 month and I didn't know what he was scheming.

As I stepped out, I saw the Duke waiting downstairs for me, and my heart melted. "Duke..." I sighed, my voice softer than intended, surprising the servants with my tenderness.

"Duchess..." He held his hands out towards me, and I descended the stairs, taking his hands gently. "What happened?" Legis asked as we walked towards the stable.

"You look way too handsome for an old man," I commented, and he nodded as if accepting the compliment. "It's the genes," Legis explained, while the guards were already mounting their horses.

"We're riding a horse?" I asked incredulously, and Legis nodded, mounting his own horse. "He said it was an emergency," Legis added.

I groaned, my expression clearly showing my disdain. "Come on," he said, motioning for me to cling onto his horse. "Won't we slow down?" I asked, concerned about the horse carrying both of our weight.

"It's fine," Legis assured me, and I reluctantly got on the horse behind him. As we arrived at the imperial palace, the guards quickly escorted us inside.

"We greet the emperor, the sun of the kingdom," We announced formally greeted bowing together, while Legis being a knight before a son-in-law kneeled.

"My dear daughter no need to bow," My father, the emperor, greeted me, "You seem like you're doing well." He asked showing a lot of affection towards me.

However, he didn't give the same greeting to Legis who continued to kneel beside me.

Legis remained kneeling, and I didn't like it. Honestly, I hated it. 

"How long will you make my husband kneel, father? I'm starting to get offended," I remarked, my tone now edged with annoyance.

The cowardly  emperor became flustered, my father, however, waved his hand dismissively. "Yes, yes, Duke Floyen" he said, gesturing for Legis to rise. "You can stop bowing."

I shot Legis a glance, silently urging him to stand up straight. It irked me to see him in such a subservient position, especially in front of me and that bastard father of mine.

Legis finally rose to his feet, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride seeing him stand tall beside me, no longer in a submissive posture.

With a forced sweet smile, I turned back to my father. "So, what's the urgent matter that called us so abruptly for....?

My voice dripped with saccharine sweetness, catching the guards behind us off guard.

(A/N: All five of them were last benchers during their school days. They all knew she was a bitch, but seeing her pretending to be an easy-to-kill character still caught them off guard.)