The Duke's Wife

Chapter 20: Cursed

Lilith's POV

"I'm cursed?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly. The priest, my friend, nodded with a serious expression. "Yes, it appears so."

"Will I die?!" I gasped, clutching at my chest dramatically.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "No, Lilith, you won't die. It's not that kind of curse."

Then I deadpanning. "Then it's fine."

He laughed. "You're so dramatic."

As I made my way back home, my mind raced with thoughts about the curse. What kind of curse could it be? And why me? 

By the time I arrived, it was late afternoon, and the sun was beginning to set. I opened the door and found Jubelian sitting at the table, engrossed in a stack of books.

"You're back," she said, looking up. "How did it go with the priest?"

I dropped into a chair opposite her. "Apparently, I'm cursed." Jubelian's eyes widened in shock. "Cursed? What kind of curse?"

I shrugged. "He didn't give me specifics. Just that it's not going to kill me."

A few days later, one morning, I was getting ready with Jubelian in the room, adjusting my attire for the day.
"The Duke won't get angry if I come along?" I asked, glancing at her.

Jubelian shook her head with a reassuring smile. "You two seem to be doing well, so I'm not worried."

A knock sounded at the door, and Legis entered the room. "Do you two have plans today?" he asked, my scowl deepening when I saw him still in his house attire.

"Why aren't you ready?" I asked, completely confused.

His scowl deepened further than mine. "Leave," I ordered my maids, who liked to gossip about the smallest mistakes they could find in my husband.

"You don't remember?" I asked, watching as his frown deepened. Jubelian and I exchanged worried glances.

"My Duke," I said softly, getting up and caressing his cheek. "What did I miss?" Legis asked, his voice tight.

"Today is Amelia's anniversary," I said gently.

The room turned icy, and Legis's expression darkened. He looked shocked, as if he couldn't believe he had forgotten the anniversary of his late wife's death.

"Get out!" Legis ordered, his voice harsh.

Jubelian and I complied immediately, slipping out of the room. As we stood in the hallway, I glanced at her, feeling a pang of guilt for bringing up such a painful memory.

"This is going to be hard on him," Jubelian whispered. I nodded. "I didn't mean to upset him."

"You didn't know," she said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Let's give him some space. He needs time to process."

I finished getting ready in Jubelian's room. When Legis arrived, looking somber yet composed, we silently got into the carriage and made our way to Amelia's grave.

Her resting place was deep within the duchy estate, nestled in the quietest, greenest part of the forest. The serenity of the surroundings was a stark contrast to the turmoil I felt inside.

We placed our bouquets on her grave, and I took a moment to offer my own internal prayer.

'Dear Amelia, if you're dead, please stay that way. Don't scare the daylights out of me by coming into my dreams. Thank you...with regards, Lilith Aria Ashet.'

I mentally added a long letter pleading with her to not mess with my mind.

"Can you two give me a minute?" Legis asked, his voice thick with emotion.