TDATD⋆♱✮

XXXl

☆ ★ ✮ ★𖡼𖤣𖥧𖡼𓋼𖤣𖥧𓋼𓍊☆ ★ ✮ ★

Reading a book by the burning fireplace, Judith fell asleep. However, someone knocked on the door of the living room, interrupting her sweet rest:

"Madame… I think you should come out for a moment."

It was the Duke’s butler. Judith glanced at her pocket watch – it was already midnight, it was time to leave.

As usual, she understood why Derrick was coming home so late. Frowning, Judith noticed that the butler was behaving too strangely compared to his normal behavior; but she left the living room anyway. After taking a few steps, the girl heard a perosn whisper – this person turned out to be Lord Horton, who always supported Derrick and helped him.

The man looked too drooping and sad, which was also a very unusual sight, because usually on his face there is a persistent smile.

Judith sighed and walked over to them: Derrick smelled like alcohol, as usual.

This, of course, is not the first time that her husband returned home in the same form in which he left him. However, lately he was always drinking, which was accompanied by a pungent smell of alcohol.

But something was definitely wrong today: Derrick couldn’t stand on his feet.

Judith felt something strange looking at Sir Horton, and asked:

" What happened?"

" I don’t know either. When we got into the carriage, everything was fine. But on arrival, this happened…"

Judith grabbed Derrick’s arm, which was hanging lifeless, and recoiled: it was as cold as ice.

" Is everything okay? " – she turned to her husband. But there was no answer to such an easy question. Judith hurried to give instructions to the drivers and the butler, Derrick was immediately taken to the bedroom and a doctor was called as soon as possible.

Lord Horton and another knight helped the Duke to a room on the second floor. Only after he was laid on the bed did Judith get a proper look at him: a calm face, as if he had just fallen asleep, no tension or emotions.

Soon there was a fuss at the door – the doctor arrived:

" Madam, hello"he greeted and immediately went straight to the bed.

During the examination, Judith managed to talk to Sir Horton about Derrick’s usual returns home on ordinary days. There was no particular difference, except for the coldness of his body and the emotionlessness of his face.

Usually, after finishing his official work, the Duke spent his personal time in the company of Sylvia. Although the Lord did not say anything about it, Judith understood it perfectly without his help.

Glancing at the bed, the Duchess saw Derrick’s cold, pale and tired face, as if a dark energy enveloped Derrick. Even the knights accompanying him did not know anything about the condition of his spouse.

" What happened to him?"

"When I checked, I didn’t find anything strange."

" Then he just fell asleep?"

" I think so, but…" – the Doctor ran his eyes from side to side, which made the girl feel uneasy. «There is no evidence of a fatal injury, breathing is regular, a heartbeat is heard… But his body is too cold.»

The man bowed his head, indicating that he did not know the reason, and left the bedroom, asking to raise the temperature in the room – it was necessary to warm the Duke. Everyone left the mansion, and in the bedroom a fireplace was lit. While the servants were running around and fussing about, Judith sat on the bed and looked at her husband.