The Duke's Masked Wife

35 Newly weds (1)

Alessandra sat quietly on one side of the carriage while Edgar entered with a bloody sword. Evidence her father was no more. After Edgar sat down directly in front of her, the carriage started its journey to the church for them to get married.

“Do you regret it? There is no way to bring him back now,” Edgar said, looking out the window to avoid looking at her. Alessandra was desperately trying to hide her face so he was trying to give her the privacy she desired.

“No, I do not regret it. I am angry with myself for not letting you kill him the first time you offered it. He did not deserve to live another second. I am not surprised he would just stand there and let me be treated that way. He has let his wife and daughter do worse. I should have killed him myself right after you proposed to me.”

“You were kind enough to give him another two days to live. I would rather you not stain your hand with blood. Once you have committed such an act, your mind will never let you forget it. If there is anyone you need to kill, I shall do it for you,” Edgar took out a cloth from his pocket to wipe the blood off of his sword.

“Thank you. If you had not arrived when you did, I cannot imagine what would have happened. I do not want to be added to anyone’s collection. What sort of person adds another person to a collection?” Alessandra wondered. How much did her father hate to give her up to someone like she was an item to be displayed?

“There is one man I know. A collector of many things and a man you should never meet. I will see to it he gets the message to leave you alone. Now, what do I get as a reward?” Edgar asked out of the blue.

“Reward?” Alessandra asked. She didn’t see what he was in need of a reward for.

“I didn’t have any plans to kill anyone tonight. Alfred would try to kill me if he knew I killed your father with you around and then he’ll bury me when he learns we are getting married without a proper ceremony. Don’t you think I deserve a reward for this?” Edgar questioned, hiding a grin from her.

“I suppose it’s only fair. I got you mixed up in my family drama,” Alessandra muttered, realizing she would owe him for this. However, what could she give a man who had everything while she had nothing? “I don’t have anything to offer you,” she felt ashamed.
.....

“It is not a reward I am looking for right now and anything that needs to hold a high value. As long as you acknowledge you owe me, I shall keep waiting until you have something I see fit to repay me with,” said Edgar.

“Okay. If you ever need me to do something for you, please don’t hesitate to ask. I owe you more than you can ever imagine, Duke-”

“Just Edgar,” Edgar sighed, slightly annoyed she was still referring to him as Duke when they were going to get married.

“I’m sorry. It is not easy to suddenly start referring to you as Edgar. You have such a grand title,” Alessandra felt odd not referring to him by his title.



“My wife should not be referring to me like everyone else. Shall I punish you each time you call me Duke instead of Edgar? I think I would enjoy it,” Edgar had a devious idea in mind.

“I do not want to be punished, Edgar,” Alessandra switched her tune now that there could be a punishment involved.

“You have not heard what the punishment is yet. I think you might enjoy what I have in mind.”

Alessandra blinked twice then chuckled when she realized what he was insinuating. “I can see why so many young women are charmed by you. You are quite blunt and such a flirt, Edgar.”

Edgar was highly amused by her reaction. Depending on who he spoke to, he would either receive a flustered look or one full of lust. Instead, Alessandra found his words to be funny. “Are you aware you and I will be sleeping in the same bed? I don’t think you’ll find it funny then.”

“I am fully aware since it is a condition in the contract but that is not what I was laughing at. You are a man who speaks his mind not caring how others might view you. I heard you lifted the Baron in the air at his party. I wish I could have been there to see it,” Alessandra pictured how embarrassed her father must have felt.

“Considering he is now dead I cannot show you it unless you are into that kind of thing. You might find this hard to believe but it is not rare for me to do something like that. High society is full of pests which is why I hardly like to socialize. It is only because of the king’s orders that I was there that night,” said Edgar but he was no longer angry with his friend since his visit to the Baron found him a wife.

“Can I ask another question, Edgar?” Alessandra asked, glancing at Edgar from beneath the coat covering her head.

“Our conversation has been going so pleasant I didn’t think you would need to ask if you could throw a question my way. How wrong of me to assume we were becoming close.”

“I’m sorry. It is a habit I will need to grow out of. It’s just that, why haven’t you asked me to show you my face?” Alessandra wouldn’t mind it considering he should see the face of the woman he was marrying.

It was just out of an instinct for her to hide her face. She had to admit she was afraid he would not want to continue with their contract once she showed her scars but she had no right to hide her face from him.

Edgar had expected this would have been further discussed when they were creating the contract. He didn’t make it a condition that he needed to see her face simply because he did not care about what she was hiding. “It is not my business whether you want to show me your face or not. You are the one who said you will change in the future. I can wait until you are truly comfortable. Do not let anyone force you into showing your face when you are not ready.”

Alessandra smiled, finding the person who spread rumors about Edgar to be a fool. Maybe she had not seen all of his personality as yet but the same could be said by him when it came to her personality. They were both getting to know each other and from what Edgar showed her so far, she liked it.

“You know Edgar, you have never once scared me.”

“Really? Shall I change that?” Edgar joked but his version of a joke inside his head did not come off the same to others.

“How about no?” Alessandra denied the offer.

“Remember Alessandra, you are the one who said there would be no love involved. I hope you are not falling for me already. It would be quite concerning considering I just killed your father. I hope that is not the case,” Edgar was still adamant about not loving anyone though he found Alessandra to be amusing.

“I remember my words clearly. I have not fallen for you, Edgar, and I never will. However, I cannot help being grateful to you and amused by the things you can do without any worry of the consequences, ” that was what Alessandra truly believed she felt.