The Useless Duchess' Second Chance

Direct Threat

“Your Majesty, please allow me to go inside now.”

Because Queen Melisa did not get a reply, the woman immediately opened the door to her husband's room without permission, when she came to her husband's room. As soon as Queen Melisa went inside, she could see that King Alexius lying on his bed with a very pale face. His breath hitched. When the man saw Queen Melisa, who had just entered his room, his unfocused eyes showed a slightly sad look on his face.

From the start of their marriage, Queen Melisa would not have entered King Alexius' chambers, if she had no urgent business. And her arrival this time, King Alexius had already guessed it in his mind.

“Your Majesty, you look unwell today.”

After seeing her husband's plight, Queen Melisa smiled as she took her place next to her husband's violently shaking body. Her hand gently brushed King Alexius' hair, which was wet with sweat, before she pulled her hand again, and stared at her husband with a cold gaze.

“This is what will happen if you try to irritate me, Your Majesty. As a king, you can't be so stupid as to not understand the content of our agreement, aren't you? Disobedience could result in your death.”

Queen Melisa stopped talking as King Alexius started coughing and spitting out a mouthful of blood. In the quiet room, only the sound of King Alexius's heavily breathing that could be heard. His eyes slowly lost their light, as he tried to speak in his hoarse voice.

“Please … Let me live ….”

Queen Melisa laughed when she finished listening to what King Alexius wanted to say. The woman's face was filled with hatred and anger, as she looked at her husband's own face.

“Why should I do it? What can I gain, if I let you live now?”

King Alexius looked so frustrated when he heard Queen Melisa's question. The man knew he wouldn't last much longer, if he still couldn't convince Queen Melisa. So even though it was difficult, King Alexius kept trying to speak, even though every word he said seemed to take his last breath.

“I … Won't … Take my own decisions again. I will obey you. So please … Let me … Live.”

Queen Melisa stared at King Alexius for a long time, before she showed a single pill of medicine from her clenched hand. The woman purposely waited until King Alexius was really at his limit, before she forcefully stuffed the medicine into the king's mouth.

Because his throat was forced to swallow a foreign object suddenly, the man choked and coughed several times after he swallowed the medicine. But in the end, King Alexius managed to digest the medicine that Queen Melisa had just given him. The man finally looked a little better, as his breathing gradually ceased to a lighter sound.

Even so, his pale face didn't just disappear. The king still looked limp and pale, when he could only lie in his bed and doing nothing.

“Remember your promise, Your Majesty. I won't be so nice to you next time, if you test my patience again.”

Finished making sure that the antidote worked well, Queen Melisa got up again from her position. The woman stared at King Alexius for a long time, before she walked over to the seat in the room.

To avoid suspicion, Queen Melisa always stayed in King Alexius' chambers whenever the woman visited her husband's room. But unlike what everyone thought, Queen Melisa would not want to be touched by King Alexius. The woman will only sleep on the chair in the room, then leave before her husband wakes up from his sleep.

King Alexius himself, he was too tired to worry about Queen Melisa as he soon drifted off to sleep after being tormented by the poison that had spread in his body for several hours. The couple fell asleep on their own way, and wouldn't wake up until the next sun rose.

***

In contrast to the chaotic royal palace, Ariana, who was in her private study, was enjoying the lessons she got from her first teacher.

“I never imagined I would be provided the opportunity to teach a genius student like you, Lady Ariana. I am pleased, our learning process is a new experience for someone like me.”

Ariana smiled shyly at the compliment. As the fiancé of a crown prince, although Ariana tends to be lazy to study as a child, the girl still remembers most of the lessons taught by her current teachers. To avoid suspicions about her being suddenly smart, Ariana has actually acted recklessly on many occasions and kept her from being too know-it-all, but not looking stupid either. Ariana tried to make her at least look like someone worthy of inheriting the duchess title. Her efforts, however, still seemed to be too much for the young girl who had not received proper guidance since her childhood.

Be it history, geography, math, economics, politics, to social teachers, they never stop praising her when Ariana manages to answer all their questions. Even though Ariana has tried to answer everything from a child's perspective, they still considered it as a smart answer from a child. That was the time Ariana finally know, that pretending to be stupid is actually harder than trying to be smarter.

“There are still plenty of things I don't understand in this world, Lady Violet. I've really learned a lot from you.”

“Oh my! Not only a genius, Lady Ariana is surprisingly humble. As expected of a family of heroes like Alison. I am truly proud to be able to call you my student.”

Ariana couldn't help but smile when the teacher assigned to teach kept praising her throughout the lesson. In a past life, Ariana remembers well that they always gave Ariana a disappointed look because of her reluctance to study. However, even if they didn't treat Ariana well in the past, the girl found it acceptable as she only reaped what she sowed. All the teachers who teach are important people in the family who support Alison's family. As a group that greatly admires the Alison family, who wouldn't be disappointed when they saw the only remaining heir acting like a useless child?

It's a fact that Ariana only cares about the queen and crown prince in the past. Even at one time, the girl had the heart to sell her family for something she called love.

“Lady Violet, I'm also glad you became my teacher.”

Violet's gaze softened as she caught the sincere expression on Ariana's young face. The issue of heredity is a serious problem for Alison's family. But with someone as intelligent as Ariana as the heir, Violet begins to believe that the Alison family still has a bright future ahead.

“Then let's finish our lesson for today. I see you in the next week, Lady Ariana.”

“Okay. Be careful on the road, Lady Violet.”

Ariana escorted her teacher outside to wait for Violet's carriage to speed up before she finally turned around to go back inside. Ariana remembered that she had only been sitting for a few minutes, when James knocked on the study she was using and entered when Ariana had allowed.

“Lady Aria, it is time for you to begin your swordsmanship class.”

Ariana smiled as she rose from her seat without complaining in the slightest. Ariana had been lazing around too much in her previous life. This time, Ariana wouldn't complain even if her entire body fell apart from working too hard.

“Okay. But I have to change my clothes first,” Ariana informed.

“Of course, Lady Aria,” James replied. The man followed as Ariana walked to return to her room. James subconsciously took a deep breath, as he saw a girl as young as Ariana not complaining at all when she had to study without rest like now.

“Lady Aria, if you wish, I can ask Sir Albert to wait for you to rest first before starting your swordsmanship class.”

Ariana immediately stopped walking when she heard James' suggestion. The girl knew James was probably just worried she was forcing her body. But after living in a place where her body wasn't allowed to rest at all, Ariana was more used to constantly moving and improving her abilities rather than just sitting around and wasting her time.

After all, her opponent was the royal family. Ariana believes that she will never be successful, if she doesn't work harder than everyone else this time.

“I'm fine, James. I can't keep Mr. Albert waiting too long either, after having him came here as fast as he could when Grandpa called him back.”

Ariana stares helplessly when James looked dissatisfied, before she was forced to add her words to calm the man down.

“But I promise to stop if my body is getting tired. I'm still young and healthy, James. My current age is the ideal age to start cultivating my body and mind to the fullest. It's okay, I know my own limits.”

James smiled bitterly as he watched the girl he was taking care of, had suddenly grown up when he wasn't looking. The man silently wiped his tears with the handkerchief that was always in his pocket. He was really touched, for Ariana's persistence to achieve her goals.

In his heart, James can only pray for Ariana to stay healthy and happy in the future.