The Scoundrel's Tribute

Protector

Dmitry

When I made sure Dina really fall asleep, I left her room silently. Victor was waiting for me on the corridor, at Dina's door.

- Did he wake up? - I asked and Victor nodded.

- He had been making a ruckus since he did. It's tiring to be honest.

- What about Rene? - Victor really tried his best to redeem his sins against Rene.

- The Duchess if in her bedroom with her maid, I don't know if she had fallen asleep already or not yet.

- Stay here and protect Dina, just in case.

- Are you going to visit the Lord, Dima? - Victor asked in a cruel voice with a frightening smile on his handsome face.

- I'll first check on Rene, just to make sure she is fine. - he bowed and stood by Dina's room. I headed to Rene's quarters but lost my confidence at the door of his bed chambers. I lifted my hand to knock and smiled at myself. "I used to barge in without any notice and here I'm hesitating like a child." - the door opened and Magda, Rene's maid gasped.

- Duke! - she bowed and I remained silent. I haven't prepared mentally for this scenario.

- Would you like me to announce you to the Duchess? She is already asleep, but I can wale her up if the Duke wishes. - I shook my head.

- There's no need for that, I just wanted to confirm of she is fine. We had an eventful night. - I said and Magda nodded.

- The Duchess told me about it... How come those ungrateful women insult my Lady in her eyes?! - she asked and gasped covering her mouth immediately. Magda fall on her knees and said.

- Please pardon me my disrespectful behavior Duke! - I touched her shoulder.

- Are you on good terms with my wife? - I asked and she slowly got up.

- As much as a maid could with her Lady, my Lord. - I smiled because they way she just freely expressed her dislikes already told me that this young woman, was a friend of Rene.

- Keep taking good care of your Lady. - I said and she bowed deeply.

- Yes my Lord! Goodnight my Lord! - I left and smiled at how things changed. A few days ago I felt uneasy that Rene might have someone confidential in the castle, today, I'm glad that someone was by her side the entire time. I won't neglect Rene anymore, she is an interesting, brave and strong woman. She is as much as a victim of her circumstances as I'm and there is no need to keep up with the hate. I passed by Catherine's portrait in the main hall and I stopped for a moment.

- My dear Catherine, is it alright for me to feel this way again? - I asked although I knew she won't respond but I smiled.

- I don't know what would you think, but if you could talk to me now, I believe you'd first you'd nag me for my past behavior. - I blew a kiss to the painting and kept walking towards the dungeon. I entered to the underground place and as I was getting doen the long stairs I already heard Lord Daquir's complaining and shouting.

-RELEASE ME IMMEDIATELY! YOU INSOLENT IDIOTS! - I stopped next to the guards who looked haggard. They bowed.

- My Lord!

- How are you feeling? - I've asked and the younger guard groaned in frustration.

- I want to shut him up. - the older guard, probably his senior, hit the back of his neck.

- Please excuse his behavior my Lord, he is still learning his manners! Ask for forgiveness boy! - the young guard bowed.

- Please pardon me My Lord. - I smiled.

- It's fine, I like hot-headed youngsters, you still have that fire in your eyes! But listen to your teacher. I'm not saying you have to extinguish the fire, but learn to use it when it's needed! - he bowed and thanked the teaching. I walked to the Lord's cell and he grabbed the bars shouting.

- DUKE RANKIN! HOW DARE YOU TREAT ME. LIKE THIS?! I'M HIS MAJESTY'S MOST TRUSTED CONSULTANT! - I smiled and had to admit, I felt the pain of the young guard. It'd be nice to make his shut up forever. I pulled my sword out and with a quick movement I cut an inch of his hir next to his ear. Lord Daquir shut up and jumped back with fear in his eyes. I've put my sword away and the guard gave me a pair of leather gloves, before they opened the cell.

- Lord Daquir, I think you should try to rephrase your thoughts. I'd like to remind you, who you are standing in front of. Now, let's talk about why I came here tonight.

- There must be a horrible misunderstanding Duke!

- Really? - I asked and pulled a chair in. I sat on it in the door and crossed my arms in front of my chest.

- Enlighten me, Lord. - I said and Daquir was sitting on the cold stone floor. He got on his knees and started saying.

- The Duchess used to be my student. I taught her manners, history and everything she knows. I had to discipline her from time to time as all teachers do! - I smiled and he looked relaxed for a moment.

- Is that so? May I ask, is this the same way you are teaching the crown Prince? - the relaxed expression immediately disappeared and got replaced by fear.

- Duke, with all due respect, you cannot really compare the two teaching styles.

- Why is that? - I asked and loved how he was walking towards his end and he didn't even notice it.

- Well, you see, Rene is the daughter of a barbarian, therefore, due to her origins, she was harder to teach. She was always a bit more reckless and aggressive, not so sophisticated as the Prince. Also, the Prince is the heir of the throne, I cannot treat him like a barbarian's child.

- But Lord Daquir, the Duchess is the legitimate and only daughter of the Emperor's sole brother, God bless his soul. She shares the same amount of royal blood as the Prince, yet he gets a privileged treatment?

- Duke, discipline was necessary to morph Rene into the delicate and kind Duchess you have married. - I couldn't hold my laughter back.

- Where is that Duchess you are talking about? - I asked and his jaw dropped. I felt a bit bad that Rene couldn't see this.

- I'm afraid I don't understand... - Daquir mumbled and I got up. I took my belt off and snapped it against the cell bars.

- The Lady I've married is strong, fearless, stubborn and very intelligent, not to mention gorgeous. I've neve met that well disciplined, sophisticated woman you are talking about. Since you had been making quiet a ruckus, and you also dared to touch who is mine, I think I'll have to discipline the Lord the same way he disciplined my wife. - I saw fat drops of sweat running down his forehead. Lord Daquir kneeled and bowed his head till it touched the ground.

- Please Duke, have mercy on me! I was wrong! - he said and I laughed. I put the toe of my shoe under his chin and lifted his glance up at me.

- Had Rene ever begged like this? - I asked and he shook his head. I smiled and felt proud. The more I got to know about her the more I liked her. Truth to be told, I started to regret the time I've spent hating Rene.

- And that's exactly where you can tell the difference between a someone who was born noble by title and between someone who is noble in all the meanings of the word. Clench your teeth dear Daquir, I don't want you to break a tooth! - I said and I hit the back of that bastard as many times as I could. The belt snapped but I haven't felt satisfied yet.

- You are lucky to be a weakling... - I said and nodded to a priest to heal Daquir, before I headed back to my room. For my biggest surprise, at the end of the stairs a beautiful woman waited with an enchanting smile.

- Rene... What are you doing here? - I asked and she shrugged.

- Did you really think I'd leave this out? - I rolled my eyes and felt relaxed.

- Let me escort you back. - I said and she took my arm. It felt already so natural.

- Thank you. - she said.

- For? I just taught him a lesson for acting out of line in my estate. - I said and we arrived to Rene's bedchamber.

- Thank you for getting angry on my behalf. - she got on her toes and placed a tiny kiss on my cheek before blushing.

-Goodnight Dmitry! - Rene said and shut the door closed behind her. I touched my cheek where she kissed me and smiled.

- Goodnight, Rene.