The Divorced Duchess

Chapter 21:UNVEILING TRUTHS AND BITTER CONFRONTATION

“WHAT is your plan?”

Noxton looked at the old man in front of him. His father had been staying at the Duchy as soon as he heard about his affair. At first, Senior Qurique disapproved of Klarine’s pregnancy, yet eventually, he came to accept the child in her womb.

“Do you intend to grant me my inheritance even if I push through my divorce?”

Senior Qurique let out a heavy sigh as if he couldn’t do anything, instead of accepting the truth. Nothing would change even if he used all of his power of authority to separate Noxton and his woman.

“Your Grace, do you know why I had to step down as the Duke of Chauverthier as soon as you had turned seven?”

Now that his father mentioned it, he also wondered about his early succession to the Duke’s title. According to the monarch's rules that if the current patriarch has met a sudden tragedy, the right heir should succeed to the title.

“What is your point, Father?” Noxton asked.

“The right time yet the wrong time to reveal the truth. Ironically, isn’t it? That I never stepped down from the position of Duke because I never was and I would never be a Duke.”

“You are saying that you don’t have the right to the lineage of our family, but I am your flesh and blood.”

Senior Qurique brought out a piece of a portrait on the table; an image of two grown-up young men smiling ear to ear. They were identically similar to each other, like twins. Noxton picked up the portrait and unconsciously teared up.

“The person on the left is me, and the other man is my twin brother, Quadir,” Senior Qurique almost choked up after mentioning his twin brother. “The former Duke.”

There was a skeptical expression on his face until he gradually unfolded the truth. “He is my f-father?”

Senior Qurique nodded as he confirmed a huge revelation. Noxton couldn’t believe every fact presented in front of him. All his life has been a huge lie; he’s been living a life of nothing but deception.

“Where is his grave? And my mother’s identity?” Despair washed all over his face. All his life, the truth had been buried, but despite the secrets, he couldn’t bring himself to hate the parents who made him a Duke.

“Your birth mother was unknown, and only Quadir knew the truth of her identity. She may be alive or dead, but one thing was sure: Quadir, my twin brother, left the world when you were three years old.”

A sudden pain stabbed Noxton to the core. He felt a strange feeling towards Senior Qurique. This time, the person in front of him was now a stranger telling a fictitious story.

“Why now? Why didn't you tell me everything? Do I not deserve to know the truth?”

“Because you don’t deserve to know the truth as a matter of fact, I will take your existence and secrets to my grave, but it is so inevitable that one day the truth will prevail.”

An anger brewed at the moment Noxton heard Senior Qurique’s convictions.

“I don’t deserve all of this!” His rage burst out, but the old Qurique stayed calm in his composure.

“Calm down, child. I know I made a mistake, but I only do this to continue the bloodline of Chauverthier. Now that you know the truth, I guess my role as your father ends here. I had promised Quadir to make you the Duke, and the marriage with the Duchess lies in your hands.”

Noxton was trying to process everything, but one thing he could do; he must continue to file for a divorce against the Duchess. So, before the Senior Qurique left the room, words of warning came out of his mouth.

“Your Grace must also be reminded that ending your marriage on paper does not mean your eternal bond with the Duchess ends. To be freed from the shackles of marriage, you must end the oath of bond from Goddess Enah using the scepter.”

****

The carriage slowed down and stopped at the clean side of the road. It was a hillside located far away from the central downtown. Noxton strode out and asked the horseman to wait for him. He disguised himself so that he could visit his birth father’s grave. After unveiling the secrets and a confrontation with Senior Qurique, the old man gave him the address since it was his right to know.

His father’s grave was said to be at the top of the hill owned by Chauverthier. Only family members knew this place, and it was secluded from the people. After reaching the top of the hill, he stood at the weathered gravestone and looked at the name written in a most delicate stroke.

‘Here lies the great Duke Quadir Chauverthier’

No memories and pain of his father’s absence were strange for Noxton. Then, a familiar man stood beside him.

“I guess Qurique told you the truth about Quadir. He was my great friend, but I failed him.”

Although Noxton didn’t lift his head, he knew the man very well.

“So you conspired with Senior Qurique’s plan to hide my true existence.”

“No… I told him to tell our secrets to you as soon as possible because it also has a great impact on my daughter’s situation. My only mistake that I regret was to continue the marriage even though I knew it would make both your situations worse.”

Noxton understood Count Darvan’s sentiment as he treasured the Duchess, but he could not find them compatible with each other.

“If you are offended by what happened, please don’t punish my child, as she did not do anything. I will accept every grudge you have, and I will help your divorce for the sake of my daughter.”

Noxton quite laughed at the Count’s remark. “I want to divorce the Duchess and also to be freed from the eternal bond you made with my father. Only with this, I might forgive you.”

“The Duchess loves you and gave you everything, but I think time will tell how you detest my daughter’s intention.”

He could not comment on the Duchess' declaration of love because he was determined to marry another woman. But remembering the dream he had, the Goddess seemed to be interfering with the bond they had with the Duchess. Nevertheless, Klarine’s situation was more visibly important to him than his wife's.

****

The barrister stood before Noxton’s presence, and he could feel his strong personality. It was rare for the Duke to call him into the manor, but as the financial advisor and counsellor of the Chauverthier, he was accountable for the family’s wealth.

“Mister Caddel, I want you to make a statement about the Duchess's alimony.”

The barrister didn’t respond immediately. Eventually, Noxton’s divorce would come to fruition. People were waiting for the wild rumors to be confirmed.

“May I ask if the Duchess could get the usual division of alimony as to what the law declared?”

Noxton’s guilt might be lessened if he gave the Duchess a fair share of alimony. Even though he was ready to divorce the Duchess, he could not ignore the fact that they were once a couple and a friend.

“I know my father, Senior Qurique, gave the East Terra to Thalia as a wedding gift, but I could consider giving her the manor in the countryside and eighty thousand Czassel for compensation, excluding the alimony.”

Mr. Caddel was taking notes on every instruction of Noxton when someone walked into the room.

“It's so unladylike, Alice,” Noxton said calmly.

Yet, Alice appeared to have something to say based on her angry countenance. She might be here to scold him after hearing the news. Noxton sighed and shifted his gaze to Mister Caddel.

“We will continue this discussion once I call you. In the meantime, prepare the documents and send a copy to Psycheberg's house.”

Mister Caddel awkwardly left while Alice intently looked at Noxton, sitting prettily on the couch.

“Are you divorcing the Duchess? Brother? Why?”

Alice didn’t have a good grasp of her surroundings, yet explaining to her about Noxton's problems would not solve anything.

“I don’t require someone younger than me to meddle with my affair, Alice. The Duchess and I are not in a relationship to continue this marriage, and besides that, I found the love of my life.”

Alice squinted her eyes as if he were lying to her. “That woman? Brother?”

A smile escaped from his lips, remembering he would soon be a father. “Yes, Klarine is the only woman for me.”

“You are not scared of your consequences, brother?”

“Why would I be scared of the outcome if my heart is full of fulfillment?” He said proudly.

“It is just a waste for you to let go of a perfect woman, a perfect Duchess, to be your lifetime partner, Duke. I hope you will not regret your decision since you only followed your heart.”

Noxton laughed. He couldn’t believe that his younger sister would give him serious advice. The Alice she knew was now a grown-up lady ready to debut in society.

“When did you mature, Alice?”

Alice rolled her eyes. Then, a voice from the outside interrupted them. A maid entered with Klarine behind. She was indeed a beautiful maiden, despite her flaws of being a commoner. Her stomach was visibly growing as day passed by, and her face became a more and more aristocratic figure.

“Greetings, Your Grace!” She immediately approached the Duke and sat beside him.

“You should be careful, Klarine. I don’t want anything to happen between you and the unborn child.”

“Tsk,” came out of Alice's mouth. She couldn’t stand the woman’s presence since the day she was slapped by her.

Alice ignored the woman, yet Klarine tried her luck to get to the lady’s side.

“Forgive me, Lady Alice. I am still lacking in many ways, but I will do everything to meet your demand,” Klarine smiled, sweetly.

Alice raised an eyebrow, giving a hostile bearing. “You can cover yourself with soft furs, but your nasty attitude is stenching the room.”

“Alice! Where’s your manners?” Noxton's thunderous voice echoed, while Alice didn’t bother to be scared of her brother.

Klarine pulled the Duke’s hand and directly looked at his eyes. “Please be considerate of the lady, your grace. She may be telling the truth, but she is still your sister.”

“How can you disrespect the future Duchess of this house? Klarine may come from a different background, but it wouldn’t change that she will be Duchess of Chauverthier.”

Alice's mouth quirked up. “Unbelievable, Brother. You're looking for a stone to be pounded on your head. And a Duchess, you say? How can you say that she will be a great Duchess of this empire?” Then, Alice's gaze landed on Klarine’s pitiful figure.

“You’re just a gold digger trying to climb on full-blooded nobles.”

Noxton couldn’t contain his temper; he unconsciously slapped Alice on her cheeks. Shocks and regrets filled the end.

“Alice… It was not my intention to slap you. I was caught off guard.”

Alice's cheeks were swollen, and she started to tear up. “My manner is with me, brother.”

The room was filled with different negative sparks of emotions from an unlucky fate in life. Where everyone started to distance themselves from him, like trying to break the rope of their relationship. And that was said to be the beginning of destruction.