The Divorced Duchess

Chapter 9: FAMILY GATHERING

THALIA heard a rustling noise from the outside. She had woken up from a long slumber and took the initiative to fix herself since Selia returned to the Duchy yesterday. Kayne asked her to stay for another day because he had to observe the little jewel, Hiax. She went outside to meet the host of the tower. She was staying in the guest house near the tower. The tower of Mage only serves as the experimental tower. Kayne and Aiden were in the middle of training. They were fighting using spells and magic mana. Thalia sat down in a long wooden chair to watch the master-apprentice training. There was no doubt that Kayne could fight even without looking at his opponent, but Aiden had the potential to fight back. Aiden chanted a spell, then from above, opposite to Kayne, a silver disc glowed with energy, more intense each second, formed. A group of ice spikes was cast, ready to charge at Kayne. At the same time, Kayne had created a barrier, as if a huge dome had formed around him. The ice spikes attacked the barrier, yet it bounced to the ground until it melted. Although Aiden failed at his first attempt, he didn’t give up and charged another attack. This time, he launched a huge magic hammer, and at his command, it swung with all its strength and hit the barrier. It created a massive tremor that almost divided the ground; thus, the barrier gradually smashed. Thalia was amazed to see two mages clashing with magic spells. As she applauded them, they both looked in her direction. Thalia stood up and walked towards them, keeping her face filled with astonishment.

Kayne complimented Aiden, “You have a long way to improve, young man.” Yet, Aiden didn’t answer. Instead, his gaze went to Thalia. When Kayne didn’t get an answer from his apprentice, he turned to her as well.

“Are you feeling better?”

“A bit better, thank you.”

“That’s good to hear,” Kayne positively said.

Thalia couldn’t take her eyes off Aiden; he was a cold and aloof child. However, there was something that made him charming in her eyes.

“He works hard as an apprentice.”

“Don’t compliment him well, he might believe.” When Aiden heard his master’s assertion, he murmured, then a thorn sprouted on Kayne’s head. The great Mage repeatedly complained about retracting the spell, but Aiden turned a deaf ear to his whine.

“Stop being a tease,” Thalia chuckled as she made fun of the great Mage. Kayne immediately used a reverse spell to remove the thorns in his head.

Meanwhile, a middle-aged person shouted Aiden’s name and walked towards them. The woman had a bright smile when she greeted them. She was carrying a basket with a wicker bag on her back.

“I brought a pumpkin pie and bread with blueberry jam. Come, I have prepared it for all of you.”

They followed the woman into the kitchen. Thalia and Kayne were seated on the chairs while waiting for the food to be served. Though Aiden helped the woman with serving the food, they seemed so close, like a grandmother and grandchild relationship. After the food was served, they began to eat. Thalia took a small bite of the pie, and the almost fruity, starchy-sweet flavor with cinnamon and ginger filled her taste buds.

“This is delicious!”

“That’s my specialty, Your Grace.”

Thalia felt astonished when the woman found out about her identity. “How did you know me?”

“I took care of you when you were brought here. My apologies for the late introduction. I am Melinda. Aiden’s grandmother.”

“Pleasure meeting you, Melinda.”

“Likewise, Duchess,” after Melinda introduced her name, she excused herself to return to the confectionery. A couple of minutes later, Thalia remembered something from her dream and turned her gaze to Kayne.

“I met Goddess Enah in my dream.”

“She did appear?”

“She even gave me an elixir of the eternal spirit, though I didn’t know exactly what it meant.”

“This might be helpful to you in the future.” Kayne knew everything, so it wasn’t a bad option to tell him this kind of information about the Goddess Enah.

“Duchess, would you like to listen to my offer?”

Thalia nodded, eyeing him expectantly. “By all means.”

“Would you like me to examine your Hiax twice a week?”

“Why?”

Kayne breathed a sigh, thinking about a way to convince Thalia. “Because I need to monitor the Hiax and the flow of mana in your body. In addition, you need to be careful of the people around you, especially in the eyes of the holy temple. Do everything to avoid them because once they find out your true identity and the Hiax, you will be in danger.”

Even though Thalia was puzzled, she couldn’t contradict Kayne's words. Rather, she would follow Kayne’s advice for her sake. After all, she acknowledged his ability and integrity.

“If it makes my condition better, I would agree—"

What is that? A loud sound of footprints could be heard. Later, Melinda entered the kitchen, puffing up her chest. Behind her was the man Thalia abhorred. Thalia indignantly stood up upon seeing Duke Noxton with his knight, David, behind him.

“What do you think you’re doing?"

Instead of answering her, Duke Noxton glanced at Kayne and Aiden, but they were unbothered while eating their food. Like a master, like an apprentice. Thalia was annoyed when Noxton returned his gaze at her as if he was criticizing her whole being.

“I’m here to pick up my wife.”

Wife? What kind of bad spirit possessed her husband to change in a short span? Also, was he here to fetch her? Wow, what a miracle!

“You know, Your Grace, I can go back to the Duchy without someone’s help. So I pondered. What is your reason for personally picking me up?”

Noxton gave her a blank stare; she couldn’t fathom what was running through his smart mind. “Why are you staying here for your recovery?”

“Did you really ask me that?” Thalia scoffed.

“Yes, because you owed me an ex—

Kayne, who was infuriated at their sight, had retorted, “My bad for cutting off your conversation, but this is not the right place to discuss your marital issues.”

Kayne has a reasonable point about reprimanding them. In particular, people were listening to their argument. It only proved that both of them had a terrible relationship.

“You can both continue your dispute,” Kayne said, looking at Duke Noxton. “Duke, kindly wait for your wife outside. I will talk to the Duchess, just the two of us.” Without waiting for Noxton's reply, Thalia found herself inside the great Mage workroom.

“I will wait for your response if you are interested in examining the Hiax as well as the elixir. But, except you and me, who else knows your Hiax?”

“My father and my brother.”

“That’s good. At least you didn’t disclose it to anyone, even to the Duke.”

Their talk didn’t last an hour, but before Thalia left the room, Kayne gave her a pearl bracelet. According to Kayne, the pearl bracelet was a gift from the queen of the Water Nymph to honor their savior, who was Kayne, for saving the queen’s child. The pearl bracelet has the energy to protect someone who will wear it. Kayne had also cast a tracking spell in case Thalia was in danger.

****

It was like time ran so slowly for Thalia to ride in the carriage with her husband. She looked out the window, but even the summer scenery didn’t help her ease the suffocation she felt because of Duke Noxton’s presence. The thought that she would ride the carriage alone, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed. But what’s with the rude stare? As if Duke Noxton’s deadly gaze wanted to strangle her to death. Thalia couldn’t help but lock eyes with him in a staring contest, and Noxton quickly averted his eyes from her.

“You might be wondering why I picked you up if I can send a servant. Senior Qurique was staying in the Duchy because they heard the news about the accident and decided to stay for a while in the Duchy.”

So his reason was totally to pretend in front of the Senior Qurique. She is such a fool, Thalia, for hoping that he had his eyes on her.

“How about your concubine?” Her voice was choked with emotion. “Did Senior Qurique meet her?”

“I had instructed her not to wander around the Duchy so that they wouldn’t be suspicious of me. I know we have a pathetic relationship, but we should pretend to act like a lovely couple in front of them. And also, for me to gain Senior Qurique’s trust, he would eventually be handed half of the Chauverthier’s wealth.”

Thalia breathed a heavy sigh of exasperation. Duke Noxton took advantage of their marriage and her foolish love to get the remaining will of the Chauverthier. Thus, she was the only person who knew his plan.

“We have arrived!” The coachman informed them. As Thalia stepped out of the carriage, the servants were all outside to greet them.

Selia, who had been waiting for Thalia’s arrival, took the luggage. At the same time, Duke Noxton and Thalia proceeded to the drawing room to officially welcome their guests. When the door opened, they were welcomed by their guests. Senior Qurique Chauverthier looks like he has never aged because he still has a sturdy, muscular physique. He is the father of Noxton and the mastermind of their miserable marriage. A respectable councilor of the late Emperor, who also fought for the rights of the humble farmers in the countryside. Beside him was a beautiful, sophisticated woman, Esmeralda Chauverthier. She was sometimes misunderstood for her looks; some nobles thought she had an elitist attitude, which was the other way around. Thalia had confirmed the rumors that Esmeralda was the president of Princess Stella’s charity organization in the countryside. The couple had a tender heart, and Thalia envied their relationship because, until now, they had strongly held in their marriage.

“What a beautiful couple!” He approached them and hugged them tightly.

“Father, let’s take a seat,” Noxton gestured with his hand to the sofas. “In this way, we can talk better.”

“Right, right.” Senior Qurique agreed. Thalia sat beside Esmeralda, opposite Noxton. She was silently observing them while drinking tea.

What should she do to break the silence enveloping the room?

“So, Noxton, when should we expect to have a little Nox?” Esmeralda blurted out. Thalia, who had almost choked on the tea, had to compose herself. She was caught off guard.

“Mother, don’t be too impatient to have a grandchild. Besides,” Noxton looked at her.

“We are not in a hurry to have a child right now.”

What a great answer, Duke! To begin with, he never planned to have an heir with her, and she knew their boundaries.

Esmeralda frowned. “Why do you need to wait another time to conceive a child if you can make one, especially if you are still both young. In addition, both of you need to produce a Chauverthier heir.”

The quiet Senior Qurique suddenly burst into laughter. “Ho-ho, stop reminding them, dear. They know what to do, but” and he gave them an impudent gaze. “But I’m waiting to have a grandchild, like a little one running around the garden.”

“Yes, that’s right. I wanted to be an aunt too. Everyone my age had nieces and nephews, and they were bragging about them.”

The lady entered the room unnoticed.

“Alice!” Esmeralda exclaimed. “How did you know we visited here?”

The woman named Alice showed a piece of paper. “I received an urgent message from Henry.”

“Henry? The knight? Your suitor?” Noxton asked. Alice rolled her eyes and sat down on one of the sofas. She was the only daughter of a Chauverthier, who was studying at St. Cypress Academy. An outstanding alchemy and summoner student. In the past, if Thalia remembered correctly, Alice became an apprentice of Kayne after her parents died. She became a rebellious child whom even Noxton couldn’t discipline. So she was sent to the royal rehabilitation to revamp her noble status. However, she didn’t last at least a month in that place because the time she met Kayne and found out his ability, she followed him, and the rest was history.

“Sister Thalia, do you know the great Mage?” Thalia halted abruptly. How did Alice know the great Mage? What she knew was that Kayne had encountered Alice a year later.

“How did you know the great Mage?” Again, Duke Noxton asked his sister.

Thalia noticed that Duke had become loquacious.

“Well, I saw him visiting the academy, and I want to personally meet him.”

The old couple giggled, teasing the blushing Alice. This family seemed like they didn’t have any burden. Happiness filled their hearts, but for Thalia, it was an illusion.

“I want a divorce.”