Duke of the Beast and the Vicarious Bride - Chapter 40

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※ This work contains depictions of coercive relationships, explicit language, and other graphic content. Reader discretion is advised.

Concepts like marriage and husband and wife, which had been merely abstract, turned out upon experience to entangle one’s fate far more deeply than expected. A bond of connection formed in this way could not be easily undone.

In the end, the judgment she had postponed since last night quietly raised its head. The question of whether to include Caligo within the category of family.

‘Strictly speaking, he is family.’

After brief consideration, Fiona reached her conclusion. Once she acknowledged it, acceptance thereafter came more easily.

She had gained another family member besides Rose. That was not a bad thing.

After her mother disappeared, Fiona had suffered for a time from the loneliness and fear of being alone.

How fortunate that Rose had appeared when she did. By making the child her family, Fiona had finally been able to overcome the grief of losing her mother.

‘In any case, the more family, the better.’

This was what she had learned in her short life. Though there were families worse than strangers, in this harsh and desolate world, the only ones one could truly trust and rely upon were family. Even if not connected by blood, the mere fact of not being alone brought great comfort to a person.

‘Though I wonder if Caligo can feel such things.’

Nevertheless, having decided to make him family, Fiona must now somehow look after him.

In her heart, which had held no enthusiasm before arriving here, a small measure of motivation began to stir.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, she would be spending quite some time in this Grand Duke’s castle. She wanted to slowly assess the situation and find a way for herself and Caligo to live safely and happily.

Would the day ever come when she could bring Rose here as well, without threat from the Emperor or Jayden, and build a peaceful life? If such a day arrived, perhaps then she might truly bear a child.

Of course, the daunting fear remained. What could she, who knew nothing but butchery, who could not read a single letter, possibly accomplish here?

‘I must think about what to do with all the idle time ahead.’

In any case, the situation was not the worst. Though everything she had experienced since arriving here had been overwhelming and shocking, it was still bearable.

With a measure of anxiety and a thread of hope, Fiona resolved to adapt to the life given her, as she always had.

* * *

Having stood so long in the watchtower, her entire body had frozen stiff. Fortunately, the warm air that greeted her as soon as she re-entered the castle quickly thawed her.

Just as she was thinking of returning to her room, Fiona was seized by a sudden impulse to find the entrance to the cellar where Caligo remained.

In truth, she had been constantly concerned about what state Caligo might be in down there after she had left.

Whether the strong drink had left his body aching, whether he had wiped away the traces of their union that must have felt unpleasant, whether he received any meals. Thoughts that Jayden would surely have mocked as pathetically sentimental would not leave her mind.

Yet Fiona was confident she would no longer bristle at such mockery. Since Jayden himself had brought her here and married her to him, if he mocked their union, was that not a ridicule of his own actions?

As for his instruction not to set foot near Caligo’s location, Fiona lightly disregarded it. A wife wishing to see her husband’s face—she thought that Jayden, who was nothing to her, had no right to order her otherwise.

Thus, with confident steps, Fiona set out to find the cellar entrance. Unfortunately, after some time, she found herself completely disoriented.

She had been wandering all day and was just beginning to feel confident when, at the very end of the day, she lost her way entirely.