Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Possessive
Tap... Tap... Tap...
Footsteps echoed down the stone corridor. Inside a cell, Drohan lifted his head, iron chains clinking with the movement. His lips curled into a cruel grin.
"Heh. Have you come to beg for her life? Hahaha!" His laughter rang out mockingly.
Bennett stopped in front of the bars, her expression cold. Her eyes never wavered at his Tuant.
"Tristan," she said flatly, extending her hand. "The sword."
Shing.
The metallic hiss cut through the dungeon’s silence. Drohan’s laughter faltered as he watched Tristan unsheathe his blade and place it in Bennett’s hand.
"D-don’t you dare," Drohan stammered, his bravado cracking. "If you torture me, you’ll never get the antidote! Hahaha....."
His laugh broke into a strained rasp as Bennett pushed open the cell door and stepped inside, sword gleaming in her grasp.
Bennett bent down on one knee, her sword sliding against Drohan’s throat. Cold gray eyes locked onto his trembling ones.
"You know..." her voice was steady, almost calm, "someone like you was never a challenge for me. If I’d had the chance, I would’ve killed you when I was a child. But your luck...." she pressed the blade slightly, drawing blood.... "ends here."
Drohan’s face drained of color as he felt the sting on his neck, warm blood trickling down.
"Y-you....don’t you dare! I...I’m your father! Yes, I’m your father!"
"Heh." A bitter chuckle slipped past Bennett’s lips, mocking his desperation.
"Yes... but only a stepfather. My mother married you because she needed someone to watch over her child while she was busy. But you? You took advantage of that and killed my big brother."
Her gaze sharpened, voice dripping with contempt. "You were never that man. And I...." the blade pressed closer.... "never considered you my father. Not for a single second."
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Drohan’s scream tore through the dungeon, echoing against the stone walls.
----
Bennett stepped out of the dungeon, the torchlight fading behind her. In the garden, the night air was cool, and her face was streaked with fresh blood.
"Here, Duke." Tristan extended a folded towel, his hand steady despite the metallic scent clinging to her.
"Thanks." She took it without hesitation, wiping the crimson from her skin until only faint stains remained. Her expression stayed unreadable.
"Tristan," she said, her tone calm but carrying command, "tell the butler to come to my office."
"Yes, my lord." Tristan bowed slightly before moving at once.
---
"My lord, you called?" The butler stepped into her office and bowed.
Bennett slid a white-gold letter across the desk. "Deliver this to His Majesty. Tell him I’m assuming full control of the dukedom."
The butler’s eyes widened before he carefully took the letter, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Oh, and one more thing," Bennett added, her voice firm. "Dismiss every maid and knight that he hired. Keep only the ones we can trust."
"Yes, Duke." The butler bowed again and left the office.
"Sigh..." Bennett leaned back in her chair, tilting her head toward the ceiling.
’What should I do about the marriage problem now?’ Her jaw tightened. ’If I reveal I’m a woman, I’ll be accused of deceiving the Emperor. But if I keep silent...’
Her eyes dimmed. ’Either path leads to danger. Sigh...’
"I want to get some air, Haaah."
---
"But Father, can’t it be cancelled? Please." Lilian looked at William with pitiful eyes.
"No." William picked up another sheet from the table and began writing without looking at her. "It’s your mother’s choice. She wants him as her son-in-law, and my choice is the same as my wife’s."
"Ahh, but why him?" Lilian puffed out her cheeks and slumped against the sofa, glaring at him as he worked so seriously.
’Hmph. If Mother were here, he’d be wagging around her like a puppy. But with everyone else, he puts on this cold face. Hmph.’
She stood up and walked toward the door, glaring at him one last time, as he didn’t look at her. She huffed and left.
"What should I do noooow..."
Lilian whined as she wandered down the dark hallway, the dim moonlight casting long shadows along the walls.
’The story is about a possessive BL... and the worst kind too.’ Her eyes narrowed. ’My brother... he’ll become insanely possessive of the duke. Aghhh.’
Then, suddenly, her eyes lit up, a sly grin curling at her lips.
"Yes... I’ll do that. After they fall in love, I’ll ask for a divorce. Then I can live my own life... hehehe."
"Lilian..."
Hearing her name, Lilian turned and blinked, spotting Hazel standing behind her.
"What were you thinking about so deeply that you didn’t even hear me calling?" Hazel asked, one hand on her hip, a teasing smile tugging at her lips.
"W-what? Oh, I was just... thinking about something."
Hazel narrowed her eyes and stepped closer, her smirk widening. "Oh? About something... don’t tell me it’s about Bennett?"
"W-what? Of course not!" Lilian stammered, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she glared at Hazel.
"Ohhh, don’t be so embarrassed." Hazel pinched her cheeks with a grin. "I was just joking."
"HAZEL!" Lilian pulled her chin free, glaring at her. "Hmph, I don’t like him at all."
Hazel blinked, tilting her head. "Really? Why? Isn’t he a good match for a husband?"
Lilian folded her arms. "Oh, then why don’t you marry him if you think he’s so great?"
"Ah..." Hazel pouted, linking her fingers together shyly. "It’s not like that. I think of him as a brother."
Lilian narrowed her eyes, huffed, and spun around to walk away.
Closing her room door, Lilian threw herself onto the bed, kicking wildly at the air.
"Uff, so annoying! Why didn’t Father cancel the marriage.....mother’s lapdog..."
She grabbed a pillow and pressed it over her face, muffling her frustrated groan.
Then, all of a sudden, she tossed the pillow aside and sat up, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"If I can convince Mother to delay the marriage, then... heheh."
---
"My lord, a letter has arrived from the palace."
Bennett lifted her head from the paperwork. "Give it to me."
She broke the seal and unfolded the letter. After skimming the contents, a smile tugged at her lips as she set it down.
"Hah, thank the gods... the marriage has been delayed. If it had really gone through, I was prepared to ignore it...I still don’t know how to deal with this situation."
But the relief on her face slowly darkened into a frown.
"...Why is the Emperor asking for weekly meetings with the princess?"
She shook her head, pushing the thought aside, and rose from her chair. Walking out of the office, she passed through the hall; the maids bowed quickly as she went by.
"Knock, knock."
She stopped at a door and gently rapped her knuckles against it. "Sister, are you awake?"
"Come in." A weak voice answered from inside.
Bennett carefully turned the handle and stepped into the room. She walked to the bedside, pulled out a chair, and sat down, gently taking Alia’s hand into her own.
"How is your health now?"
Alia, lying pale against the pillows, managed a faint smile."The physician said I’ll be alright in a week or two. Don’t worry."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she caught the worry etched on Bennett’s face."What happened?"
"Ah..." Bennett lowered her gaze, her grip tightening on Alia’s hand, her eyes fixed on her face to see if she would get any irritation. "Sister, Duke Victor Ashworth is coming tomorrow."
Alia blinked, then turned her face away. Bennett let out a soft sigh, feeling the tremble in her sister’s fingers.
"Don’t worry. Your brother will be with you."
Alia’s eyes lifted to meet hers, a smile tugging faintly at her lips, though sadness clouded her face.
"I know... but I just don’t like them, they’ll probably come here to extend their greedy hands toward you."
Bennett chuckled, squeezing her hand gently.
"Sister, I’m not a child anymore. I’m the Duke of this territory now. Even if he’s a duke, his rank is beneath mine. I can take action, so can you ignore their existence for one week."
"Hmm," Alia nodded with pout.
---
Thud.
The knife sank straight into its target.
Inside the crown prince’s office, David’s wild eyes fixed on the punctured board, his breath uneven.
’Why is this happening? This sudden marriage... will he hate me for having these feelings?’
He snatched another knife and hurled it.....thud....splitting through the mark.
’If I bury it, if I hide everything, then I’ll have to watch him marry Lillian...’
Another knife flashed through the air, golden aura flickering along its blade. Crack! The target shattered, the steel sinking deep into the wall, cracks spiderwebbing around it.
"What should I do... why am I feeling this way? I don’t know..."
He slumped back in his chair, eyes dull as they lingered on the shattered target.
"I think it started after he left for the border... Should I just use force to have him?"
A bitter laugh slipped out, but his head shook almost immediately.
"No... he’d hate me if I did that. I can’t stand it....I don’t want to see those eyes looking at me with hate."